L-L League boys soccer teams face challenging roads in PIAA tournament
It's hard to make the PIAA tournament in boys soccer. Really hard. Of the 125 teams in District Three, only 13 are still standing. Five of those are from the Lancaster-Lebanon League.
Playing on Election Day, or when it gets dark before dinner, is a feat worth celebrating. It's good to pause and acknowledge that before the winner-take-all matches begin.
Here's a look at the five L-L teams ready to chase the ultimate dream: a state title.
The district champs
Lancaster Catholic (17-4-1)
Who they play: Faith Christian (19-0). The Eagles, located in Sellersville in Bucks County, are one of two Class 2A teams in District One. They defeated Collegium Charter 10-0 to win the championship and have only played once since Oct. 18.
Catholic certainly didn't earn the luck of the draw with an undefeated opponent in the first round and District 11 champion Northwestern Lehigh looming in the quarterfinals. This bracket is often a point of contention. The District Three runner-up gets an easier road than the champ.
How they got here: Catholic, the Section Three runner-up, went through Pequea Valley, Kutztown and Trinity without allowing a goal. The Crusaders earned their first district title.
Who to watch: This has been Stephen Scott's show in the postseason. The striker scored four of his team's five goals in districts. A.J. Minney is a physical presence in the center of the defense, Will O'MalleyLuca D'Orazio control the midfield and Logan Kratz is an excellent keeper.
The district runners-up
Warwick (19-4)
Who they play: Conestoga (18-2). Speaking of tough draws, navigating the brutal District Three Class 4A field all the way to the final nets Warwick a date with the District One runner-up.
Conestoga, located in Berwyn on the edge of Chester County, has lost twice. Both losses were against undefeated district champ West Chester Henderson, including a 2-1 (5-4 penalty kicks) decision in the final.
How they got here: Warwick reached its first district title game since 2005 and fell to Cumberland Valley 2-0. The Warriors overcame penalty kicks against Dallastown and Manheim Township in districts and bounced back after an overtime loss to Hempfield in the fight for L-L gold.
Who to watch:Ben Knouse is the L-L's best defensive player and Isaac Yerger ranks among the league's top keepers. Seniors Rylan TruempyA.J. SchwartzConnor KirchnerEli Yerger have been part of a tremendous four-year run for the Section One champs.
Lancaster Mennonite (13-4-3)
Who they play: Calvary Christian (14-4-2). Another District One champion awaits an L-L team. The Cougars, who hail from Philadelphia, coasted through Church Farm and Delco Christian before outlasting perennial PIAA qualifier New Hope Solebury 4-3 in overtime in the championship game. It was the first district title for the school.
How they got here: Lancaster Mennonite entered the district playoffs as a dangerous No. 8 seed and made it all the way to the championship game. The Blazers fell to Camp Hill, the reigning PIAA Class 2A champ, 1-0.
Who to watch:Msafiri Amisi is one of the L-L's most skilled scorers. The senior commands a lot of the defense's attention. David Lapp is a versatile contributor who can excel anywhere. Cooper Halvorsen bolsters Mennonite's attack and Jackson Harbaugh looms large on defense.
The district semifinalists
Cocalico (15-5-2)
Who they play: Archbishop Ryan (14-6-1). It's always a bit of a mystery when a District 12 team enters the picture. Archbishop Ryan lost to La Salle College 5-0 in the Philadelphia Catholic League championship game. The Raiders defeated Franklin Towne to earn the No. 1 seed out of their district in Class 3A.
How they got here: Cocalico has been nearly unstoppable since an 0-3-1 start. The Eagles' only losses since then are to L-L champion Hempfield in overtime and District Three champion Conrad Weiser in the semifinals. This is their second PIAA appearance in three seasons. They reached the quarterfinals in 2022.
Who to watch:Talen PopolisCade Upson lead the attack. Popolis is one of the best finishers in the L-L and a three-year starter during this impressive run for the program. Aaron Wilczek ranks among the league's top keepers and Breck Popolis is a standout in the back for the Section Two champs.
Lampeter-Strasburg (16-3-3)
Who they play: Moon (22-0). Losing to the eventual District 3 runner-up in the semifinals has sent L-S all the way to Moon, the District 7 Class 3A champion. That's roughly a four-hour drive. The Tigers are a powerhouse that has won two of the past three District Seven titles and seven overall.
How they got here: L-S is making its second consecutive appearance in the PIAA tournament. It lost to Radnor in the first round last season. The Pioneers were one bounce from making the district final. They fell to Kennard-Dale in double-overtime in the semis.
