WPIAL Soccer Girls Class 4A Final Preview: North Allegheny vs Fox Chapel, 8 p.m.

File photo courtesy Ed Thompson

WPIAL Soccer Girls Class 4A Final

North Allegheny vs Fox Chapel

Highmark Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA | Thursday, November 2, 2023 | 8 p.m.  

Pittsburgh Soccer Now Coverage Team:  Reporting – Mark Goodman; Photography Jared Todhunter 

Match Preview

WPIAL Girls Soccer History / Past Champions 

#1 North Allegheny  (20-0-0)   

Head Coach – Chuck Kelley  | Roster | WPIAL Champions: 2019, 2020, 2022

How North Allegheny got here:  The WPIAL Soccer Girls Class 4A tournament Semifinal Round saw No. 1 seed and defending champions North Allegheny finding yet another way to survive a tough match against a Section 2 foe, this time edging Canon-McMillan in Extra Time, 2-1, as All-WPIAL standout Abigail Stager scored the golden goal just 30 seconds into extra period.  In the quarterfinal round, North Allegheny were taken to the limit in the Quarterfinals as Mt. Lebanon pushed them to Extra Time — then to a penalty kick shootout.

The view from the stands, and the call from the booth, as Abigail Stager scores the Golden Goal to beat Canon Mac in OT and send the Tigers to the WPIAL finals‼️ @NATigerAthletic pic.twitter.com/e44m5QBlxD

— North Allegheny Girls Soccer (@nasoccergirls) October 31, 2023

Fox Chapel (12-4-2) 

Head Coach – Carlo Prati  | Roster | WPIAL Champions: 1985

How Fox Chapel got here:  The Foxes were in a pretty wild match of their own on Monday night, as they displayed an impressive second half finish, winning going away, 5-2, with three second half goals to break a 2-2 tie against Upper St. Clair, the Section 2 champs.   In the first round, the Foxes stunned Peters Township with a five goal outburst in the second half, when trailing 1-0 at the half.

Sizing Up Fox Chapel vs North Allegheny Part III

The semifinal results set up an all-Section 1 final between North Allegheny and Fox Chapel, who have played twice this season, with the Tigers beating the Foxes, 4-3 and 3-2.  North Allegheny will be vying for its fourth district title in five years, while the Foxes are aiming for their first-ever title.

The beat goes on for the ‘U’ — as North Allegheny is in search of its fourth WPIAL title in five years.  Stager has been an impressive scoring option, with 31 goals this season, leading a Tigers attack which brings waves of constant pressure.

The Tigers are a perfect 20-0-0 overall, and have only surrendered seven goals all season, anchored by a strong back line of seniors Maddie Miller, Abby Lang and junior Elliana Vitale. The Tigers are a perfect 20-0-0 overall, and have only surrendered seven goals all season, anchored by a strong back line of seniors Maddie Miller, Abby Lang and junior Elliana Vitale. The Tigers have four players who earned All-WPIAL honors this week — senior forward Jadyn Coy, senior defender Libby Earley, Miller and Stager, who was honored for the second time. The Tigers have outscored opponents 100-12 this season and are averaging 5.0 goals per game.

Yes, it took a penalty kick shootout, then followed that up with another narrow victory vs Canon-Mac, in the first two rounds, but North Allegheny is battle tested and experienced, with numerous holdovers from last year’s team that found a way to beat Peters Township in the Final, in yet another PK shootout.

The Foxes are starting to click at the right time, with 10 goals in two matches, they certainly have the recipe to score goals against a very tough North Allegheny side, having scored five of the seven goals that the Tigers have surrendered this season.  Leading the way for Fox Chapel, is a freshman, Emily McKee, who scored 18 times during the regular season and has added three more in the playoffs. Senior midfielder Kate Friday and junior midfielder Alyssa Quackenbush had two goals apiece in the semifinals.  Friday was joined on the All-WPIAL team by senior defender Anna Troutman.

They Said It: 

With two impressive second half scoring displays, it make you wonder what Head Coach Carlo Prati’s had to say at halftime during the playoffs.

“This team has so much heart and fight,” the second-year coach, who was selected as the WPIAL Class 4A Section 1 Coach of the Year said this week.

“They have a never-give-up attitude. I’ve been so proud of how they have handled themselves all year long. We have been underdogs all year and just have been taking it one game at a time.”

“I told the girls the first game of the year when we played Oakland Catholic at Highmark Stadium that if we play how I know we can play, we will not only play at Highmark the first game of the year, but we will be there at the last game, too. Everything has panned out as it should.”

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WPIAL GIRLS CLASS 4A 2023 PLAYOFF RESULTS 

Semifinal Round (Thursday, October 26, 2023)

FINAL: North Allegheny 2, Canon-McMillan 1 – Extra Time

The 🐯 are heading to Highmark‼️ Miller 🙌🏻 scored a on a free kick ⚽️ in the first half but CM scored late to force OT. 30 secs into OT, Stager 👏🏻 scores to send the 🐯 to the FINALS‼️ #fearthestripes @NATigerAthletic @Big56Conference @TribLiveHSSN @pghsoccernow @PGVarsityXtra pic.twitter.com/bdFHCFDcbF

— North Allegheny Girls Soccer (@nasoccergirls) October 31, 2023

FINAL:  Fox Chapel 5, Upper St. Clair 2

Quarterfinal Round (Thursday, October 26, 2023)

Canon-McMillan 2, Seneca Valley 1 

North Allegheny 1, Mt. Lebanon 1 (North Allegheny advances in Penalty Kick shootout, 3-0) 

Upper St. Clair 2, Butler 0 

Fox Chapel 5, Peters Township 1 

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PIAA GIRLS CLASS 4A TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE 

Girls 4A Bracket (Link) 

Tuesday, November 7 –  1st Round

North Allegheny/Fox Chapel winner (Host) vs District 3 (4th Place)

North Allegheny/Fox Chapel loser (Away) vs District 6/8/10* Champion

Saturday, November 11 –  Quarterfinal Round 

Tuesday, November 14 – Semifinal Round 

Saturday, November 18 – Championship Game