Joe Sager stories, Page 3

Yough and North Catholic’s girls soccer teams had a sense of relief after winning Monday’s WPIAL Class AA semifinals. But the pressure is back on Saturday for the championship match at 10 a.m. at Highmark Stadium. It is the first titel-game appearance for the Cougars (17-1-1) and Trojanettes (13-4-0). After...

The Norwin girls soccer team has been thinking about a possible rematch with Seneca Valley. After all, the Knights’ 4-3 loss to the Raiders on Sept. 19 is the only blemish on the top-seeded team’s 17-1 record. Norwin gets its wish at 8 p.m. on Monday at North Allegheny. This...

Greensburg Salem’s boys cross country team is going for a WPIAL Class AA title repeat. But it may seem like a new experience for the Lions. The group that participates in Thursday’s WPIAL championship at Cal (Pa.) is much different than last year’s team that captured PIAA gold as well....

Getting past the first round of the WPIAL Class AA playoffs has not been a problem for Derry’s girls volleyball team. The Trojans want to pick up two — or more — wins this fall, though. Derry begins its postseason quest this week. The goal is to get past the...

After winning WPIAL and PIAA Class A titles in 2016, Greensburg Central Catholic’s girls volleyball team has been searching for a way back to the top. The Centurions hope this is the year. “Definitely,” GCC senior Liz Colecchia said. “We’re really trying to go far this year. Even since my...

Growing up in a soccer family, Justine Appolonia has been scoring goals since she can remember. After Saturday, she can say no girl at Yough High School has scored more. The senior Youngstown State recruit netted three goals in a 7-0 win over South Allegheny to give her 107 for...

With singles and doubles WPIAL girls tennis champions determined, it’s time for area teams to begin their quests for titles. That includes Latrobe, which wrapped up a third straight Section 1-AAA championship Tuesday with a 4-1 win over Hempfield. It secured a perfect section record (8-0) for the third year...

Southmoreland’s girls volleyball team is ready to make a push for a section title. With only two weeks of section play left, the Scotties (7-2) still have a shot of clinching at least a share of the WPIAL Section 3-AA championship. They have three section matches left, including big ones...

This season, Norwin’s hockey team wants to keep the light on — the opposing team’s goal lamp. With its top three scorers back from a year ago, the Knights expect to rack up goals. “Offense is definitely our strength,” Norwin coach Adam Tokarski said. “All the players want to get...

Quaker Valley’s hockey team hopes to rebound from a near postseason miss. The Quakers, who own five PIHL Penguins Cup Class A titles (2006, ’08, ’12, ’13, ’14), reached the Class AA championship game two years ago. Last season, though, playing in a bigger classification and against bigger schools caught...

Franklin Regional’s hockey team has a new coach, but the goal remains the same — win a PIHL Penguins Cup championship. John Winebrenner takes over behind the bench for the Panthers, who won PIHL Penguins Cup Class A titles in 2016-17. He has his own championship history as well. He...

Winning follows Bill Pfeifer. So, it was no surprise the victories continued last season when he left back-to-back WPIAL and PIAA championship squads at Moon to take over Hopewell’s program. He helped turn a 2-13 Vikings team into a WPIAL finalist in 2018. The winning ways have continued as Hopewell...

The first half of section play was good for Mt. Pleasant’s girls soccer team. However, the Vikings hope to do better in the final stretch. A 4-2 record after the first time through the table kept Mt. Pleasant near the top of the Section 3-AA standings. The squad wants to...

While there are many unknowns heading into the PIHL season, which opens Monday, two things are certain: there will be new Penguins Cup champions in Class AA and A. The league’s reclassification pushed last year’s champs, Pine-Richland (AAA) and Montour (AA), up a level. The Rams went 18-0-1 during the...

Sometimes, teams endure growing pains while adjusting to a new coach. That doesn’t apply to Hempfield’s girls volleyball team. The Spartans adapted quickly under Michelle Pergar, who coached previously at Albert Gallatin and Laurel Highlands. Hempfield finished the first half of Section 3-AAAA play with a 5-1 record. “I think...

Between school and soccer, Hadley Sleith’s schedule is pretty busy most days. It got even crazier this fall when the Yough senior decided to join the football team as a placekicker. “I love playing sports. I love being competitive,” she said. “Playing sports helps me bond with people at school...

Reaching the WPIAL Class AAAA playoffs was the goal last year for Latrobe’s girls volleyball team. The Wildcats achieved it but want even more this fall. “After not making playoffs for 10 years, the experience was a lot different to play and watch,” Latrobe senior Skylar Shank said. “This year,...

While the players may change on a yearly basis, one thing remains constant for Quaker Valley’s boys soccer team: The Quakers dominate section play. A 3-0 win over North Catholic pushed Quaker Valley’s WPIAL Section 4-AA record to 5-0. It marked the program’s 37th consecutive section victory. The Quakers’ last...

Norwin’s girls soccer team is hoping to rediscover its championship recipe this fall. So far, the Knights believe they have the right ingredients. Balancing them has been the key for the Knights, who opened the year with six wins, including four in Section 3-AAAA. Norwin outscored its opponents, 27-1. “For...

Norwin’s girls soccer team is hoping to rediscover its championship recipe this fall. So far, the Knights believe they have the right ingredients. Balancing them has been the key for the Knights, who opened the year with four wins, including three in Section 3-4A play. Norwin outscored its opponents, 18-1....

Belle Vernon’s girls soccer team cruised through its section last year. The Leopards are winning with ease again this fall. Belle Vernon is off to a 4-1 start, including a 3-0 mark in Section 2-3A play. “We’ve really been working more as a team in these last couple games,” junior...

Quaker Valley’s girls volleyball team got its introductions out of the way last year. With six starters back, the Quakers want to make some progress this fall. “It’s really nice to have the same girls come back,” Quaker Valley junior Nicole Shaheen said. “We all know each other and how...

Sewickley Academy’s girls soccer team hopes the process equals results. The Panthers, who graduated 11 seniors from last year’s team, have a new look this fall. “We do not have very many returning starters,” coach Jessica Peluso said. “We do have a nice crop of young talent.” With so much...

Quaker Valley’s girls soccer team can’t wait to open the regular season. The preseason has been productive for the Quakers, but they know the real tests come when the matches count in the standings. “It is definitely a new team this year. There are only a few of us who...

Last season was an adventure for Mt. Pleasant’s girls soccer team. After dropping to Class AA, the Vikings faced a new set of section opponents. The march through Section 3 wasn’t easy, either, as the team finished in fifth at 7-7 and missed the postseason. With nine starters returning, Mt....