Oct 21, 2025 3 min read

Mount Pleasant built up a two-goal advantage and held off a rally from Elizabeth Forward in a 2-1 victory on Monday night in the first round of the WPIAL Class 2A boys soccer playoffs at Viking Stadium.

The Vikings (15-4-0) earned their first playoff win since 2020, and eighth straight this season in advancing to Thursday’s quarterfinal at fourth-seeded Avonworth (16-2-1).

Mount Pleasant, the fifth seed, jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute when Tyke Snyder touched a redirect past Warriors keeper Nick Moffa. The Vikings’ Bryson Bankosh saved a ball from passing the end line before Snyder buried his 17th goal of the season.

Mount Pleasant settled into its attack in the second half and protected a 1-0 advantage before Grant Zahrobsky sent a cross to Lukas Showman, who beat Moffa for a 2-nil lead in the 52nd minute.

The Vikings held their two-goal edge for the next six minutes, but the visitors worked their way back into the match when Elizabeth Forward’s Nate Grimm blasted a direct kick from 40 yards over the head over Mount Pleasant keeper Grayson Gardner to cut the deficit to 2-1.

Gardner only faced four shots on target, as the home team controlled possession, and when the Warriors moved the ball inside the final third, the Vikings’ backline played away Elizabeth Forward’s opportunities on goal.

South Park 1, Southmoreland 0 — In a match where the score deceives the play, the top-seeded Eagles didn’t allow the Scotties to put a shot on target in a first-round triumph in the Class 2A playoffs.

South Park (18-1) had plenty of scoring chances, as Southmoreland (8-11) set-up in a defensive alignment, but Ethan Aultz broke through with a goal in the first half.

The Eagles advance to Thursday’s quarterfinal against Beaver.

South Park is the defending district champion in Class 2A. The Eagles’ lone loss this season was a 2-1 overtime setback on Sept. 13 to Class 3A playoff team Moon.

The Tigers won their first-round match against Laurel Highlands, 4-0.

Girls soccer

Fox Chapel 7, Laurel Highlands 0 — University of Pittsburgh commit Emily McKee scored five goals in the Lady Foxes’ triumph over the Lady Mustangs in the first round of the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs at Fox Chapel High School.

McKee, a junior, entered the match with 35 goals, which was second in the WPIAL behind Brownsville ninth grader Gloria Kovscek.

Lily McLaughlin and Ella Ettinger each scored a goal for the top-seed.

Fox Chapel improved to 16-1-1. The Lady Foxes will play West Allegheny in the quarterfinals on Thursday.

Laurel Highlands (6-9-1) had a tough night against the No. 1 seed, but ninth-grade keeper Addison Stroko made 20 saves.

Camryn McClean had a shot on target for the Lady Mustangs. Teammates Lola Mitchell and Molly Nairn were solid in the backline against a Division-I striker in McKee.

Nairn, a senior, will graduate next spring, but the majority of Laurel Highlands’ players will return for the 2026 campaign.