It is one thing to say that a team or a league has improved. It is another thing to show some evidence of that improvement.
Over the last two weeks, field hockey teams from the Lancaster-Lebanon League proved that the league has improved from 2022 to 2023.
A year ago, only three L-L teams qualified for states and none of them were in the District Three finals. Manheim Township ended that drought with its 2-1 overtime win over Lower Dauphin in the Class 3A championship game Saturday and five other teams will be joining the Blue Streaks in the PIAA tournament.
Along with Section One teams Warwick and Penn Manor, which will also be in the Class 3A bracket, there are also 2A qualifiers Manheim Central and Ephrata, and Class 1A qualifier Elco.
“Kudos to the L-L League and kudos to our Section One opponents,” Manheim Township head coach Jess Shellenberger said after her team’s championship win.
Of course, her focus was more on her own team’s success and chances for more accolades in the next two weeks.
“We just won two huge tournaments,” Shellenberger said. “To win the L-L is not easy to do. And this is District Three, which in my opinion is the best district in the state. The state champs all came from District Three last year. It’s a big boost for our team to win here.”
Manheim Township will get a favorable site, possibly a home game, for its first-round contest with Avon Grove, the sixth seed from District 1 in Tuesday’s opening round. The other L-L teams will likely have to travel for their opening contests.
In Class 3A, Penn Manor drew a contest with District 7 champion Pine Richland. The Comets are coming off of two heart-pounding rivalry contests, losing the District Three semifinals 2-1 in overtime to Manheim Township, then beating Warwick 2-1 in overtime in the third-place game. Warwick will face District 1 runner-up Downingtown West.
For Class 2A, Ephrata will face District 12 champion Archbishop Carroll. Manheim Central will rack up gas mileage similar to Penn Manor, as the Barons will play District 7 winner Penn-Trafford, the eight-time WPIAL champ. The Mounts earned a better seed than the Barons with a 2-1 (3-2) shootout victory in the District Three third-place contest.
Elco will play District Two champion Lackawana Trail in Class 1A. This is the Raiders’ first state playoff appearance since 1997.
All-Stars
The L-L announced its section all-stars this week. First-team selections are:
Section One: Manheim Township — Zoe Caloviras, Brenna Campagna, Calli Campagna, Gracie Clawson, Brooke Weaver, Julia Weaver; Penn Manor — Tristan Groff and Avery Bradburn; Warwick — Karys Craver, Addy Zimmerman and Bree Zoccolo.
Section Two: Cedar Crest — Reese Arnold, Danielle Schroll; Donegal — Natalie Colwell, Marie Gehman; Elizabethtown — Mikaela Condran, Tessa Cronin, Piper Patrick; Ephrata — Joanna Erhart, Alexis Kresge, Marie McCracken, Hannah Popolis; Lampeter-Strasburg — Marissa Rice; Manheim Central — Mikayla Appel, Anna Bosch, Ella Brubaker, Kiley Hosler, Libby Urban, Emmy Weaver.
Section Three: Cocalico — Natalie Brunick, Ellie Myers, Izzy Rios, Elise Swann; Elco — Kailen Hibshman, Aeryn Marks, Meredith Noll, Addie Weiler, Omar Yasmin; Garden Spot — Mary Culbert, Rebekah Hoover, Emma Swatski; Octorara— Roxi Grocki, Gianna Lambert; Pequea Valley — Delaney Amole.
Section Four: Annville-Cleona — Tori Cisney, Kendall Cooper, Grace Francis, Annville-Cleona; Ashlyn Shaak; Danika Setlock; Lancaster Catholic — Constance Billis; Lancaster Country Day — Anna Fisher, Margaret Heim, Carolina Lang, Amelia Woodard; Lancaster Mennonite — Samiya Krady, Hailey Nelson; McCaskey — Elaina Foley, Cindy Reyes; Northern Lebanon — Kiera Anspach, Madison Brewer.
