4 L-L League field hockey teams open state playoffs against District 1 opponents
All four Lancaster-Lebanon League field hockey teams that qualified for the PIAA playoffs will be quickly introduced to District One, as each has a first-round matchup today with a team from the Philadelphia suburbs district.
Class 2A
Radnor at Warwick, 7 p.m.
After winning their first District Three championship since 2005, the Warriors will begin their quest for their first state crown since 2000 with a first-round contest against Radnor, the No. 5 seed from District 1.
Warwick, including Ohio State recruit Karys Craver, was happy to get the district gold medal after settling for silver in the L-L League tourney, but the PIAA title has been on the players' minds all season, as well.
"We had four goals this season, and we don't want to go 2-for-4," said Craver (the first goal was the L-L Section One title). "Districts are super important. ... This is good, but we want to get the biggest trophy, too."
In the last two rounds of districts, the Warriors (23-2) were pushed in the first half by Palmyra and Northern York but had control through the fourth quarter of both games.
The Warwick coaching staff hopes to see the team's conditioning, which helped the Warriors score the last three goals of the 4-1 championship-game win over the Polar Bears, pay off for a full 60 minutes of each remaining game.
"They play on so many different clubs," Warwick coach Ron Stief said. "They all take it so seriously. It's not us (the coaching staff) doing it, it's them staying fit on their own."
Radnor (16-6) meanwhile, had to win consolation games over Unionville and Wissahickon to nab the fifth seed from District One.
Warwick was a state semifinalist in Class 3A last year, while Radnor was a 2A quarterfinalist.
Elizabethtown at Gwynedd Mercy, 2:30 p.m.
The Bears (17-4-2) were living on the edge throughout the District Three playoffs, winning three one-goal games wrapped around a 2-0 loss to Hershey in the quarterfinals.
A 1-0 victory over L-L Section Two rival Manheim Central, courtesy of Piper Patrick's goal, earned Elizabethtown a matchup with District One champion Gwynedd Mercy.
"The girls are so proud of the accomplishment they have," Bears coach Becky Brown said. "Our mindset is to see how far we can go. We've accomplished our goal but now, what can we do next?"
The Monarchs (11-11) were state semifinalists last year. They are peaking at the right time, turning a No. 10 seed in the District One tourney into three consecutive one-goal wins, including a 3-2 victory over Mount St. Joseph in the championship game.
Class 3A
Downingtown West at Manheim Township, 5 p.m.
The Blue Streaks (21-3) have not allowed a goal in regulation since the beginning of the playoffs, posting three straight shutouts on the way to the L-L title and not giving up a goal in the first 183 minutes of the District Three tournament. Lower Dauphin did break the shutout streak and take the district trophy with a 1-0 win in the final, but the Blue Streaks remain a serious threat to return to the state final.
Their first hurdle is the No. 4 seed out of District One, Downingtown West. After an 18-2 start, the Whippets have lost two in a row, dropping a 7-1 decision to Villa Maria and a 3-2 contest to Boyertown in the district tournament.
Penn Manor at Villa Maria Academy, 3 p.m.
Last year the Comets (16-5-1) reached the state quarterfinals. To get there again, they will have to go through a Hurricanes team that won the state championship last year in Class 2A.
Villa Maria won its first three games of the District One tournament by a combined score of 21-1 before clinching the title with a 3-2 victory over Conestoga. Caitlin Connel, a Virginia recruit, provided the winning goal with less than seven minutes left.
In the regular season and postseason combined, the Hurricanes have outscored opponents 152-17.
Penn Manor won two elimination games in the District Three consolation bracket to qualify for the PIAA tournament, defeating Central York 9-1 and Cumberland Valley 4-2.
