Pittsburgh Soccer Now‘s team will be starting the High School/WPIAL soccer season by providing featured coverage and as a sponsor of the tournament where six boys varsity matches will be played at Pine-Richland High School this weekend.
You can keep up with all of the tournament action as we’ll be on hand for the action and we’ll be bringing coverage via various PSN platforms (see the full schedule below).
TOURNAMENT DAY UPDATES
Follow here for the latest updates from Pine-Richland Stadium and the Ram Cage, as John Krysinsky will be on hand for the early game at Noon (Moon vs North Allegheny), then will be joined by Matt Popchock and Ed Thompson for the 5 pm games.
PINE-RICHLAND TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
Here’s what you need to know:
WHO: Six WPIAL Boys Varsity Soccer Teams
- Pine-Richland (host)
- North Allegheny
- Franklin Regional
- Penn-Trafford
- Moon Township
- Winchester Thurston
WHAT: Pine-Richland Boys Soccer Tournament
WHERE: Pine-Richland High School, Gibsonia, PA
Matches played on the Stadium Field and the new Ram Cage Field
WHEN: Saturday, August 27, 2022 and Sunday, August 28, 2022
Match Schedule:
Saturday August 27th
- 12pm (North Allegheny vs Moon) STADIUM
- 5pm (Pine-Richland vs Franklin Regional) STADIUM
- 5pm (Winchester Thurston vs Penn Trafford) RAM CAGE
Sunday August 28th
- 12pm (Franklin Regional vs Moon) STADIUM
- 5pm (Pine-Richland vs Penn Trafford) STADIUM
- 5pm (Winchester Thurston vs North Allegheny) RAM CAGE
JV games are in between games throughout the day.
PSN TOURNAMENT COVERAGE / ACTIVITIES:
PSN Team:
- Reporting / Interviews: John Krysinsky @johnkrysinsky
- Broadcast / Reporting / Interview: Matt Popchock @pghsoccernow
- Photographer: Ed Thompson @thompsonfoto12
Saturday, August 27
Saturday, August 27
- 11:30 am – PR Tournament Day Kickoff on Facebook Live with John Krysinsky (Pittsburgh Soccer Now Facebook page)
- 12:00 Noon – Follow @PghSoccerNow @JohnKrysinsky for updates on Twitter + Tournament Day 2 Blog on Pittsburgh Soccer Now
- 2 pm (approx) – Postgame show on Pittsburgh Soccer Now (immediately following Noon match) at Media Center table between Fields
- 3:15 – 4:30 pm – Meet & Greet at Pittsburgh Soccer Now team members at table in front of Stadium
- 5 pm – Audio Broadcast with Matt Popchock on Pittsburgh Soccer Now YouTube Channel; Follow @PghSoccerNow @ThompsonFoto12 for updates on Twitter
- 7:15 pm (approx) – Postgame interviews at Media Center with Matt Popchock (5-10 minutes after 5 pm matches)
PINE-RICHLAND BOYS TOURNAMENT VARSITY TEAM CAPSULES
Pine-Richland Rams
Class 4A, Section 1
Head Coach: Jordan Wiegand
2021 Record 6-9-2
With Colin Zvejnieks, Ben Rishel and Cale Klaff back, PR has solid senior leadership returning (in total they’ll have seven returning seniors) as they’ll look to get off to a good start this season in their tournament. While Head Coach Jordan Wiegand, in his 4th year with the program, has used a lot of underclassmen in his first three years, this will be the most veteran group he’s had in his tenure at PR.
The Rams defeated North Catholic, 3-0, and drew Winchester Thurston in last year’s tournament.
North Allegheny Tigers
Classification: 4A
Section: 1
Head Coach: Manuel Montero
2021 Record 15-6
For the first time in decades, North Allegheny will have a new boys soccer coach! Montero inherits a boys’ soccer program that has reached the WPIAL playoffs in 12 consecutive seasons, including two WPIAL titles and a state semifinal appearance in that span. Prior to arriving in Pittsburgh, Montero most recently was a men’s and women’s assistant coach for the last five seasons at De Anza College in Cupertino, CA. He has also served as head coach at Westmont High School (2017-2019), Cristo Rey High School (2016-2017) and June Jordan High School (2013-2016), all in California. He has also coached for San Francisco United, Almaden FC, and most recently, the De Anza Force Club.
