What to watch for in WPIAL sports on Oct. 12, 2023: Boys soccer playoff puzzle coming together

By: Don Rebel
Thursday, October 12, 2023 | 12:20 AM

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The WPIAL boys soccer playoff field is set in Class 4A and A; however, there are still some missing pieces to the postseason puzzle in 3A and 2A.

Some if not all of them may fall into place Thursday.

In Section 1-3A, Indiana (4-6) has a slim half-game lead over Kiski Area (3-6-1) in their battle for fourth place.

The Little Indians can clinch a playoff berth with a win Thursday when they visit the Cavaliers. A Kiski Area victory puts the Cavaliers a half-game up on Indiana with both teams having one more section match remaining.

In Section 2-3A, Chartiers Valley (6-5) has three section matches remaining, Central Valley (5-6-2) has one left, and West Allegheny (4-7-1) has two section matches to play.

On Thursday, the Colts can clinch with a win as they visit third-place South Fayette. The Warriors and Indians are in must-win mode as Central Valley visits Ambridge and West Allegheny travels to Moon.

In Section 2-2A, it’s coming down to the final section match Thursday for Freeport (7-6) and Jeannette (6-6-1) in their battle for fourth place.

The Yellowjackets travel to first-place Deer Lakes while the Jayhawks visit Leechburg. If they both win or both lose, Freeport is in. If Jeannette wins and Freeport ties its match and both finish tied for fourth place, then they both will qualify for the postseason.

Section championship match

One WPIAL boys soccer section will be decided Thursday in a head-to-head match when North Allegheny visits Seneca Valley.

The teams are unbeaten in section play, each owning a record of 10-0-3.

Both teams tied Butler and Fox Chapel in matches earlier this season, while the Raiders and Tigers played to a 1-1 draw in their first meeting at NA on Sept. 19.

The teams are a combined 25-0-6 overall this season.

The winner is section champion and likely the top seed while the loser also has a shot at either the No. 2 or No. 3 seed in the upcoming WPIAL Class 4A playoffs.

The two would share the section championship if they play to yet another tie.

Golf gold

The WPIAL will be handing out gold on the links Thursday as the first team champions this school year are crowned.

All four boys and girls championship matches will take place at Cedarbrook Golf Course in Belle Vernon

In the boys 3A team finals, the six qualifying teams participating are Butler, Fox Chapel, Indiana, North Allegheny, Peters Township and South Fayette.

There are eight teams taking part in the girls 3A team championships. Teeing off for gold will be Armstrong, Fox Chapel, Franklin Regional, Moon, Penn-Trafford, Peters Township, Seneca Valley and Upper St. Clair.

Six teams are part of the finals field for boys 2A. They are Belle Vernon, Mohawk, Neshannock, Quaker Valley, South Park and Uniontown.

The girls 2A championship has five teams golfing for a district title: Central Valley, Greensburg Central Catholic, Mt. Pleasant, Seton LaSalle and Shady Side Academy.

In girls golf, Peters Township is trying to repeat and win its third 3A crown in four years while Greensburg Central Catholic shoots for a ninth consecutive WPIAL title.

For the boys, Central Catholic in 3A and Sewickley Academy in 2A are trying to repeat. The Panthers are trying to win their 10th championship in the last 11 years.

City League football finale

The regular season comes to an end in District 8 this weekend as the City League prepares for the upcoming football postseason.

On Thursday, regular season champion and undefeated Westinghouse (3-0, 6-0) will battle Brashear (1-2, 2-5) at George Cupples Stadium while on Friday, University Prep (2-1, 5-2) takes on Allderdice (1-2, 1-6).

If Westinghouse and University Prep win as expected this weekend, they would be the top two seeds while the other three teams — Allderdice, Brashear and Perry — would finish tied the final two playoff spots and would have split in head-to-head matchups.

Team tennis 2A quarters

With no big upsets in the first round of the 2023 WPIAL Class 2A girls team tennis playoffs, the quarterfinals are set for Thurssday.

The top seven seeds all won and advanced in the opening round, while No. 9 Winchester Thurston edged No. 8 Chartiers Valley, 3-2.

Beaver squeezed by Montour in the opening round, but the six other first-round winners all advanced convincingly with scores of either 5-0, or 4-1. Top-seed Knoch had a first-round bye.

The championships are set for the Janet L. Swanson Tennis Center at Washington & Jefferson College on Wednesday, Oct. 18.

All four quarterfinals matches are set for Thursday at 3 p.m.

• No. 9 Winchester Thurston Bears vs. No. 1 Knoch Knights at Butler

• No. 5 Hampton Talbots vs. No. 4 Indiana Little Indians at White Township Park

• No. 6 Beaver Bobcats vs. No. 3 North Catholic Trojans at Cranberry Township Park

• No. 7 Quaker Valley Quakers at No. 2 Sewickley Academy Panthers