Class AA Boys
No. 2 Danville vs. No. 3 Lewisburg
at Loyalsock, today 3 p.m.
Prediction: Danville 2, Lewisburg 1
Danville got the better of Lewisburg in the final of two regular-season matches, edging the Green Dragons, 1-0. The first meeting between the two teams at Lewisburg resulted in a 1-1 tie.
The only other blemishes on the teams' records were similar losses on the road Selinsgrove.
Danville scored 66 goals in the regular-season, averaging 3.6 goals per game with a season high coming in a 14-1 defeat of Mount Carmel.
The Ironmen also have one of the area's best defenses, which held opponents to just 10 goals throughout the season. Danville also posted 11 clean sheets.
Lewisburg's numbers are similar, falling a bit shorter with 60 regular-season goals. The Green Dragons ended the regular-season strong, though, winning six consecutive matches before blanking No. 6 Central Columbia, 2-0 in the opening round of the district playoffs.
Class AA Boys
No. 1 Warrior Run vs. No. 5 Selinsgrove
at Balls Mills Soccer Club, today 7 p.m.
Prediction: Selinsgrove 2, Warrior Run 1
Dustin Moyer was as good as it gets in Selinsgrove's 4-2 win over No. 4 Troy at Balls Mills last Saturday night.
Moyer assisted on two goals and scored the Seals third to put them up 3-1 midway through the second half. Moyer also missed a third assist when he put a sensational pass to the near post. The pass, which fell inches away from being tapped in for a goal, nearly became one of the nicest assist of the season.
Warrior Run survived a tough test in No. 9 Midd-West, needing a late overtime goal to get past the Mustangs.
The Defenders are going to need a strong defensive performance against Moyer.
Class A Girls
No. 1 Loyalsock vs. No. 4 Southern Col.
at Balls Mills Soccer Club, today 7 p.m.
Prediction: Loyalsock 1, Southern Columbia 0
Loyalsock clinched a share of the HAC II title with a 2-1 win over Southern Columbia to end the season. Since the season final the Lancers have outscored their first two district opponents by a combined 11 goals.
The Lancers have become especially dangerous on corners, with Asia Ungard dropping near perfect balls into the box with every effort. In Loyalsock's 7-0 win over No. 16 Wyalusing to open the district playoffs, Ungard helped the Lancers score five goals from corners.
A Morgan Chambers goal proved to be the difference in the first regular-season meeting against Southern Columbia. Ungard assisted on the goal, which came just two minutes into the second half.
In the final meeting between the two teams the first half was again highlighted by two strong defensive performances. Chambers got the Lancers off to a strong second-half start with a goal, but the Tigers responded in the next 10 minutes. Allie Pagana gave the Lancers the top seed in the district playoffs with a goal in the 74th minute.
It's always hard to win three matches vs. the same team over the course of a season. But, in this case, Loyalsock's familiarity is only going to help.
District 2-4 AAA Girls
No. 3 Abington hts. vs. No. 6 Williamsport
at Marywood University, Thursday 1 p.m.
Prediction: Abington Heights 3, Williamsport 2
Erica Ludwikowski punched in the team's final goal, as No. 6 Williamsport, securing its third win of the season, upset No. 3 Wyoming Valley West, 3-2 in the opening round of the District 2 playoffs.
Olivia Mendler and Amy Southhand scored goals in the opening 20 minutes for Williamsport.
The Millionaires are facing a familiar opponent in No. 3 Abington Heights. The Comets defeated the Millionaires, 4-0, in the regular-season.
It might be a bit much to think Willliamsport has the ability to pull off another upset. But, after the first round, why shouldn't the Millionaires be heading to Marywood with a bunch of confidence.
