Preview: Quaker Valley, Shady Side meet yet again

PSN Featured Match – WPIAL Boys Soccer Semifinal

Quaker Valley (18-2) vs Shady Side Academy (14-2-1)

2 p.m. – at North Allegheny High School

PSN coveage – Reporting: John Krysinsky | Photography: Ed Thompson

Since PIAA/WPIAL has gone to four classifications in soccer, Shady Side Academy and Quaker Valley, two schools with storied boys soccer programs have met in the WPIAL 2A final each year.

This year, they WPIAL playoff scheduling committee, put an end to that by putting them on the same side of the bracket.

Instead, the two schools will now meet in the semifinals.

Quaker Valley, led by head coach Andrew Marshall, storms into this match looking as strong as ever, with an experienced group led by a trio of captains, Dom Reiter, Fritz Reiter and Tommy Guild who have won its first two playoff matches by a combined score of 17-0 against Beth-Center and Freeport.

Both of the Quakers losses came at the beginning of the season, against defending 2A state champion Fleetwood, at the East-West Classic (we were there for Fleetwood’s OT win), and at the hands of current 3A semifinalist and last year’s PIAA 3A champs, West Allegheny.

Shady Side have been Quaker Valley’s nemesis for the past four years, and in particular, the last two times they’ve met in the WPIAL finals. Each time, Quaker Valley came in as the heavy favorite, and each time they lost late leads, and lost on miraculous moments to Ed Ellsworth’s Shady Side squads.

Quaker Valley has the slightly more experienced squad, but Shady Side was tested by Section 4 champions on Wednesday night, and came through with more playoff magic.

Anania’s golden goal delivers Shady Side another playoff magic moment to eliminate Charleroi

“Wouldn’t that be just about special,” Shady Side’s Head Coach Ed Ellsworth remarked, when learning of match-up with Quaker Valley once again. “We have here is a senior class that doesn’t know anything except get into the WPIAL semifinals. We’ve got two of the most storied programs in Western Pennsylvania.”

After beating Charleroi, Joey Anania, who drilled the game-winner in second overtime, was hoping for the rematch.

“I hope we get to play the number one seed. I hope it’s Quaker Valley. We have a younger core, but we’re all young enough. We know what we’re doing. We’ll be ready for the next match,” Anania said boldly. “I think we can beat the number one seed. We’ll find out soon enough.”

TAKING ONE MORE LOOK BACK AT THE PAST THREE QV-SSA CLASSICS

Shady Side pulls off repeat magic in WPIAL finals

Bicycle kick equalizer & 2OT winner lift Shady Side boys to improbable 1st WPIAL boys title

Quaker Valley Executes 'Marshall Plan' to Win 8th #WPIAL Title #PghSoccer

 

PHOTO GALLERY – QV vs SSA (2017 & 2018 WPIAL FINALS) 

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