South Fayette, Sewickley Academy sweep WPIAL playoffs with shutouts
High-seeded teams dominated the first round of girls soccer, while a lone upset in boys play saw Ambridge top Elizabeth Forward in overtime.
By Madison Lewis ·
Abbey Spalla and Silvi Rossi each scored twice to carry the No. 5 South Fayette Lions to a 4-0 victory over No. 12 Franklin Regional on Monday night. The shutout secured South Fayette's first win of the WPIAL Class 3A postseason. The Lions, who finished the regular season with a 10-4-5 record, will face No. 4 Mars in the quarterfinals on Thursday.
Sewickley Academy produced the highest margin of victory in the girls' tournament. The No. 1 seed dismantled No. 16 Beth-Center 12-0 in Class A play. Emma Eannarino scored a hat trick, including her 100th career goal, while Claire Karsman also added three goals. Madison Sundo recorded two goals, and Olivia Stefanik, Emilia Carrabba, Sara Merryman, and Madeleine Milburn each found the back of the net. Sewickley Academy, now 16-0, will meet No. 8 Carlynton in the next round.
Several other top seeds advanced with decisive results. In Class A, No. 4 Shady Side Academy beat No. 13 Serra Catholic 11-0. No. 5 Bentworth defeated No. 12 Aquinas Academy 5-0, with Brielle Dillon scoring four goals and Julia Brandau recording the shutout. No. 8 Carlynton won 9-0 against No. 9 Steel Valley, led by Belle D'Antonio's four goals and an assist. No. 2 Shaler defeated No. 15 Thomas Jefferson 2-0, while No. 2 Winchester Thurston beat No. 15 Mohawk 7-0 behind Iris Jarrin's hat trick.
Class 3A results mirrored the dominance of the upper seeds. No. 4 Mars defeated No. 13 West Allegheny 5-0, with Jade Breese scoring a hat trick. No. 3 Montour beat No. 14 Knoch 4-1, and No. 8 Hampton defeated No. 9 Moon 3-1. In Class 5A, top-seeded Penn-Trafford crushed No. 16 Albert Gallatin 8-0. No. 6 Riverview won 3-2 against No. 11 Freedom, and No. 14 Springdale upset No. 3 Brownsville 3-2 to advance.
The boys' soccer results were more competitive, with one notable upset. No. 13 Ambridge defeated No. 4 Elizabeth Forward 4-3 in overtime in the Class 2A first round. Aaron Scheib scored four goals for Ambridge, including the tying goal with 2:15 left in regulation and the winning goal in overtime. Aidan Davis scored twice for Elizabeth Forward, and Luca Valerio added one goal.
Other boys' teams advanced as expected. No. 1 Avonworth beat No. 16 West Mifflin 5-2 in Class 2A. No. 10 Belle Vernon defeated No. 7 Beaver 4-2. In Class 4A, No. 6 Fox Chapel won 2-1 against No. 11 Moon, No. 4 Mt. Lebanon beat No. 13 North Hills 3-0, and No. 5 North Allegheny defeated No. 12 Gateway 2-1. No. 7 Pine-Richland beat No. 10 Canon-McMillan 2-1, and No. 8 Upper St. Clair won 1-0 against No. 9 Central Catholic in a penalty shootout.
Volleyball and hockey games also took place. In Class 5A volleyball, No. 14 Mars defeated No. 19 Indiana 3-0. Natalie Janusz recorded seven kills, two blocks, and nine digs. In hockey, Avonworth beat Baldwin 4-3 in a shootout in Class A. Burrell won 3-2 in overtime against Neshannock in Division 2. Deer Lakes defeated Carrick 10-1, with Brayden Wilhelm scoring six goals and an assist. North Catholic beat Shady Side Academy 7-1, and North Hills defeated Meadville 8-2. Quaker Valley won 9-3 against Richland, and Seneca Valley beat Upper St. Clair 4-1 in Class 3A. Sewickley Academy won 5-4 in overtime against Central Valley in Division 2, and Wheeling Park defeated Greensburg Salem 4-2 in Class A.
The quarterfinal matchups for girls soccer will take place on Thursday. South Fayette will play Mars, Sewickley Academy will face Carlynton, Shady Side Academy will meet Bentworth, and Penn-Trafford will play Hampton. In boys soccer, the quarterfinals will feature Avonworth against Quaker Valley, Belle Vernon against Deer Lakes, Fox Chapel against Peters Township, Mt. Lebanon against North Allegheny, Pine-Richland against Seneca Valley, and Upper St. Clair against Norwin.
