Pittsburgh, Pa. – The Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) crowned three champions at the WPIAL/UPMC Sports Medicine Field Hockey Championships on Saturday, Nov. 2 at Cameron Stadium on the campus of Washington & Jefferson College. There were repeat winners in Class 1A and Class 3A with Shady Side Academy and Pine-Richland respectively winning those classifications, while Peters Township captured the Class 2A title.
Pine-Richland has now won six straight WPIAL field hockey championships and netted its seventh overall. The Rams previously won in 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023, and sits sixth all-time in field hockey championships.
Peters Township’s title was its third and first in six seasons. The Indians also won championships in 2009 and 2018 – both of which were at the Class 3A level.
Shady Side Academy has now gone back-to-back and won its 21st overall WPIAL field hockey title, pulling it within one of the league lead of 22 by North Allegheny. The Bulldogs also won in 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2023.
The WPIAL champion in all three classifications has qualified for the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Field Hockey Championships, which begin with first round games on Tuesday, Nov. 5 and conclude with championship games on Saturday, Nov. 16 at Cumberland Valley High School in Mechanicsburg.
CLASS 3A RECAP
Top-seeded Pine-Richland made it six consecutive titles at Class 3A with a 1-0 victory over second-seeded Mt. Lebanon in the final game of three at Cameron Stadium on Saturday.
Pine-Richland (20-0-0, 12-0-0 Section I) scored its lone goal at the 12:42 mark of the third quarter, as junior forward Anna Merlack buried a rebound from Georgia Rottinghaus shot attempt. The senior midfielder was set up on a penalty corner by classmate Madeline Mill.
The Rams reached the championship game with an 11-0 win over fourth-seeded Norwin, while Mt. Lebanon (12-5-0, 9-3-0 Section I) defeated third-seeded North Allegheny, 1-0, in the semifinals.
Pine-Richland opens the PIAA Championships at home against District III third-place Mechanicsburg. This will be the Rams’ seventh PIAA appearance.
CLASS 2A RECAP
Top-seeded Peters Township snapped a six-year title drought on Saturday, defeating second-seeded Fox Chapel, 3-0, to win the Class 2A championship.
Peters Township (16-3-0, 11-1-0 Section I) opened the scoring in the first quarter, as senior forward Serafina Forlini was in the right spot following a shot from classmate Anna Kokoszyznski and cashed in on the rebound.
The Indians added a pair of insurance goals in the third quarter. Two minutes into the frame, senior forward Bella Updyke tipped in a Forlini attempt, and then with four minutes remaining in the stanza, Kokoszyznski corralled a loose ball off a penalty corner and found the back of the net.
Peters Township was victorious over fourth-seeded Greater Latrobe, 8-0, in the semifinals, while Fox Chapel (10-7-1, 8-3-1 Section I) topped third-seeded Penn-Trafford, 2-1.
Peters Township begins the PIAA Championships at home against District III fourth-place Hershey. This will be the Indians’ second PIAA appearance in the first round.
CLASS 1A RECAP
Top-seeded Shady Side Academy successfully defended its Class 1A championship, topping second-seeded Aquinas Academy, 1-0, in the second game of three at Cameron Stadium on Saturday.
Shady Side Academy (16-4-0, 11-1-0 Section I) broke a scoreless tie at the 2:51 mark of the fourth quarter, as junior midfielder Coco Maxwell collected the rebound off a penalty corner and slotted it home.
The Bulldogs topped fourth-seeded Winchester Thurston, 4-0, in their semifinal, while Aquinas Academy (8-4-3, 7-2-3 Section I) qualified for its fourth consecutive championship game with a 2-0 triumph against third-seeded Oakland Catholic.
Shady Side Academy starts the PIAA Championships at home against District III fourth-place Camp Hill. This will be the Bulldogs’ 21st PIAA appearance.
PIAA PREVIEW
Start Date: Tuesday, Nov. 5
Championship Date & Location: Nov. 15-16 at Eagle View Middle School (Mechanicsburg, Pa.)
Total Champions from WPIAL: 0
Appearances & Best Finish:
- Pine-Richland – 7th (semifinals in 2020)
- Peters Township – 2nd (first round in 2018)
- Shady Side Academy – 21st (semifinals in 2020)
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