Pine-Richland and Shady Side Academy Hold Playoff Advantage
Unbeaten programs in the WPIAL face off against lower-seeded opponents in high school sports across the region this week.
By Rafael Collins ·
Shady Side Academy enters the 2A field hockey semifinals with a 16-0 record. The school will host Penn-Trafford on Wednesday at 6 p.m. The same facility will also host a Class A semifinal at 7:30 p.m. featuring Ellis School and Aquinas Academy. Shady Side Academy also plays in the 2A girls soccer quarterfinals on Thursday. That team will face North Catholic, which holds a 16-1-2 record.
The WPIAL playoffs began with first-round matches on Monday. In boys soccer, Upper St. Clair defeated Central Catholic 1-0 in a penalty kick shootout. Mt. Lebanon beat North Hills 3-0, while North Allegheny defeated Gateway 2-1. Pine-Richland survived a 2-1 loss to Canon-McMillan in overtime to advance. Fox Chapel won 2-1 against Moon. In girls soccer, Penn-Trafford defeated Albert Gallatin 8-0. Hampton beat Moon 3-1, and Mars defeated West Allegheny 5-0.
Hockey results from the PIHL showed mixed outcomes for regional teams. Seneca Valley won its Class 3A match against Upper St. Clair, 4-1. In Class A, North Catholic defeated Shady Side Academy 7-1. Quaker Valley beat Richland 9-3, and North Hills won 8-2 against Meadville. Wheeling Park defeated Greensburg Salem 4-2, while Avonworth edged Baldwin 4-3. In Division 2, Deer Lakes won 10-1 against Carrick. Burrell defeated Neshannock 3-2 in overtime, and Sewickley Academy beat Central Valley 5-4 in overtime.
Volleyball schedules include a bye for North Allegheny in the 6A quarterfinals. The team holds a 14-1 record. Canon-McMillan travels to Baldwin on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Mt. Lebanon plays at Pine-Richland at the same time. Hempfield faces Seneca Valley at 7 p.m. as well. In 5A, North Hills will visit Peters Township on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Thomas Jefferson plays at Armstrong at 7 p.m., and South Fayette travels to Penn-Trafford at 7 p.m. Latrobe visits Upper St. Clair at 7 p.m., while Mars plays at North Catholic at 7 p.m.
Tennis teams compete in the PIAA team tournament on Tuesday. In Class 3A, Shady Side Academy plays Manheim Township at North Allegheny at 2 p.m. The Shady Side team has a 15-0 record. In Class 2A, North Catholic faces Bedford at North Allegheny at 1 p.m. North Catholic is 14-0. Cathedral Prep plays Winchester Thurston at Westwood Racquet Club in Erie at 2 p.m. Cathedral Prep holds a 14-4 record, while Winchester Thurston is 10-1.
Next week's schedule includes additional quarterfinals and semifinals. Boys soccer 4A quarterfinals are set for Thursday. Norwin will play Upper St. Clair, and Mt. Lebanon will face North Allegheny. Seneca Valley plays Pine-Richland, and Peters Township faces Fox Chapel. Girls soccer 4A quarterfinals occur on Wednesday. Upper St. Clair visits Mt. Lebanon at 7:45 p.m. Seneca Valley plays at Fox Chapel at 7:30 p.m. Canon-McMillan visits Peters Township at 8 p.m., and Norwin plays at North Allegheny at 8 p.m.
