Defending champions roll to victory
Franklin Regional opens Class 3A with 16-0 win
From local dispatches Franklin Regional got its WPIAL Class 3A boys soccer title defense off to a historic start.
Sam Dawson and Blake Cooper each scored two goals and goalkeeper Gianni Diacopoulos notched his eighth consecutive shutout as the Panthers steamrolled 16th-seeded Laurel Highlands, 16-0, in the opening round of the playoffs.
The 16 goals are the most scored in a playoff match since the WPIAL first expanded to three classifications in 2000.
More Class 3A
Blackhawk 1, South Fayette 0: Junior Nolan Finkbeiner deflected a throw-in into the Lions net to give the 12th-seeded Cougars an upset victory and extended their current unbeaten streak to nine games.
Hampton 2, Ringgold 1 (SO): Zach Panza notched the tying goal with less than five minutes left in regulation and Brennan Wesley scored what turned out to be the winning goal in the shootout as the Talbots moved on.
Trinity 2, Kiski Area 1: Elijah Cincinnati scored his 38th goal of the season with five minutes remaining to put the Hillers into the second round a year after missing the playoffs.
Belle Vernon 1, Indiana 0: Nathaniel Kikel scored the only goal of the game in the first half and T.J Watson posted his ninth shutout as the Leopards made it into the second round for the first time since 2017.
Class 4A
Butler 2, Connellsville 1: Landon Mahoney scored both goals for the Golden Tornadoes in the first half before the Butler defense shut down the Connellsville offense after the intermission.
Norwin 3, Baldwin 1: The Knights got goals from Ethan Snyder, Brendan Ash and Ian Brown in their quest to get back to the final for the second year in a row.
Fox Chapel 5, Woodland Hills 1: Nate Ingram scored two goals and assisted on two others as the Foxes cruised.
Class 2A
South Park 1, Central Valley 0 (SO): Dylan Weiss scored the shootout clincher for the Eagles.
Charleroi 3, Burrell 1: J.D. Fleming, Jace Kepich and Eden McIntyre did all the damage the Cougars needed in the first half to end the Bucs season.
Quaker Valley 10, BethCenter 0: Dom Reiter scored four goals and twin brother Fritz chipped in a hat trick as the top-seeded Quakers rolled into the second round.
Freedom 7, Southmoreland 0: Tyler Mohrbacher scored two goals in each half and Brandon Majors posted the shutout to help the sixth-seeded Bulldogs roll past the Scotties.
Deer Lakes 7, Steel Valley 0: Freshman goalkeeper Nick Braun notched his ninth shutout to give coach Dan Yates his first postseason victory with the Lancers.
North Catholic 8, Elizabeth Forward 0: Joe Kearney had a hat trick and seven points, while Ryan Augustine chipped in three goals to give him 39 as the seventh-seeded Trojans easily knocked the Warriors out of the tournament.
Shady Side Academy 4, Waynesburg 0: The twotime defending champion Indians got two goals and an assist from Sam Farner as the No. 4 seed ousted the Raiders.
Class 1A
Avonworth 4, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart 3: Johnathon Nicolaus scored the winner with 15 minutes remaining to complete the come-from-behind win as the Chargers lost in the first round for the fourth consecutive year.
Winchester Thurston 4, Beaver County Christian 0: Bears freshman Oliver Daboo scored the team’s first two goals and senior Morgan Graham blanked the Eagles.
Greensburg Central Catholic 4, Mohawk 2: The Warriors had the game tied, 2-2, in the second half, but Mason Fabean scored a goal and Nate Ward picked up his second of the game on a penalty kick to help the Centurions move on.
Carlynton 1, Serra Catholic 0: Carnel Kerr notched the only goal of the game with 10 minutes remaining in regulation to end the 13th-seeded Eagles’ season.
Springdale 1, ChartiersHouston 0: Andrew Haus registered his 10th shutout this season and Mike Mitchell took care of the offense with the game’s only goal as the Dynamos won their eighth consecutive match.
Seton LaSalle 1, Trinity Christian 0: Kevin Bian scored the Rebels’ lone goal on a breakaway.