The final couple days of the WPIAL boys and girls soccer regular season will be played on Monday and Tuesday, but with a few exceptions, most of the playoff spots have been cliniched as we head toward Wednesday’s playoff bracket selections.
In addition, please be aware that the WPIAL has once again determined that the teams with the highest seeding will be hosting playoff matches through the first two rounds, and it’s still uncertain if they will also host semifinal round matches at the highest seed.
The WPIAL Finals are scheduled to be played at Highmark Stadium, on Friday and Saturday, November 6 and 7. However, if the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC clinch a home playoff spot, and likely will play on November 7, some of the WPIAL Championships’ schedule could be reshuffled slightly.
Here’s a look at Class 3A standings along with a Section-By-Section breakdown of the teams that are in the playoffs and our projections for seedings.
CLASS 3A
Across the classification, all playoff spots are clinched. Here’s a look at where they stand in each section and below a predicted look at the potential playoff seedings.
Section 1
IN: Franklin Regional, Hampton, Gateway, Kiski Area
Team | Conf. Record |
Overall Record |
Franklin Regional | 10-1-1 | 11-3-1 |
Hampton | 9-1-2 | 11-2-2 |
Gateway | 7-4-1 | 9-6-1 |
Kiski Area | 7-5-0 | 9-9-0 |
Indiana | 5-7-0 | 6-8-0 |
Knoch | 2-10-0 | 4-11-0 |
Armstrong | 0-12-0 | 1-13-0 |
Franklin Regional took the section title this year, but Hampton still remains a dangerous team, as both could realistically make a deep run to the WPIAL final and may see each other along the way. Hampton did knock off Franklin Regional for its only loss, but the return match draw was good enough to place the Panthers just ahead of the Talbots.
Section 2
IN: Connellsville, Belle Vernon, Trinity, Laurel Highlands
Team | Conf. Record |
Overall Record |
Connellsville | 13-1-0 | 14-2-0 |
Belle Vernon | 12-2-0 | 15-3-0 |
Trinity | 9-5-0 | 9-6-0 |
Laurel Highlands | 8-6-0 | 9-6-0 |
Ringgold | 7-7-0 | 7-11-0 |
Greensburg Salem | 5-9-0 | 5-11-0 |
Albert Gallatin | 2-12-0 | 3-13-0 |
Uniontown | 0-14-0 | 0-17-0 |
Connellsville and Belle Vernon split the season series, with BVA turning the tables with an impressive 4-0 win in the return match.
Section 3
IN: Plum, Oakland Catholic, Thomas Jefferson, Penn Hills
Team | Conf. Record |
Overall Record |
Plum | 12-0-0 | 15-1-0 |
Oakland Catholic | 9-2-1 | 11-3-1 |
Thomas Jefferson | 8-4-0 | 11-6-0 |
Penn Hills | 5-5-1 | 7-6-1 |
Woodland Hills | 2-7-0 | 3-8-0 |
Brashear | 0-9-0 | 0-10-0 |
Obama Academy | 0-9-0 | 0-12-0 |
The Plum Mustangs have fielded a championship caliber team the past few years, but each time they had to run up against the buzzsaw known as the Mars Planets in the WPIAL finals each year. Could this finally be the year for Plum? Both teams had undefeated section seasons again. Plum’s only loss came to Class 4A Norwin (1-0). Oakland Catholic and Thomas Jefferson remain solid dark horse teams if Plum or Mars slip in the playoffs.
Section 4
IN: Mars, Montour, South Fayette, West Allegheny
Team | Conf. Record |
Overall Record |
Mars | 11-0-0 | 11-0-1 |
Montour | 8-4-0 | 10-6-0 |
South Fayette | 8-4-0 | 10-7-0 |
West Allegheny | 6-5-1 | 6-7-2 |
Chartiers Valley | 2-8-1 | 3-13-1 |
Blackhawk | 2-7-0 | 6-7-0 |
Central Valley | 1-10-0 | 3-11-1 |
At some point Montour might finally knock off Mars, but after four meetings last year and another two this year, the Planets still are the team to beat in this section and remain a favorite to get to the WPIAL final. Their only blemish (if you want to call it that) is a 1-1 draw its opening non-section match vs Class 4A Seneca Valley.
PSN’s PROJECTED WPIAL BRACKET SEEDING
- Mars
- Plum
- Connellsville
- Franklin Regional
- Hampton
- Belle Vernon
- Oakland Catholic
- Montour
- Gateway
- Thomas Jefferson
- South Fayette
- Trinity
- Kiski Area
- West Allegheny
- Laurel Highlands
- Penn Hills