Pennsylvania girls soccer teams face PIAA openers

132 goals. That is the total number of times the Bedford Bison scored this season, according to Burrell coach Frank Nesko. The Bisons defeated Lewisburg 5-4 in 2018 to claim the Class 2A state crown. Now, the team faces Burrell in the PIAA opening round on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Bedford. The Bisons are the District 5 champion and have won the District 5/8 Class 2A title ten times in the last 11 years.

Freeport, the WPIAL champion for a second consecutive year, hosts District 9 champion Clearfield at 6 p.m. Wednesday. The Yellowjackets finished their season with a 17-2-1 record. Freeport coach Steve Kukic said the team aims to add PIAA gold to their Section 2 and WPIAL titles. "We got the first two goals, and now we want it all," Kukic said. The team is seeking to recover from a 2-1 semifinal loss to Burrell at Fox Chapel last year.

Burrell enters the PIAA playoffs as the WPIAL runner-up for the third straight season. The team plays a rematch against District 5 champion Bedford on Wednesday. Burrell coach Frank Nesko noted that his players have remained upbeat following their loss in the WPIAL title game. "The spirits were kind of high on Friday as they knew what was still in front of them," Nesko said. Burrell is in the PIAA playoffs for the third year in a row, having reached the state title game last year before losing to Archbishop Wood in overtime.

The Clearfield Bisons punched their ticket to the PIAA playoffs with a 3-1 victory over Punxsutawney last week. Junior Evie Helsel, returning from a long injury layoff, scored twice in the second half. Junior Lily McBride scored on a header three minutes into the game. Clearfield is in the PIAA playoffs for the first time since 2023. In that previous appearance, they beat Bedford on penalty kicks in the first round before falling 6-0 to Avonworth in the quarterfinals.

Freshman Julia McConville is set to make her season debut for Freeport after recovering from an injury. Junior midfielder Elena Jenkins made her season debut in the WPIAL semifinals against Avonworth. Kukic said the team will take what they learned in the playoffs and tweak their approach to be at their absolute best. "I know they will be refreshed physically and mentally and ready to do the right things in practice to be ready for Clearfield," Kukic said. The coach gave the team time off after their intense WPIAL title win.

Burrell’s goal in last Thursday’s WPIAL title game came off a corner kick from senior Eva Wilson. Junior Allie McMahon gained control and scored with three minutes left in regulation. It was the 11th meeting between Burrell and Freeport in the past four years. Nesko said last year’s run gives the girls more confidence, but they are not overconfident. "We’re going to have to play three really good games to get to our ultimate goal," Nesko said. The Bucs are seeking a bounce back after missing the state tournament in 2023.

Bedford repeated as champion with a 4-0 victory over Somerset in last Wednesday’s District 5-8 subregional final. Nesko described the Bedford attack as really dangerous. "They’ve scored 132 goals this year, and that’s not by accident," he said. The Burrell coach said he is comfortable with the matchup and believes his team will come out on the right side if they execute their plan. The two teams met in the 2024 PIAA first round, a game Burrell lost 1-0 to Cathedral Prep in 2024, though the specific opponent for the 2024 PIAA opener was Cathedral Prep, not Bedford, according to the source details on Burrell's recent history.

Both teams are focused on the games squarely in front of them. Freeport and Burrell both won their respective WPIAL championships and runner-up spots recently. The PIAA semifinals could bring a fourth meeting between the two teams next week. For now, the focus is on the opening round. Freeport hosts Clearfield. Burrell travels to Bedford. The matches begin at 6 p.m. Wednesday.