Westmoreland girls soccer preview capsules: Games for Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Monday, October 23, 2023 | 9:21 PM

Purchase Photo Options

WPIAL soccer playoffs

Class 2A

First round

16-Yough (5-13) vs. 1-Avonworth (14-1-2)

8 p.m. Tuesday

Winner plays: Winner of 9-Quaker Valley (10-5-1)/8-Southmoreland (10-5) Saturday in quarterfinals

Players to watch: Brooke Wieland, Yough; Fiona Mahan, Avonworth

Throw-ins: Yough is the only sub.-500 team in the bracket. The Cougars have been shut out 11 times. A pair of wins over Ligonier Valley and East Allegheny allowed them to secure fourth in Section 3. … Avonworth, the two-time defending WPIAL champion, tied for the Section 1 title with rival North Catholic. Wins over Freedom and South Fayette stand out in the schedule. Mahan is an Alabama commit.

9-Quaker Valley (10-5-1) at 8-Southmoreland (10-5)

8 p.m. Tuesday

Winner plays: Winner of 16-Yough (5-13)/1-Avonworth (14-1-2) Saturday in quarterfinals.

Players to watch: Mia Modrovich, Quaker Valley; Aubrey Seder, Southmoreland

Throw-ins: Quaker Valley did not make the playoffs last year but rallied to tie Beaver Area for third in Section 1 behind Avonworth and North Catholic. They put up only 33 goals but allowed more than two scores only one time. … Southmoreland quietly finished second in Section 3 behind Mt. Pleasant. Lizzy Boone and Seder bring playoff experience to the midfield.

14-West Mifflin (7-7) at 3-Mt. Pleasant (15-2)

7 p.m. Tuesday

Winner plays: Winner of 11-Keystone Oaks (9-7)/6-Burrell (12-4) Saturday in quarterfinals

Players to watch: Jada Downs, West Mifflin; Maggie Piper, Mt. Pleasant

Throw-ins: West Mifflin won two of its final three section games to seal up fourth place in Section 4. Two of their losses came against Keystone Oaks, but they were one-goal games, including an overtime loss. … Mt. Pleasant had a remarkable regular season, outscoring teams 135-3 with 15 shutouts. The Lady Vikings finished second in the WPIAL last season to Avonworth. Morgan Gesinski had 26 goals and 22 assists, and Piper has 24 goals and 11 assists.

Class A

First round

12-South Allegheny (11-7) vs. 5-Greensburg Central Catholic (10-2)

6 p.m. Tuesday at Southmoreland

Winner plays: Winner of 13-Seton LaSalle (9-7)/4-Winchester Thurston (10-2) Saturday in quarterfinals

Players to watch: Morgan Mosqueda, South Allegheny; Riley Kerr, GCC

Throw-ins: South Allegheny has been involved in 12 shutouts, including seven wins. The Gladiators have wins over Keystone Oaks and Ligonier Valley. Seven of their wins have come on the road. … GCC has overcome a light roster — the result of injuries and illness — to regroup for a playoff run. Kerr is the leading goal scorer, but watch Jiana Patterson, who has played well of late. Leah Jones is back in goal after missing time with an injury.

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

Tags: Avonworth, Greensburg C.C., Mt. Pleasant, Quaker Valley, South Allegheny, Southmoreland, West Mifflin, Yough