WJPA Sports

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Ben Kindel scored in regulation and had the lone shootout goal and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the San Jose Sharks 3-2 after blowing a late two-goal lead. San Jose star Macklin Celebrini scored with 8:28 left, and set up Mason Marchment’s tying goal with 4:11 remaining. Pittsburgh then survived a San Jose power play for the final 43 seconds of overtime after Kris Letang was sent off for holding Sam Dickinson’s stick. Sergei Murashov made 34 saves through overtime, then ended the tiebreaker by stopping Will Smith in the third round. Kindel scored on the first attempt of the shootout. Samuel Girard opened the scoring for Pittsburgh at 8:57 of the first period, and Kindel connected on a power play at 3:28 of the third.

The PIAA girls/boys soccer tournaments and girls volleyball playoffs started Tuesday across the Commonwealth. The format is simple:  first team to four wins takes the championship.  The PIAA soccer finals are scheduled for FNB Stadium at Station Square. Girls volleyball finals will be played at St. Francis University in Loretto. Championship weekend is set for Nov. 20-21. (PIAA District-district finish).

Soccer:  Adam Moessner scored four times, Billy Moyer added a pair of goals as the WPIAL champion Bentworth boys beat Brockway. The Bearcats will meet District 10 champion Mercyhurst Prep Saturday, the third straight year the two two will play in the PIAA tournament. Bentworth won the first two meetings.  The Bentworth girls season ended with a loss to District 10 champion Seneca.

Volleyball:  WPIAL champion Peters Township cruised at home against District 3 third place Lower Dauphin to advance to Saturday’s quarterfinals against District 1 third place West Chester Rustin.  Waynesburg dropped the first set at District 5 champion Chestnut Ridge but took the next three sets to beat the Lions, earning their first-ever PIAA volleyball tournament win. The Raiders will face WPIAL champion Freeport in Saturday’s quarterfinals.  Fort Cherry needed five sets but topped District 5 champion Purchase Line to advance to the quarterfinals.

Soccer & volleyball quarterfinals will all be played on Saturday. Sites/times will be released Thursday morning.

PIAA Soccer Brackets
Tuesday, Nov. 10
1A Girls 10-1 Seneca over 7-3 Bentworth, 5-0
1A Boys 7-1 Bentworth over 9-1 Brockway, 6-2

PIAA Girls Volleyball Brackets
Tuesday, Nov. 10
5A 7-1 Peters Township over 3-3 Lower Dauphin, 3-0 (25-15, 25-16, 25-16)
3A 7-3 Waynesburg over 5-1 Chestnut Ridge, 3-1 (25-27, 25-20-25-22, 25-15)

Wednesday, Nov. 11
2A 7-3 Fort Cherry over 6-1 Purchase Line, 3-2 (17-25, 25-22, 25-22, 23-25, 15-8)

Dick Hoak, who spent decades with the Pittsburgh Steelers as a player and coach, has died at the age of 86.  Steelers President Art Rooney II announced his death on Wednesday, saying, “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Dick Hoak, a legendary member of the Pittsburgh Steelers family. Dick was part of the foundation of this organization and played an instrumental role in shaping the Steelers as both a player and coach during his 45 years with the team.”  Hoak, from Jeannette, was a running back from 1961-1970, still remaining seventh on the franchise’s all-time rushing list with 3,965 yards.   “Dick represented everything the Steelers stand for with his toughness, loyalty, dedication and an unwavering commitment to the team. First as a player, then as a coach, Dick’s contributions to this organization spanned generations,” Rooney said.  Hoak then served as a running backs coach for the Steelers from 1972-2007, both under Chuck Noll and Bill Cowher.  “He was respected and admired by everyone who had the privilege of knowing and working with him. His legacy includes coaching some of the all-time great Steelers, including Franco Harris, Rocky Bleier, Jerome Bettis, and Willie Parker,” Rooney said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Hoak family during this difficult time. He will always be remembered as a valued member of the Steelers family.”

Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski and the New York Yankees’ Cam Schlittler were unanimous Cy Young Award winners after delivering dominant performances in their first full major league seasons. Misiorowski won the National League award after helping the Brewers win their first World Series title while setting a new standard for velocity by a starting pitcher. Schlittler was the AL winner, becoming the second Yankees pitcher in four years to receive the award. The right-handers made their major league debuts in the summer of 2025. The Baseball Writers’ Association of America votes on the awards. Toronto’s Louis Varland won the AL Reliever of the Year award and San Diego’s Mason Miller won the NL honor.