Oct 3, 2025 8 min read

Laurel Highlands had a one-goal lead for roughly 65 minutes in Thursday’s Section 2-3A boys match against Trinity at Mustang Field, but the Hillers scored two late goals for a 2-1 victory over the home team.

The Mustangs dropped to 5-6-0 in section play and 9-6-0 overall. Laurel Highlands is currently in fifth place in the section standings behind Ringgold (6-5-0), but the Mustangs’ remaining schedule sets up favorably for coach Alexander Guie’s team, as LH closes section play against McKeesport (1-12-0), Bethel Park (10-0-1) and Albert Gallatin (0-11-0).

The Mustangs defeated the Tigers (13-2) and Colonials (8-0) in their first games, but suffered a 3-2 overtime setback to the Black Hawks.

The Rams finish their section slate with Thomas Jefferson (9-1-1), South Fayette (3-8-0) and Bethel Park.

Ringgold defeated the Lions, 1-0, but the Jaguars (5-0) and Black Hawks (3-1) topped the Rams in both matches.

The top four teams qualify for the WPIAL playoffs, but in the event of a tie for fourth place that can’t be broken, both squads will qualify, which is a possibility for Laurel Highlands and Ringgold, as they split their two matches this season.

The Mustangs carried the play in the first half, as the Hillers (8-2-0, 8-4-0) could only muster one shot on target.

Laurel Highlands’ persistence paid off with 5:09 remaining in the opening 40 minutes, as Luca Degia’s corner kick bounced in front of the net, and among the congestion, Elliot Boor corralled the ball and sent it behind Trinity keeper Joel Young for a 1-0 lead.

The Hillers found their offense in the second half with eight shots on target against LH keeper Dan O’Neal, who was able to make six of his seven saves in the final 40 minutes, but Trinity tied the match with 16:11 remaining on Evan Slagle’s tally.

The sequence that led to Slagle’s goal began when Hillers captain John Garcia passed to Brady Anderson, who from the left side of the field, lofted the ball to Slagle, who ran under the ball and used his right foot to put the ball past O’Neal.

The Mustangs were called for a foul in the penalty area that led to Garcia being awarded a penalty kick. The senior put a low shot to the left of the cage for the goal and a 2-1 lead with 9:41 remaining.

Young made eight saves for the win in goal.

Franklin Regional 6, Belle Vernon 0 — The Panthers scored three goals apiece in the first and second halves for a victory over the Leopards in Section 3-3A play at Franklin Regional.

Belle Vernon’s Morgan Bunch made 13 saves.

The Leopards (5-4-0, 7-8-1) have already clinched a playoff berth and close their section schedule on Oct. 14 at West Mifflin (1-6-0, 2-10-0).

Bentworth 19, California 0 — The Bearcats clinched at least a share of the Section 2-1A championship in a victory over the Trojans at California Area High School in Coal Center.

Bentworth (7-0-0, 13-0-0) hosts Beth-Center (4-1-0, 8-3-0) in its final section match on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The Bearcats won the first meeting, 7-0.

Bentworth, who had 15 different goal scorers, were led by Ryan Moessner’s hat trick. Billy Moyer and Garrett Allen each had a brace. Adam and Ryan Moessner had multiple assists. Moyer, Cameron Butler, Dan Dual and Blake Lusk also had two or more helpers.

Jude Laskey, Gabe Ewdosh, Charles Nuttall, Adam Moessner, Dillan Colbert, Caden Hackinson, Austin Hollier, Cameron Butler, Paxton Thomas, Cameron Rice, Corbin McMurray and Noah Reynolds all scored for the visitors.

Butler, Caleb Faryna and Isaac Vipperman combined for the clean sheet.

Peters Township 10, Connellsville 2 — The Falcons’ Tyler Burkus and William Gillott scored, but the Indians were too much for the home team in a Section 2-4A victory at Connellsville Stadium.

Peters Township, who improved to 7-0-1 in the section and 10-0-1 overall, won the section championship.

Anthony Maiello had a brace, and Charlie Lulich, Keedan Kelly, Colin Froelich, Cam Guess, Colby Zimmer, Preston Oakes, Lucas Martin and Ryder Baker also found the back of the net.

Trinity Christian 3, Beth-Center 2 — Nekoda Bundy scored twice for the Bulldogs, but the Falcons earned a non-section victory at Beth-Center Stadium in what could be a playoff match in Class A.

Beth-Center, who is 4-1-0 in Section 2-1A, dropped to 8-4-0 overall.

Trinity Christian improved to 6-6-0 overall. The Falcons are 4-2-0 in Section 4-1A.

Mount Pleasant 1, Greensburg Salem 0 — Grant Zahrobsky scored the lone goal in the Vikings’ Section 4-2A triumph over the Golden Lions at Offutt Field in Greensburg.

Gavin Rummel provided the assist on Zahrobsky’s goal.

Tyke Gardner had the shutout in goal.

Mount Pleasant improved to 10-1-0 in section play and 11-4-0. The Vikings have clinched a playoff spot.

