North Allegheny Falls to Pine-Richland in WPIAL Title Game
by: Bob Orkwis
For the fourth time this season, and for the third time in five years in the WPIAL title game, North Allegheny met up with Pine-Richland. Once again, the Rams had the Tigers number, as they captured their seventh straight WPIAL 3A Field Hockey championship with a 2-0 victory at Newman Stadium.
The game was scoreless until late in the third quarter, with Pine-Richland denying North Allegheny any space in the offensive zone.
The Rams had three first half penalty corners, but the Tigers defense and goalie Alaina Roth stood tall.
With under two minutes left in the 3rd quarter, Pine-Richland took a shot from outside the circle that went into the net untouched, which resulted in no goal.
But to the Rams credit, they did not take long to find a goal that counted. They put the ball back into the circle and on goal, Roth made a save but, in a scramble, Claire Mill found the ball at the near post and slid the rebound over the line for a 1-0 Rams lead with 1:49 left in the quarter.
The Rams got an insurance goal at 4:23 of the fourth quarter, and again it was Mill. She came up the middle on the rush, stopped and moved into the circle on the right side before firing a shot home for the 2-0 lead.
Pine-Richland, as they do, played a smothering game all over the field, with goalie Maddie Merlack only having to touch the ball once, on a shot from outside the circle.
Pine-Richland (17-3) now has 15-game winning streak, with eleven straight shutouts. The Rams have also won eight of the last nine 3A titles. They advance to the PIAA playoffs where they will play the 3rd place finisher from District 3.
Congratulations to North Allegheny coach Michelle Kessler on the runner-up finish for the Tigers, who end the season (8-9-3).
More congratulations go out to the Tigers four seniors on their careers at North Allegheny.
Emi Bareiro, Alexis Solomon, Fiola Ragan, and Alaina Roth were chosen as the final Wright Automotive Players of the Game of 2025.
Field Hockey Summary vs. Pine-Richland, 10-28-25
| SCORE BY QUARTERS | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | FINAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pine-Richland | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| North Allegheny | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
