WPIAL boys soccer preview: Norwin, South Fayette, South Park, Bentworth out to defend titles

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Monday, August 19, 2024 | 5:54 PM

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WPIAL boys soccer preview

Class 4A

Defending champion: Norwin

Runner-up: North Allegheny

PIAA champion: Conestoga

Team to beat: Norwin won its first WPIAL title in dramatic fashion, posting three shootout wins in six playoff games. Senior Daniel Maddock will be a key scorer with the graduation of all-state leader Owen Christopher (Pitt). Senior George Bunovich is a key returning back-liner, along with senior Dylan Moyer, while sophomore Chase Molinaro is a top midfielder.

Others to watch: A playoff regular, Seneca Valley brings back 4A co-player of the year and all-stater Tyler Prex, as well as senior midfielder Zach Garma. The Raiders averaged nearly four goals a game. … North Allegheny made the WPIAL final and fell to Norwin on penalty kicks. The Tigers, who had as many wins as Norwin (17) and reached the PIAA quarterfinals, return seniors Zach Nash, Nathan Katari and Caleb Rumberger. … Fox Chapel still has some players, but one of them is not Pittsburgh Riverhounds’ signee and all-state performer Pablo Linzoain, a talented senior who is not playing high school soccer this fall. Seniors Carson Krushansky and Milo Chiu return for the Foxes. … Peters Township scored over three goals a game. The Indians will look to seniors Parker Weiss, Caden Hensler and Jeven Kelly to pave the way back to the playoffs. … The 4A landscape changed substantially as the class went from two sections to three. Plum, Gateway, Penn Hills, Connellsville and Woodland Hills all moved up in class. Plum could contend for playoff spot but must replace 3A player of the year Tristan Ralph. … North-heavy Section 3 houses Fox Chapel, North Allegheny and Seneca Valley.

Top players: Liam Burlovic, Sr., MF, Upper St. Clair; Garrett Chandler, Sr., D, Plum; Milo Chu, Sr., MF, Fox Chapel; Gabe Fegely, Jr., MF, Canon-McMillan; Caden Hensler, Sr., D, Peters Township; Nick LoCoco, Sr., MF, Gateway; Daniel Maddock, Sr., F, Norwin; Zach Nash, Sr., F, North Allegheny; Logan Pappert, Sr., F, Central Catholic; Tyler Prex, Sr., MF, Seneca Valley; Chase Molinaro, So., MF, Norwin

Rankings: 1.Norwin; 2. Seneca Valley; 3. North Allegheny; 4. Fox Chapel; 5. Peters Township

Class 3A

Defending champion: South Fayette

Runner-up: Hampton

PIAA champion: Cathedral Prep

Team to beat: Thomas Jefferson. The 16-win Jaguars return three all-section players in Jake Shoemaker, Brayden Miller (all-WPIAL) and goalie Sam Wessel. They took Hampton to double overtime in the quarterfinals.

Others to watch: Finalists South Fayette and Hampton lost a combined 24 seniors — 12 each — and appear to be facing a rebuild. … Franklin Regional, led by new coach Nick White, has a pair of talented goal scorers and all-WPIAL players in seniors Joey Bayne and Danny Christafano. The Panthers made a surprise push to the semifinals last season. … Latrobe has the look of a winner with the Agostoni brothers, Warren and Roman, leading the charge. The Wildcats have never won a playoff game but they swept Franklin Regional in section play last year. … Montour was a semifinalist. … Belle Vernon moves up from 2A and is dangerous offensively with senior Trevor Kovatch back. The Yeschenko brothers, Mason and Brandon, also return. … Allderdice and Baldwin dropped from 4A.

Top players: Roman Agostoni, Sr., MF, Latrobe; Warren Agostoni, So., MF, Latrobe; Zach Angoff, Sr., MF, Mars; Joey Bayne, Sr., F, Franklin Regional; Austin Beck, Jr., MF, Kiski Area; Evan Bonato, Sr., MF, Montour; Jordan Callipare,, F, Armstrong; Danny Christafano, Sr., F, Franklin Regional; Fin Dengel, Sr., MF, Moon; Nick Evans, Sr., MF, Ringgold; Jackson Friday, Sr., MF, Bethel Park; Evan Hass, Jr., D, Knoch; Trevor Kovatch, Sr., F, Belle Vernon; John Krug, Sr., F, Chartiers Valley; Jason Martin, Sr., D, West Mifflin; Brayden Miller, Sr., MF, Thomas Jefferson; Andy Palm, Sr., F, Trinity; Walker Sherwin, Sr., MF, Washington; Jake Shoemaker, Sr., MF, Thomas Jefferson; Evan Thomas, Sr., D, Moon; Ryan Torboli, Sr., GK, Trinity; Sam Wessel, Jr., GK, Thomas Jefferson; Mason Yeschenko, Sr., D, Belle Vernon; Colton Yonker, Jr., D, West Allegheny

Rankings: 1. Thomas Jefferson; 2. Franklin Regional; 3. South Fayette; 4. Hampton; 5. Latrobe

Class 2A

Defending champion: South Park

Runner-up: Quaker Valley

PIAA champion: Camp Hill

Team to beat: South Park didn’t lose to a WPIAL team, finishing 22-1 while posting 14 shutouts. The Eagles put up an impressive 3.9 goals per game. All-state defender Ryan Ellis will be an anchor player.

