WPIAL girls soccer preview: Defending state champ Moon again among teams to beat

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Tuesday, August 20, 2024 | 5:08 PM

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WPIAL girls soccer preview

Class 4A

Defending champion: Fox Chapel

Runner-up: North Allegheny

PIAA champion: Pennridge

Team to beat: North Allegheny, which went on to reach the PIAA semifinals after a loss in the WPIAL final, is coming off a 22-win season. Junior Emma Shupansky and senior Madison Miller will power the attack. Fox Chapel moving to 3A is a relief, but more contenders are in the mix.

Others to watch: Seneca Valley was one of the stingiest teams in the WPIAL, allowing just 11 goals in 17 games. Juniors Ashlee Libby and all-WPIAL player Karly Majeski are key offensive players. … Upper St. Clair was a No. 2 seed and made the semifinals before falling to Fox Chapel. All-state player Sierra Dupre and all-WPIAL players Natalia DiSora, Ellie Shanholtzer and Cameryn Friday are among the key returnees. … Canon-McMillan made the semifinals as a No. 5 seed. The Big Macs will rely on the senior triumvirate of Emilee Tonkovich, Lilly Bane and Sydney Hares. … Molly Kubistek, Marina Hajnosz and Ava Hajnosz are back for Peters Township. … Latrobe and Penn-Trafford moved up from 3A. All-state players Robin Reilly and Ava Yurko, along with several other standouts, power Latrobe. … Woodland Hills bumped up from 2A. … Like the boys, Class 4A is now three sections instead of two.

Top players: Lexie Adams, So., F, Armstrong; Lilly Bane, Sr., MF, Canon-McMillan; Annalyse Bauer, Jr., MF, Latrobe; Shea Best, Jr., GK, Pine-Richland; Nicole Bown, Jr., D, Norwin; Julia Bursick, Sr., MF, Norwin; Isabella Caldwell, Sr., D, Woodland Hills; Natalia DiSora, Jr., MF, Upper St. Clair; Sierra Dupre, Jr., MF, Upper St. Clair; Cameryn Friday, Jr., GK, Upper St Clair; Ava Hajnosz, So., D, Peters Township; Marina Hajnosz, So., MF, Peters Township; Sydney Hares, Sr., MF, Canon-McMillan; Camryn Klein, Sr., MF, Peters Township; Molly Kubistek, Jr., GK, Peters Township; Ashlee Libby, Jr., F, Seneca Valley; Madison Miller, Sr., D, North Allegheny; Karly Majeski, Jr., MF, Seneca Valley; Mary Mascaro, Jr., MF, Upper St. Clair; Mary McElhattan, Sr., D, Mt. Lebanon; Jiana Patterson, Jr., F, Hempfield; Tessa Peer, Sr., MF, Mt. Lebanon; Maddy Petruzzi, Sr., MF, Latrobe; Robin Reilly, Sr., F, Latrobe; Emma Schupansky, Jr., MF, North Allegheny; Ellie Shanholtzer, Sr., MF, Upper St. Clair; Rease Solomon, Sr., GK, Penn-Trafford; Emilee Tonkovich, Sr., F, Canon-McMillan; Isabele Wilson, Sr., GK, Woodland Hills; Ava Yurko, Sr., D, Latrobe

Rankings: 1. North Allegheny; 2. Seneca Valley; 3. Upper St. Clair; 4. Canon-McMillan; 5. Latrobe

Class 3A

Defending champion: South Fayette

Runner-up: Moon

PIAA champion: Moon

Team to beat: Moon rebounded from a 1-0 double-overtime loss in the WPIAL final to win its third straight PIAA championship. The Tigers gave up only four goals in 23 games. A terrific goalkeeper moved on to IUP in Serayah Leech, but the Tigers still have junior Kendall Dydek.

