Connect with us

WPIAL

Preview: WPIAL Girls Soccer Class 1A Final – Greensburg CC vs Steel Valley, 6 pm

WPIAL Girls Soccer Class 1A Final

Greensburg CC (15-1-1) vs Steel Valley (17-3-0)

Friday, November 5, 2021 | 6 p.m.  |  Highmark Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA

Live Stream

PSN Coverage team: Ed Rosensteel / Jordan Smith (Reporting) / Ed Thompson (Photography)

WPIAL Soccer History (List of WPIAL Champions) 

About the schools

Steel Valley (Munhall): 

Section 2 Champions

Head Coach – Bill Abraham

1st ever appearance in WPIAL Finals 

Twitter: @SteelValleySD

Greensburg Central Catholic (Greensburg)

Section 3 Champions

Head Coach –  Olivia Kruger

Seven-time WPIAL Champion (defending WPIAL champions) 

Twitter: @GCC_Centurions

Preview / Key Storylines: 

The defending champions Greensburg Central Catholic Centurians can light it up, but they also showed last year that once the games become tighter and more contested, they could clamp down and play solid defense.

Can they do that again this year? Or will they simply outscore their opponents, even as the competition becomes more challenging?

GCC outlasted Freedom, 4-3, in the semifinal round in another back-and-forth match between those two teams.

Now, the Centurians, who overcame a 100-plus career goal scorer Renae Mohrbacher’s hat trick for Freedom in the semifinal, will have face another dangerous player, Kelsey Salopek, who has also racked up triple-digit goals in her career at Steel Valley.

In a tight match against Springdale on Monday, Salopek’s goal was the difference to lift the Section 2 champions to its first-ever WPIAL girls soccer finals appearance.

The Kent State commit scored the game’s lone goal, her 50th tally of the season, with a laser shot just inside the box in 35th minute, then Steel Valley buckled down to deny Springdale a chance at getting an equalizer.

Greensburg Central Catholic have a potent attack, with a balanced group of scorers.  On Monday in the semifinal, it was freshman, Riley Kerr, who led the way with two goals, along with goals from Addison Vacanti and Sara Felder.

GCC have reached the final with out senior midfielder and New Hampshire recruit, Bethany Winnor, who is out after having surgery on her right ankle on Friday.

WPIAL Girls 4A and 1A Semifinal Round Scoreboard

Greensburg Central Catholic wins seventh WPIAL girls soccer crown

 

 

 

John Krysinsky has covered soccer and other sports for many years for various publications and media outlets. He is also author of 'Miracle on the Mon' -- a book about the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, which chronicles the club, particularly the early years of Highmark Stadium with the narrative leading up to and centered around a remarkable match that helped provide a spark for the franchise. John has covered sports for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, DK Pittsburgh Sports, Pittsburgh Sports Report, has served as color commentator on Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC broadcasts, and worked with OPTA Stats and broadcast teams for US Open Cup and International Champions Cup matches held in the US. Krysinsky also served as the Head Men’s Soccer Coach at his alma mater, Point Park University, where he led the Pioneers to the first-ever winning seasons and playoff berths (1996-98); head coach of North Catholic boys (2007-08), associate head coach of Shady Side Academy boys (2009-2014).

Glory on the Grass

Riverhounds MF Kenardo Forbes

Subscribe to PGH Soccer Now

Enter your email address to subscribe to PGH Soccer Now and receive notifications of new posts by email.

More in WPIAL