Bill Beckner stories, Page 34
Franklin Regional boys soccer notebook: Red card keeps key player out of WPIAL final
Franklin Regional will be without one of its top players in Saturday’s WPIAL 3A championship game. Senior all-WPIAL midfielder Jovan Sankoorikal will miss his second consecutive playoff game as he sits through a two-game suspension, the result of a red card violation in a quarterfinal upset of Thomas Jefferson. “We...
Veteran goalkeeper gives Franklin Regional a puncher’s chance in WPIAL finals vs. Moon
Having already appeared in eight playoff games in his career, including a few as a defender, Franklin Regional goalkeeper Noah Walker brings experience to his first WPIAL soccer championship game. His coach believes Walker gives the Panthers a shot at their third WPIAL title in six years. “He is the...
Franklin Regional boys soccer team going for WPIAL title under 1st-year coach
There wasn’t a specific moment, an omen or a sign that pointed to this playoff run. No, for Franklin Regional, it was simply playing precise, sound soccer at the right time. The team’s first-year coach knew he had something special from the start. Watching it blossom into another title contender...
Boys’ All-WPIAL soccer lists, players of the year announced
The start of WPIAL championship week began with postseason accolades. The Western Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association announced its All-WPIAL boys soccer lists Monday. The following players were selected: Class 4A Gage Adinolfi, Plum Kellan Bleier, Fox Chapel Liam Burlovic, Upper St. Clair Garrett Chandler, Plum Milo Chiu, Fox Chapel Brady...
Westmoreland County campus clippings: Postseason honors pour in for Pitt-Greensburg tennis
Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference women’s tennis power Pitt-Greensburg threw a net over the all-conference honors. The regular season and conference tournament runners-up saw freshman Gabi Moder take conference player and newcomer of the year, while three teammates also received accolades. Freshmen Nancy Jiang and Devon Ulmer were first-team picks in...
Westmoreland high school notebook: PIAA berths on line for soccer, volleyball teams
The WPIAL soccer playoffs are winding into the semifinals, which means PIAA qualifying is imminent. For boys and girls, only the WPIAL finalists qualify in Class 4A. In the other three classes, the top three finishers move on: the finalists, plus the winner of a third-place consolation game. The WPIAL...
Penn-Trafford grad Gay signs with professional indoor football team
John Gay IV always said with conviction that he would play pro football. While the Indoor Football League is not the NFL, it is considered a pro league, and Gay is about to embark on a post-college career. The running back out of Penn-Trafford recently signed with Fishers Freight, an...
Franklin Regional’s Bayne takes hair-raising talent to boys soccer, football playoffs
Joey Bayne changed his hairstyle recently, going from wavy brown locks to a blond buzz-cut with dark tiger stripes. Bayne can change his look quickly during the fall season, too. One day, he’s a speedy forward creating goals for the soccer team. The next, he’s launching touchbacks into the end...
Westmoreland County WPIAL soccer playoff capsule: Game for Oct. 28, 2024
WPIAL soccer playoffs Class 3A Semifinals 7-Franklin Regional (12-3-2) vs. 6-Mars (14-1-4) 6 p.m. Monday, Dormont Stadium, Dormont Winner plays: Winner of 5-Bethel Park (13-6)/1-Moon (20-0) Oct. 31, Nov. 1 or Nov. 2 at Highmark Stadium in championship Corner kicks: Franklin Regional is in the semifinals for the sixth time...
For 2nd straight year, Burrell shocks Mt. Pleasant in girls soccer playoffs
It happened again. And this playoff bracket-buster was even more impressive than the first one. Determined, fearless and firm in its game plan, Burrell knocked the No. 1 out of Mt. Pleasant, upsetting the top-seeded Lady Vikings on their home turf for the second straight season in the WPIAL Class...
Westmoreland high school football notebook: Southmoreland’s postseason berth tempered by rash of injuries, illness
Southmoreland football coach Tim Bukowski was glad to hear his team had clinched a WPIAL playoff spot, but discouragement already had set in. His sigh said it all. “We’re in trouble,” Bukowski said Friday night after his team lost at Greensburg Salem, 28-21. “I don’t know what we’re going to...
Norwin notebook: Girls basketball standout headed to West Virginia Wesleyan
Norwin senior basketball player Bella Furno announced a commitment to Division II West Virginia Wesleyan. Furno, a 5-foot-8 swing guard, was a key contributor to last year’s WPIAL Class 6A championship chase. She often came off the bench to give the team a spark. Furno also had a Division II...
Greensburg Salem beats Southmoreland, joins wild-card conversation
With its first winning season since 2011 secured, Greensburg Salem is ready to take the next step. The question is, will the WPIAL think it deserves to? Southmoreland, on the other hand, is playoff bound but isn’t sure if it will have a full lineup next week after a blitz...
