What to watch in WPIAL sports on August 26, 2024: Avonworth, Freedom open girls soccer division

From: Don Rebel

Sunday, August 25, 2024 | 9:19 p.m.

Four days into the new season, the WPIAL girls soccer division schedule for Class 3A, 2A and A teams begins Monday.

One of the district teams that started playing section games here at the end of August managed to be successful at the beginning of November.

Avonworth opens play in Section 3-2A on Monday by hosting Hopewell, another team that moved up from Section 1 to Section 3 as part of an offseason realignment.

The Antelopes will try to win their fourth consecutive WPIAL title this fall.

The 'Lopes defeated North Catholic in 2021, Mt. Pleasant in 2022 and Shady Side Academy in 2023 in the district finals, all in one-point games.

Avonworth tied with North Catholic for the Section 1 crown a year ago but moved up to Section 3, where it will face Hopewell, Ambridge, Beaver, Central Valley and Quaker Valley in the six-team section this season.

The other opening schedule for Section 3-2A for Monday is Quaker Valley in Ambridge.

The Golden Dogs

While Avonworth is chasing its fourth WPIAL girls soccer title this season, Freedom is aiming for a third straight win in Class A.

The Bulldogs claimed their fourth title in school history and their second consecutive crown when they defeated Riverview 1-0 in the 2023 Class A title game.

While most of the teams are still together after Freedom won the sectional championship by three games, the Bulldogs were moved to Section 1-A for the next two seasons.

Freedom hosts Riverside, a team that qualified for the Class A playoffs last season after finishing fourth.

Joining the Bulldogs and Panthers in Section 1-A are Eden Christian, Mohawk, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and South Side.

The other two section openers on Monday are OLSH at Mohawk and Eden Christian hosting South Side.

Opening game on home pitch

There is high hope that the Bethel Park girls tennis team can repeat its success after winning its first WPIAL championship title last fall.

The Black Hawks will play their first home game in the section on Monday when they face 2022 3A champion Upper St. Clair.

While the Hawks have won one district title, the Panthers lead the way in tennis with 15 WPIAL 3A team championships.

Two-time defending 2A champion Knoch was also scheduled to open its 2024 Section 3-2A schedule at home, but a game against Ellis School was postponed.

The Knights are not only trying to secure their third consecutive win this season, but also to win gold for the fourth time in five years.

Keywords: Ambridge, Avonworth, Bethel Park, Eden Christian, Freedom, Knoch, Mohawk, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Quaker Valley, Riverside, South Side, Upper St. Clair