Others to watch: Fox Chapel made a thrilling run to the WPIAL 4A title as a No. 6 seed and the Foxes have the talent to get it done in a new classification. Senior Alyssa Quackenbush returns to the midfield, along with senior Maddie Grimsley, with a talented sophomore up top in Emily McKee, an all-WPIAL pick. … South Fayette won the WPIAL title as a No. 5 seed, knocking off powerhouses Mars and Moon along the way. A pair of all-section players are back for the Lions in Abbey Spalla and Mia Deramo. … Montour made the semifinals as a No. 7 seed. All-WPIAL player Grace Bannon returns. … Mars posted 19 wins and made the WPIAL and state semifinals. The perennial contender has several senior standouts to replace, but returns seniors Julia Lishia and Brynn Ramsey, who helped the Fightin’ Planets hold teams to four goals all season . … Midfielders Sara Kenst, Olivia Hoffman and Molly Interthal give Hampton a strong chance to return to the postseason. … Thomas Jefferson had two losses last year, in its first and last games, and has a nucleus in place with Olivia Della Lucia, Abigail Ngugi, Sami Maglicco, Ashlynn Fry and Aubrey Little. … Don’t sleep on Bethel Park, which moved down from 4A. Callee Dalbon is a returning all-WPIAL player. … Abby Paterline is one of the top players in the class out of Franklin Regional. … All-WPIAL player Serena Carnahan leads Plum, which also has Gianna Revetta and Meghan Stammer back in the fold. … West Mifflin moved up from 2A. … Shaler moved down from 4A.

Top players: Brooklyn Baldensperger, Sr., F, Elizabeth Forward; Grace Bannon, Sr., MF, Montour; Serena Carnahan, Sr., MF, Plum; Callee Dalbon, Jr., MF, Bethel Park; Olivia Della Lucia, Sr., MF, Thomas Jefferson; Mia Deramo, Sr., MF, South Fayette; Jada Downs, So., MF, West Mifflin; Kendall Dydek, Jr., MF, Moon; Grace Ferency, Sr., MF, Bethel Park; Nica Folino, Sr., GK, Oakland Catholic; Ashlynn Fry, Sr., F, Thomas Jefferson; Maddie Grimsley, Sr., MF, Fox Chapel; Chloe Hart, Sr., F, West Allegheny; Olivia Hoffman, Sr., MF, Hampton; Molly Interthal, Jr., MF, Hampton; Camryn Kunz, Sr., MF, Kiski Area; Sara Kenst, Jr., MF, Hampton; Julia Lishia, Jr., D, Mars; Aubrey Little, Jr., MF, Thomas Jefferson; Sami Maglicco, Jr., MF, Thomas Jefferson; Corinna Martella, Sr., MF, Oakland Catholic; Emily McKee, So., F, Fox Chapel; Abigail Ngugi, Sr., D, Thomas Jefferson; Abby Paterline, Sr., MF, Franklin Regional; Hayden Price, Sr., MF, Gateway; Alyssa Quackenbush, Sr., MF, Fox Chapel; Brynn Ramsey, Sr., MF, Mars; Gianna Revetta, Jr., MF, Plum; Sophie Scardina, Jr., F, Indiana; Ella Smith, Jr., F, West Allegheny; Lilly Snyder, Sr., MF, Moon; Abbey Spalla, So., D, South Fayette; Noelle Spears, Jr., D, Oakland Catholic; Meghan Stammer, Jr., D, Plum; Allyssa Velasquez, Jr., F, Franklin Regional; Eden Williams, Sr., D, Franklin Regional; Alexis Zidek, Sr., D, Kiski Area

Rankings: 1. Moon; 2. Fox Chapel; 3. South Fayette; 4. Mars; 5. Thomas Jefferson

Class 2A

Defending champion: Avonworth

Runner-up: Shady Side Academy

PIAA champion: Central Columbia

Team to beat: Avonworth has Fiona Mahan back, which makes the Antelopes an instant contender for a WPIAL four-peat. Mahan is an Alabama commit. She will need to develop a new supporting cast with the graduation of several key players.

