PIAA Boys and Girls Soccer Championship Friday
FINAL: Girls Class 1A: Southern Columbia 5, Freedom 3
FINAL: Boys Class 1A: Moravian Academy 2, Winchester Thurston 1, AET2
FINAL: Girls Class 3A: Moon 2, UP 1
Friday, November 18, 2022 | Eagle View Middle School Complex, Mechanicsburg, PA
PIAA Championship Friday Updates
GIRLS CLASS 3A: MOON vs UPPER PERKIOMEN
The Moon Tigers capped a remarkable season by storming back in the second half with goals from Hailey Longwell and Sydney Felton to capture their second straight PIAA Girls Soccer title, and their fourth in the last seven years, by defeating Upper Perkiomen, 2-1, at Eagle View Complex in Mechanicsburg on Friday evening.
Trailing 1-0, in the second half, the Tigers found goals from its leading scorer, Hailey Longwell, who headed in a long free kick (see video below) and from Sydney Felton, who came close numerous times, but finally pull through with the game winner.
Matt Ralph Photo Gallery (GIrls 3A Final)
In case you want to see @_MLTS_ 's Hailey Longwell equalizer from tonight's remarkable comeback win.
Our good friend of @pghsoccernow, @MattRalph_tBG was right there to capture it… #PIAASoccer#WPIALSoccer https://t.co/mO26HnqzxK
— John Krysinsky (@JohnKrysinsky) November 19, 2022
Congratulations to the @_MLTS_ Tigers for winning the #PIAA Class 3A Girls Championship!
What a comeback win for the Tigers. They were down by one at the half. They won with goals within the last 20 minutes by Hailey Longwell and Sydney Felton.
Well done, ladies!@timesscores
— Rachael Kriger (@RachaelKriger) November 18, 2022
Oh my word. Sydney Felton just missed a sitter, getting a golden opportunity for a rebound off a Hailey Longwell hit. She hits it wide.#PIAA | 0-1 | @timesscores
— Rachael Kriger (@RachaelKriger) November 18, 2022
Upper Perkiomen takes the early lead pic.twitter.com/IuG11gpNc6
— Matt Ralph (@MattRalph_tBG) November 18, 2022
Oh my. Not often you hear this, but Moon trails after an early goal off a corner kick from Megan Cairns. That’s only the third goal @_MLTS_ gave up all year, and Leech even got a hand on it. #PIAA | 0-1 | @timesscores
— Rachael Kriger (@RachaelKriger) November 18, 2022
Standard lineup today for @_MLTS_!
Seryah Leech (GK); Hailey Longwell, Marina Mollica, Kayla Leseck, Gabby Larson, Ava Wish, Skylar Leseck, Lillian Snyder, Tessa Romah, Sydney Felton, Ava Molnar. #PIAA | 0-0 | @timesscores
— Rachael Kriger (@RachaelKriger) November 18, 2022
Next up… Moon goes for the perfect season against Upper Perkiomen! 4 p.m. kickoff!
FINAL: BOYS 1A – MORAVIAN ACADEMY 2, WINCHESTER THURSTON 1 (AET2)
Courage. Heart. But sometimes the ball bounces the other way. @wt_news Boys Soccer fought back from 1-0 to take the @PIAASports championship to double overtime but it was not our day. Loss to Moravian 2-1 in 2OT. @pghsoccernow @TribLiveHSSN @Brownold #betall #GoBears #piaasoccer
— Dr. Joshua Andy (@joshuaandy17) November 18, 2022
* Trey Sheeler
— Matt Ralph (@MattRalph_tBG) November 18, 2022
100 minutes is not enough to decide this PIAA 1A boys soccer final. Moravian Academy and Winchester Thurston are tied at 1-1 heading to 2OT
— Des Boyle (@DesJBoyle) November 18, 2022
Overtime we go. I’m not sure how much more the parents of these players can take.
— Matt Ralph (@MattRalph_tBG) November 18, 2022
Tie game. Alex Hauskrecht with the equalizer.
— Matt Ralph (@MattRalph_tBG) November 18, 2022
And there’s the halftime siren. Moravian Academy 1 Winchester Thurston 0 @PrepSoccer @pghsoccernow pic.twitter.com/7JKCpypi7u
— Matt Ralph (@MattRalph_tBG) November 18, 2022
FINAL: SOUTHERN COLUMBIA 5, FREEDOM 3
“I told the girls just to be proud we were here,” Freedom coach Colin Williams said after the match.
“It just got to be too much for some of the younger players. … I would have liked a little more consistency for us. We gave the ball up a little more than I would have liked, but none of that takes away from the year they had. Still a young team.”
1A Girls Soccer Final: Southern Columbia 5, Freedom Area 3 pic.twitter.com/JxHWCR38J0
— PIAA (@PIAASports) November 18, 2022
The three-peat for Southern Columbia pic.twitter.com/DIcnFr5OzF
— Matt Ralph (@MattRalph_tBG) November 18, 2022
Goals
Goals
Goals
and more
Goals!!! #PIAASoccer https://t.co/OpSHxAEhB2— Pittsburgh Soccer Now (@pghsoccernow) November 18, 2022
Shaye Bailey makes it 4-3
— Matt Ralph (@MattRalph_tBG) November 18, 2022
Made it to Eagleview Middle School in Mechanicsburg for today’s @PIAASports finals. A good 1-1 game in the Class A final between Southern Columbia and Freedom Area. pic.twitter.com/p4ITaBdAXb
— Matt Ralph (@MattRalph_tBG) November 18, 2022
Southern Columbia vs Freedom Area D7 in the PIAA “A” Girl’s Soccer Championship from Cumberland Valley School District 10am pic.twitter.com/DEb3oFOmHm
— SteveLloydWNEP (@SteveLloydWNEP) November 18, 2022
It’s a super quick turnaround for all of the teams playing on Friday, as the three sides from the WPIAL will face some tough challenges.
