Three North teams in Division 1 boys lacrosse semifinals
One thing is certain about the WPIAL Division 1 boys lacrosse championship game that will be played Friday night at Chartiers Valley High School. At least one -- and possibly two -- teams will be playing in the championship game.
Things will be a lot clearer following Monday's semifinals, which also will be played at Chartiers Valley.
Border rivals Seneca Valley and Pine-Richland will meet in the 6 p.m. game, while Mt. Lebanon battles Shady Side Academy in the second game that is scheduled to begin at 7:45 p.m.
Seneca Valley, the Section 2 champion and No. 1 ranked team in Western Pennsylvania according to Laxpower.com, enters the game with an overall record of 15-1. The Raiders swept through five sectional opponents which included a 9-7 victory over visiting Pine-Richland on April 4. The 11-4 Rams, who advanced to the semifinals with an 11-9 victory over No. 4 Sewickley Academy, have won seven games in a row since a 9-7 loss to Upper St. Clair on April 11.
Seneca Valley advanced with a 7-6 squeaker over Peters Township in the quarterfinals. The Raiders' only loss came in a 7-5 setback to Mt. Lebanon on April 20.
Should the Raiders win this game, they could meet the Blue Devils in the championship game. Mt. Lebanon, however, has a tough task of its own as Mike Ermer's 13-5 Blue Devils meet a dangerous Shady Side Academy team in the other semifinal. Ranked No. 10 with a seemingly unimpressive 8-8 record, the Indians ousted No. 5 Upper St. Clair, 7-5, in the quarterfinals.
Shady Side began the season with four successive losses, but the Indians have had memorable victories over No. 3 Pine-Richland (6-3) and No. 7 Franklin Regional (7-4). Their only blowout loss was an 8-2 setback to Seneca Valley. In a regular-season match-up, Shady Side gave Mt. Lebanon (11-9) and Sewickley Academy (7-5) all they could handle before falling short.
Regardless of what happens Monday, all four teams are assured of at least one more game as a consolation game prior to Friday's WPIAL championship game. The winner of the consolation game will join the two WPIAL finalists in the PIAA Division 1 playoffs.
Things will be a lot clearer following Monday's semifinals, which also will be played at Chartiers Valley.
Border rivals Seneca Valley and Pine-Richland will meet in the 6 p.m. game, while Mt. Lebanon battles Shady Side Academy in the second game that is scheduled to begin at 7:45 p.m.
Seneca Valley, the Section 2 champion and No. 1 ranked team in Western Pennsylvania according to Laxpower.com, enters the game with an overall record of 15-1. The Raiders swept through five sectional opponents which included a 9-7 victory over visiting Pine-Richland on April 4. The 11-4 Rams, who advanced to the semifinals with an 11-9 victory over No. 4 Sewickley Academy, have won seven games in a row since a 9-7 loss to Upper St. Clair on April 11.
Seneca Valley advanced with a 7-6 squeaker over Peters Township in the quarterfinals. The Raiders' only loss came in a 7-5 setback to Mt. Lebanon on April 20.
Should the Raiders win this game, they could meet the Blue Devils in the championship game. Mt. Lebanon, however, has a tough task of its own as Mike Ermer's 13-5 Blue Devils meet a dangerous Shady Side Academy team in the other semifinal. Ranked No. 10 with a seemingly unimpressive 8-8 record, the Indians ousted No. 5 Upper St. Clair, 7-5, in the quarterfinals.
Shady Side began the season with four successive losses, but the Indians have had memorable victories over No. 3 Pine-Richland (6-3) and No. 7 Franklin Regional (7-4). Their only blowout loss was an 8-2 setback to Seneca Valley. In a regular-season match-up, Shady Side gave Mt. Lebanon (11-9) and Sewickley Academy (7-5) all they could handle before falling short.
Regardless of what happens Monday, all four teams are assured of at least one more game as a consolation game prior to Friday's WPIAL championship game. The winner of the consolation game will join the two WPIAL finalists in the PIAA Division 1 playoffs.
lacrosse