In any sport the post season is the most exciting time to be playing and two Mid Penn clubs are keeping that energy going for a few more games. Both Hershey and Carlisle won in round two which will extend their play into the semi-finals on Tuesday night and also guarantee them a State Playoff birth. This means at minimum each club has three more games this season. This marks the second year in a row that Hershey, Carlisle, Manheim Township, and Wilson have advanced to the district semi-finals.
Both the Herd and the Trojans will be hoping the similarities to 2013 end there as they both lost by significant margins in the semi-finals last season. This year however their opponents are flipped as Hershey will play number 1 overall seed Wilson (Hershey lost to Manheim 15-3 last year) and the Herd will play 3 seed Manheim Township (Carlilse lost to Wilson 12-4 last year).
Hershey and Carlisle's return to the final four firmly establishes Mid Penn Lacrosse as a legitimate group in district three and if either of them can advance to the finals it would be a land mark run for the conference.
(More after the jump)
HERSHEY 15 HEMPFIELD 11
- The four/five match-up had the makings of one of the more even games of the post season. Of course that is why the cliche of playing games on paper is such an effective one. The rain started early but thankfully dissipated and was not accompanied by thunder or lightening. Two lively crowds traveled some distance to support their teams showing how much the sport has grown in the area and what this game meant to the players, coaches, parents, and fans.
Hershey broke out early courtesy of Mid Penn first team LSM Dave Sickler (1 goal, 1 assist)with a solo breakaway goal. Sickler followed this up with a ground ball (he would have to many for us to keep track) and hit George Briggs ( 4 goals, 3 assists) who found Logan Calhoun (2 goals, 2 assists) on the fast break for score number 2. Hempfield had come to far and was to talented to simply bow down to a Hershey team that looked over powering most of the evening. Collin Dussinger was able to answer with the Knights first goal to make it 2-1. Kyle Kondracki made some nice saves early and through out the game which clearly frustrated Hempfield's offense. Hershey continued to gain confidence as Jake Wilson (7 goals, 2 assists) fed Briggs with their patented two man game to get back up by 2. Zach Ward would step into play for the Knights and find Christian Durkota to bring it back to 3-2. Wilson would then go iso from GLE as he drew a mismatch with a shorty to score and end the first quarter 4-2 Hershey.
The second frame would all belong to the Trojans and set the tone for the remainder of the game. Wilson had an excellent quarter with two scores, one were he simply busted by his defender from X for the wrap around goal. Briggs continued to be involved as he got a hockey style goal off a loose ball on the crease. Everything was going Hershey's way and the half ended with them up 8-2.
The third quarter would see a return to balance and a slower pace. Hershey was less aggressive to the cage playing more conservatively and Hempfield was far less lethargic then they had been in the second quarter. This would be a precursor to what was to come later on in the fourth. Christian Durkota got the opening score of the half to get some life in the Knights but Hershey was able to control the ball and score the next three, two from Wilson and one from Joe Olives (1 goal). Hershey was also pressing out hard on the Knights and causing a lot of ball control issues for them and it looked they might unravel. Trojans led 11-3 headed into the final frame.
Hempfield regrouped and would come out and fight back early in the 4th quarter. Hayden Miller would start the comeback with a strong outside shot to score. Ward continued to facilitate with another assist to Michael Edwards. Then Ward took over. A tremendous play on a fast break allowed him to score as he was hit frombehind into the crease (the goal stood) and another came on a dodge from X where he exerted his will to score. Ward is an excellent player and you knew he would get more involved at some point. Hershey called a timeout up 11-7 and a Hempfield player received a 3 minute locked in penalty for conduct. Not sure what happened but this would be the game changing call no one wants to see. Hershey would go on to score two quick goals from Calhoun, followed by another Hempfield flag and another Wilson goal. Up 14-7 the game was in hand. The Knights would continue to fight as their season was ending but Hershey was the superior club this night in a game where the score board was much closer than the play on the field.
Next up for Hershey is number on seed Wilson West Lawn who defeated West York 22-6. They will play at 7:00pm and end the double header semi-final games at Lower Dauphin Middle School next Tuesday night. Should be a great game.
CARLISLE 15 GOVERNOR MIFFLIN 7
- The Mustangs had just won their first district playoff game ever in an upset of Central York 13-9. Everyone had the Herd as a strong favorite but in May Madness, much like March, Cinderella's rarely care about what's supposed to happen and just want to extend their run one more game.
Carlisle and Mifflin were even after one quarter at 4-4 and the Herd was fully aware of the whispers that they weren't playing their best lacrosse and could slip in the second round. They answered by outscoring their opponent 11-3 in the remaining frames and making the game theirs. A lot of times in district match-ups it takes a quarter, half, or longer to see what your opponent is doing and how you need to respond. Fortunately for Carlisle they have two of the best coaches in the Mid Penn in Steve Kidder and Dave Breschi and making the necessary adjustments is not something they struggle with.
Colin Wallace would lead the offense with 4 goals and 2 assist while Max Breschi looks to be all the way back to top form with 3 goals on the day. George Faller (2 goals), Hunter Scott (2 goals, 2 assists), and Jon Mundell (1 goal, 2 assists) continued to show Carlisle has a number of scoring threats and they are not reliant on one or two of them to win games. This is vital to teams who want to succeed in the post season.
Next up for the Herd is 3 seed Manheim Township who defeated Epharta 11-7. They will open the double header on Tuesday at Lower Dauphin. Face-off is at 5:00pm
- The Mustangs had just won their first district playoff game ever in an upset of Central York 13-9. Everyone had the Herd as a strong favorite but in May Madness, much like March, Cinderella's rarely care about what's supposed to happen and just want to extend their run one more game.
Carlisle and Mifflin were even after one quarter at 4-4 and the Herd was fully aware of the whispers that they weren't playing their best lacrosse and could slip in the second round. They answered by outscoring their opponent 11-3 in the remaining frames and making the game theirs. A lot of times in district match-ups it takes a quarter, half, or longer to see what your opponent is doing and how you need to respond. Fortunately for Carlisle they have two of the best coaches in the Mid Penn in Steve Kidder and Dave Breschi and making the necessary adjustments is not something they struggle with.
Colin Wallace would lead the offense with 4 goals and 2 assist while Max Breschi looks to be all the way back to top form with 3 goals on the day. George Faller (2 goals), Hunter Scott (2 goals, 2 assists), and Jon Mundell (1 goal, 2 assists) continued to show Carlisle has a number of scoring threats and they are not reliant on one or two of them to win games. This is vital to teams who want to succeed in the post season.
Next up for the Herd is 3 seed Manheim Township who defeated Epharta 11-7. They will open the double header on Tuesday at Lower Dauphin. Face-off is at 5:00pm
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