Fox Chapel was unable to win its section this season like it did last year but after a first-round win against Pine-Richland, the Foxes have a chance to get over a WPIAL quarterfinal hump that tripped them last year. But to reach the WPIAL semifinals, Fox Chapel will have to find a way to play better against No. 1 seed Seneca Valley. The undefeated Warriors will play Hempfield in a first-round game Monday. If Seneca Valley wins, it will set up a rematch with the Foxes from a non-section game played just last week on October 11. In that game Seneca Valley overwhelmed Fox Chapel on its way to a 4-0 win.
“We always start, trying to win the section,” Fox Chapel coach Pete Torres said. “Ultimately your success in the playoffs is where you want to put your focus.”
Fox Chapel reached the WPIAL quarterfinals for a second consecutive season with a shutout win against Pine-Richland (15-4). The Foxes (15-2-2) got the only scoring it would need from junior forward Taylor Cohen who led the team in scoring during the regular season. Cohen and sophomore midfielder Deena Debaldo form one of the best 1-2 offensive punches in the WPIAL. It was Debaldo who took the corner kick that Cohen collected and put behind the Pine-Richland keeper.