Stated goals: Local teams aiming to make a run in the PIAA playoffs

Nov 9, 2026 By Jerin Steele 5 min read

After the Bentworth boys soccer team finished off their WPIAL four-peat Saturday, many of the players took pictures with the trophy with the Pittsburgh city skyline in the background.

Those skyscrapers serve as the backdrop for F.N.B. Stadium and a scenic setting for photos.

In fact, it’s not the first time this year that Bentworth players have had photos taken there. Some got their senior pictures done at the stadium.

Now they’re hoping for one last photo-op there.

That’s because for the first time the state championships will be held at F.N.B. Stadium, the home of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds and Riveters, making it a rare chance to play for a PIAA title on the western side of the state.

For the Bearcats it’s an added incentive as they get ready to defend their Class A state title.

That starts with a first-round match against District 9 champion Brockway, 6 p.m. tonight at Peters Township Middle School.

“When they announced that states were going to be back here (at F.N.B. Stadium) it was like, ‘OK, maybe we have a chance to get back here again’,” Bentworth coach Nick Malarbi said. “You can’t beat this venue. If we make it back, I’ll gladly take this place as the last game my seniors get to play at. If not, anyone east of the state, or in the WPIAL, or whoever it may be, playing at this stadium at night with the crowd … it’s the best. It really is.”

Bentworth finished off its WPIAL four-peat with a 2-1 win in double overtime over Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. Adam Moessner had a golden goal in the 100th minute.

The Bearcats (19-1) are the first team since Peters Township in 1986-89 to win four straight WPIAL boys soccer titles.

Now they’ll try to become the first WPIAL team to win back-to-back state titles since Upper St. Clair did it in 2003-04. Quaker Valley is the only other team to do it, accomplishing the feat in 1993-94.

Brockway (15-1-3) won District 9 for the third year in a row and eighth time in 10 years with a 2-1 win over Elk County Catholic on Wednesday.

Luke Martino and Weston Luzier scored for the Rovers in the District 9 championship. Martino had the game-winner.

While the Rovers have been a regular state playoff participant, they haven’t had much success recently. Brockway was blown out 6-0 by Winchester Thurston last year. In 2024, OLSH beat the Rovers 1-0 and they lost 3-2 to Eden Christian in 2021.

Brockway’s last state playoff win came in the abbreviated 2020 tournament, a 4-0 win over District 6’s Belleville Mennonite, but again had its season end at the hands of a WPIAL opponent, 2-1, against Greensburg Central Catholic in the semifinals.

Bentworth wasn’t the only local boys soccer team to make history on Saturday.

Belle Vernon won its first WPIAL title with a 1-0 win in double overtime against Quaker Valley on Jordan Jerome’s golden goal.

It finished a championship run for the Leopards as a No. 10 seed.

They will host District 5 champion Somerset in the PIAA Class 2A first round, 6 p.m. Wednesday.

The Golden Eagles (14-2-4) secured an 8-0 win over the Pittsburgh City League’s Carrick to earn a spot in the state tournament. Christopher Thompson and Gabe Gary scored two goals apiece in the win over the Raiders.

Belle Vernon (18-1-2) has won nine straight entering the state playoffs.

“The mindset stays the same,” Leopards coach Tyler Caterino said. “These boys are hungry and we know that we’re going to be playing this week, so we’ll enjoy (the WPIAL title) today and tomorrow and then it’s back to work Monday to prepare for the next one.”

Girls soccer

The Bentworth girls fell one win shy of defending their WPIAL title, but after a 3-0 win over Riverview in the consolation game, they hope to have an extended stay in the state tournament.

That begins with a trip to play District 10 champion Seneca in the Class A first round, 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Seneca shut out Girard, 3-0, in the District 10 title game.

It is the fourth district championship in a row for Seneca, but it hasn’t been able to break through in the state tournament.

The Bobcats (15-3) have lost to Bishop Guilfoyle each of the last two years in the first round and were defeated by Springdale in 2023.

Bentworth (18-3) will attempt to win a state playoff game after losing to McConnellsburg in the first round last year.

Girls volleyball

Fresh off a second consecutive WPIAL title, Peters Township (21-1) will host District 3’s Lower Dauphin (16-3) in the Class 5A first round, 6 p.m. tonight.

The Indians won a state playoff game last year, beating Manheim Township in four sets before losing to Unionville in the quarterfinals.

Lower Dauphin swept Twin Valley in the District 3 consolation match to earn a spot in the state tournament.

Waynesburg (19-1) is in the state playoffs for a second consecutive year and is seeking its first win in the state tournament when it travels to play District 5 champion Chestnut Ridge, 6 p.m. tonight.

Though it is a district champion, Chestnut Ridge enters the state playoffs with a losing record at 8-13.

The Lions defeated District 9’s St. Marys in four sets in a subregional final to earn a spot in the state tournament.

Fort Cherry will try to keep its season going when it plays at District 6 champion Purchase Line, 6 p.m. Wednesday in the Class 2A first round.

The Rangers (19-2) won a consolation match against Shenango, which kept it on the western side of the bracket. The Wildcats were bumped to the eastern side.

Purchase Line (19-3) defeated Northern Cambria in four sets to win the District 6 championship for the first time since 2015.