Greater Latrobe, GCC football claim playoff wins

A pair of Westmoreland County football teams advanced in the WPIAL football playoffs last Friday, as Greater Latrobe and Greensburg Central Catholic each moved on to the quarterfinals in their respective classifications. John Wetzel produced a dominant rushing effort to propel No. 9 Greater Latrobe to a 39-7 road win at West Allegheny in the WPIAL Class 4A first round. Wetzel rushed for 245 yards and four scores, while also hitting 4-of-8 passes for 60 yards. Brady Prohovic added a touchdown and 81 yards rushing, while Ben Bigi made a field goal for the Wildcats, who improved to 8-3. With the win, GL advances to play at top-seeded Aliquippa on Friday. Additionally, Greensburg Central Catholic jumped out to a 27-0 advantage, and held off a late rally to defeat West Greene 41-22 in the WPIAL Class 1A first round at Plum High School. The eighth-seeded Centurions were led by Tyree Turner and Samir Crosby. Turner threw for 247 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 85 yards and a score, while Crosby had four grabs for 131 yards and three TDs, and added 46 yards and a touchdown on the ground. GCC, which improves to 8-3, will face top-seeded South Side Beaver at Peters Township High School on Friday. Moreover, Belle Vernon Area will open the postseason in the Class 3A quarterfinals on Friday. The Leopards, who received a first-round bye as the top seed, will host No. 8 Deer Lakes.

Warriors field hockey wins eighth title in a row

The Penn-Trafford field hockey dynasty continued over the weekend, as the Warriors knocked off Fox Chapel Area 4-0 to capture the eighth WPIAL title in a row. The top-seeded Warriors claimed the Class 2A crown on Saturday at Cameron Stadium at Washington & Jefferson College. Senior standout Ava Hershberger scored twice and added an assist, while sophomore Liz Welsh also netted a pair of tallies. Hershberger opened the scoring for PT less than four minutes into the first quarter on a penalty stroke, and she scored again late in the period to stake Penn-Trafford to a 2-0 edge. Welsh produced both of her markers in the second half, including off a penalty corner by Mackenzie Keenan in the third quarter. As a result, PT advances to the PIAA Class 2A bracket, and will host Manheim Central, the fourth-place team from District 3, on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Westmoreland standouts litter All-WPIAL girls soccer list

The All-WPIAL girls soccer selections were announced last week, and 18 Westmoreland County players received recognition. The honorees included: Greater Latrobe junior midfielder Maddy Petruzzi, senior defender/forward Regan Reilly, junior midfielder/forward Robin Reilly, and junior defender Ava Yurko; Franklin Regional senior goalkeeper Aris Lamanna and junior midfielder Abby Paterline; Mount Pleasant Area junior forward Rylin Bugosh, sophomore forward Morgan Gesinski, senior midfielder Riley Gesinski, senior midfielder Maggie Piper, and sophomore goalkeeper Laurel Rummel; Belle Vernon Area senior midfielder Kataira Rhodes; Southmoreland junior midfielder Aubrey Seder; Burrell junior midfielder Miley Kariotis; Greensburg Central Catholic junior defender Jillian Botti, junior forward Riley Kerr, and sophomore forward Jiana Patterson; and Monessen senior midfielder Sam Saylor.

Petersen steps down as FR boys soccer coach

Franklin Regional boys soccer coach Lukas Petersen has stepped down after two years at the helm of the Panthers. Petersen announced his decision last week following the Panthers 2-0 loss against Hampton in the WPIAL Class 3A semifinals. His wife has taken a job out of state, prompting the decision. Franklin Regional subsequently lost to Montour 3-1 in the consolation match on Wednesday, ending the season with a record of 12-9-0. Petersen, who replaced Thomas Louisy as the head coach for FR, had previously served as a volunteer assistant at the University of Pittsburgh, and he was the head coach for the Allegheny Force FC. As a player, Petersen competed professionally in Austria.

SHU football wins third straight

Seton Hill University football extended its winning streak to three games on Saturday, as the Griffins shut out host Mercyhurst University 14-0. Ky’Ron Craggette staked the Griffins to a first-quarter lead on his 43-yard touchdown run, while Cody Rubrecht hauled in a 30-yard pass from Jacob Cruz to extend the SHU edge in the second quarter. Bryce Dare added 21 carries for 99 yards on the ground for Seton Hill. Additionally, the Griffins’ defense permitted just 260 yards to the Lakers, as Josh Cohen posted eight tackles and two sacks. Seton Hill improved to 5-5 overall, including 4-3 in the PSAC West. The Griffins conclude their campaign this Saturday with a nonconference tilt at Millersville University.