Look for match updates to be posted here throughout the day for all of the WPIAL-related matches.
In addition, Pittsburgh Soccer Now Eastern PA contributor, Matt Ralph will be in Mechanicsburg for the Friday games. We’ll be posting his updates / photos here on the Championship Friday blog.
Match Capsules
Girls Class 1A: Freedom vs South Columbia
Freedom has been here before, when their splendid 2018 squad made it all the way to Hershey, and came up short in its best previous chance to capture a State title. Leading the way for the Bulldogs, is Shaye Bailey, who’s come up big in the postseason. She had a hat trick in the PIAA semifinal win against WPIAL foe Greensburg Central Catholic, who they also beat in the District semifinal round too.
This year, Colin Williams returns to the PIAA Final with an explosive unit that will once again take on Southern Columbia.
Southern Columbia has ruled Class 1A girls soccer, taking the last three titles, including an impressive 4-0 win against GCC last season.
Freedom dominates Springdale, 3-0, to win WPIAL 1A Girls Championship
1 p.m. – Boys Class 1A – Winchester Thurston vs Moravain Academy
The Bears are back in the State Championship game, and looking for back-to-back titles. In the semifinals Wednesday, Tomer Tuti and Alex Hauskrecht scored in a 2-0 victory over District 5 champion McConnellsburg.
Last year, Winchester Thurston came through with a thrilling extra time game winner from Oliver Daboo, who also has come up with clutch goals in this postseason too, as the Bears captured the WPIAL title against a tough fight from Charleroi.
It should be another tough State Final for the Bears, as Moravian Academy is a program that’s also been to this point. They won titles twice in the last decade (2014, 2019).
The Lions have won 10 straight District 11 titles.
To get to the Final, the Lions knocked off last year’s runner up, Faith Christian, with goals coming from Saleem Diakite, with the Extra Time game winner and from Selman Eris in regulation.
Moravian Academy won titles in 2019 and ‘14. The team reached the state semifinals last season and went 18-4. The Lions have won 10 straight District 11 titles.
The Bear Necessities: RDA duo lead Winchester Thurston to Boys 1A repeat
4 p.m. – Girls Class 3A – Moon vs Upper Perkiomen
Will Moon meet its match in the PIAA Final when finally stepping out of the WPIAL competition? The Tigers have the benefit of not having to travel too far in the PIAA tournament, as they’ve beaten all teams from District 7 after winning the WPIAL title.
Moon defeated Latrobe, 2-0; Plum, 4-1; and of course, taking the anticipated rematch vs Mars, 2-0
Maybe the biggest challenge for Moon will be, can they recover quick enough and be able to refocus quickly after a grinding and physical match vs Mars.
The Tigers are seeking its fifth PIAA title and fourth since 2016, all under the direction of Head Coach Bill Pfeifer.
The PIAA’s defending Class 4A champions, led by Hailey Longwell’s 35 goals, a staunch back line and midfield that has dominated the competition by surrendering only two goals all season, are looking to make their step-down season to Class 3A a perfect one, as they could finish the season unbeaten and untied. They’re also on a 36-game win streak that stretches back to early 2021.
Upper Perkomen have not lost this season. In the PIAA tournament, they beat Northern, 3-1; Valley View, 6-0; and Greencastle-Antrim, 3-0. Upper Perkiomen are new to the PIAA Finals, but they continue a streak for District 1, as this is the ninth straight season that a team from that area has made it to the 3A Girls Final.
It’s been a season of firsts for UP, as they captured Pioneer Athletic Conference and District 1 Class 3A titles.
Junior forward Sarah Fisher was an all-state selection a year ago. Senior forward Sara Edwards has scored 36 goals to lead the team. Edwards tallied twice and Morgan Sweed also scored in the semifinals. Upper Perkiomen’s only non-win was a draw vs Spring-Ford on Sept. 28.
Longwell’s brace, Leech’s brilliance send Moon over Mars, 2-0, to return to PIAA Final
A New Site? More on Eagle VIew Middle School
Here are some facts and figures on the new championship site.
Location: Eagle View Middle School is about 200 miles east of Pittsburgh via the Turnpike. It is 32 miles west of HersheyPark Stadium.
Stadium opened: 2009
Capacity: Approximately 1,200, with seating on one side only
Surface: FieldTurf
Parking: Several lots, including two main lots in front of the middle school
Concessions: Yes
Locker rooms: Yes. They are larger than the locker rooms at HersheyPark Stadium.
Tickets: $8, online only via Hometown Ticketing (Go to PIAA.org, sports, soccer, get championship tickets).
Press box: Yes, but it is smaller than HersheyPark Stadium. Overflow media will also have tables from which to work on the sidelines. PCN will broadcast as usual.