What to watch for in WPIAL sports for Sept. 10, 2024: South Hills teams look to return to top in boys soccer

By: Don Rebel
Monday, September 9, 2024 | 11:14 PM

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Tuesday marks another busy day of WPIAL boys soccer section matches on the pitch.

From 1997-2015, championships in the highest classification (3A) were dominated by schools located in the South Hills.

The combination of Mt. Lebanon, Bethel Park, Upper St. Clair, Peters Township, Canon-McMillan and Chartiers Valley captured 17 WPIAL championships in 19 years.

However, since the advent of Class 4A in 2016, the gold has just about evaporated in the south.

In eight seasons of 4A boys soccer, only Canon-McMillan in 2019 has won it all from the South Hills in the district’s highest class.

That doesn’t mean good soccer isn’t being played along the Route 19 corridor.

Thus far this season in Section 2-4A, five of the six teams are .500 or better in nonsection matches.

Canon-McMillan (1-0, 3-0-1), Peters Township (1-0, 3-1-1) and Upper St. Clair (1-0, 2-2-1) all won their section openers last week.

On Tuesday, the Big Macs visit the Indians while the Panthers are home to rival Mt. Lebanon (0-1, 3-3).

More soccer showdowns

It’s still early days in boys soccer section play, but several matches set for Tuesday will give the winner a share of the top spot in their respective sections.

Two of them are in Class 4A as Gateway visits Plum in Section 1 while Seneca Valley hosts Fox Chapel in Section 3.

The Gators are 1-0 in the section and 2-2 overall while the Mustangs have yet to lose, with a 1-0 record in section and a 3-0-1 mark overall.

Both the Raiders and Foxes are tied for first in Section 3 with North Allegheny at 1-0. Seneca Valley is 5-1 this season while Fox Chapel is 3-1-1.

Two other early season battles for first place in boys soccer are:

• North Catholic (3-1, 4-2) at Shady Side Academy (2-0-1, 2-1-1) in Section 1-2A

• Bentworth (1-0, 5-0) at Chartiers-Houston (1-0, 1-5) in Section 2-A

Volleyball section openers

Class 4A section action gets underway this week in WPIAL girls volleyball.

Six 4A district teams came into the week undefeated overall heading into their section openers.

In Section 1-4A, Canon-McMillan swept Mt. Lebanon on Monday. The Big Macs are 5-0 and and Blue Devils are now 3-1.

Peters Township is 4-0 this season. They open up section play at Bethel Park.

North Catholic won three straight WPIAL girls volleyball championships in 2020 and 2021 in 2A and a 3A crown in 2022. The Trojans are now in 4A and play their first Section 2-4A match Tuesday against visiting North Hills.