“It was really nice to erase that stat from the books,” Montoursville coach Bryan Pauling said. “Now that we accomplished that goal, we are all focused on keeping that momentum going as we work through the regular season and into the playoffs.”

The Warriors lost nine seniors who were a big part of that squad last year and provided leadership and solid play.

“We have several leaders on our team this year which means they will get the chance to step up and take on key roles this year,” Pauling said. “They are urgent and ready for the challenge.”

Montoursville returns its five top goal scorers from last year in senior Gavin Hawley (11 goals, five assists), sophomore Bryce Winslow (seven goals, nine assists), junior Quinn Winslow (six goals, 12 assists), sophomore CJ Lucas (six goals, two assists) and senior Sean Frey (three goals, two assists). Quinn Winslow was a second-team HAC midfielder last year and Bryce Winslow earned honorable mention at midfield.

On the defensive side, Montoursville has both Shaw Simpson and Brayden McCourt, players Pauling sees being able to anchor the line and work to keep opposing players from scoring.

Pauling noted the team’s biggest strength is that they’re fun and aren’t selfish on the field.

“They all work to elevate every player and they have confidence in each other to get the job done,” Pauling said. “They understand the challenges ahead and are ready to take them on.”

Loyalsock had a run of five consecutive District 4 quarterfinal appearances snapped last year after a five-win campaign. But the Lancers aren’t focusing on last year. Rather, Loyalsock has its eyes looking forward to this year and improving in 2024.

Loyalsock has plenty of seasoned returners from last year’s team who will help make an impact, in addition to promising freshmen that Ertel sees infusing vibrant eatery into the squad. Those seniors include Jackson Alvarado, Evan Anderson, Alex Wagner-Pizza, Jacob Edmonds, Gavin Grieco and Brycen Savoy.

“These seniors are the heart of the team, bringing intensity and enthusiasm to each training session,” Loyalsock coach Steve Ertel said, entering his third season at the helm of the Lancers.

“Their commitment and hard work are evident, setting the stage for an exciting season ahead,” Ertel added “The boys are gearing up to make their mark in the district, navigating a demanding schedule that promises thrilling matchups.”

The Lancers have plenty of depth as well on their roster as Loyalsock’s team features 26 players, six of which are seniors and four of whom are juniors.

Loyalsock is just two years removed from having beaten rival Montoursville in the first round of playoffs, 2-1, and losing to a tough Danville team in the quarterfinals in what was Ertel’s first season as a coach.

Anderson was a HAC-I second-team all-star at midfield last season and that experience and talent will be beneficial for Loyalsock this season. Anderson also was one of the Lancers’ leading goal scorers in 2023.

Like Loyalsock, Hughesville also missed out on reaching the playoffs after going 8-10. But those eight wins marked the most wins for the program since the 2019 season (12-8) and the team got off to a hot start by going 5-0. The Spartans were just a win from qualifying for districts and had four tough losses which were 1-0 games.

“A couple of key injuries hurt us through the middle of the season (too),” Hughesville coach Jim Dennis said. “We graduated only two starters, so with so many returning and some freshman surprises, we are hoping to turn those close losses into wins and make a good run into the playoffs.”

One player back for Hughesville is standout Sam Haddon, who led Hughesville with 17 goals and dished out seven assists, but an injury during the track and field season set Haddon back slightly this offseason.

“His offseason work is a little behind, but his work ethic is very good,” Haddon said. “Since he has been cleared to play, he has gone to some ID camps and looks like he should have a great season for us.”

Defensively, the Spartans have Quinn Hartmann and Keagan Smith back to anchor the defense along with goalie Jarrett Easton. James Stephens and Jacob Mackenzie solidify the midfield and freshman Carter Garmont and Landon Miller will look to surprise some people according to Dennis.

“Our schedule is a lot tougher this year with Lewisburg, Selinsgrove, Danville and Benton added in, but we look forward to that challenge,” Dennis noted.

Warrior Run also returns plenty of players from last year, including eight starters and a returner who had a near season-long injury. The Defenders had Cooper Wilkins, Jake Bruckhart, Mike Kemock, Gavin Hunter and Jared Sivers as well step up in summer preparation and have the team very motivated according to coach Troy Emmett.

“With this being year two of our rebuild, we will definitely be stronger offensively as those players have a year of growth physically and mentally,” Emmett said. “We should at least double our goal production from last year.”

One big returner back for the Defenders is junior keeper Braego Cieslukowski, a keeper who has come up big in games over the last two years.

