Lots of movement in WPIAL Girls Soccer 2018-19 realignment

When PIAA and WPIAL soccer realigned to expand to four classifications beginning in 2016, it provided a radical shift from three to four classifications.
That change provided more teams with opportunities to play for WPIAL championships each Fall, and as a result, in the past two seasons, we’ve seen five schools win district titles for the first time at Highmark Stadium, including four new WPIAL champions in 2017 alone.

RELATED: @PGHSOCCERSCRIBE LOOKS AT ANOTHER MEMORABLE WPIAL FINALS WEEKEND AT HIGHMARK STADIUM (NOV. 2017) 

The PIAA has completed its bi-annual process of realigning both boys and girls schools based on enrollment numbers by gender, there are a number of tweaks and changes.
In case you missed it, here’s the posting of the WPIAL boys soccer realignment for 2018-19.
For 2018-2019, here is a section-by-section look at WPIAL girls soccer classifications along with some of my thoughts and comments:

CLASS 4A GIRLS  

This classification has not only produced some impressive programs — such as Norwin winning back-to-back titles, but also a run of consecutive PIAA champions with Upper St. Clair (2015), Canon-Mac (2016) and Norwin (2017).
And like the boys — there’s been a consolidation of sorts as WPIAL’s top level class in girls soccer will go from four sections to three. Competition for playoff spots will be fierce.
This year, one very interesting addition to the top level will see Moon, the back-to-back defending WPIAL and PIAA 3A champions move up.  The Tigers will continue to have a talented squad, but will lose key players like Delaney Snyder to graduation.
Section 1

• Butler
• Fox Chapel
• North Allegheny
• North Hills
• Pine-Richland
• Seneca Valley
• Shaler

Section 2

• Brashear
• Bethel Park
• Baldwin
• Canon-McMillan
• Moon
• Mt. Lebanon
• Upper Saint Clair
• Peters Township

Section 3

• Connellsville
• Hempfield
• Latrobe
• Norwin
• Penn -Trafford
• Penn Hills
• Taylor Allderdice

 

CLASS 3A GIRLS 

Without a dominant program like Moon along with three schools dropping down (Kiski Area, Plum and Woodland Hills), should provide for some good competitive sections and WPIAL playoffs in 3A in 2018. There will also be a new girls soccer program joining the party – Armstrong.  Mars may be the team to watch this year — as they bring most everyone back from a team we saw a year ago that gave a Moon a run for its money in the WPIAL final.
Section 1

• Armstrong
• Franklin Regional
• Gateway
• Hampton
• Indiana
• Kiski Area
• Knoch
• Mars

Section 2

• Albert Galitan
• Belle Vernon
• Elizabeth Forward
• Greensburg Salem
• Laurel Highlands
• Ringgold
• Uniontown

Section 3

• Oakland Catholic
• Obama
• Plum
• Thomas Jefferson
• Trinity
• West Mifflin
• Woodland Hills

Section 4

• Ambridge
• Blackhawk
• Central Valley
• Chartiers Valley
• Montour
• South Fayette
• West Allegheny

CLASS 2A GIRLS 

Waynesburg emerged as an unbeatable team at this level last season, and we’ll see if they can repeat in 2018. There will be five new teams joining the 2A mix in 2018 — including a program that’s been strong at the 3A level in South Park, along with rising powerhouse Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic as well as two other schools that dropped down from 3A — Hopewell and Mt. Pleasant.
Section 1

• Avonworth
• Beaver
• Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic
• Freedom
• Hopewell
• Keystone Oaks
• Quaker Valley
• Steel Valley

Section 2

• Apollo-Ridge
• Burrell
• Deer Lakes
• East Allegheny
• Freeport
• Highlands
• Valley

Section 3

• Brownsville
• Derry
• Mt. Pleasant
• South Allegheny
• Southmoreland
• South Park
• Waynesburg
• Yough

 

CLASS 1A GIRLS

Section 1

• Greensburg Central Catholic
• Jeannette
• Riverview
• Serra Catholic
• Shady Side Academy
• St. Joseph
• Springdale

Section 2

• Bethworth
• Beth Center
• Charleroi
• Chartiers-Houston
• Geibel
• Monessen
• McGuffey

Section 3

• Mohawk
• Neshannock
• Our Lady of Sacred Heart
• Quigley Catholic
• Riverside
• Sewickley Academy
• South Side Beaver

Section 4

• Bishop Canevin
• Carlynton
• Eden Christian
• Ellis
• Seton-LaSalle
• Vincentian
• Winchester Thurston