By: Don Rebel

Sunday, October 29, 2023 | 9:28 PM

There is one thing particular concerning the No. 11 seed in the case of the WPIAL Class 3A boys soccer playoffs.

Last fall, No. 11 Ambridge upset No. 6 Hampton, No. 3 Thomas Jefferson and No. 2 Plum to succeed in the district championship match. The Bridgers’ miracle run ended with a 3-0 loss to top-seeded Moon within the finals.

This season, No. 11 Franklin Regional is midway by way of one other sudden postseason run.

After upsetting No. 6 Mars within the first spherical, the Panthers shocked defending champion Moon within the quarterfinals final week, 2-1 in extra time, because of a pair of objectives by junior Tyler Pipon.

On Monday in a Class 3A semifinals match at North Allegheny, Franklin Regional (12-7) tries to proceed its magical journey because it battles No. 2 Hampton (16-2-1) at 6 p.m.

The Talbots wanted extra time to beat Trinity within the opening spherical and double extra time to oust Thomas Jefferson within the quarterfinals.

In the opposite 3A boys Final Four match, shocking South Fayette (11-4-3), contemporary off an upset of top-seeded Plum, will battle Montour (14-4) for the third time this season.

The Spartans gained the primary match, 1-0, again in September whereas the Lions took the rematch final month, 2-1.

Re-writing historical past in 2A?

In the 2022 WPIAL Class 2A boys soccer playoffs, South Park was the No. 1 seed and Quaker Valley was the No. 2.

They each gained their first two video games to advance to the semifinals, however their hope for district gold ended there.

The Eagles misplaced to eventual champion Deer Lakes, 1-0, whereas the Quakers had been ousted by Beaver, additionally by a rating of 1-0.

South Park and Quaker Valley return to the Final Four right here within the 2023 postseason and as soon as once more they’re the favorites because the 1 and a pair of seeds.

Top-seeded South Park (20-0) will face No. 4 Avonworth (16-2-1) at Dormont Stadium at 8 p.m. whereas second-seeded Quaker Valley (16-3) takes on No. 6 Shady Side Academy within the first match at 6 p.m.

Public opinion

Only twice within the 22-year historical past of Class A in WPIAL boys soccer has a public college workforce gained the championship. Riverside captured gold in 2012 and Avonworth in 2018.

A 3rd winner may be on the horizon as three public college groups have reached the Class A Final Four.

One is assured a spot within the title match as No. 7 Bentworth (16-2) will battle No. 3 Burrell (14-3) within the first recreation of a doubleheader at Peters Township on Monday.

The lone non-public college remaining is No. 4 Seton LaSalle (15-2-1), which can tackle top-seeded Charleroi (18-0) at 8 p.m.

Charleroi, Bentworth and Burrell are all seeking their first district boys soccer championship whereas Seton LaSalle has gained six crowns, with the most recent coming in 2015.

Eyeing a repeat

A repeat within the highest classification of WPIAL women soccer will not be distinctive. It has occurred 11 occasions earlier than.

North Allegheny (19-0) is hoping to make it a good dozen.

The 2022 champion Tigers are the highest seed on this 12 months’s postseason. They wanted penalty kicks to oust Mt. Lebanon within the quarterfinals and now the tackle Canon-McMillan (9-6-2) at 6 p.m. Monday at Moon Stadium.

NA gained again to again 4A titles in 2019 and 2020, turning into the eleventh workforce to take action and becoming a member of the ranks of Norwin (twice), Seneca Valley, Pine-Richland, Upper St. Clair (3 times), Hampton, Quaker Valley and Mt. Lebanon.

Only Mt. Lebanon from 1980-84 has gained greater than two straight women soccer crowns within the highest classification.

The different 4A semifinals match options No. 6 Fox Chapel (11-4-2) towards No. 2 Upper St. Clair (16-1) at Moon at 8 p.m.

The Panthers have gained 9 straight whereas the Foxes are 2-1-1 of their final 4 matches however have scored 12 objectives of their final two contests.

One extra common season finale

While the WPIAL soccer common season is within the books and the postseason is able to go, there may be yet another chapter to be written within the native highschool soccer common season is 2023.

A few impartial applications conclude their seasons in a battle for Fayette County satisfaction as Brownsville (1-6) visits Uniontown (3-6).

This season has already been successful for the Falcons, who on Sept. 22, ended a 34-game dropping streak after they defeated Carrick, 36-30 in extra time.

Ringgold ends the season with the longest present WPIAL skid at 25 straight losses.

Tags: Avonworth, Bentworth, Brownsville, Burrell, Canon-McMillan, Charleroi, Fox Chapel, Franklin Regional, Hampton, Montour, North Allegheny, Quaker Valley, Seton La Salle, Shady Side Academy, South Fayette, South Park, Uniontown, Upper St. Clair