WPIAL Soccer First Round Boys Class 2A Playoff Schedule and Match Snippets

Since the opening matches at the Pine-Richland tournament, through being unbeaten in section play, South Park has been playing like a team on a mission.   Yough comes into the playoff match-up winners of three straight, and four of its last six.

Speaking of being in good form, Keystone Oaks has won six straight matches, with its last loss, coming to South Park, by 3-1 margin.  Mt. Pleasant’s only two 1-0 losses to Section champion Belle Vernon came against Class 2A competition, and they’ve surrendered three goals in its last eight matches against Class 2A opponents.

Avonworth broke into the top four seeds thanks in large part to earning a co-section title and beating Quaker Valley in the return match.  McGuffey has posted a solid record overall (12-6) and a plus-30 goal differential, and have a signature win against section champs, Belle Vernon.

The Quakers always play a tough schedule, so, they should be prepared for the postseason, as they chase their 11th district title (WPIAL), which would pull them into a tie with Springdale. Jeannette has played in more high scoring matches than any other playoff team encountered, so things may be pretty open-ended in this match.

Deer Lakes won the WPIAL title last year with heroics coming from underclassmen. With a host of returning players with championship pedigree, the Lancers will be a tough out.  Hopewell finished fourth in one of the toughest sections, pound-for-pound is as good as any in 2A, as they played Quaker Valley, Avonworth and last year’s runner-up, Beaver Area, to mostly tight, close matches.

This may be one of the best potential match-ups in the first round.

Elizabeth Forward and Knoch were always in the mix against top section rivals this season, and now they’ll face each other.  The Warriors won five of its final six section matches, while Knoch have won six straight matches heading into the postseason, and will have home field advantage in what should be a tight contest.

Belle Vernon gets to stay at the beach — that is — on their home field for the first round, earning a fifth seed, even as one of four section champions in Class 2A.  Belle Vernon wrapped up section title with a playoff feel, 1-0 win, vs Mt. Pleasant on October 12.  BV has only allowed six goals all season against section competition.  East Allegheny stumbled down the stretch, with three of its four losses coming late in the season but they secured a playoff spot by beating Woodland Hills, then topped Class 1A 3rd Seed, Burrell, 2-1, last week.

This is also a pretty intriguing match-up, as Beaver Area were the surprise team in 2A last season, upsetting section rival Quaker Valley in PK shootout, then made it to the WPIAL finals for the first time in program history.  Can they do it again?  They’ll have to knock off Ed Ellsworth’s Shady Side group that did hand Deer Lakes its only loss vs 2A side this season, but also stumbled, losing to Knoch and playing Jeannette to a draw later in the season.