Spartans football edges PT in marquee matchup

Hempfield Area football garnered plenty of attention by winning its first four games of the season in lopsided fashion, but the Spartans passed their biggest challenge thus far on Friday, as they rallied to defeat the defending WPIAL and state champion Penn-Trafford Warriors 28-17. The host Spartans, who improved to 5-0, scored 21 unanswered points, including a pair of touchdowns on fourth down in the second half, in the Class 5A Big East Conference opener for both teams. A 42-yard connection from Jake Phillips to Ian Tuffs was the decisive score late in the third quarter, and the Spartans added a fourth-quarter score on a 31-yard pass from Phillips to Anthony Vallano. Phillips was 10-of-18 passing for 146 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions, and he also rushed for a TD. Eli Binakonsky paced the Spartans on the ground, as he rushed five times for 53 yards and a TD. Off to the best start since 1971, Hempfield Area is tied with Franklin Regional atop the conference standings. In their setback, the Warriors (3-2) received a big performance from Tommy Kalkstein, as he rushed 16 times for 168 yards and a touchdown. PT, which scored all 17 of its points in the second quarter, also had a 22-yard touchdown pass from Conlan Greene to Tasso Whipple.

Mount Pleasant girls soccer remains perfect

Following an impressive week that included a pair of key wins, Mount Pleasant Area girls soccer remains unblemished. The Vikings notched section wins last week against Yough and Southmoreland, likely the top challengers for section supremacy. On Monday, the host Vikes blanked the Cougars 5-0. Sophomore Rylin Bugosh netted three goals and an assist, while Morgan Gesinski contributed a goal and an assist. Two nights later, the Vikings went on the road and scored a lopsided 6-1 win against the rival Scotties. Bugosh registered another hat trick, while Riley Gesinski had two goals and an assist and Morgan Gesinski had one goal and one helper. The Vikings are 7-0-0 overall, and 4-0-0 in Class 2A Section 3.

Nine county girls golfers advance to WPIAL championships

Westmoreland County will be well represented in the WPIAL Class AAA and AA girls golf championships this fall, as nine county competitors have punched their ticket. Under a new format, the WPIAL events will span two rounds, beginning on Monday at the Youghiogheny Country Club in Elizabeth Township. The final round will occur on Oct. 4 at the Valley Brook Country Club in Canonsburg. Qualifying rounds were held last week, divided by each section across the classifications. The Class AAA Section 3 event took place last Wednesday at the Greensburg Country Club, as five county golfers qualified. Hempfield Area sophomore Milana Yannascoli led the way, as she shot an 80. She was joined by Penn-Trafford junior Antolena Damico, who carded a round of 86, Franklin Regional junior Ali Boyle, who also shot 86, FR freshman Gianna Johnson, who scored 91, and Norwin freshman Adalena Robb, who also shot 91, one shot under the target score. Meanwhile in Class AA, Izzy Aigner of Greensburg Central Catholic notched the top qualifying mark. Playing at Cedarbrook Golf Course, Aigner, a junior, shot 69, three strokes ahead of the second-place finisher. Aigner’s Centurions teammate, senior Haley Gill, also advanced, as she shot 84. Other Westmoreland qualifiers included Mount Pleasant Area junior Allison Tapper, who carded 90, and Belle Vernon Area senior Brenna LaMendola, whose round of 94 was one stroke under the target score.

Penn-Trafford’s Williams wins single tennis title

The first WPIAL champions of the 2022-23 school year were crowned last week in girls tennis, and Penn-Trafford freshman Mia Williams was among those who claimed gold. On Thursday, Williams became the first Penn-Trafford girl to secure a tennis title, and just the fifth freshman in district history to achieve the feat. Williams, who entered the two-day tournament as the Class AAA top seed, punctuated her impressive run with a straight-sets victory (6-1, 6-0) against Upper St. Clair senior Maggie Stief in the championship. One day earlier, Williams cruised to a 6-1, 6-0 win against Nichole Poltinnikov of Shady Side Academy in the semifinals, and a 10-0 triumph against Oakland Catholic’s Adelaide Kreutel in the quarterfinals. Additionally, Williams qualified for the PIAA Class AAA Championship, which will be held in Hershey on Nov. 4-5.

UPG WSOC extends winning streak

Courtesy of three wins last week, the University of Pitt – Greensburg women’s soccer team has extended its streak to five consecutive victories. After wins on Sept. 10 and Sept. 13, the Bobcats notched convincing triumphs against Geneva College, John Carroll University, and Carlow University last week. Last Monday, host UPG smashed the Golden Tornados 7-1, as Ashley Lucas and Megan Hickey each scored twice. Two days later, the Bobcats ousted the Blue Streaks 3-1, as Lucas scored two more goals for homestanding UPG. On Saturday, the Bobcats notched a 3-0 road win against the Celtics, with Lucas, Hickey, and Becca Kubler all finding the back of the net, while Paige John had the clean sheet. As a result, UPG sits at 7-2-0, and the Bobcats commence Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference play on Saturday at home against Hilbert College.

Patterson sets new XC record at Saint Vincent

Saint Vincent College junior Tim Patterson rewrote the Bearcats’ cross country record book this past weekend, as he surpassed a time that had stood for a decade. Competing in the Crimson Race at the Lock Haven University Invitational on Saturday, Patterson completed the eight-kilometer course with a mark of 24:48, four seconds ahead of the previous record that was set by Chansler Poole in 2012. For his efforts, Patterson finished 10th out of 290 competitors, and was the top finisher among Division III runners.