Six Schuylkill League Teams Compete in PIAA State Playoffs

The PIAA soccer and volleyball state playoffs commence this week, with six teams from the Schuylkill League ready to pursue their championship aspirations. Notable competitors include both boys and girls soccer teams from Blue Mountain and Schuylkill Haven, as well as volleyball squads from Tri-Valley and Pine Grove.

Boys Soccer Matchups

In boys soccer, **Blue Mountain** (19-3; 12-0) faces **Franklin Towne Charter** in a Class 3A state playoff opener on March 12, 2024, at **17:00** from Blue Mountain’s Eagles Nest. **Minersville** (17-4; 8-2) will compete in the Class 1A playoff against **Wyoming Seminary**, set for the same day at **18:00** at Wyoming Seminary High School.

Blue Mountain recently claimed the District 11 3A championship, defeating **Southern Lehigh** 3-1. The Eagles advanced through the playoffs with a first-round bye and a commanding 8-1 semifinal victory over **Jim Thorpe**, with goals from **Evan Burcik** and **Aidan Varney**, followed by a penalty kick from **Andrew Waschko**.

Minersville secured the District 11 1A Championship for the first time in school history with a 2-1 win over **Tri-Valley**, thanks to two goals from **Jordan Bowers**. Under the leadership of second-year head coach **Ed Burke**, the Battlin’ Miners have recorded a remarkable 28-13 record over the last two seasons.

Girls Soccer and Volleyball Updates

In the girls soccer bracket, **Blue Mountain** will compete against **Lower Dauphin** in the PIAA Class 3A first round on March 12, 2024, at **19:00**, also from Eagles Nest. Meanwhile, **Schuylkill Haven** faces **Holy Redeemer** at **Wilkes University** at the same time in the Class 1A playoffs.

Blue Mountain recently clinched the District 11 3A Championship with a dominant 5-1 victory over Southern Lehigh, marking their first district title since 2018. Leading scorers **Hailey Scheuer** and **Gianna Chipriano** have been pivotal for the Eagles, while goalkeeper **Karley Koch** has provided strong defensive support.

Schuylkill Haven celebrated its first District 11 1A Championship since 2013 with an impressive 7-2 win over Minersville, highlighted by four goals from **Kylie Siket**. Additional contributions came from **Ava Terefencko** and **Taylor Haag**, showcasing the team’s offensive strength.

In volleyball, **Tri-Valley** and **Pine Grove** are set for their first-round state playoff matches on March 12, 2024. Tri-Valley will host **Ephrata Mennonite** at **18:00**, while Pine Grove welcomes **Masterman** for their playoff opener at the same time.

Tri-Valley recently claimed the District 11 1A Championship with a closely contested 3-2 victory over **Marian**. **Pine Grove** also secured their championship title with a 3-1 win against **Mahanoy Area**. Key players include **Molly Drumheller**, who earned a spot on the Schuylkill League coaches Division I First Team, and **Liv Lupole** from Tri-Valley, who leads with an average of 3.7 kills per set.

As these teams prepare for their respective playoffs, local fans are eagerly anticipating the outcomes of these crucial matches. Coverage will continue to follow the progress of Schuylkill County teams as they strive for success in the state playoffs.