The WPIAL Boys Soccer Class 1A and Class 3A playoffs kickoff on Saturday with eight matches in each classification.
Here, we take a closer look at Class 3A, which unlike a season ago, when Moon ran through the district playoffs — though tested a few times — but still as the best team from start to finish last season — could very well be the most wide-open and competitive tournaments out of the four WPIAL boys’ classifications this year.
“For me, it’s the most exciting time of the year,” Doug Fink, Bethel Park’s Boys Head Coach, shared with PSN in recent High School Coaches Corner feature.
“Any team that gets in the post-season has a shot in my mind. That’s why I love this game so much. Remember Leicester City won the Premier League during the 2015-2016 season. They were 5,000 to 1 outsider at the start of the season. I wish I would have bet on them and I could have been retired right now. I always tell my teams not to underestimate anyone. The playoffs are a different kind of animal.”
Below you’ll find a look at Saturday’s schedule, with our best effort gathering what intel we have to provide some interesting information for our match preview capsules.
Plus, be sure to check out our latest subscriber feature, High School Boys Coaches Corner for more insights on the upcoming post season from numerous coaches.
WPIAL Boys Soccer Playoff Schedule (First Round)
Class 3A Schedule, Bracket and PSN’s Tournament Outlook
There are really six or seven teams — maybe even more — who legitimately have a chance to win the entire thing.
At the top, the teams that earned the top seeds did so by being the most disciplined and strongest defensively: Hampton and Bethel Park. Ultimately, what carries teams to the District Finals and into the PIAA’s — which teams and players can come up with the big plays in big moments on both sides of the ball.
12:00pm #10 Penn-Trafford (10-7-0) at #7 Mars (11-5-2)
Mars Head Coach Chris Knauff always has his teams battle-tested and playoff ready — and after 19 years as the program’s Head Coach, Knauff earned his 300th win with his alma mater last week. A strong defensive side, Mars has solid depth with senior Logan Coone leading the way. The Planets will have their hands full in trying to shut down the Warriors, as PT’s HC Ryan Hankey hails Cooper Geyer, who has scored a few game-winners this season, and Yuriy Bidochko as key players for this squad, along with Cam King, who has been an ironman and a threat in the air, scoring six goals, all on headers. In Coaches Corner, Hankey also praised junior Noah Haslem and senior keeper Jose Chaves.
12:30pm #11 Trinity (10-3-1) at #6 Chartiers Valley (10-4-1)
A very strong finish to the season (draw vs Moon, wins versus Montour and West Allegheny) position Char Valley as a potential sleeper in the tournament. In fact, in our Coaches Corner this week, one coach said Char Valley is 100% a team to watch. A player to watch from Chartiers Valley is Luke Waldron.
That coach who praised Char Valley was none other than Trinity’s Alex Nikolopoulos. In this match, Trinity will look to take the ride up I79 to make their case as a potential sleeper squad too. Nikolopoulos will be counting on his captain, senior midfielder John Garcia, who he described as “Engine of the team. Multiple important assists this year in big games. Plays the #10, #8 and #6 depending on the game script.”
12:30pm #16 Belle Vernon (8-10-1) at #1 Hampton (14-2-2)
Can you guess the main reason Hampton earned the top seed? How about the fact that they allowed only eight goals all season and are probably the hottest team in the classification, riding a six-game winning streak. The Talbots have played well against tough out of section competition, taking Class 4A North Allegheny to overtime.
“Hampton are a fast, skilled team who will bring the energy and fight for every ball,” one coach added in Coaches Corner.
“As expected, they were a great team when we played them.”
All-section goalkeeper Gavin Guinn backs a solid defensive unit, while balanced scoring highlights its attack, led by Xavier Ware, Matteo Sciulli and Mason Hall. Sciulli drew praise from other coaches in our survey as a difference maker.
If anything, Belle Vernon comes into this match with some positive momentum, as Logan Metzger scored twice in a 2-1 win over Ringgold in a preliminary round game Thursday put the Leopards into the proper tournament.
12:30pm #12 Shaler (12-5-0) at #5 Thomas Jefferson (15-2-1)
Thomas Jefferson has only lost a couple times this season (once to section champs Bethel Park and another to Ringgold) — holding an impressive goal differential of plus-61. TJ’s goalkeeper Sam Wessel has stood tall this season. Shaler’s HC Tyler Schulz brings a battle-tested group that’s been in a lot of tight matches in a very talented section. Shaler are led by Carter Arenth, Alex Gaetano, and Conor McClean.
