What to watch for in WPIAL sports on Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2026: State playoffs kick off in soccer, volleyball
By Google News Category TV Guides ·
The PIAA soccer and girls volleyball playoffs open Tuesday night.
The Kryptonite for the Franklin Regional boys soccer program in the state playoffs the last two years has been District 3 Conrad Weiser.
The Panthers are 2-0 in opening-round matches in 2024 and 2025, shutting out District 6 reps Bellefonte and Hollidaysburg to advance to the state quarterfinals. There, Franklin Regional’s hopes off a state championship were dashed by Conrad Weiser both times.
The good news for Panthers fans this season is they will be trying to win a third straight PIAA playoff opener at home, when they welcome DuBois to Murrysville at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
Also, the Scouts of Conrad Weiser are on the other side of the bracket.
Franklin Regional lost to Norwin in its season opener, won seven in a row, then tied Penn-Trafford and Plum in back-to-back matches in late September. Since then, the Panthers have won 11 straight, including a WPIAL 3A championship victory over Plum last week, 1-0.
The Beavers are 12-5-2 and unbeaten in their last six.
DuBois won the District 9 title by beating Clearfield, then earned a berth in the state playoffs with a victory over the City League’s Obama Academy, 2-0.
There are two other WPIAL 3A boys soccer teams hitting the road in the first round Tuesday.
• WPIAL third-place West Allegheny (17-3-1) visits District 10 champion Harbor Creek (15-1-4) at 6 p.m.
• District 7 runner-up Plum (14-3-2) travels to play District 6 winner Hollidaysburg (14-3-2) at 7 p.m.
The Class A boys soccer playoffs also begin Tuesday.
The golden boys from Bentworth head to Peters Township Stadium to square off against District 9 champion Brockway at 6 p.m.
The Bearcats are 19-1 and fresh off their fourth straight WPIAL crown and a victory over Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in double overtime, 2-1.
The Rovers come in with a record of 15-1-3 and a D-9 title match win over Elk County Catholic, 2-1.
The other two first-round state Class A matches involving WPIAL teams:
• District 7 third-place Winchester Thurston (16-2-1) facing District 10 champ Mercyhurst Prep (14-5-1) at Mercyhurst University at 7 p.m.
• WPIAL runner-up Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (15-5) challenges District 6 champion St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy (7-11-2) at Mansion Park in Altoona at 5:30 p.m.
When it comes to PIAA soccer in Class 3A over the last decade-plus, nobody compares to the stranglehold District 7 has had on state gold.
Over the last 11 years, a WPIAL team has won the 3A state title nine times.
South Fayette was the state champ a year ago and Upper St. Clair won it all in 2015. In between, Moon and Mars dominated with a combined seven state crowns in an eight-year period.
The Fightin’ Planets win three straight PIAA championships from 2019-2021.
After winning WPIAL gold, Mars is ready to add another title this fall as it opens up the state playoffs at home against Northern York at 5 p.m.
The Fightin’ Planets are 17-1-1 and have won 12 consecutive matches, including a District 7 title victory over section foe Shaler, 2-1.
The Polar Bears are 13-5-3 and the No. 4 team out of District 3 after falling to Conrad Weiser in the third-place match, 4-0.
The two other girls soccer 3A teams from the WPIAL are on the road Tuesday:
• WPIAL third-place Penn-Trafford (15-3-3) visits District 9 champion DuBois (16-4-1) at 6 p.m.
• WPIAL runner-up Shaler (15-4) travels to face District 6 winner Hollidaysburg (13-3-4) at 5 p.m.
The Class A girls soccer playoffs also…
Originally published by Google News Category TV Guides
