Knoch boys soccer reaches the WPIAL playoffs for the second straight season after routing Valley
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Knoch's Jackson Burtner (7) attempts to score against Valley in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, at Knoch High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Knoch's Adam Cristallino (18) passes the ball against Valley in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, at Knoch High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Knoch's Fabian Faria (6) attempts to score against Valley in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, at Knoch High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Knoch's Luke Myers (22) kicks for a goal against Valley in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, at Knoch High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Knoch's Walker Stewart (28) advances the ball downfield against Valley in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, at Knoch High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Knoch's Whitaker Schwaim (10) catches a pass against Valley in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, at Knoch High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Knoch's Alexander Ortmann (4) passes the ball in traffic against a Valley defender in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, at Knoch High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Knoch's Luke Myers (22) enters the field against Valley in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, at Knoch High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Knoch's Luke Myers (22) kicks the ball against Valley for a goal in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, at Knoch High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Knoch's Fabian Faria (6) grabs a pass before scoring against Valley in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, at Knoch High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Knoch's varsity team prayers before taking the field against Valley in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, at Knoch High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Knoch's Luke Myers (22) battles a Valley player in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, at Knoch High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Knoch's Luke Myers (22) dribbles the ball in for a goal against Valley in a boys soccer game Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, at Knoch High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
JEFFERSON TWP — Making it back-to-back trips to the postseason was certainly not a lock for Knoch boys soccer.
The Knights graduated 11 seniors and nine starters from last year’s team.
“I really didn’t know what to think, but didn’t have a whole lot of optimism,” said junior midfielder Luke Myers, one of the two returning starters along with goalkeeper Ryan Karwoski. “But I think we’ve played a lot better as the season has gone on.”
With Tuesday’s 12-0 shutout of visiting Valley, coupled with Deer Lakes’ defeat of Highlands, the Knights have secured no worse than fourth place in WPIAL Section 1-2A, guaranteeing Knoch (6-8-1, 5-4-1) a berth into the postseason.
“We’ve improved in pretty much everything since the start of the season,” first-year head coach Mitch Andrews said. “From basic skills to working together as a team to our back-line play, where we are young, it’s all gotten better.”
It doesn’t hurt having a player like Myers, who has scored a team-leading 17 goals, including a hat trick against Valley. He missed the last two weeks of his sophomore season with an injury.
Andrews pointed to his team’s two encounters with Burrell, another playoff team from the section, as evidence of the Knights’ progression.
The Bucs won the first meeting 3-1 and were leading the rematch (played Sept. 29) by two goals before Knoch salvaged a 3-3 tie.
“That game showed our growth,” Andrews said.
Deer Lakes, which won the WPIAL title and reached the state semifinals in 2025, leads the section standings, followed by a rejuvenated Freeport squad, Burrell and Knoch.
Having played three strong teams in their own section should help the Knights once the playoffs begin.
“Getting back to the playoffs gives us more confidence,” Myers said.
“That experience in the postseason, it’s going to be one more building block for a young team,” Andrews said.
Fabian Faria scored twice Wednesday. Cam Rial, Jackson Burtner, Aaron Yeager, Lucas Freshwater, Walker Stewart, Ethan Lauer and Alex Ortmann each scored a goal.
Karwoski split time in net with Charlie Marshall to earn the shutout.
Knoch plays at Highlands on Thursday. The WPIAL will release its playoff brackets Wednesday, Oct. 21.