Schulz added: “I’m really looking forward to different end of the year. Playing a playoff game is foreign territory for these boys. It’s exciting as a coach to finally get back to the post season and, hopefully, lead them to success.”
1:00pm #14 Montour (9-8-0) at #3 Franklin Regional (15-3-0)
These teams have played earlier this season in a non-section contest, with Franklin Regional winning comfortably, 6-1.
Franklin Regional have players on the roster who experienced getting to the WPIAL Final last year. Now they’re sniffing for another deep run as a stingy squad, giving up nine goals all season. The Panthers have 11 shutouts. Holding things up well in the back for the Panthers is Emerson Bush, who one coach commented: “Has height and top end talent and very hard to score against”
Montour has to play in a very competitive section, posting a 7-5 record against the likes of Moon, West Allegheny, Chartiers Valley.
Montour’s Head Coach Gavin Stabbe on his squad at one point this season: “We’ve been a bit inconsistent at times, but the nature of our busy schedule makes it really difficult to put together solid performances on a day and half of rest.”
1:00pm #15 Knoch (5-12-1) at #2 Bethel Park (12-2-3)
Bethel Park’s had an outstanding season, with its only two losses coming out of section in regular season’s opening and closing matches to Class 4A Peters Township and Canon-McMillan. Otherwise, they’ve outscored the competition 65-11. A big part of Bethel Park’s success has come with senior Xavier Jackson scoring goals. Jackson, one of Bethel Park’s senior leaders, has stood out in the eyes many of the coaches in Class 3A, received lots of praise from numerous coaches.
Additionally, Bethel Park stood out among coaches for being a group that can score quickly.
“They are a very dangerous transition team. They will make you pay for not being balanced defensively.”
Still, Fink shared that his squad’s contributions are many: “I feel that our goalkeepers, back line, and midfielders have done a lot of the dirty work to keep the opposition from scoring goals. I would like to mention Luke Rubican, Jake Coffield, Gavin DeClair, Jonah Stearman, Cooper Kicinski, Aaden McClelland, Julian Kountz, and Pravas Dahal as they have all played a significant part of our success.”
2:00pm #9 Latrobe (8-9-0) at #8 West Allegheny (10-6-0)
Another snippet from our Coaches Corner, Montour’s Gavin Stabbe, on section rivals West Allegheny as his sleeper pick in this tournament. “If they can put it all together, they’ve got one of the most talented rosters out there.”
Leading the way for West A are Harrison Murray, Aaron Bouch and Colton Yonker. One coach on Murray: “He has been the most dangerous and exciting player we’ve seen. A press-proof, very intelligent player.”
Latrobe played a very tough out of section schedule but were 7-3 in the same section with Franklin Regional and Penn-Trafford, the latter who they beat twice this season.
3:00pm #13 Laurel Highlands (11-7-0) at #4 Moon (12-5-1)
Moon are the defending champs, but for Head Coach Tyler Blake, he’s had to deal with numerous early season injuries, but the Tigers roared their way back to a Section title. While the Tigers have numerous players who were part of last year’s impressive WPIAL champions (and PIAA runner-up), Laurel Highlands’ Cole Radcliffe could be the most dangerous player on either side as one of the top goal scorers in the classification and someone who the Tigers will have to keep in check. One coach had this to say about Radcliffe in an early season Coaches Corner: “His pace is unmatched, along with an absolute rifle of a shot.” LH’s HC Alexander Guie also pointed out that Kasey Mahoney has been integral player for his program and keeping defensive group well organized.
Winners will advance to the Quarterfinal Round — to be played on Wednesday, October 22
WPIAL Boys Class 3A Quarterfinal Round
#16 Belle Vernon (8-10-1) at #1 Hampton (14-2-2) winner vs #9 Latrobe (8-9-0) at #8 West Allegheny (10-6-0) winner
#13 Laurel Highlands (11-7-0) at #4 Moon (12-5-1) vs #12 Shaler (12-5-0) at #5 Thomas Jefferson (15-2-1) winner
#15 Knoch (5-12-1) at #2 Bethel Park (12-2-3) winner vs #10 Penn-Trafford (10-7-0) at #7 Mars (11-5-2) winner
#14 Montour (9-8-0) at #3 Franklin Regional (15-3-0) winner vs #11 Trinity (10-3-1) at #6 Chartiers Valley (10-4-1) winner
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).
