Peters Township, Mt. Lebanon runners-up in WPIAL field hockey
Shady Side Academy (SSA)and Pine-Richland continued their dominance in scholastic field hockey as both captured WPIAL championships at the expense of two South Hills clubs.
The Bulldogs defeated Peters Township, 1-0, on Nov. 3 at Newman Stadium on the North Allegheny High School campus to claim the Class 2A title while the Rams blanked Mt. Lebanon, 3-0, the following night at the same site for the Class 3A crown.
The championship marked the 23rd WPIAL banner for SSA, extending its record for the most titles for a single school. For Pine-Richland, it was the eighth straight championship.
SSA’s lone tally came with 3:33 remaining in the third quarter. Josie Braham was credited with the game-winning goal.
“We never quit,” said Peters Township head coach Courtney Ackelson. “That’s the best thing you could say about this team. They never quit and they are a really great group of girls. They are always there for each other, being so positive. I’m just really proud of the way they played.
“We pushed up the ball the whole time, and I think it was a really back and forth 50-50 game. So I’m really proud of the way they played,” she continued. “Obviously, I wish the result was a little different, but I’m really proud of this team and everything they have achieved.”
The Lady Indians qualified for the postseason by finishing third in Section 1 with a 6-4 record. SSA won the division with an unbeaten slate of 10-0 while Fox Chapel was the runner-up at 7-2-1.
Peters Township defeated the Foxes, 3-1, in the semifinals to earn its spot in the WPIAL final.
With the loss, the Lady Indians finished the season at 9-5 overall. It was the fourth year in a row they reached the WPIAL finals, winning a championship in 2024.
Peters Township graduates six seniors who have contributed to the program, which also produced titles in 2009 and 2018. Among them are: Eliza Muehlbauer, Maeve LaRose, Cecelia Reyes, Annemarie Konggard, Sofia Bergman and Liliana Rose.
“We have a really special group of seniors and I am really happy for them and proud of them. To be in a WPIAL championship every year is a really special thing.
“They were really great mentors for our younger girls, and I’m just hoping that we’ll be back here again next year.”
Among the returning letter winners that will help the Lady Indians challenge for a championship in 2027 will be: Julia Anderson, Harlow Guy, Kenzie Balog, McKenna Jesikowski, Sophia Hutchison, Claire Veverka, Aubrey Arabia, Corinne Fayish, Oliva Bergman, Gabi Buynak, Eve Secresit, June Denardo, Katelyn Steigel, Willa Kirk, Sydney Wagner, Layney O’Brian, Aubrey Suneja, Cam Bauer, Lydia Fleming, Molly Fidler, Kaci Heintz, Emma Fidler, Mia Shaughnessy, Kiley Price, Kenzie Baylog, Lydia Williams and Emma Hathy.
Meanwhile, in the Class 3A final, Alyssa Baculik found the back of the net four minutes into the game and provided Pine-Richland with the only goal it needed to beat Lebo. Allison Kapanowski made it 2-0 by intermission. The Rams tacked on a second-half tally to complete the scoring.
The Rams dominated the tournament, winning in the semifinals, 9-0, over Hempfield. They won the Section 1 banner with an 11-1 slate and advanced to the PIAA tournament with a 14-5 overall record.
Mt. Lebanon finished the season at 10-5 overall. The Blue Devils were 9-3 in Section 1.
Lebo graduates five seniors: Hannah Markowitz, Evangeline Tan, Quinn Duffy, Molly Bozick and Annaleigh Dwulit.
Among those returning to the roster in 2027 are: Ava Giorgianni, Aubrey Betler, Olive Skocik, Amelia Hanson, Addie Monticelli, Catherine Balfe, Grace Hughes, Ellie Shaffer, Maggie Vines, Grace Kurta, Maggie Bader, Caitlin Morgan, Lulu Pieklik, Charlotte McCormick, Ivy Campbell and Allie Miller.
Brian Kattan coached the Blue Devils along with his assistants Kayle Wogan and Lydia Smeltz.