What to watch for in WPIAL sports on Oct. 17, 2023: One last playoff spot up for grabs in boys soccer

By: Don Rebel
Tuesday, October 17, 2023 | 12:01 AM

The final day of section play in WPIAL boys soccer is Tuesday.

The playoff fields are set in Class 4A, 2A and A.

The postseason puzzle is not quite finished in Class 3A, as the fourth-place battle in Section 2-3A comes down to the final night.

Chartiers Valley is 6-7 in section play while Central Valley checks in at 5-6-2.

Following a loss to defending champion Moon on Monday, Chartiers Valley finishes the regular season at West Allegheny (4-8-1) on Tuesday while Central Valley visits Ambridge (1-11-1).

The WPIAL scores three points for each section win and one point for a tie, so entering the final night, the Colts have 18 points and the Warriors have 17 points.

Chartiers Valley clinches with a win. Central Valley needs a win and a Chartiers Valley loss or tie OR a tie and a Chartiers Valley loss.

If both teams end up tied for fourth place, they will both qualify since they split their head-to-head meetings this fall.

One for first, one for fourth

The regular season is winding down in WPIAL girls volleyball with just a week remaining for teams to earn a section championship or qualify with a playoff berth.

There is one big match in each of those two categories on Tuesday, both in Class 2A.

In Section 2-2A, Keystone Oaks can win the section crown with a victory at South Allegheny.

The Golden Eagles are alone in first place with a record of 11-1 while the Gladiators are hot on their trail with a 10-2 mark.

In Section 3-2A, Brownsville and Charleroi are deadlocked for fourth place with records of 8-6.

The Falcons visit the Cougars with the winner clinching a WPIAL playoff spot.

Final round of PIAA golf

Plum junior Wes Lorish, who was the last WPIAL golfer to qualify for the PIAA 3A boys individual golf championships after finishing 14th in the district finals, is tied for first place in the state championship after 18 holes.

Lorish is tied for the lead with Aidan Farkas of St. Joe’s Prep after shooting a 6-under par 66 on the first day of the two-day event at the Penn State Blue Course in State College.

WPIAL champion Nick Turowski of Penn-Trafford is tied for fifth place with a 3-under par 69.

Eden Christian senior Luke Gronbeck shot a 2-under par 70 and is in second place in the 2A tournament, two strokes behind Nick Werner of Wyoming Seminary.

Lihini Ranaweera shot an even-par 72 on the first day of the PIAA girls 3A event. She heads into Tuesday’s final 18 holes five strokes behind leader Rhianna Gooneratne of Plymouth-Whitemarsh.

In the girls 2A tournament, Sasha Petrochko of Hickory leads after shooting an even-par 72 on Monday.

WPIAL runner-up Pearl Lundgren, a sophomore from Eden Christian, is the top district golfer, tied for ninth place at 6-over par.

The 18-hole PIAA team championship is set for Wednesday at the Penn State.