Girls soccer

Belle Vernon 3, Yough 0 — Rory Bastedo and Skylar Salay made one save apiece to combine for the clean sheet in the Lady Leopards’ non-section victory over the Lady Cougars at James Weir Stadium.

Courtney Martin scored what proved to be the game-winning goal in the first half for a 1-0 lead. Payton Walsh provided the assist.

Kelsey Roskovich scored on a free kick and Ali Watson converted on a penalty kick in the second half.

Belle Vernon improved to 10-4-1 overall. The Lady Leopards are second place in Section 1-2A play with a record of 7-2-1. Belle Vernon can still win the section, but it would need to win out and have South Park (9-0-0) lose its remaining three section matches.

Girls volleyball

Waynesburg Central 3, Chartiers-Houston 0 — The Lady Raiders remain undefeated after sweeping the Lady Buccaneers in Section 2-3A victory.

Waynesburg (10-0, 13-0) won by set scores of 25-18, 25-10 and 25-14. The Lady Raiders’ Ani Cree had 16 kills, three aces and two digs. Gina Tedrow chipped in with 15 assists, three kills and two digs.

Waynesburg’s Chatham Knight had 12 assists and two digs. Teammate Emily Rafferty added seven digs and six kills.

Railey Bochna (5 aces, 2 digs, 2 kills), Harper Grimes (6 aces, 3 kills), Lelia McCollum (15 digs) and Emma Blair (2 digs) contributed to the Lady Raiders’ victory.

Belle Vernon 3, Laurel Highlands 2 — The Lady Leopards avenged an early-season loss to the Mustangs in winning a five-set thriller in Section 3-3A play at Belle Vernon Area High School.

Belle Vernon (6-3) won the first two sets by scores of 26-24 and 25-17 before Laurel Highlands (6-2) won the third (25-23) and fourth (26-24) sets. The Lady Leopards won the fifth set in a tiebreaker, 18-16.

The Mustangs’ Sara Reed had 19 assists, 15 digs, four aces and one black. Teammate Diondra Brown had 23 digs, eight blocks, six kills and an ace.

Esther Waqanivalu added 12 digs, four kills, three blocks and an ace. Harlie Dirdra (9 digs, 4 blocks, 1 kill), Lucy Baker (9 kills, 7 digs, 1 ace), Addie Ciez (6 digs, 2 kills, 1 assist) and Kayla Howell (8 digs) also contributed for the visitors.

Ringgold 3, Albert Gallatin 1 — The Lady Colonials battled back to take the third set after trailing by two, but the Lady Rams won the fourth to earn a Section 3-3A victory.

Albert Gallatin’s Mikayla Shea had eight digs, and two aces, blocks and kills apiece. Teammate Riylee Abel had 18 assists, 16 digs and two kills. Mila Giachetti had 13 kills, six digs, one ace and an assist.

Gabby DeLorenzo (9 digs), Isabelle Usher (5 kills, 2 blocks), Lily Mick (5 digs), Gabby Penrose (5 digs, 5 aces, 7 kills), Ellie Seese (11 kills, 3 digs, 1 assist), Kylee Augustine (4 digs).

Beth-Center 3, Mapletown 0 — The Lady Bulldogs swept the Lady Maples in a Section 3-1A match at Beth-Center High School.

Beth-Center (6-0, 10-1) won by set scores of 25-16, 25-12 and 25-23.

Mapletown’s Treslee Weston had six kills, and one ace, block and dig apiece. Teammate Marley Shiflett had 10 assists, four kills and a block.

Rowan Eisiminger had five kills, two aces and two digs for the visitors. The Lady Maples’ Makenna Lotspeich had five digs and three aces.

Mapletown dropped to 2-4 in the section and 4-8 overall.

California 3, Geibel Catholic 0 — The Lady Trojans earned a Section 4-1A sweep over the Lady Gators at “The Swamp.”

California (6-1, 12-2) won by set scores of 25-15, 25-19 and 25-20.

Nolace Petrosky led Geibel Catholic (0-6, 2-10) with eight digs and five kills. Teammate Mallory Clemmer had eight kills, six digs and three blocks.

Hockey

Connellsville 4, Central Valley 2 — Freshman Connor Basinger had a hat trick in his varsity debut to lead the Falcons over the Warriors in the session opener at CFS Bank Arena in Rostraver Township.

Logan House scored the other goal for Connellsville.

Nolan Wojnar assisted on Basinger’s second goal and Joey Roadman on Basinger’s hat trick.

Central Valley opened the scoring when Caleb Mcquaid opened the scoring at 5:12 of the first period before Basinger scored at 5:47 and 8:51 of the opening frame.

House scored the game winner :33 seconds into the second period. Basinger added his third at 10:17 of the second. Spencer McGuire scored for the Warriors to cut the deficit to 4-2 at 13:29 of the third.

The Falcons outshot Central Valley, 43-21.

Connellsville goalie Nick Daniels-Nimick stopped 19 shots.