Week three of the high school season is complete, and competition is getting intense in some classifications and sections, while a few teams are starting to separate themselves.
Thanks for submitting Player of the Week nominations. It’s great to see many terrific young players doing some good things both on and off the soccer field this season across our area. We’ll be sharing the Players of the Week on Wednesday.
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QUAKER VALLEY WITH STATEMENT WIN ON TUESDAY
In a match that featured a WPIAL runner up and PIAA Champions in 2A, against last year’s 1A WPIAL Champions, Quaker Valley showed why they’re the team to beat again in the classification.
The Quakers defeated the previously unbeaten Trojans 5-0 on Tuesday afternoon as Rowan Kriebel and Thomas David each scored a pair of goals, while Will Andrews contributed the other. David also had an assist.
After starting the season 0-3, losing to higher classification teams (West Allegheny, Wilson and Fleetwood), Quaker Valley have now reeled off five straight wins to surge to the top of the Class 2A, Section 4A standings.
Previously unbeaten until Tuesday’s loss to Quaker Valley, North Catholic had outscored its first five opponents, 28-3.
The two teams will meet again at Quaker Valley on October 9 (7:30 p.m.)
MARS GIRLS FLYING HIGH EARLY IN SEASON
You may recall, last year in the WPIAL Girls 3A Final, boasting a roster that included freshman and sophomore in starting roles, Mars took two-time WPIAL and PIAA champions Moon to the brink in an exciting contest at Highmark Stadium.
The Planets would lose 3-2 to Moon in an exciting, back-and-forth contest that proved to be the Tigers toughest match last November.
Sure enough, as you might imagine, Mars are off to a hot start this season, having not been scored upon in its first four contests –outscoring opponents 25-0.
“We’ve done well, but I don’t think we’ve gotten to our potential yet,” he said. “Hopefully, we can clean up a couple things and continue to move forward,” Blair Gerlich, Mars Head Coach, told Tribune-Review earlier this week.
With Kiski Area, Indiana and Hampton on the schedule in the next 10 days, we’ll see if they can keep it going.
ANNOUNCING OUR NEXT PSN FEATURED GAME
We are excited to announce that we will be bringing live coverage from a pretty good showdown between two teams at the top of their respective classifications: Shady Side Academy (defending WPIAL 1A champions) vs Seton-LaSalle (2A) on Saturday, September 29 (11 a.m. kickoff).
The Indians are currently 3-1-1(all in section) while Seton-LaSalle are 5-1 (4-0 in section).
Our coverage will include Live Facebook audio broadcast, photography and reporting/post-game interviews. We’ll have more on this match-up next week.
Click here to see our first PSN Featured game coverage of West Allegheny’s exciting 1-0 win over South Fayette on September 8.
WPIAL to hold hearing on Connellsville-Penn Hills
Connellsville and Penn Hills submitted conflicting reports to the WPIAL on its findings from from accusations of racial slurs from a September 6 match.
Therefore, the WPIAL’s board of directors voted Monday to bring in administrators and all parties involved from each school district for a hearing next week, on September 24.
As indicated in my column last week, it is important for the WPIAL and the schools involved to act swiftly and accordingly if there’s been any kind of inappropriate use of racial slurs or intimidation. But in this case, the WPIAL wants to make sure they have all the facts straight before making any kind of ruling, and that makes plenty of sense.
Again, hopefully this matter can get resolved soon, and we can focus on soccer and not these type of incidents that only create more division and tension for everyone involved.
Ed Thompson’s Pictures of the Week
A few photos from tonight’s game between @labearcatFC and @athletics_sd . Catch @BillHughes_III recap on line later at @HSSports01 @hsuniontown #WPIAL @pghsoccernow pic.twitter.com/8MhLix4yGO
— Ed Thompson (@EdwardKThompson) September 18, 2018
A few photos from tonight’s game between @labearcatFC and @athletics_sd . Catch @BillHughes_III recap on line later at @HSSports01 @hsuniontown #WPIAL @pghsoccernow pic.twitter.com/c740ZwndQQ
— Ed Thompson (@EdwardKThompson) September 18, 2018
WPIAL girls soccer tonight with @BillHughes_III and the @HSSports01 @hsuniontown as @athletics_sd takes on Bentworth. @wpialsoccernews @pghsoccernow @PghSoccerScribe #WPIAL pic.twitter.com/rtCqCDH45f
— Ed Thompson (@EdwardKThompson) September 17, 2018
Upcoming Games of Note:
Wednesday, September 19
Girls
Moon (4-1-1, 3-1-1) vs Upper St. Clair (4-2, 3-2) – Moving up to 4A has put Moon in tough section where every night is a battle
Kiski Area (5-1, 5-0) vs Mars (4-0) – maybe first real test for Mars in 3A, Section 1. Kiski’s only loss is 4-0 to 4A Norwin.
Thursday, September 20
Boys
North Allegheny (5-1, 4-1) vs Pine Richland (4-2-1, 3-1) – this section is up for grabs so should be a good one
Saturday, September 22
Girls
Fox Chapel (3-3, 2-3) vs North Allegheny (5-1, 4-0) – North Allegheny looking to stay on top of tough Class 4A, Section 1.
Boys
Keystone Oaks (6-0, 5-0) vs South Park (2-1-1, 2-1) – Keystone Oaks looking to keep up strong start, now face South Park program that’s usually near top of classification.
Springdale (5-0-1, 4-0-1) vs Carlynton (5-2, 2-2) – Springdale looking to keep pace at top of Class 1A, Section 3 against an improved Carlynton.
Upper St. Clair (4-2-2, 4-0-1) vs Peters Township (4-2, 3-1) – rivalry game with Class 4A, Section 2 stakes. Peters with challenging back-to-back games as they play Canon-Mac on Thursday too.