Fox Chapel’s boys soccer program has become a benchmark in Class 4A, having captured the WPIAL crown in each of the past two seasons and now eyeing a third straight championship. Coach Eric Ingram is using early scrimmages and nonsection matches to fine‑tune tactics, focusing on integrating newcomers and sharpening set‑piece routines before the conference schedule intensifies.
The roster features returning standouts such as Paul Fitzsimmons, Sharif Zuriekat and Rocco Poli, while Max Fortun steps into goal to replace Brady Matthews. Ingram emphasizes that the early games are as much about building chemistry as they are about assessing form, with the aim of entering section play at peak readiness.
Rivalries Heat Up
Across the section, Deer Lakes enters under new head coach Devin Murray, who inherits a squad that reached last year’s Class 2A title game but fell in the PIAA semifinals. The team will lean on Artemey Parshyn’s return and adapt to the loss of key graduates, seeking to translate past success into another deep run.
Plum, guided by Rafal Kolankowski, brings back six starters and blends senior experience with emerging youth, aiming to wrest a section title. Meanwhile, Springdale’s Mario Liberati can count on a 35‑player turnout, including freshmen talent and returning stars Alex Wylly and Mason Mattie, who are expected to drive a playoff push.
Freeport’s Brad Walker expects a deeper roster to raise the standard, while Highlands’ Ethan Gillette promises a defensive identity. Erik Kidwell’s Valley Vikings target improved goal differential, and Devon Browne’s Leechburg side seeks a formula that can compete against a stacked schedule.
Coaches such as Dakota Lange at Kiski Area, Mickey Namey of Riverview and Andrew Kariotis at Burrell are each shaping young squads with a mix of underclassmen and returning juniors, setting the stage for a tightly contested playoff race.
Finally, St. Joseph’s coaching staff looks to rebound from a 1‑10 season, confronting rivals like Greensburg Central Catholic, Jeannette, Riverview, Springdale, Trinity Christian and Winchester Thurston in a bid to restore competitiveness.