Preview: Pair of WPIAL 1A section rematches highlight PIAA semifinal schedule

Greensburg Central Catholic and Winchester Thurston boys will battle for a 4th time in PIAA semifinal - photo by Ed Thompson

Here’s a brief look at each match-up — including two all-WPIAL showdowns, each between 1A section rivals who will see each other a fourth time this season!

PIAA SEMIFINAL SCHEDULE (Wednesday, November 13)  

WPIAL schools are in bold.  Click links below to see full bracket for each classification.

Click here for Saturday’s Quarterfinal results.

BOYS

Boys Class 1A

Wednesday – 7:30 p.m. – Greensburg Central Catholic vs Winchester Thurston (at Peters Twp)

How they got here… 

On Saturday, GCC advanced when Nate Ward buried the game-winner with 12:18 left in overtime to beat Springdale, while WT traveled to Altoona, where they rolled to a 4-0 victory vs Lancaster County Day.

The third match between GCC and WT came in the WPIAL final, and we were there, as Nate Ward’s goal was the difference.

Ward’s brilliant strike lifts Greensburg Central Catholic to WPIAL title

Here was our preview of this match-up before the WPIAL final.

Preview WPIAL Boys 1A Final: Winchester Thurston vs Greensburg Central Catholic

The winner will face the winner of Dock Mennonite vs Moravian Academy on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in Hershey.

Boys Class 2A

Wednesday – 7:30 p.m. – Quaker Valley vs Mercyhurst Prep (at Slippery Rock)

How they got here…

Mercyhurst Prep defeated Deer Lakes, denying the opportunity for a rematch of the classic WPIAL final between QV and Deer Lakes.

Quaker Valley, the WPIAL champions, with a senior-laden group led by the Reiter brothers and Franky Fernandez, haven’t had any trouble scoring of late — winning its first two PIAA playoff rounds by 3-1 and 4-2 margins against Fairview and Punxsutawny.

The winner will take on the winner of New Hope Solebury vs Lewisburg on Friday at 1:30 p.m. in Hershey.

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GIRLS

Girls Class 1A

Wednesday – 5 p.m. – Greensburg Central Catholic vs Shady Side Academy (at Peters Twp)

This isn’t the first time this has happened, and yes — we’ll have a fourth Greensburg Central Catholic vs Shady Side Academy girls 1A meeting this season. The two section rivals will meet this time with berth in the Girls 1A PIAA Final on the line.

How they got here… 

The teams split the regular season match-ups, each taking a home win. In the WPIAL final, Shady Side raced out to a 2-0 lead, but GCC cut the lead in the second half to make things interesting. The Indians held on though for the 2-1 win.

GCC had the tougher road again in getting to this point in the PIAA’s, having faced and beat Freedom in both the WPIAL semifinal and the PIAA quarterfinal 1-0.

Shady Side cruised to 9-0 and 3-0 wins versus Everett and Mercer in the first two rounds of the PIAA’s.

The winner will take on the winner of Fairfield vs Camp Hill on Saturday, at 11 a.m. in Hershey.

Girls Class 2A

Wednesday – 5 p.m. – North Catholic vs Villa Maria (at Slippery Rock)

How they got here…

District 10 champs, Villa Marie defeated WPIAL runner-up, Yough, 4-2 in the PIAA first round, then won 1-0 vs Bedford on Saturday.

WPIAL champion North Catholic have rolled in both of its PIAA matches thus far, beating Mercyhurst Prep 3-0, then Bald Eagle 5-0.

The winner will take on the winner of Lansdale Catholic vs Lake Lehman on Friday, at 11 a.m. in Hershey.