Preview WPIAL Boys 2A Final: Quaker Valley vs Deer Lakes

Photo by Ed Thompson

WPIAL Boys Soccer 2A Final 

Friday, November 1–  8 p.m. – Highmark Stadium 

Quaker Valley (19-2-0) vs Deer Lakes (16-4-0)

PSN Coverage: John Krysinsky (Twitter @pghsoccerscribe) | photography – Ed Thompson (Twitter (@Thompson12foto) + post-game analysis with Coach Ryan Kelly

It’s a fourth consecutive WPIAL final for Quaker Valley and head coach Andrew Marshall.  The only unfamiliar element in this final is QV will not be playing Shady Side Academy – as they beat them in the semifinals 2-0.

This time Quaker Valley will take on the team that ended their 2018 campaign in the PIAA quarterfinals: Deer Lakes.

First year coach Dan Yates has led the Deer Lakes to the WPIAL finals, with a core group that was part of its PIAA runner-up finish last season, including Michael Sullivan, who is fresh off of a hat trick in the semifinals against South Park.

Quaker Valley features the Reiter twins, where brothers Dom and Fritz have scored 50 goals so far this season. Fritz scored the goal that put the game away against Shady Side last Saturday.

In terms of a favorite to win signs point to Quaker Valley.

They have rattled off 18 consecutive wins, and they definitely have the experience.  This senior class knows nothing else but to be playing for the WPIAL championship at Highmark Stadium in November -as this is their fourth appearance.

Deer Lakes, having the young nucleus, may face some nerves with their first trip to the big game in the WPIAL Finals, but the core of this group did also make the trip to Hershey, so this should be a heck of a match-up.

Look for both teams to try to establish possession, as both attempt to set the tone early in games while holding more of the ball.  This game should be won in the midfield and in between the pipes.  Up and down the lineups are fairly even, with Quaker Valley holding the edge in team depth.

The first goal could win this game.

Both teams have qualified for the PIAA tournament, along with Shadyside Academy who beat South Park 3-1 on Wednesday in the third place consolation game.

Prediction: Quaker Valley 2-0

Players to Watch (click link on school name for full roster):

Quaker Valley 

• Dom Reiter (Sr)
• Fritz Reiter (Sr)
• Franky Fernandez (Sr)

Deer Lakes  

• Michael Sullivan (Jr)
• AJ Dorman (Sr)
• Colton Spence (Jr)
• Devin Murray (Jr)