Others to watch: Avonworth has the potential to be one of the top scoring teams in the classification. All-WPIAL player Rowan Carmichael is one of several returning starters, along with Abdul Wahab, Carter Berad and goalie Alex Rowe. The Antelopes reached the semifinals. … Perennial contender Shady Side Academy made the semifinals. The Indians will lean on Mark Bence in the midfield. … Quaker Valley has to reload after scoring 120 goals and reaching the WPIAL and PIAA finals. … Deer Lakes has a boatload of talent back from a team that averaged 6.8 goals, including all-WPIAL players Peyton Kushon and Collin Rodgers. … North Catholic and Highlands dropped down from 3A. … Charleroi , a WPIAL and PIAA Class A finalist, moved up to 2A, as did Burrell, which made the WPIAL Single-A semis. … Jeannette has a tall task in replacing 2A player of the year Jordan Taylor.

Top players: Danny Battista, Sr., MF, South Park; Mark Bence, Jr., MF, Shady Side Academy; Carter Berad, Jr., D, Avonworth; Wesley Boyle, Jr., GK, Deer Lakes; Rowan Carmichael, Sr., MF, Avonworth; Dom Cavalier, Sr., MF, Elizabeth Forward; Ethan Childers, Sr., MF, Elizabeth Forward; Cam DiVincentis, Sr. F, Central Valley; Ryan Ellis, Sr., D, South Park; Aydan Gross, Sr., MF, Mt. Pleasant; Nate Kler, Sr., MF, McGuffey; Dylan Klinger, Jr., MF, Charleroi; Billy Kowalkowski, Sr., D, Burrell; Tyler Kovalcik, So., F, Seton LaSalle; Peyton Kushon, Jr., F, Deer Lakes; Jack Lyons, Sr., MF, Seton LaSalle; Ryon McCartney, Sr., F, Waynesburg; Isaac Pacacha, So., F, Yough; Angelo Porco, Sr., F, Freeport; Collin Rodgers, Jr., F, Deer Lakes; Alex Rowe, Sr., GK, Avonworth; Drew Schedlbauer, Sr. GK, North Catholic; Zane Spence, Jr., MF, Deer Lakes; Jack Smith, Jr., MF, Southmoreland; Sam Stout, Sr., GK, McGuffey; Jorel Taylor, Sr., D, Jeannette; Abdul Wahab, Sr., MF, Avonworth; Ryan Wesolowski, Sr., MF, South Park

Rankings: 1. South Park; 2. Avonworth; 3. Quaker Valley; 4. Shady Side Academy; 5. Deer Lakes

Class A

Defending champion: Bentworth

Runner-up: Charleroi

PIAA champion: Delco Christian

Team to beat: Bentworth is the frontrunner to defend its title. The Bearcats, who put 129 goals in the back of the net, welcome back all-section players Andrew Vipperman and Ryan Moessner. The team reached the PIAA semifinals. Three of the semifinalists from last year moved up to 2A: Charleroi, Seton La Salle and Burrell.

Others to watch: Sewickley Academy should be the top team from a solid Section 1. The Panthers feature experienced starters Chase D’Antonio, Finn Wentz and Blake Wilmot. … Jackson Vacanti could be one of the top scorers in the class out of Greensburg Central Catholic, a regular playoff team. … Eden Christian made the quarterfinals last year and has Cole King returning. … Trinity Christian has all-WPIAL performer Luke Kost back at midfielder. … Carlynton could be a sleeper in Section 3. … Keep an eye on Beth-Center, which is led by sophomore all-WPIAL pick Parker Amos. … Freedom is lurking with Jordan Delonan and Jay Mohrbacher in the lineup. … Don’t sleep on senior-led Riverview and all-WPIAL player Quinn Fischer. .

Top players: Hamza Alezzo, Sr., MF, Carlynton; Parker Amos, So., MF, Beth-Center; Marco Anselmino, Jr., F, Aquinas Academy; Mateo Carrasco, Sr., MF, Carlynton; Chase D’Antonio, Jr., F, Sewickley Academy; Nick Davliakos, Sr., D, Eden Christian; Jordan Delon, Sr., F, Freedom; Carlos Duran, Sr., F, Brentwood; Quin Fischer, Sr., GK, Riverview; ; Isaac House, Sr., GK, Greensburg Central Catholic; Drew Hunter, Sr., D, Riverview; Cole King, Sr., MF, Eden Christian; Luke Kost, Sr., MF, Trinity Christian; Acie Lawrence, Jr., D, Beth-Center; Ryan Lewis, Sr., F, Carlynton; Chris O’Toole, Sr., F, Riverview; Robert McMahan, Sr., MF, Beaver County Christian; Michael Miller, Sr., MF, Winchester Thurston; Jay Mohrbacher, Jr., MF, Freedom; Matthias Rapchak, Sr, F, Neshannock; Jackson Vacanti, Sr., MF, Greensburg Central Catholic; Andrew Vipperman, Sr., D, Bentworth; Finn Wentz, Jr., MF, Sewickley Academy; Malik White, Jr., MF, Winchester Thurston; Blake Wilmot, Jr., D, Sewickley Academy; Hunter Wright, Sr., MF, Ligonier Valley

Rankings: 1. Bentworth; 2. Sewickley Academy; 3. Greensburg Central Catholic; 4. Eden Christian; 5. Trinity Christian

Important dates

Aug. 12: First day of practice

Aug. 17: First scrimmages

Aug. 23: First play date

Aug. 26: First section date

Oct. 19: WPIAL playoffs begin

Oct 31-Nov 2: WPIAL championships

Nov. 5: PIAA playoffs begin

Nov. 15-16: PIAA championships

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