What to watch for in WPIAL sports on Oct. 9, 2024: Section titles still up for grabs in girls soccer

By: Don Rebel
Tuesday, October 8, 2024 | 11:43 PM

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Most of the WPIAL girls soccer section titles are already decided with under a week remaining in the regular season, but first place will be at stake in a couple of section matches Wednesday.

Two teams with a combined overall record of 23-2-1 meet with the Section 3-2A title up for grabs when Beaver (12-0) visits Quaker Valley (11-2-1).

The Bobcats can clinch the section crown outright with a win and can earn at least a share of the section title with a tie.

The Quakers can move into a tie for first place with a victory with each team having one section game remaining. On Monday, Beaver hosts Hopewell (1-6-1, 1-9-2) while Quaker Valley visits Avonworth (3-5, 6-9-1).

The Bobcats edged the Quakers 3-2 in the first meeting on Sept. 16.

Things are a little more complicated atop Section 2-A.

Bentworth (7-1, 13-1) is in first place by a half-game over both Chartiers-Houston (7-2, 9-3) and Waynesburg (7-2, 11-2).

On Wednesday, the Bearcats host the Buccaneers while the Raiders visit fourth-place California (3-4-1, 4-6-1).

A Chartiers-Houston win clinches at least a share of the section crown and opens the door for Waynesburg to earn a tie for the title with a victory over the Trojans.

A Bentworth victory earns at least a share of the section championship with one more match remaining. The Bearcats visit playoff-bound California on Monday.

Win and you’re in … with some help

The WPIAL girls soccer playoff field in Class 4A is nearly set with 12 teams, but there is a slim chance two more teams can clinch a playoff spot with wins and some help Wednesday.

In Section 1-4A, Woodland Hills (2-7, 3-9-1) can clinch with an upset win at Norwin (7-2, 9-7-1) and a Hempfield (3-6, 5-11) home loss to Latrobe (6-3, 7-4-1).

In Section 2-4A, Baldwin (3-6, 6-10) earns a postseason berth with a home win stunner of section champion Peters Township (8-0-1, 13-0-1) and a Mt. Lebanon (4-5, 9-5-1) loss to visiting Upper St. Clair (5-2-2, 8-5-2).

Other teams looking to clinch:

• In Section 2-3A, Bethel Park (5-4-2, 7-5-3) hosts Blackhawk (4-6, 5-9). If the Black Hawks win, they clinch. If the Cougars win, they would still need to beat West Allegheny on Monday to earn a playoff berth.

• In Section 3-2A, Central Valley (3-6, 6-7) travels to Hopewell (1-6-1, 1-9-2). The Warriors would not need any help if they win because they would clinch. However if they lose, they would need an Avonworth victory over Ambridge on Thursday to clinch.

• In Section 3-A, Bishop Canevin (4-6, 4-9) visits Aquinas Academy (6-5, 8-5). In this battle of the Crusaders, BC needs the road win and a home victory Monday over Sewickley Academy (7-1-1, 8-3-1) to earn a postseason berth. Aquinas Academy has already clinched based on its 5-0 victory over Bishop Canevin on Sept. 16.

Class 3A team tennis

The higher seeds all advanced in Monday’s WPIAL Class 3A girls team tennis first round with one exception: No. 11 Peters Township stunned No. 6 Franklin Regional, 3-2.

Now the quarterfinals are set for Wednesday with these four matches.

• No. 8 Pine-Richland at No. 1 Mt. Lebanon

• No. 5 Fox Chapel at No. 4 Upper St. Clair

• No 7 North Allegheny at No. 2 Shady Side Academy

• No. 11 Peters Township at No. 3 Bethel Park

All four matches begin at 3 p.m. The winners advance to the 3A semifinals at a neutral site Monday.

The Class 2A girls team tennis playoffs quarterfinals are set for Thursday.