Pennsylvania schools begin postseason play across six sports
High school teams from the PIAA, WPIAL, and PIHL compete in the first round of playoffs or league games this week.
By Sakura Ellis ·
Schools across Pennsylvania opened their postseason competition this week with scheduled games in field hockey, football, soccer, volleyball, and hockey. The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League, and the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League have released their schedules for contests occurring between Monday, November 9, and Wednesday, November 11.
The field hockey calendar features 24 first-round matches in the PIAA playoffs. Class 3A teams play first on Tuesday, with Villa Maria Academy hosting Landisville Hempfield at 2:15 p.m. In Class 2A, Mount St. Joseph faces Manheim Central at 2:30 p.m. The Class A division concludes the day with West Perry playing Wyoming Area at Wilkes-Barre at 6:30 p.m. These games determine which teams advance to the second round of the tournament.
The WPIAL football schedule lists 24 games for Friday, November 13. The Class 6A semifinals pit Hempfield against Central Catholic at U.S. Steel Community Field at Hazelwood Green. North Allegheny travels to Canon-McMillan at AHN Field in Canonsburg for the other semifinal. In Class 5A, Pine-Richland hosts Trinity at 7 p.m., while Penn-Trafford plays Thomas Jefferson. The Class 4A semifinals include South Fayette versus New Castle at Central Valley and Montour against McKeesport at Penn Hills.
Quarterfinal action in the lower football divisions occurs on the same Friday. Class 3A teams such as Avonworth and West Mifflin play at Peters Township. Class 2A contests include Beaver Falls versus Bishop Canevin at Dormont Stadium. The Class A division features Washington and Beth-Center at Charleroi. All listed football games begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted in the WPIAL schedule.
The PIHL released Monday night results and a Tuesday schedule for its league. In Class 3A, Central Catholic defeated Thomas Jefferson 3-2, and Pine-Richland beat North Allegheny 3-2 in overtime. Upper St. Clair won 7-2 against Latrobe. Class 2A results showed Bethel Park winning 7-2 over Norwin. Tuesday’s schedule places Hempfield against Canon-McMillan at Printscape Arena at Southpointe at 7 p.m. Ringgold plays Trinity at the same venue at 9 p.m.
The PIAA soccer playoffs begin on Tuesday for girls’ Class 3A and Class A teams. Warwick plays Strath Haven at 7 p.m. in the girls’ Class 3A first round. Boys’ Class 3A teams start their tournament the same day, with Susquehannock traveling to Strath Haven at 5 p.m. Boys’ Class 4A and Class 2A teams, along with girls’ Class 4A and Class 2A teams, compete on Wednesday. North Allegheny boys play Allderdice at Cupples Stadium at 6 p.m. on Wednesday.
Volleyball playoffs commence on Tuesday for the PIAA. In girls’ Class 5A, Penn-Trafford plays Exeter Township at 5 p.m. Class 4A teams play on Wednesday, with Science Leadership Academy facing Pope John Paul II at 7 p.m. The Class 3A first round occurs on Tuesday, including Philadelphia Academy Charter versus Camp Hill Trinity at 4 p.m. Class 2A and Class A games are scheduled for Wednesday and Tuesday respectively, with all games held at the home team’s facility or a neutral site as listed.
Teams in the WPIAL and PIAA face varying levels of competition based on their record. For example, in the football Class 6A semifinals, Central Catholic enters as an undefeated team with a 9-0 record against Hempfield’s 6-4 mark. In the PIAA field hockey Class 3A first round, Villa Maria Academy holds a 19-3 record while facing Landisville Hempfield, which is 17-5. These matchups set the stage for the next round of regional play.
The schedules include specific times and locations for all listed games. Neutral sites are used for certain matchups, such as the Class A football game between Midd-West and Greenwood at West Perry. The PIAA soccer schedule lists neutral sites for several first-round games, including the boys’ Class 4A match between Lower Merion and Father Judge at Northeast. These logistical details allow fans and athletes to plan for the weekend competition.
The competition spans multiple divisions and sports, providing opportunities for schools across the state to advance in their respective tournaments. The WPIAL football semifinals and quarterfinals occur on Friday, while the PIAA field hockey, soccer, and volleyball first-round games are spread across Tuesday and Wednesday. Hockey league play continues with scheduled games for Tuesday at Printscape Arena and other local venues.