Others to watch: Mt. Pleasant will be motivated by its quarterfinal loss to Burrell, 2-1 in overtime. The Vikings reached the WPIAL finals two years ago. They have an abundance of talent returning, including Rylin Bugosh, Morgan Gesinski, Caitlyn Fullman, Raygan Mizikar, Maddie Barrick and keeper Laurel Rummel. … Shady Side Academy always is a factor and the Bulldogs have punch offensively with Lucille McCargo, Sarah Kushnir, Ella Van Norman, Cooper Danforth and netminder Maria Ravotti. … South Park also has a loaded lineup that features Alicia Riberich, Emily Mihelcic, Taylor Vargo, Brooke Paylo, Arianna Beck and Gianna Cardillo. The Eagles won 17 games last year and made the WPIAL semifinals and PIAA quarterfinals. … North Catholic shared a section title with Avonworth and was a No. 2 seed but was upset by Shady Side Academy in the quarterfinals. Simone Sharpless and Lauren Mealie bring experience to the pitch. The Trojanettes averaged over four goals a game. … Burrell took pride in a run to the WPIAL semifinals. A number of key players are set to return including Miley Kariotis and Maggie Nesko. … Belle Vernon is a newcomer to 2A after dropping a class. The Leopards have standout players back in Samantha Mincone, Ava Scalise and Grace West. … Ringgold also moved down a class.

Top players: Alyssa Alcorn, Jr., GK, Freeport; Imani Arnold, Jr., F, Ringgold; Maddie Barrick, Sr., F, Mt. Pleasant; Lilia Battalini, Sr., MF, Beaver; Arianna Beck, So., MF, South Park; Lizzy Boone, Sr., D, Southmoreland; Rylin Bugosh, Sr., F, Mt. Pleasant; Brooke Cacurak, Jr., D, Deer Lakes; Claire Cacurak, Jr., F, Deer Lakes; Gianna Cardillo, Jr., GK, South Park; Sydney Chontos, Sr., MF, Beaver; Emerson Connelly, Sr., MF, Beaver; Cooper Danforth, Sr., MF, Shady Side Academy; Caitlyn Fullman, Jr., D, Mt. Pleasant; Morgan Gesinski, Jr., F, Mt. Pleasant; Ana Hahn, Jr., F, Beaver; Miley Kariotis, Sr., MF, Burrell; Sarah Kushnir, Jr., MF, Shady Side Academy; Peyton Los, Jr., MF, Freeport; Fiona Mahan, Sr., MF, Avonworth; Lucille McCargo, Sr., MF, Shady Side Academy; Lauren Mealie, Sr., MF, North Catholic; Emily Mihelcic, Sr., D, South Park; Samantha Mincone, Sr., D, Belle Vernon; Raygan Mizikar, Jr., D, Mt. Pleasant; Mia Modrovich, Sr., D, Quaker Valley; Maggie Nesko, Sr., MF, Burrell; Jenna Pattison, Sr., D, McGuffey; Brooke Paylo, Sr., MF, South Park; Alison Ramaley, Jr., GK, Hopewell; Maria Ravotti, Jr., GK, Shady Side Academy; Alicia Riberich, Sr., MF, South Park; Laurel Rummel, Jr., GK, Mt. Pleasant; Ava Scalise, Sr., MF, Belle Vernon; Aubrey Seder, Sr., MF, Southmoreland; Simone Sharpless, Jr., MF, North Catholic; Aly Simon, Jr., F, Keystone Oaks; Bry Simonetti, Jr., F, Deer Lakes; Katelyn Slavick, Jr., MF, Yough; Allyson Steffey, Sr., MF, Ligonier Valley; Gracelynn Tomko, Sr., D, Yough; Ella Van Norman, Jr., F, Shady Side Academy; Taylor Vargo, Sr., F, South Park; Grace West, Sr., MF, Belle Vernon; Camryn Woods, So., F, Freeport

Rankings: 1. Avonworth; 2. Mt. Pleasant; 3. South Park; 4 Side Academy; 5. Burrell

Class A

Defending champion: Freedom

Runner-up: Riverview

PIAA champion: Dock Mennonite

Team to beat: While it loses plenty of talented seniors, including Shaye Bailey, Freedom holds the trophy until someone else takes it away. The Bulldogs racked up 91 goals for the season. They knocked off top-seeded Riverview in the final.

