WPIAL Girls Soccer Postseason Preview

The WPIAL Playoff seedings are set for girls’ soccer teams around the Pittsburgh area. Beaver County has a handful of teams in the playoffs, spanning across the 1A, 2A and 3A conferences.

Moon Area and Freedom Area are looking to go back-to-back. The Moon Tigers have picked up five WPIAL titles, with four victories in the 3A conference. Last year, they won at Highmark Stadium against Mars. Meanwhile, the Freedom Bulldogs have accrued three WPIAL wins, all in the last 10 years. In 2022, the Bulldogs took down Springdale, 3-0, in Pittsburgh.

Take a look at how teams across Beaver County fared in the WPIAL seeding and bracket reveal.

CLASS 3A

No. 3 – Moon Area

Moon may not be enjoying the season they did last year – going perfect in all regular-season and post-season matches – but the Tigers are still dominant. The Tigers have picked up 12 wins, but also saw one loss and two draws. Their lone loss this season came against South Fayette in September, but the Tigers rebounded with a draw against Lions on Oct. 9.

Moon boasts a talented roster, which is led by senior goalkeeper Serayah Leech. The 5’11 goalkeeper is eyeing up her 50th shutout in her high school career. Leading the Tigers on the attack are Sydney Felton and Gabby Larson. Recently, head coach Bill Pfiefer picked up his 500th win with the Tigers.

Moon will host their opening playoff match on Oct. 23, taking on #14 Connellsville, at 7 p.m. The Falcons have compiled an 11-7-0 record. Moon have the home-field advantage, and could very well see a local matchup in the second round, should West Allegheny take down Greater Latrobe. With Mars on the other side of the bracket – and ranked #1 – the Tigers are eager to make it to Highmark for a potential rematch.

No. 11 – West Allegheny

West Allegheny clinched a spot in the playoffs, earning the #11 spot. They will take on #6 side Greater Latrobe. The Indians have struggled in conference play this year, splitting results down the middle with six wins, six losses. They will enter the playoffs with a 3-0 loss against Montour hanging over their head.

The playoffs are times for upsets, with West Allegheny hitting the road to Great Latrobe. Road matches are tough, and the location isn’t the most convenient for the Indians. They will rely on the veteran leadership of their captains, defenders Andrea Hamilton and Addison Kosenina.

The Indians will face Greater Latrobe on Monday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m.

CLASS 2A

No. 9 – Quaker Valley

Quaker Valley made the playoffs and are seated at the left side of the 2A WPIAL bracket. In a fairly even matchup, the Quakers will take on #8 Southmoreland, but on their turf. Quaker Valley’s section record hasn’t been consistent, with a 6-5-1 posting. Their one tie of the season came against Beaver Area – who, if they both would make the semifinals, would face each other.

Quaker Valley boasts a youthful squad, with plenty of sophomores and juniors. In fact, there are only three seniors: goalkeeper Grace Waller, defender Mia Strelec and defender Megan Campbell.

Southmoreland boasts a 10-5-0 record. The two sides will face off on Tuesday, Oct. 24, at 8 p.m.

No. 13 – Beaver

Despite entering the playoffs with a two-game losing streak, Beaver Area is exceeding expectations. After graduating star goalkeeper Ana Avdellas last year, along with defender Abby Noah and midfielder Katarina Eck, the Bobcats managed to entertain an 8-6-1 record. Beaver started off the season slow but picked up big wins against Ambridge (the Bobcasts scored 10 goals and left Ambridge scoreless) and Hopewell when it mattered.

Beaver is taking on #4 Freeport, on the road, to kick off the playoffs. It’s a tough hurdle, as Freeport boasting a 13-1-1 record and a winning streak of seven matches.

The two sides will face off on Tuesday, Oct. 24, at 8 p.m.

CLASS 1A

No. 2 – Freedom Area

All four Beaver County teams are on the right side of the bracket in Class 1A, but Freedom remains the highest ranked of the four. They are only ranked behind #1 Riverview. In the first round, the Bulldogs will host The Ellis School at Bulldog Stadium.

The Bulldogs saw star forward Julia Mohrbacher graduate last year, but still have a big weapon: Shaye Bailey. Other players have stepped up, like Olivia Henderson, Riley Tokar and sophomore Mackenzie Mohrbacher. Freedom’s two losses came against non-section opponents Avonworth and Montour, but the Bulldogs did falter on the road against Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, 3-0, on Sept. 7. Should OLSH and Freedom win their opening matches, they would face off again in the second round.

Freedom will host The Ellis School on Tuesday, Oct. 24, at 6 p.m.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: WPIAL Girls Soccer Postseason Preview