South Park had a tough final week of the regular season with back-to-back losses to Keystone Oaks and Elizabeth Forward that cost the team a section title and, quite possibly, the top seed in the WPIAL Class 2A boys tournament.
To say the Eagles are back on track would be an understatement.
South Park (12-2-0), which fell to the No. 7 seed in the field, roared out of the gate and rolled over 10th-seeded Waynesburg, 7-0, to move into the second round of the tournament. The last time the Eagles failed to win a postseason game was 2017.
Sophomore Austin Lafferty and freshman Kaiden Fischer each had two goals for South Park.
Other Class 2A boys
North Catholic 2, Leechburg 0: The Trojans had hinted they might start their junior varsity out of COVID-19 concerns, but dressed and played their varsity contingent. Freshman Ryan Shantz scored in the first half and junior Dylan Greggs scored with 6:26 left in regulation on a penalty kick to beat the Blue Devils (7-7-0), who were shut out three consecutive times to end their season.
Elizabeth Forward 7, Freedom 2: The Warriors (11-2-2) celebrated their first section title in more than two decades with their first postseason victory since 2010, a 1-0 win against Quaker Valley. Robby Hrabosky had three goals and an assist for Elizabeth Forward.
Deer Lakes 7, Southmoreland 0: The Lancers (12-1-0) blistered the Scotties (6-9-0) with 41 shots on goal, but still only led, 2-0, at the intermission before putting the game away in the second half. Deer Lakes senior Mike Sullivan had three goals and senior Devin Murray had two goals and an assist.
Avonworth 3, Charleroi 1: Cougars forward Eben McIntyre led the WPIAL with 43 goals in the regular season, but No. 4 Charleroi (14-2-0) allowed the most goals it had in any game this season in the loss to the Antelopes (5-6-2). Jason Witherell scored two goals and junior Connor Whalen chipped in a goal and an assist.
Mount Pleasant 3, Burrell 1: The Vikings (12-1-0) got two goals from Lucas Toohey and rolled to a win over the 11th seeded Bucs (7-5).
Class 4A girls
Seneca Valley 7, Penn-Trafford 1: Kendall Walton finished with two goals and an assist as the Raiders (8-3-0) cruised to a win over the Warriors (5-6-2).
Upper St. Clair 6, Latrobe 1: Head coach Dave Grey picked up his 200th career win and Emily Rocco scored one in the first and two in the second half to complete the hat trick, as the Panthers (8-5-0) cruised to a win over the Wildcats (4-5-1).
North Allegheny 3, Bethel Park 0: Tigers (8-2-0) forwards Sarah Shupansky and Lucia Wells each chipped in a goal and an assist and Anna Bundy notched the other tally in a win against the Black Hawks (6-5-2). Goalkeeper Julianna Werner posted the shutout.
Moon 1, Pine-Richland 0: Sophomore Kayla Leseck scored the only goal midway second half for the Tigers (8-3-2) as junior Alayshja Bable pitched the shutout.
Class 3A girls
Hampton 5, Penn Hills 0: Skye Bierker scored twice, and Ava Iamory, Madison Hurst and Lucy Interthal had one apiece to help the Talbots (12-2-0) beat the Indians (9-8-0) to reach the quarterfinals for the third consecutive season.
Montour 4, Connellsville 1: The fourth-seeded Falcons (11-1-0) suffered their first loss of the season as the No. 13 Spartans (9-6-0) got two goals each from sophomores Eliana Gavin and Saveria Ulizzi.
Thomas Jefferson 3, Kiski Area 1: The Jaguars (14-2-1) opened up a close game with two goals in the final 12 minutes. Freshman Natalie Lamenza netted two goals, including one in the closing minutes, to help Thomas Jefferson beat the Cavaliers (8-7-2).
West Allegheny 8, Trinity 2: Indians (10-3-0) striker Mackenzie Evers had a hat trick and two assists in a romp over the Hillers (8-6-0).
Correction, posted Oct. 27, 2020: An earlier version contained incorrect information. The last time the South Park boys failed to win a postseason game was 2017.
First Published: October 27, 2020, 2:48 a.m.