Hempfield’s Howard commits to Virginia softball team
Virginia, they say, is for lovers. Hempfield’s Lauren Howard loved everything about the University of Virginia, where she has verbally committed to play softball in college. Howard, a junior, plays third base for the Spartans. She made an instant impact as a freshman and has become a regular in one...
Westmoreland County WPIAL soccer playoff capsule: Game for Oct. 26, 2024
WPIAL soccer playoffs Girls Class 2A Quarterfinals 9-Burrell (12-5-1) at 1-Mt. Pleasant (15-1) 1 p.m. Saturday, Viking Stadium, Mt. Pleasant Winner plays: Winner of 5-Freeport (12-1-1)/4-South Park (13-4-1) on Tuesday in semifinals (site/time TBD) Corner kicks: This is a rematch of last year’s quarterfinals when Burrell stunned the No. 3-seeded...
Canon-McMillan girls roar out of halftime break, get past Penn-Trafford
Canon-McMillan ordered personal pizzas from Pizza Hut for the drive home Thursday night from Harrison City. The food arrived much earlier than expected, at halftime. The Big Macs’ go-ahead goal to open the second half was delivered even faster. Sarah Coffman ran wide and poked a shot past Rease Solomon...
Westmoreland County high school football notebook: Playoff races coming down to wire
The WPIAL football playoff picture won’t be in full focus for Westmoreland County teams until late Friday night or even Saturday afternoon. Several teams’ seasons will come down to the final week of the regular season. Area teams that already have clinched spots in the postseason are Penn-Trafford (7-2) and...
Westmoreland County soccer notebook: Mt. Pleasant girls tackle rematch head on
Mt. Pleasant girls soccer players remember that sinking, helpless feeling that overtook them as Burrell’s golden goal hit the twine a year ago. The Vikings were shocked by the Buccaneers, 2-1, in the WPIAL 2A quarterfinals, ending their hopes of a return trip to the district finals. Burrell was the...
All-WPIAL girls soccer list announced
WPIAL and PIAA champions have not been crowned yet in girls soccer, but some of the talented players who will lead teams to titles were recognized by coaches in the district. The All-WPIAL list for girls soccer came out Wednesday night. Mt. Pleasant and Peters Township lead all schools in...
Bethel Park uses OT to get around upstart Latrobe
When Xavier Jackson took a tumble after getting fouled during the first overtime, he considered not going back into the game because he felt pain in his hip. The Bethel Park junior forward quickly reconsidered, wiping the rubber pellets from the turf off his face and arms and checking back...
Westmoreland County high school soccer playoff capsule for Oct. 24, 2024
WPIAL soccer playoffs Girls Class 4A Quarterfinals 6-Canon-McMillan (12-3-1) at 3-Penn-Trafford (13-4) 7 p.m. Thursday, Warrior Stadium, Harrison City Winner plays: Winner of 7-Upper St. Clair (10-5-2)/2-Seneca Valley (12-2-2) on Monday in semifinals Corner kicks: Canon-McMillan scored seven first-half goals en route to an 11-0 victory over No. 11 Hempfield...
North Hills boys soccer unseats WPIAL champ Norwin
North Hills beat the buzzer, and the defending champs. With a little help, the No. 12-seeded Indians used a last-second goal to shock No. 5 Norwin, 3-2, in a WPIAL Class 4A first-round boys soccer playoff game Tuesday night at Norwin Knights Stadium. Just when it looked like it was...
Westmoreland County high school soccer playoff games for Oct. 23, 2024
WPIAL soccer playoffs Class 3A Quarterfinals 7-Franklin Regional (12-3-1) at 2-Thomas Jefferson (13-1-2) 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Thomas Jefferson Stadium, Jefferson Hills Winner plays: Winner of 14-Chartiers Valley (9-8)/3-Mars (13-1-4) on Monday in semifinals Corner kicks: Franklin Regional moved into the quarterfinals with a 3-0 victory over No. 10 Trinity as...
Mt. Lebanon girls upset Norwin on PKs in 1st round of soccer playoffs
Mt. Lebanon didn’t get a golden goal, but it leaned on its golden freshman to survive and advance. Goalkeeper Makenna Tappe expected to have an impact, but the freshman didn’t imagine this in her first varsity playoff game. Tappe not only made a key save but also converted her shot...
Westmoreland County campus clippings: Latrobe grad Sofia DeCerb stands tall for JMU soccer
Sofia DeCerb was a tall task for opposing soccer players when she guarded the net at Latrobe — literally, she’s 6-foot tall. Now, she is stopping shots at James Madison, and other teams also have to shoot low. DeCerb, a redshirt freshman, has taken over the position for the Dukes...