Others to watch: High-scoring Riverview made the WPIAL and PIAA finals but has to replace one of its all-time greats in Lola Abraham, who is now at Pitt. Three all-section players are back, including Hannah Hudack, Mary Quinlan and Katerina Tsambis. … Greensburg Central Catholic, an annual playoff contender, was dealing with a low number of players over the summer. Riley Kerr is one of the top goal scorers in the WPIAL. … Watch out for Springdale, which always seem to find itself in the title mix. A semifinalist that averaged 5.4 goals, the Dynamos bring back veteran seniors in Briana Ross, Molly Hurley and Brooke Taliani. … Winchester Thurston has three all-WPIAL players back in Margherita Memoli, Meredith Snyder and Maeve Dever. … Lying in wait could be Sewickley Academy, a returning playoff team that welcomes back Katherine Varghese, Quincy Sirko and others. … Brownsville and Apollo-Ridge moved down from 2A. … Monessen and Charleroi have formed a co-op as Monessen deals with low roster numbers. Charleroi competes in 2A.

Top players: Maire Bigi, Sr., GK, Sewickley Academy; Amelia Brose, Jr., F, Chartiers-Houston; Ari Buchanan, Sr., MF, Aquinas Academy; Ava Capozzoli, Sr., F, Chartiers-Houston; Brianne Casto, Jr., MF, Freedom; Aryada Chiploskey, So., MF, Charleroi; Maeve Dever, Sr. GK, Winchester Thurston; Ava Ernst, Sr., MF, Mohawk; Talia Dubowitz, Jr., F, Ellis School; Cali Evans, Jr., MF, Bishop Canevin; Gabriella Finch, Sr., MF, Riverside; Sophia Fisher, Sr., MF, Greensburg Central Catholic; Sam Hardman, Jr., GK, Steel Valley; Hannah Hudack, So., D, Riverview; Molly Hurley, Sr., F, Springdale; Megan Keturakis, So., D, Bentworth; Avi Keller, So., MF, Winchester Thurston; Alayna Kelly, Sr., MF, South Side; Riley Kerr, Sr., F, Greensburg Central Catholic; Akiera King, So., MF, Ellis School; Paige Krimmel, Sr., D, Ellis School; Jesse Laskey, Jr., D, Bentworth; Ella Lotz, Sr., GK, South Allegheny; Margherita Memoli, Sr., MF, Winchester Thurston; Ella Miller, Jr., F, Waynesburg; Miladija Pavlovich, Jr., MF, South Side; Olivia Pettner, Sr., D, Riverside; Milena Poziviak, So., MF, Serra Catholic; Mary Quinlan, So., MF, Riverview; Briana Ross, Sr., F, Springdale; Lauren Rush, Jr., MF, Chartiers-Houston; Kylie Salopek, Sr., MF, Steel Valley; Eden Schrier, Sr., GK, South Side; Quincy Sirko, Sr., F, Sewickley Academy; Meredith Snyder, Sr., F, Winchester Thurston; Roslyn Steinbach, Sr., MF, Riverside; Baya Swinston, Sr., F, Eden Christian; Brooke Taliani, Sr., D, Springdale; Olivia Taylor, Jr., MF, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart; Katerina Tsambis, Riverview, Sr., D, Riverview; Katherine Varghese, Sr., F, Sewickley Academy

Rankings: 1. Freedom; 2. Riverview; 3. Greensburg Central Catholic; 4. Springdale; 5. Winchester Thurston

Important dates

Aug. 12: First day of practice

Aug. 17: First scrimmages

Aug. 23: First play date

Aug. 26: First section date

Oct. 19: WPIAL playoffs begin

Oct 31-Nov 2: WPIAL championships

Nov. 5: PIAA playoffs begin

Nov. 15-16: PIAA championships

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.