Kids on the Pitch (Scholastic and Youth Soccer in Western PA)

South Fayette and Burrell girls captains excited, focused on first-ever appearances in PIAA Finals

Two WPIAL girls soccer programs have reached the PIAA (State) Championship game for the first time ever in their respective classifications, as Burrell advanced in the Class 2A bracket where they'll take on Archbishop Wood (Friday evening, 7 p.m. kickoff) and South Fayette are headed to the Class 3A final where they'll face Radnor (Saturday afternoon, 1 p.m. kickoff). Both matches will be played at Northeastern High School in Manchester. Pittsburgh Soccer Now's John Krysinsky caught up with captains from both squads on Thursday for a special edition of Kids on the Pitch Podcast. Joining John from South Fayette included Caitlyn Thompson, Mia Deramo and Quinn Miller; and from Burrell, captains included Mikayla Coury, McKenna Miller, Parker Moore

Allderdice boys soccer's history-making PIAA run with HC David Thyberg

We've reached Championship week, the PIAA Boys and Girls Soccer tournament has a handful of teams who have made it deep into the tournament. Instead of the field from Western PA including all WPIAL (PIAA's District 7) schools, there's Pittsburgh City School program, designated in PIAA's District 8, Allderdice boys, have crashed the Class 3A party. On Saturday night, Allderdice faced off against a WPIAL champion, West Allegheny. For the second straight year, the Dragons took the WPIAL's top team to extra time in the PIAA Quarterfinal Round, but this time around, the City League school advanced, beating West Allegheny in a match that was decided in a penalty kick shootout right around the same time the Pittsburgh Riverhounds were doing the same thing. On the newest episode of Kids on the Pitch Podcast, PSN's John Krysinsky is joined by Allderdice Head Coach, David Thyberg to talk about the City League program, which has built a strong tradition of success, but has never come this far in the State tournament. John will also set the stage for PIAA Championship Week and talk about some upcoming Pittsburgh Soccer Now high school soccer coverage and features.

It's WPIAL Soccer Championship week with Westmoreland Sports Network's Mike Powers

The WPIAL boys and girls soccer playoffs are halfway complete and will come to a mad dash finish this week with the semifinal round and then quickly turn to the WPIAL Finals at Highmark Stadium. Pittsburgh Soccer Now's John Krysinsky is joined by Westmoreland Sports Network soccer analyst Mike Powers to take a look a quick look back at some of the highlights of the first two rounds of the WPIAL playoffs, including both Quarterfinal Round matches featuring Norwin, which Mike was on the call when Plum eliminted Norwin in Boys Class 4A tournament in a penalty kick shootout and Norwin girls edged Mt. Lebanon in Girls Class 4A tournament.    John and Mike discuss those matches and much, much more!

WPIAL Playoff Brackets coaches reaction with Fox Chapel Girls HC Carlo Prati

The 2025 WPIAL Boys and Girls Soccer Playoff brackets are out! In the newest episodes of the Kids on the Pitch Podcast, Pittsburgh Soccer Now's John Krysinsky is joined by Fox Chapel's Carlo Prati (Girls 3A) to get reaction and insights on the seedings, the postseason, match-ups, who may be the sleepers in their respective classifications and much more! In the coming days, look for more interviews with more coaches as they look forward to the District Tournament, which will kickoff on Saturday and culminate with the District Finals at Highmark Stadium, October 30-November 1.

WPIAL 2025 Playoff Brackets reaction with Pine-Richland's Boys & Girls HC Jordan Wiegand

The 2025 WPIAL Boys and Girls Soccer Playoff brackets are out!   In the newest episode of the Kids on the Pitch Podcast, Pittsburgh Soccer Now's John Krysinsky is joined by Pine-Richland's Jordan Wiegand his reaction and insights on the seedings, the postseason, match-ups, who may be the sleepers in their respective classifications and much more!