HERSHEY (1-0) at CENTRAL DAUPHIN (1-0) 7:00pm
- This is a BIG one. Come late April/Early May when we are looking at Mid Penn Championship Game the Keystone representative could very well be coming from this game. In the division winner to the championship game format early season games take on a much greater meaning and have a lasting affect. This has been a source of contention for many Mid Penn fans, players, and coaches as the team that start the season is rarely the same team (in terms of skill, game play, etc.) that finishes it. A 2 round playoff would allow teams another shot, but that is a discussion for another time.
CD knows what happens if they lose this game, they would have no margin for error and need to hope for someone else to help them out. Not a position any team want to be in. Nate Beard, Carson Wolford, Scott Kelly, and Eli Hudson understand this significance and will no doubt be amped up for this game in front of their home crowd (one of the best in the Mid Penn).
Hershey also understands the significance but from another perspective as they have won these early games to place themselves in a position to control their own destiny. This year's Hershey squad seems to be on of great focus and on a mission to reclaim the title they lost last year. Logan Calhoun leads the offensive unit with Jake Wilson and Matthew Stewart following his lead. Hershey's offense can hurt you a number of different ways which is only accentuated by their strong defensive core.
CUMBERLAND VALLEY (0-1) at PALMYRA (2-1) 5:30pm
- Very interesting game here. Both teams had big games for their respective divisions on Tuesday, lost 8-5 in close games, and both were away games. This is where the rubber meets the road. In order to keep their Mid Penn title hopes alive this becomes somewhat of any early season must win for both clubs. Coming off tough defeats shows you your true colors and this one of those games that can determine a season.
Palmyra has scoring options and seems to fair best when Joey Hess is scoring and facilitating their offense. Look for them to get him involved early and often. Coach Bogaczyk did a great job defensively slowing down Trinity's high power offense and look for him to do the same with Hess. The Eagles bring a diverse scoring attack with multiple players getting involved. They have yet to show a true go to leading scorer type player.
CARLISE (1-0) at CD EAST (0-2) 4:15pm
- CD East has a tough draw to start their Mid Penn season in 2014. Having just played Hershey last night on the road they have one of the tougher back-to-back scheduling scenarios imaginable. They will look to have a better scoring and defensive effort than they did against the Trojans. This is a team looking to build and find positives so it is not necessarily about the final score for them as it as about growth.
The Thundering Herd has the bulls-eye of defending champs on their back and they wouldn't have it any other way. The pundits have not ben overwhelmingly kind to them this off season citing loss of seniors as a major negative in their bid to repeat. Carlisle has senior leadership and coaching staff that knows how to usher in new players. Their Mid Penn championship bid will beging tonight with their first league match.
STATE COLLEGE (1-1) at CHAMBERSBURG (0-0) 7:00pm
- Talk about a road trip! State College, the northern most school in the Mid Penn by a long shot, travels to the western most teams stadium tonight at 7pm. Fortunately the Little Lions are not foreign to long bus rides and are coming off their opening Mid Penn win over Mechanicsburg. The Lions had a stout defensive performance holding the Wildcats to just two goals while getting several of their players involved in the scoring. Leading scorer Brady Franks will need to step-up and score more as the season goes on, rarely will a 7 score offensive day lead to victory.
Little is known about Chambersburg other than the departure of leading scorer Tyler Tolbert. Juniors Jake Pierson and Grant Swisher look to take their combined 50 goals and 23 assists from last season and make up the difference.
This game will tell us a lot about these Commonwealth opponents and where they stand in the pack.
coach@harrisburglacrosse.com
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