WPIAL crowns new champs
Tri-State Sports & News Service
There were familiar teams in each of the WPIAL girls soccer championship matches, an occurrence that could have resulted in four repeating champions. But the old adage that it’s tougher to stay on top than to get there proved true, as multiple defending champions were upset in the finals that took place last weekend at Highmark Stadium.
Moon was the only repeat champion, as the Tigers outlasted Mars, 3-2, for the Class 3A title thanks to a late header from Kylee Evans in the 76th minute. The Tigers have won 40 matches in a row and are gunning for a second consecutive PIAA crown.
“They were here last year, so they knew what to expect,” said Moon coach Bill Pfeiffer. “The crowd and the lights didn’t faze them.”
But Norwin (4A), Freedom (2A) and Shady Side Academy (1A) were unable to defend their titles.
The Knights had their crown usurped by a familiar foe. Penn-Trafford notched a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory when Kiley Dugan knocked in a header off a cross pass from West Virginia recruit Mackenzie Aunkst. That was the third crack Norwin had at the Warriors, who are the only team Norwin, a team that was ranked No. 1 in the country earlier in the season, was unable to defeat. Penn-Trafford also had a 1-0 victory earlier this season before the teams battled to a scoreless tie in the second match.
Freedom saw its 36-game winning streak against WPIAL opposition come to a halt against Waynesburg. The high-scoring Raiders picked up a 4-2 victory. Waynesburg completed a tear through the WPIAL playoffs by outscoring its opponents, 15-2.
In Class 1A, the title game matched up the only two squads to have ever won a championship in the classification. Since its inception in 2010, only Greensburg Central Catholic and Shady Side Academy have won the championship. The Centurions claimed their fifth trophy by knocking off the Indians in a rematch of the 2016 final won by Shady Side Academy. Greensburg CC ran off three consecutive 1-0 victories, including the title match.
Moon
Delaney Snyder padded her season and career goal totals with an impressive performance in the first round of the PIAA playoffs Tuesday against Hollidaysburg. Snyder, a Miami (Ohio) recruit, racked up five goals to give her 50 for the season. Snyder is Moon’s all-time leading scorer with 132 career goals.
“All I would like to say is a huge thank you to my teammates for making it possible for me to achieve this,” said Snyder. “Without them, I couldn’t do the things I do.”
Penn-Trafford
After an exhausting and exhilarating 2-1 overtime win against Norwin in the WPIAL final last Saturday at Highmark Stadium, the Warriors (17-4-1) saw their season come to a stunning halt. North Allegheny (14-71) picked up a 2-0 win Tuesday in a match played at Fox Chapel in the first round of the PIAA playoffs. Alex Adams scored both goals for the Tigers.
Waynesburg
The Raiders’ upset of Freedom could very well be a sign of things to come. The daughters of coach Joe Kijowski have been filling the net and both are underclassmen. Freshman Rhea Kijowski had three goals and an assist in a 6-0 romp against Harbor Creek in the first round of the PIAA playoffs Tuesday night. Sister Jillian, a sophomore, had two assists. Both had a goal in the upset of Freedom for the WPIAL championship.