A pair of Westmoreland County soccer teams played in the WPIAL championships over the weekend at Highmark Stadium, but both Franklin Regional boys and Burrell girls fell short of gold. The Panthers dropped a 3-1 decision against top-seeded Moon Area in Class 3A, while the Buccaneers fell 2-1 against No. 2 Quaker Valley in the Class 2A tilt.

In the nightcap between the No. 7 Panthers and the unblemished Tigers, Moon struck less than five minutes in, as Luiz Silva ripped the twine on a feed from Zechariah Balbach. However, FR netted the equalizer near the midway point of the first half, as Joey Bayne headed in a perfect feed from Danny Christafano.

The outcome was decided in a span of five minutes during the second half, as Moon received goals in the 62nd and 67th minutes from Aedan Costa and Marc Haupt, respectively. Haupt previously received a yellow card for a collision with FR goalkeeper Noah Walker.

Despite four shots on frame in the second half, the Panthers could not solve Moon goalkeeper William Guarino.

In the defeat, Walker made two saves for Franklin Regional.

While the Panthers (14-4-2) were denied their third WPIAL crown, the Tigers (22-0-0) captured their seventh district title, and second in three years.

As a result, Franklin Regional will play at District 6 Champion Bellefonte in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A postseason on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., while Moon Area will host Lampeter-Strasburg, the fourth-place team from District 3, at 6 p.m.

Earlier on Saturday, ninth-seeded Burrell’s Cinderella run through the WPIAL postseason ended with heartbreak in a narrow defeat to the Quakers. Lily Baker’s marker in the final 10 minutes proved the difference for the Quakers, who won their first WPIAL gold since going back-to-back in 1991 and 92. Burrell, meanwhile, was playing in its first girls soccer championship match.

After a scoreless opening half, QV broke the ice on a goal by Annabel Miko in the 51st minute. The Buccaneers were quick to find the equalizer, though, as Makiah Buchak tallied on an unassisted marker just more than three minutes later, finishing a rebound after her initial shot was saved.

In the setback, Dana Barczykowski registered five saves for Burrell, while Maggie Nesko and Miley Kariotis each contributed three shots.

To reach the title game, Burrell upset three teams, including a 4-0 stunner against top-seeded Mount Pleasant Area in the quarterfinals.

The Buccaneers (14-6-1) now turn their focus to the state bracket, as they will trek to Erie to play District 10 Champion Cathedral Prep at the Hagerty Family Events Center on Tuesday at 6 p.m. Conversely, Quaker Valley (17-2-2) will host District 10 runner-up Fort LeBoeuf at the same time.