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Laurel Highlands won a 110-minute rivalry game, then fell at unbeaten Plum.
Laurel Highlands beat Uniontown 1-0 in double overtime in the WPIAL Class 3A preliminary round on Oct. 22. Two days later, top-seeded Plum ended the Mustangs' season 5-0 and moved on to a Wednesday quarterfinal against Hampton.
October 22, 2026 · TribLive, 'High school roundup for Oct. 24, 2026: Chartiers Valley pulls off 1st-round upset,' October 24, 2026; Herald-Standard, 'Backyard battle,' October 23, 2026; Herald-Standard, 'Laurel Highlands vs. Uniontown III,' October 21, 2026; Pittsburgh Soccer Now, 'WPIAL / PIAA Boys High School Soccer Daily Report (Oct 22),' October 22, 2026; TribLive, 'A-K Valley soccer playoff preview capsules for Oct. 24, 2026,' October 23, 2026; TribLive, 'WPIAL sets postseason brackets for 2026 boys, girls soccer playoffs,' October 21, 2026
The WPIAL soccer playoffs opened Thursday, Oct. 22, and Fayette County's first game went the distance. In a Class 3A preliminary-round match at Mustang Field, No. 16 Laurel Highlands beat No. 17 Uniontown 1-0 in double overtime. Senior captain Matt Kolencik scored the golden goal late in the second overtime period, a left-footed shot from about 24 yards that hit the crossbar and crossed the line.
It was the third meeting of the season between the crosstown rivals. Uniontown won the first 5-2 on Sept. 15, and Laurel Highlands won the second 2-0 on Oct. 6. The teams finished tied for fourth in Section 2-3A. Uniontown, in its first postseason since 1996, ended its season at 6-8-1. Laurel Highlands improved to 7-8-1 and earned its first playoff win in a decade.
The bracket gave the Mustangs little time to enjoy it. On Saturday, Oct. 24, they played at No. 1 Plum, the Section 3 champion, which had allowed eight goals all season. Plum won 5-0. Kent Holmes and Caden Zoller each had two goals and an assist, Joaquin Santiago added a goal and an assist, and goalkeepers Chase Eber and Jack Majcher combined on the shutout. Plum improved to 17-0-1.
Plum will play No. 9 Hampton in the Class 3A quarterfinals on Wednesday, Oct. 28. Hampton reached that game by beating No. 8 Thomas Jefferson 2-1 on Saturday, with Wyatt Bonfili scoring both goals. The WPIAL finals are expected in early November at F.N.B. Stadium in Station Square, which will also host the PIAA championships for the first time.
For young players, the lesson from Thursday's game is patience. Through 80 minutes of regulation and most of two overtime periods, neither team gave the other much. The game turned on one clean chance and a player ready to strike it. Composure, first touch and the fitness to stay sharp past the 100th minute decide matches like this one. This article is not a promise of a roster spot or a scholarship.