WPIAL field hockey, volleyball playoffs continue in Tuesday’s 3 things to watch in high school sports

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, October 29, 2018 | 11:39 PM

Will the golden runs of Penn-Trafford and Ellis School continue Tuesday in a pair of WPIAL field hockey championship matches?

Peters Township ended Pine-Richland’s title run at one with a victory on Monday in the Class AAA finals.

Now Latrobe in Class AA and Shady Side Academy in Class A will try to play the role of spoiler in a finals doubleheader at Fox Chapel. The games will be broadcast on the TribLive High School Sports Network.

Penn-Trafford has won two straight district championships and will face a Latrobe team in search of its first field hockey crown.

The Class A final is a battle of field hockey powers between top-seed Shady Side Academy and defending champion Ellis School.

The Indians are tied with North Allegheny for the most WPIAL field hockey crowns with 13.

Meanwhile, the Tigers have won four straight years, winning the only two Class A titles in 2016 and 2017 after winning Class AA gold in 2014 and 2015.

Volleyball quarterfinals conclude

On Monday, the Class AAAA and A quarterfinals were played. Now on Tuesday, it’s time for Class AAA and AA to determine their final four.

In Class AAA, the first round saw the No. 5, No. 6 and No. 7 seeds all lose, possibly opening the door for the top four seeds to cruise into the semifinals.

Top seed and defending champ Knoch hosts Kiski Area, No. 2 Armstrong battles Elizabeth Forward, No. 3 Thomas Jefferson squares off against Elizabeth Forward and No. 4 Central Valley faces Hampton.

In Class AA, only one top-eight seed lost in the opening round when No. 12 Deer Lakes stunned No. 5 Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.

The quarterfinals matches in Class AA on Tuesday are Seton LaSalle against top-seeded Freeport, No. 2 North Catholic against Derry, No. 3 Serra Catholic against Neshannock and No. 4 Frazier challenged by Cinderella Deer Lakes.

The winners in both classes on Tuesday move on to the semifinals set for Thursday.

Soccer finals TBA

With the semifinals in the rear view mirror, the WPIAL will announce the order of the eight boys and girls championship matches on Tuesday morning.

The schedule for the soccer finals is two title games on Thursday, two matches on Friday and four championship contests on Saturday.

All eight games will be played at Highmark Stadium at Station Square in Pittsburgh.

Watch all eight championship matches on the TribLive High School Sports Network.

Don Rebel is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Don at drebel@tribweb.com or via Twitter @TheDonRebel.

Tags: Ellis School, Latrobe, Penn-Trafford, Shady Side Academy