2024 Times' boy's soccer preview

As the 2024 WPIAL soccer season got underway this past weekend and section play opens up this week, it is time to take a look at the 14 teams in the Beaver Valley competing for a WPIAL crown this season.

Teams in the Beaver Valley are spread out across three of the WPIAL's four classifications in 2024 with four teams competing in Class 3A, five teams competing in Class 2A and four teams in Class A.

Last season, Quaker Valley was the lone team to punch a ticket to the WPIAL finals where it fell to South Park at Highmark Stadium , and in the PIAA finals falling to Camp Hill.

Class 3A

Ambridge

The Bridgers look to improve upon a one-win season during the 2023 campaign picking up its lone section win in a 7-0 victory over Blackhawk. The Bridgers stay up in Class 3A in the new classification cycle and will face off against many of the same teams that they faced in the previous cycle.

Blackhawk

The Cougars will look to rebound after their rough 2024 campaign where they finished last in a tough section in WPIAL Class 3A section II with five of its eight teams finishing with winning records a season ago. Last season, Blackhawk finished with a 3-15-0 overall record and a 1-13-0 record in section play.

Moon Area

While the Tigers lost several key starters from a year ago as Mike Walenchok, Cooper Nickles, Davi Jansson and Zach Shutak all graduated, Moon Area brings back one of its deepest rosters over the past several years. As the 2024 season kicks off, the Tigers bring back seven starters with the entire midfield returning, including Aedan Costa, Luis Silva, Zech Balbach, Jon Mark Balbach, Fin Dengel and Evan Thomas. This season after finishing at the top of its section, Moon Area looks to compete for its second WPIAL title in three seasons.

West Allegheny

Last season, West Allegheny was also in the strong WPIAL Class 3A section II and the team found some success this past year, compiling a 4-12-1 overall record and 4-9-1 record in the section. The team looks to find more success this season against a similar draw of opponents with the new classification cycle.

More: Times' Top Performances from last week: Aug. 18-24

Class 2A

Beaver Area

The Bobcats look to continue their success from a season ago when the team put together a solid 2023 campaign qualifying for the WPIAL Class 2A playoffs after posting a 10-7-0 overall record and an 8-4-0 record in section IV play finishing with the third-highest points in the section with 24. The Bobcats look to make a deeper run in the postseason this year after falling to Shady Side Academy in the first round 3-0.

Central Valley

After spending the last classification cycle up in Class 3A, the Warriors have moved down to 2A for the 2024-25 cycle. Last season, Central Valley narrowly missed the post season finishing with an 8-7-2 overall record and a 6-6-2 record in section play missing out on a playoff birth by a point. This season, the Warriors return an experienced group from a season ago returning starters Owen Shearer, striker Cam DeVincentis who scored 21 goals and earned WPIAL all-conference selection, winger Jack Dobronz, midfielder Garret White, goalkeeper Ben Schurr and defender Noah Clark. Now in Class 2A, Central Valley looks to make a run with its experienced group back for the 2024 season.

Hopewell

The Vikings enjoyed success both in the regular season and postseason last year finishing in fourth place in section IV and qualifying as the no. 14 seed in the 2023 WPIAL Class 2A playoffs. Hopewell looks to continue its success from a season ago and look to make a deeper run in the postseason after it blanked Deer Lakes in the first round 4-0 last season.

Quaker Valley

The Quakers will look to reload this season after making it to both the WPIAL and PIAA state finals with an upperclassmen-heavy roster that included Nick Allan, Matteo Castellini, Cameron Diggins, Kiril Grin and Bennet Haas. However, the Quakers return an experienced roster with goalkeeper Nathan Pribik, defender Tanner Schultz , and midfielder Carter Turk. Quaker Valley is once again expected to finish as one of the top teams in 2A after its dominant run from a season ago.

Riverside

The Panthers look to improve upon a 4-11-1 overall record and a 3-9-0 record in Class 2A Section IV play last season. Riverside will face several familiar opponents from a season ago in this new classification cycle.

Class 1A

Beaver County Christian

Last season, Beaver County Christian were the last team in to qualify for the Class A playoffs after posting a 5-6-1 record in Section I play and a 6-9-1 record overall. The Eagles were a tough out in the first round of the playoffs a season ago as the team allowed a late goal to top seeded Charleroi to lose 1-0. Beaver County Christian will look to continue its success this season after qualifying for the playoffs in 2023.

Freedom Area

The Bulldogs narrowly missed the playoffs last season finishing four points shy of the final spot in the Class A Section I. Last season Freedom Area finished with a 7-9-0 record overall and a 4-8-0 record in section play. The team returns senior forward Jordan Delon who netted 12 goals during the 2023 season. Along with Delon, Jay Mohrbacher also returns as he enters his junior season on the Bulldogs roster.

Sewickley Academy

The Panthers will have revenge on their minds in the 2024 season after an early exit in the postseason from a season ago when the team lost to Bentworth in the quarterfinals. Last season Sewickley Academy finished atop of its second and posted the second-best record in Class A finishing with a 13-3-1 overall record and a 10-1-1 in section play. The team returns a number of starters from a season ago including Chase D’Antonio, Finn Wentz and Blake Wilmont.

South Side

The Rams look to rebound after a tough 2023 season where the team posted a winless record in a tough section. South Side Area will return to the same section during this next classification cycle and will look to build up its program in 2024.

OLSH

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart returns a young but roster from a year ago that put together an impressive season in the regular season posting a 10-6-2 record overall and an 8-3-1 record in section play. The Chargers return senior center back Holland Cobourne, center midfielder Luke Wrabley, center midfielder Owen Minzer, center back Peter Zink, goalkeeper Patrick Altmar and center attacking midfielder Aaron Callahan. Along with the returning starters, Brady Hernandez returns for his junior season after posting 10 goals as a sophomore in 2023.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: 2024 Times' boy's soccer preview