Mt. Lebanon might have been looking one game ahead when it gave up the opening goal to Pine-Richland in the WPIAL Class 3A girls lacrosse semifinals.
But all that goal did was refocus the Blue Devils on the task at hand.
Mt. Lebanon (16-1) used a balanced attack led by Addison and Reagan Murdoch as the team quickly erased the one-goal deficit and earned a spot in the championship game with an 18-7 victory over Pine-Richland at Bethel Park. It is the second consecutive year the Blue Devils will play in the final.
“They got up and we just started getting a lot draw controls after that and shooting around the goalie,” Mt. Lebanon coach Brian Kattan said. “I think the draw controls from Addie Murdoch were really key.”
Mt. Lebanon will head into the WPIAL championship game at Robert Morris University’s Joe Walton Stadium on Wednesday looking for its first championship since 2016. The Blue Devils lost to Shady Side Academy, 9-8, in the 2021 final.
Other Class 3A game
Shady Side Academy 13, Upper St. Clair 5: The two-time defending WPIAL Class 3A champion Bulldogs (16-3) did what they had to do in the semifinals to set up a rematch with Mt. Lebanon.
Class 2A girls
Mars 13, Hampton 9: The defending champion and No. 2 seed Planets (14-3) got a battle from a feisty Talbots squad, but were able to pull out the win and make a return trip to the final despite five goals from Hampton (15-5) junior Emi DiLiberto. Mya Cote and Kellen Fletcher each netted three goals to lead Mars.
Chartiers Valley 20, Blackhawk 9: The Colts avenged a one-goal quarterfinal loss to the Cougars in last year’s playoffs and a 13-8 regular season defeat by knocking off the No. 1 seed and earning a spot in the championship game.
Class 3A boys
Mt. Lebanon 10, Peters Township 9: The Indians had the Blue Devils on the brink of elimination, but senior midfielder Bryce Pavlik scored to send it to overtime with 28 seconds remaining in regulation. Senior John Porretta rammed home the winner to put Mt. Lebanon in the final for the first time since 2019.
Shady Side Academy 11, North Allegheny 7: The Bulldogs avenged last season’s WPIAL championship game loss to the Tigers, earning a return trip to the final.
Class 2A
Mars 24, South Fayette 2: The Planets (16-1) lost to Ohio powerhouse Upper Arlington in a playoff tune-up and have taken it out on their competition. Mars outscored two foes, Shaler and South Fayette, by an aggregate score of 47-4.
Quaker Valley 12, Indiana 8: The Quakers (17-1) are in the WPIAL final after defeating the Little Indians.
First Published: May 24, 2022, 2:40 a.m.