Maybe it's time to stop calling Fox Chapel's soccer victories playoff upsets. After all, Fox Chapel made it to the WPIAL Class AAA championship game before losing to Chartiers Valley. After defeating three quality WPIAL playoff opponents and a talented State College team in the opening round of the PIAA soccer tournament, Fox Chapel has earned respect across the western half of the state. The upset-minded Fox Chapel boys team (13-6-3) continues its playoff run against Erie Cathedral Prep (19-2) in a PIAA quarterfinal matchup at 2 p.m. Saturday at Karns City High School. "My initial scouting report is that Erie Cathedral is a very good team," Fox Chapel coach Mark Perry said. "They're the best team we've played so far this year. "If we win, it's definitely an upset," he said. Erie Cathedral was on almost everyone's preseason list as one of the strongest teams in western Pennsylvania. "I think most would be shocked if we pull another upset," Perry said. Fox Chapel is the No. 2 seed out of District 7 (WPIAL) in the PIAA's Class AAA bracket. If Fox Chapel wins, it will advance to play the winner of the Chartiers Valley (19-1-1) vs. Upper St. Clair (15-7-2) matchup, which will be played at noon Saturday at Ringgold High School. What turned an average 9-5-3 Fox Chapel team into the team nobody wants to meet in the playoffs? Perry moved sophomore Brian Midock from center-midfield to forward, where he has given the offense a lift with his ability to take on defenders. "The difference is we're scoring goals," Perry said. "Once a team starts to score, the players build confidence in themselves and their teammates. "We didn't get any lucky bounces for most of the season," he said. "Now, the kids are confident they can put it in." Fox Chapel scored three quick goals in its opening playoff victory over North Allegheny. "That erased the frustration of the previous 17 games," Perry said. Fox Chapel will attempt to use the same game plan that's worked all through the postseason - score early, tighten down on defense, hang on late. Fox Chapel demonstrated it's playoff-winning formula Tuesday in a 3-1 victory over State College in the first round of the PIAA Classs AAA playoffs. The Foxes took a 2-1 lead into halftime on goals by senior midfielder Tim Wilson and sophomore midfielder Drew Majerick. Sophomore forward Steve Warden scored 30 seconds into the second half, and the defense took over from there. Fox Chapel senior goalkeeper Norb Garbisch made eight saves in the first-round win. Fox Chapel is the only local boys or girls soccer team to qualify for the state playoffs. Underdogs from the beginning, 14th-seeded Fox Chapel took the WPIAL playoffs by storm, starting with an opening victory over defending PIAA champion and third-seeded North Allegheny. Fox Chapel followed with "upsets" of Plum in the quarterfinals and Upper St. Clair in the semifinals. Fox Chapel gave top-seeded Chartiers Valley one of its toughest games of the season in last Thursday's 1-0 loss. The Foxes fired shot after shot at Chartiers Valley goalkeeper Jim DiMarco, but nothing found the net.

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