“Braego has been training hard and I expect him to be one of the best in the league,” Emmett said. “We started four freshman last year through much of the season. They come into this season well prepared.”

MONTOURSVILLE

COACH: Bryan Pauling

ASSISTANTS: Ed Winslow, Jason Hawley, Anthony Frey, Joseph Balduino, Seth Fry

LAST YEAR: 12-6-2 (7-1-1 HAC-I) (def. N.P.-Liberty 6-0 in District 4 Class AA playoffs; lost to Lewisburg 5-0 in quarterfinals)

LEAGUE: HAC-II

ROSTER: Seniors: Brayden mcCourt, Gavin Hawley, Sean Frey, Shaw Simpson. Juniors: Connor Hartman, Logan Withers, Rylee Bausinger, Gavin lakes, Adam Shearer, Cody Marino, Cullen Pauling, Quinn Winslow. Sophomores: Mason Fry, CJ Lucas, Colton Beadle, Bryce Winslow, Cooper Boyles, Austin Davidson, Haden Ferguson, Wesley Foster, Simmon Dietrich, Brody Hagemeyer. Freshmen: Bobby Nolan, Leyton Bedison, Landon Radeski-Newman, Jack Sanner, Maksim Martinez, Brent Crawford, Noah Coffman, Lukas Easton, Christian Berwanger, Mason Winter, Tucker Lakes.

WARRIOR RUN

COACH: Troy Emmert

ASSISTANTS: Jason McCormick, Brandon Emmert, Kylan Kurtz, Brian Hunter, JT Emmert

LAST YEAR: 8-9-1 (4-3-1 HAC-II) (lost to Danville 2-0 in District 4 Class AA play-in game)

LEAGUE: HAC-II

ROSTER: Seniors: Jake Bruckhart, Donovan Figueroa, Liam Galvin, Gavin Hunter, Michael Kemock, Tommy Reinitz, Ian Sanner, Jared Sivers, Brayden Warner, Cooper Wilkins. Juniors: Ethan Balzer, Braego Cieslukowski, Cristian Cirilo, Gavin Cromley, Shea McNett, Ian Miller, Ben Shaffer. Sophomores: Braden Beachel, Max Burden, Jesse BUtler, Josiah Cruz, Cooper Deitterick, Ryan Kemock, Gideon Kennel, Ori Kennel, Ty Margargle, Sma McCloskey, Carter McCormick, Ayden Reese, NIcholas Stoltzfus. Freshmen: Ayden Arbogast, Gavin Bailey, Caden Hoffman, Emmett Ranck.

LOYALSOCK

COACH: Steve Ertel

ASSISTANTS: Lynnette Reitz, Rob Chambers Enrique Castillo, Jim Ellis

LAST YEAR: 5-12-1 (2-8 HAC-II)

LEAGUE: HAC-II

ROSTER: Seniors: Jackson Alvarado, Evan Anderson, Alex Wagner-Pizza, Jacob Edmonds, Gavin Grieco, Brycen Savoy. Juniors: Conor Lang, Ethan Wetzler, Emmanuel Oyenusi, Gabriel Deprenda. Sophomores: Ethan Boyer, Tyler Kennedy, Luke Edmonds, Ryan Lingg, David Bjorkman, Caleb heartsick, Trenton Miller. Freshmen: Aiden Wetzler, Dylan Eck, Gianluca Roskowski, Owen Peck, Wesley Johnson, Joey Ellis, Brady Picking, Eli Rhinehart, Charles Hutchinson.

HUGHESVILLE

COACH: Jim Dennis

ASSISTANTS: Peter Larsen

LAST YEAR: 8-10 (1-7 HAC-II)

LEAGUE: HAC-II

ROSTER: Seniors: Jacob Mackenzie, Keagan Smith, Brett Whitmoyer, James Stephens, Jonah McGinley, Quyen Hartman, Owen Wettlaufer, Nathan McClain, Jarrett Easton. Juniors: Tyler Creasy, Spencer Stine, Tristan Kurzawa, Sam Haddon, Carter Sherwood, Wesley Harvey, Chase Wilson, Luke Vermeer, Evan Mackenzie, Michael Swales. Sophomores: Peyton Hartman, Royce Gardner, Tyler Wilson, Connor Windham, Daeus Trager. Freshmen: Carter Garment, Patrick Stine, Kellan Smith, Bradley Mackenzie, Carter Smith, Brendan Wolfgang, Caleb Costil, Landon Miller.