The postseason officially kicked off on Thursday night with five preliminary play-in matches across Class 3A and Class 2A, narrowing the field for Saturday and Monday’s Round of 16 matchups in each classification.
Check out PSN’s reports below from each preliminary round playoff match played on Thursday.
WPIAL Class 3A Preliminary Round
Laurel Highlands 1, Uniontown 0 (2ET)
Notes: In a tightly contested Fayette County derby, Laurel Highlands prevailed in double extra time to advance. For Uniontown, it was the school’s first boys soccer playoff match in 30 years!
Laurel Highlands’ Matt Kolencik scored the game-winner, golden goal in the second period of extra time.
Up Next: Laurel Highlands advances to face top-seeded Plum on Monday, Oct. 26.
Up Next: Laurel Highlands advances to face top-seeded Plum on Monday, Oct. 26.
WPIAL Class 2A Preliminary Round
West Mifflin 4, Southmoreland 0
Notes: The 16th-seeded Titans pulled away cleanly at home, led by a hat trick from Josh Lazar, to secure their spot in the main 16-team bracket.
Up Next: West Mifflin moves on to face #1 seed Avonworth on Monday, Oct. 26 (8:00 PM at Avonworth HS).
Burrell 4, Yough 1
Notes: The 14th-seeded Buccaneers took care of business at home, breaking open a match that was scoreless at the half. Leading the way, Joey Dobies and Kooper Luffy each scored two goals. Yough forward Isaac Pacacha added Yough’s lone goal.
Up Next: Burrell advances to take on #3 seed North Catholic on Monday, Oct. 26 (8:00 PM at Mars Athletic Complex).
Hopewell 1, Knoch 0 (ET)
Notes: A defensive battle at Tony Dorsett Stadium was decided in extra time, with the 15th-seeded Vikings finding the late winner to earn the clean sheet. Read the full report on Vikings Sports Now. Justin Dennis found Quincy Sannan on the left side of the box. Sannan didn’t waste the opportunity and buried the game-winner just eight minutes into the first extra time period.
Up Next: Hopewell moves on to challenge #2 seed Deer Lakes on Monday, Oct. 26 (7:00 PM at Deer Lakes HS).
Ambridge 9, Charleroi 0
Notes: The 13th-seeded Bridgers put on an offensive showcase at home, ending #20 Charleroi’s postseason campaign in resounding fashion.
Up Next: Ambridge advances to face #4 seed Elizabeth Forward on Monday, Oct. 26 (8:00 PM at Elizabeth Forward HS).
Looking Ahead:
WPIAL Class 3A Boys First Round (Saturday, Oct. 24)
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#16 Laurel Highlands at #1 Plum — 1:00 PM [@ Plum HS]
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Notes: Mustangs advance off their dramatic 2ET preliminary victory to face undefeated top-seed Plum.
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#9 Hampton at #8 Thomas Jefferson — 1:00 PM [@ Thomas Jefferson HS]
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#12 Chartiers Valley at #5 Penn-Trafford — 12:00 PM [@ Penn-Trafford HS]
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#13 Greater Latrobe at #4 Trinity — 1:00 PM [@ Trinity HS]
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#14 Armstrong at #3 West Allegheny — 3:00 PM [@ West Allegheny HS]
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#11 Ringgold at #6 Central Valley — 3:00 PM [@ Central Valley HS]
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#10 South Fayette at #7 Mars — 1:00 PM [@ Mars Athletic Complex]
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#15 Shaler at #2 Franklin Regional — 1:00 PM [@ Franklin Regional HS]
WPIAL Class 2A First Round Matchups (Monday, Oct. 26)
With Thursday’s play-in results set, the Class 2A 16-team bracket is now officially locked in for Monday night:
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#1 Avonworth vs #16 West Mifflin (8:00 PM @ Avonworth)
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#8 Freeport vs #9 Quaker Valley (7:00 PM @ Freeport)
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#4 Elizabeth Forward vs #13 Ambridge (8:00 PM @ Elizabeth Forward)
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#5 Mt. Pleasant vs #12 South Park (7:00 PM @ Mt. Pleasant)
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#2 Deer Lakes vs #15 Hopewell (7:00 PM @ Deer Lakes)
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#7 Beaver vs #10 Belle Vernon (7:00 PM @ Beaver Area)
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#3 North Catholic vs #14 Burrell (8:00 PM @ Mars)
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#6 Shady Side Academy vs #11 Seton LaSalle (8:00 PM @ Shady Side Academy)
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