Key player to watch for the Tigers will be senior defender Aidan Dyga.
Penn-Trafford Warriors
Classification: 3A
Section: 4
Head Coach Sotiri Tsourkis
2021 Record 9-8-0
Player to watch is senior Brady Paliscak. The Warriors, who will have six returning seniors, will be moving down in classification this year, and it will be very interesting to see how they fare in the same section with the likes of neighboring Franklin Regional and Plum, two programs that have been strongholds. in Class 3A.
Franklin Regional Panthers
Classification: 3A
Section: 4
Head Coach Lukas Petersen
2021 Record 17-5-0
Franklin Regional has been one of the elite programs in the WPIAL over the last five years, but the Panthers have a new coach this fall in Lukas Petersen.
A former Pitt men’s soccer assistant who played professionally in Austria, Petersen took over rather late in the game — Aug. 1 — after Thomas Louis resigned in June for family reasons.
The Panthers have to be in the title conversation again in Class 3A despite the graduation of superstar forward Anthony DiFalco, the three-time All-American who is at Duquesne.
Senior leaders Colton Hudson and Jake Kimmich return for the Panthers, along with junior goalkeeper Aryan Selokar, who was solid in last year’s postseason as the Panthers (17-5) reached the WPIAL semifinals and PIAA quarterfinals.
Here’s a few quotes from the Trib:
“The first season is always a bit challenging,” Petersen said. “I am coming into an already successful program, but I also want to put my mark on it. I expect to create a strong team chemistry and help prepare these young men for success on and off the pitch. The boys and I are still getting to know each other. Not allowing complacency to set in and forming a strong and positive team dynamic will be crucial in maintaining the success this program has had in the past.”
“I have full confidence in our new coach, and I think that he will bring the best out of every player on the team,” said Hudson, who had 18 goals and 17 assists last season. “And although Anthony was obviously a huge loss to the program, I feel that we have the players to step up this year and fill in that loss.”
FR seniors! 😍🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/UstJKHCG7b
— FR Men’s Soccer (@mens_fr) August 21, 2022
Moon Tigers
Classification: 3A
Section: 2
Head Coach Earl Pannebaker
2021 Record 16-3-0
Player to watch will be senior Ryan Kopay, who can put the ball in the back of the net as a dangerous attacker, has committed to DI University of Akron. The Tigers bring back six seniors to a squad that had only two section losses in 2021 (both to West Allegheny). Their only other defeat was 1-0 in the WPIAL Quarterfinals to eventual WPIAL and PIAA champs, Hampton. With West A likely in somewhat of a rebuilding season, this could be their season to make a run at both a Section title and WPIAL/PIAA tournaments. The first match of the tournament vs North Allegheny will be an excellent test for both sides!
I’m blessed and humbled to announce that I will be continuing my academic and athletic career at the University of Akron. I would like to thank family, friends, teammates, coaches who all helped me along the way. #GoZips @ZipsMSoc pic.twitter.com/R20Cp5ZO2x
— Ryan Kopay (@KopayRyan) August 9, 2022
Winchester Thurston Bears
Classification: 1A
Section: 3
Head Coach Adam Brownold
2021 Record 23-0-1 – PIAA & WPIAL Champions
The last time the Bears did not win a match came in the Pine-Richland tournament a year ago, when they drew the hosts in a match that ended after regulation in penalties. But when the teams decided to go to PK’s for a fun activity.
Get the Frock Out: Winchester Thurston Boys Grab WPIAL Gold from GCC
PIAA Soccer Championship Saturday: Winchester Thurston and Hampton boys, and Mars girls capture state titles
They could be even better this season, as they return two of their top players, seniors Alex Hauskrecht and Oliver Daboo and a total of 12 seniors. Playing up in competition this weekend will be helpful for the Bears who will mostly be relegated to playing Class 1A competition the rest of the season.
