Field hockey: Tight races in Class AAA, balanced in Class AA
With the WPIAL field hockey season completed, there were plenty of outstanding moments in the 2012 season.
Both Class AAA sections had tight races, with North Allegheny the classification's only unbeaten team with a 9-0-1 record. Penn-Trafford edged Pine-Richland out for second place, in a race that came down to the final game of the regular season. While Penn-Trafford was defeating Norwin, 4-0, North Allegheny edged Pine-Richland 1-0 in overtime to secure second place and the playoffs for Penn-Trafford, which had a section record of 7-2-1.
In Section 2, Peters Township and Fox Chapel had identical section records of 9-1. The two teams split the regular-season series, but Peters Township was awarded home field in the semifinals because the Indians had a greater goal differential in the two games the teams played. Fox Chapel won by a 2-1 score, and Peters Township came back to win the rematch 2-0, giving the Indians a 3-2 advantage in goal differential.
When it came to the playoffs, though, home field meant nothing as the visitors won both games.
Penn-Trafford defeated Peters Township, 3-2, in double overtime at the Indians' stadium, while Fox Chapel edged North Allegheny 1-0 in overtime at the Tigers' Newman Stadium.
So, both No. 2 teams met last Wednesday at Newman Stadium for the WPIAL Class AAA championship, and the Foxes got the only goal of the game with 3:09 left in overtime on a rebound goal by Sammi Pitz.
But the season came to a swift end for Fox Chapel. The Foxes lost to State College, 5-0, in the first round of the PIAA Class AAA playoffs in State College on Thursday.
In Class AA, seven teams were supposed to compete this season, but Greensburg Salem dropped the sport before the season began.
Despite that, Class AA was very competitive this season.
Shady Side Academy finished at the top of the section this season, but they couldn't replicate their perfect run of a year ago as the Indians were tied by The Ellis School, 1-1, and finished with a section record of 9-0-1.
Sewickley Academy, Ellis and Winchester Thurston battled hard for second place, with Sewickley eventually edging out the other two schools with a record of 6-3-1. Ellis was next at 5-3-2, and Winchester Thurston was fourth at 5-4-1.
When Shady Side Academy defeated Winchester Thurston, 4-2, it represented the only semifinal where the victory took place in regulation. Sewickley Academy edged Ellis, 2-1 in overtime. And, both Class AAA semifinals required extra time.
Both Class AAA sections had tight races, with North Allegheny the classification's only unbeaten team with a 9-0-1 record. Penn-Trafford edged Pine-Richland out for second place, in a race that came down to the final game of the regular season. While Penn-Trafford was defeating Norwin, 4-0, North Allegheny edged Pine-Richland 1-0 in overtime to secure second place and the playoffs for Penn-Trafford, which had a section record of 7-2-1.
In Section 2, Peters Township and Fox Chapel had identical section records of 9-1. The two teams split the regular-season series, but Peters Township was awarded home field in the semifinals because the Indians had a greater goal differential in the two games the teams played. Fox Chapel won by a 2-1 score, and Peters Township came back to win the rematch 2-0, giving the Indians a 3-2 advantage in goal differential.
When it came to the playoffs, though, home field meant nothing as the visitors won both games.
Penn-Trafford defeated Peters Township, 3-2, in double overtime at the Indians' stadium, while Fox Chapel edged North Allegheny 1-0 in overtime at the Tigers' Newman Stadium.
So, both No. 2 teams met last Wednesday at Newman Stadium for the WPIAL Class AAA championship, and the Foxes got the only goal of the game with 3:09 left in overtime on a rebound goal by Sammi Pitz.
But the season came to a swift end for Fox Chapel. The Foxes lost to State College, 5-0, in the first round of the PIAA Class AAA playoffs in State College on Thursday.
In Class AA, seven teams were supposed to compete this season, but Greensburg Salem dropped the sport before the season began.
Despite that, Class AA was very competitive this season.
Shady Side Academy finished at the top of the section this season, but they couldn't replicate their perfect run of a year ago as the Indians were tied by The Ellis School, 1-1, and finished with a section record of 9-0-1.
Sewickley Academy, Ellis and Winchester Thurston battled hard for second place, with Sewickley eventually edging out the other two schools with a record of 6-3-1. Ellis was next at 5-3-2, and Winchester Thurston was fourth at 5-4-1.
When Shady Side Academy defeated Winchester Thurston, 4-2, it represented the only semifinal where the victory took place in regulation. Sewickley Academy edged Ellis, 2-1 in overtime. And, both Class AAA semifinals required extra time.
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