Shady Side Academy wins 23rd WPIAL title with 1-0 win over Peters Township
The Bulldogs finished the season undefeated, securing their fourth consecutive championship and earning a spot in the PIAA playoffs.
By Nikolai Morales ·
Shady Side Academy field hockey players now hold the record for the most WPIAL championships in school history. The Bulldogs defeated Peters Township 1-0 on Tuesday to claim their 23rd title, breaking a long-standing tie with North Allegheny.
The victory marks the program's fourth straight regional championship and its eighth in nine seasons. This year represents a distinct shift for the squad, which moved up from Class A to Class 2A. It is the team's first title in the higher classification since 2013.
Senior Josie Braham scored the decisive goal at the 11:27 mark of the third quarter. She found the cage after sustained pressure in the Peters Township defensive end. The goal was her 16th of the season. Braham noted that the team dynamic drove them to this moment, describing the group as close and unified.
Shady Side Academy improved to an 18-0 record with the win. They were the only team in the finals bracket to enter the game with a perfect season. The result guarantees the Bulldogs a spot in the upcoming PIAA playoffs.
Sophomore goalkeeper Rosa Ianetti made several key stops to preserve the scoreless first half and most of the third quarter. She blocked a deflected penalty corner shot from Peters Township. In one instance, a sprawling save attempt allowed the ball to sneak through, but Nora Woon cleared it from the crease to prevent a goal.
Coach Elizabeth Patterson, a Shady Side graduate, praised the trust among the players. She stated that the team plays together and feels part of something greater than themselves. The team plans to celebrate the record-setting win with a visit to Dairy Queen before regrouping for the state tournament.
An insurance goal by Ludi Martin in the fourth quarter was waved off by officials. The ruling determined that the ball struck Martin's foot before entering the net. The final score remained 1-0.
