2014 MID PENN CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

HERSHEY 15 CARLISLE 7

     The day was warm but overcast with a slight drizzle that persisted through out. The storm never broke from a meteorological perspective but the thunder and lightening did strike in the third quarter for the Hershey Trojans as they used a dominant opening to the second half to earn their fourth Mid Penn Title in the past six season.
    The Trojan's bested the the Herd to take the three year war series 2-1. Hershey avenges last years loss in the finals and can now lay claim to a dynasty like run in the Mid Penn. Both squads had great seasons and will need to regroup quickly for Tuesdays first round of  the district playoffs.

(More after the break)

 

                             
     Karl VanBlargen (3 goals) opened the scoring early in the first quarter with an excellent take from the top to put the Trojans in the lead. Hunter Scott (2 goals, 3 assists) would find George Faller (2 goals) for a quick answer and we were knotted at one. Hershey would use LSM Dave Sickler (1 goal) off a feed from Logan Calhoun (1 goal, 2 assists) and the back and forth style of scoring had begun. There was a lot of action in the first quarter and Carlisle manged to get it's only lead of the day up 4-3 off a Faller goal. The teams would be tied 4-4 at the end of the first.
     The second quarter saw things slow down quite a bit as both team would manage only one score. For Hershey it was VanBlargen again and for the Herd it would be senior midfielder Jon Mundell (1 goal, 1 assist) off a great feed from Scott. At half time they were again even at 5-5.
    At the start of the second half Hershey came out quickly off another VanBlargen score to go up 6-5. Scott was again able to score for the Herd to keep it even at 6-6. Then George Briggs (4 goals, 2 assists) got involved and the Trojans and never looked back. Briggs would score off a Matt Stewart feed (1 goal, 1 assist), Stewart would go unassisted from the top, and then Briggs attempted to feed Calhoun a ball the ricocheted into the net and everything was going Hershey's way up 9-6. Jake Wilson (4 goals, 3 assists) started to make his presence felt with feed to Briggs and then scoring a goal of his own against a double team at GLE. Briggs and Wilson would continue to find the back of the net together as they have done all season. Hershey would end the third quarter up 12-6 after out scoring Carlisle 7-1 in the frame.
     Hershey's defense played well all day and was feeling very confident in the second half pressing out on Carlisle. The Herd struggled with ball control later in the game and had a lot of unforced turnovers. Hershey and Sickler were also dominant in both aspects of the transitional game and that had a huge effect. As the the Trojans burned the clock it became apparent Carlisle would not be able to win. Trailing 13-6 senior standout defender Sid Ewell showed a lot of heart by taking a loose ball clear the length of the field and scoring for the Herd. Ultimately the day belonged to Coach Schein's team as they won 15-7.

      These are two great teams and programs. The fact that they were on turf at a neutral site was obviously a great benefit to the Trojans. Hershey was able to gain momentum at a critical juncture and out play their opponent when it needed to. We expect both clubs to make serious runs in districts and want to congratulate them, their coaches, their schools, their families, and their fans on great seasons. We have little doubt they will both be back in the mix for the Mid Penn Championship next spring.