Soccer teams entering playoffs
Six Butler County high school soccer teams have qualified for the WPIAL playoffs. The seedings were released Wednesday.
Both Mars teams won a section title and still await their first opponent. The Planet girls (15-1-1), in search of their third straight WPIAL Class AA title, received a first-round bye and will host the winner of Saturday's game between Quaker Valley and Highlands Wednesday at a time to be determined.
Mars' boys (15-2-1) will face the survivor of a play-in game Saturday between West Mifflin and Laurel Highlands at 8 p.m. Monday at the Mars Athletic Complex.
Preview capsules on the four scheduled games involving local teams follow.
Girls Class AAA
Plum (9-6-2) at Seneca Valley (16-1) 4 p.m. Saturday
Standing: Plum finished third in Section 3; Seneca Valley was crowned champion of Section 2.
Scoring: The Mustangs outscored their opponents 42-21 while SV did so 46-10.
Stats: SV senior forward Morgan Williams leads the Raiders in goals with 17, but is out with a foot injury. Goalkeeper Jessica Neill is allowing less than a goal per game for the Raiders.
Notes: Plum did not lose back-to-back games all season, but the Mustangs also did not manage three straight wins during the year. ... Since losing its season opener to Hampton 1-0, Seneca Valley has won 16 in a row.
Class AA Knoch (11-7) at Central Valley (14-0-2) 4 p.m. Saturday
Standing: The Knights placed third in Section 2 behind Mars and Highlands; The Warriors tied for first in Section 3.
Scoring: Knoch has compiled a 58-37 edge in goals this season while Central Valley has outscored its opponents 100-9.
Stats: Gabi Lassinger leads Knoch with 12 goals and nine assists while Olivia Sharbaugh is right behind with 12 goals and eight assists.
Notes: Knoch won five straight games between Sept. 26 and Oct. 8, but enters the playoffs on a three-game losing skid. ... Central Valley's two blemishes this season were a pair of ties with Hopewell (1-1 and 0-0), which shared the Section 3 title with the Warriors.
Boys Class AAA
Mt. Lebanon (11-6-1) at Seneca Valley (13-4-1) 7 p.m. Monday
Standing: The Blue Devils finished third in Section 4; SV placed second in Section 2.
Scoring: Mt. Lebanon has outscored its foes 56-20 and the Raiders have a 38-19 edge.
Stats: Seneca's Anthony Crivelli has 15 goals and seven assists and Ryan Vilella 10 goals and six assists. The Raiders have a solid goalkeeper in junior Colton Smith, who has earned seven shutouts this season.
Notes: The two teams met in a non-section game Sept. 6 and the Raiders won 5-1 at NexTier Stadium. That loss was part of a 2-4-1 start to the season for the Blue Devils, who then went 9-2 the rest of the regular season.
Class AA Beaver (7-8-1) vs. Knoch (8-8-1) 2 p.m. Saturday at Seneca Valley
Standing: Both teams placed third in their section, Beaver in Section 4 and Knoch in Section 2.
Scoring: The Bobcats have a modest edge in goals at 34-30 while Knoch's advantage is 37-23.
Stats: Alex Slomer's nine goals lead Knoch. Brandon Vargo and Ben Andrews have both scored seven times, with Andrews adding six assists.
Notes: The game is a play-in contest, with the winner advancing to the first round to face undefeated South Park on Monday.
