Freeport and Burrell prepare for PIAA opener matchups

Freeport coach Steve Kukic and Burrell coach Frank Nesko shifted their attention to the PIAA opening round on Wednesday as their teams prepare for first round state matches. Both programs advanced from the WPIAL tournament following a championship game on Thursday that pitted the two rivals against each other for the third time this season.

Freeport, the WPIAL Class 2A champion for the second consecutive year, will host District 9 champion Clearfield at 6 p.m. The Yellowjackets enter the state tournament with a 17-2-1 record. Their last appearance in the PIAA semifinals ended in a 2-1 loss to Burrell at Fox Chapel last year, a result that kept them from a state title. Kukic stated that his team has secured the Section 2 and WPIAL titles and now seeks the PIAA championship to complete the set.

Kukic noted that freshman Gia Conglose scored the winning goal in the second overtime of Thursday's WPIAL final. The coach gave the team time off following the match to allow players to rest and support other school teams. He also highlighted the return of junior midfielder Elena Jenkins, who made her season debut in the WPIAL semifinals after being out since preseason. Freshman Julia McConville is expected to make her season debut after recovering from an injury.

Clearfield, which holds a 13-3-3 record, earned its spot in the PIAA playoffs with a 3-1 victory over Punxsutawney last week. Junior Evie Helsel scored twice in the second half of that game after returning from a long injury. Junior Lily McBride added a goal on a header three minutes into the match. The Bisons have not participated in the PIAA playoffs since 2023, when they lost to WPIAL champion Avonworth in the quarterfinals.

Burrell, the WPIAL runner-up for the third straight season, will travel to District 5 champion Bedford at 6 p.m. The Bucs finished with a loss in Thursday's WPIAL final but Nesko reported that the team maintained high spirits during Friday's light practice. He said the players remained focused on the opportunities ahead rather than dwelling on the defeat.

Burrell is competing in the PIAA playoffs for the third consecutive year. In 2024, the team lost to Cathedral Prep in the first round. Last year, they advanced further but fell short of the state championship after an overtime loss to Archbishop Wood. Nesko credited the experience from last season's run with building confidence in his current squad. He emphasized that the team must perform at a high level in three games to reach their ultimate goal.

Bedford repeated as the District 5-8 champion with a 4-0 win over Somerset in the subregional final last Wednesday. This marks the Bisons' 10th district title in the last 11 years. Bedford previously won the Class 2A state championship in 2018 by defeating Lewisburg 5-4. Nesko acknowledged the strength of Bedford's offense, noting that the team has scored 132 goals this season. He expressed confidence in his team's ability to handle the matchup if they execute their game plan.

The two teams met in the WPIAL championship game last year, which Freeport won after two overtime periods. Burrell scored a goal off a corner kick from senior Eva Wilson in the final regulation minute of Thursday's match, with junior Allie McMahon finishing the play. The rivalry between the two programs has included 11 meetings in the past four years. Both teams will look to extend their seasons in Wednesday's matches.