DISTRICT III PLAYOFF PREVIEW - ROUND 1

All games will be played at the higher seeds home field Tuesday, May 12th at 7:00pm

16 YORK SUBURBAN (9-5) AT 1 HERSHEY (19-0)

The 2015 Mid-Penn Champions are the 1 seed in District III, remain unbeaten, and will welcome York Suburban to Derry Township on Tuesday night. Hershey has had some great teams over the years but this 2015 squad appears to be something truly special and should be able to advance out of the first round with little difficulty. For Hershey you know the names, Wilson and Briggs have been remarkable on attack all season. Gadd and Van Blargen can dodge from the midfield. Briar and Donahue lead a defense few teams can figure out how to survive. 

Mutual opponents in this one is actually quite telling, they have played the same four teams this spring. York Suburban was able to beat Mechanicsburg 16-1 which is the same score Hershey beat them by. The similarities end there. Suburban lost to LD 12-7, West York 12-8, and Central York 12-7. Hershey beat all three of those teams, 16-6 against LD, 19-3 against West York, and 16-5 against Central York.

15 GOVERNOR MIFFLIN (13-6) AT 2 CUMBERLAND VALLEY (16-2)

The Eagles will look to rebound after a difficult loss last Thursday in the Mid-Penn title game. As we saw with Carlisle last season there is a lot to play for beyond the Mid-Penn and CV certainly has the players and leadership to get it done. A wealth of talent on the offensive end with Peters, Jamieson, Miller, and Hamlin. Tarline, Arentz, and Brown anchor a defense that can carry the load in post season play. 

With four mutual opponents there is some information to be gained but not a ton as both teams won all the listed games. Against LD Mifflin won 8-7, CV won 12-4. Against CD Mifflin won 6-5, CV won 13-2. Penn Manor was defeated by Mifflin 12-7 and then by CV 13-5. Finally Ephrata loss to both squads, 18-5 to Mifflin and then 19-3 to CV. So on a head to head basis they seem pretty even. A tantalizing second round match-up with Trinity could await if they Eagles advance.

MORE GAMES AFTER THE BREAK

10 WEST YORK (14-3) AT 7 TRINITY (14-3)

A rematch of last season first round playoff game where the Bulldogs upset the Rocks 11-9. This marks Trinity's 4th straght trip to the playoffs and they will aim to get the programs first ever district win. Another stacked roster with Altmeyer and Mandack on attack. Hegenroeder and Olivero lead from the midfield with top LSM Griffin Smith and excellent net minder Austin Bailey on defense.

Both squads have 5 mutual opponents with somewhat similar results,. Against Red Lion West York won twice, 10-9 in OT and then 11-9 in post season play, while Trinity defeated them 13-8.  Hershey would be a loss for both teams 19-3 over York and 14-9 over Trinity. Both squads won against McDevitt, York 14-5 and Trinity 16-5. York Catholic would go to OT with West York and lose 16-15 while Trinity defeated them 23-12. Central York would loose a one goal game to West York 13-12 and then lose to the Shamrocks 14-7. Again, if both Trinity and CV win we would have rematch of their one goal game (CV won 12-11 on April 9th).

13 CARLISLE (10-5) AT 4 MANHEIM TOWNSHIP (18-2)

The 2013 (MT) and 2014 (Carlisle) District III Champions meet in round on Tuesday. This is also a rematch of last seasons semi-final matchup that the Herd won 12-6. Manheim will be looking for revenge in this one. The Blue Streaks have excellent offensive fire power led by Grayson Sallade, Ryan Miller, Kevin Curcio and Chris Augeri. On defense Nolan Sachs and Griffin Schultz work with goal keeper Caton Johnson. For the Herd Drew Amsley has a lethal shot form the midfield and Geroge Faller will need to keep the one-two combo going to keep pace.

They have three common opponents this season. Carlisle lost to Hempfield 16-7 while Township defeated them twice 14-9 and then 17-11 in the LL Title game. The Herd lost to Trinity 10-8 where Township was able to get the win 14-8. Both teams beat Elizabethtown, Carlilse 13-8 and Township 18-2.