WPIAL playoffs push 30-plus high school games to midweek
A cluster of semifinal and quarterfinal matches in soccer, hockey, and volleyball falls on Wednesday and Thursday, with two undefeated programs facing their first major tests.
By Chloe Zhao ·
Pittsburgh-area high school athletes face a packed midweek schedule as the West Pennsylvania Interscholastic Association moves into its postseason gauntlet. Dozens of teams are locked in for semifinal or quarterfinal bouts across soccer, field hockey, and volleyball, with key matchups concentrated on Wednesday and Thursday.
In field hockey, the Class 2A semifinals feature an undefeated Shady Side Academy team (16-0) hosting Penn-Trafford (7-5-2) at 6 p.m. Wednesday. The other 2A semifinal pits Peters Township (8-7) against Fox Chapel (10-4-1) at the same hour. Class 3A semifinals follow on Thursday, with Hempfield (5-10) visiting Pine-Richland (13-5) at 7 p.m. and North Allegheny (10-7-1) playing at Mt. Lebanon (10-5) at 6 p.m.
Soccer playoffs bring a high volume of early elimination rounds. In Class 4A boys soccer, four quarterfinal games are scheduled for Thursday, including Norwin (15-0-1) against Upper St. Clair (7-5-5) and Seneca Valley (14-1) facing Pine-Richland (9-5-3). Class 3A boys quarterfinals occur Wednesday at 7 p.m., featuring Plum (17-0-1) versus Hampton (11-5-2) and Franklin Regional (15-1-2) hosting Mars (8-5-4).
The girls soccer bracket also advances significantly. Class 2A quarterfinals on Wednesday include South Park (19-0) at home against Quaker Valley (12-2-4). In Class A, Sewickley Academy (16-0) plays Carlynton (11-6) on Thursday. The Class 3A girls quarterfinals on Thursday feature Mars (14-1-1) against South Fayette (10-4-5) and Shaler (13-3) facing Elizabeth Forward (12-4).
Volleyball teams navigate a mix of preliminary and first-round contests. In Class 5A, North Hills (8-11) travels to Peters Township (17-1) on Wednesday for the first round. Class 2A quarterfinals take place Wednesday, with Shenango (17-2) meeting Neshannock (10-5) and Frazier (17-3) facing Beth-Center (14-2). Class 4A quarterfinals are set for Thursday, though specific times remain to be announced for several matchups.
Ice hockey results from Monday showed several top-tier programs advancing. In Class 3A, Seneca Valley defeated Upper St. Clair 4-1. Class A results included North Catholic beating Shady Side Academy 7-1 and Quaker Valley winning 9-3 over Richland. Tuesday's hockey schedule features Moon and Canon-McMillan at Printscape Arena at 7 p.m.
The schedule includes one notable omission in the girls volleyball Class 3A bracket, where Freeport (19-0) received a first-round bye. This allows the undefeated team to wait for the winner of the Derry versus South Park match. All listed times and venues are subject to change by the respective athletic directors.
Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
