Reporter/Times Herald/Montgomery area state playoff preview
The boys soccer, girls soccer, girls volleyball and field hockey state playoffs start this week and the Reporter/Times Herald/Montgomery Media area have plenty of teams competing for state titles.
Pennridge and Central Bucks East start their state runs in the boys soccer Class-3A playoffs. Springfield Montco is still alive in 2A while Faith Christian Academy and Dock Mennonite Academy make their runs in A.
In girls soccer, CB West, Pennridge and CB East are competing for 4A titles. Archbishop Wood and Lansdale Catholic are set to start in 3A and 2A, respectively, while Dock competes in A.
Plymouth Whitemarsh, Pope John Paul II and Archbishop Wood are in the girls volleyball state playoffs. PW is in Class-4A while PJP and Wood are in 3A.
In the field hockey playoffs, Souderton, Methacton and CB West are still alive in Class-3A, Archbishop Carroll and Gwynedd Mercy Academy in 2A and Dock Mennonite Academy in A.
Here’s a game-by-game look at the first-round matchups for area teams.
BOYS SOCCER
Pennridge at Abington Heights >> (1-4) Pennridge travels to (2-1) Abington Heights in the first round of the Class-4A state playoffs Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Abington Heights High School.
The Rams are 16-7 this season. They entered the District 1 playoffs as the No. 11 before shutting out three straight opponents to reach the semifinals. Abington Heights scored two goals in the District 1 semifinal and championship rounds.
The winner will face the winner of (1-1) Lower Merion and (3-3) Chambersburg in the second round Saturday.
CB East at Parkland >> (1-5) Central Bucks East travels to (11-1) Parkland in the first round of the Class-4A state playoffs Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Parkland High School.
The 15-7-2 Patriots entered the District 1 playoffs as the No. 13 seed and played strong defense to qualify for states. They beat CB West and Abington 1-0 before losing in the district quarterfinals. In playbacks, they beat CB South 1-0 to clinch a spot in states and topped Spring-Ford 2-1 to earn the No. 5 seed.
The winner will face the winner of (12-1) Father Judge and (1-3) West Chester Henderson in the quarterfinals Saturday.
Springfield Montco vs. Lower Dauphin >> (1-1) Springfield Montco hosts (3-4) Lower Dauphin in the first round of the Class-3A state playoffs Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Springfield Township High School.
The Spartans went 13-3 on their way to a Suburban One League Freedom Division championship and outscored opponents 8-1 in their three wins to claim a District 1 title. Lower Dauphin is 13-8-1 this year.
The winner will face the winner of (11-1) Southern Lehigh and (4-1) Selinsgrove in the quarterfinals Saturday.
Faith Christian Academy vs. Tacony >> (1-1) Faith Christian Academy hosts (12-1) Tacony in the first round of the Class-A state playoffs Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Faith Christian Academy High School.
The Lions are coming off their third straight District 1 title and sixth in the last seven years. They won the state title in 2020 before losing the final in 2021.
The winner will face the winner of (3-1) Tulpehocken and (4-2) Northumberland Christian in the quarterfinals Saturday.
Dock Mennonite at Moravian Academy >> (1-2) Dock Mennonite travels to (11-1) Moravian Academy in the first round of the Class-A state playoffs Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Whitehall High School.
The Pioneers are 17-4 this season with two losses against perennial power Faith Christian Academy and others against bigger schools in Perk Valley and Lansdale Catholic. They beat Delco Christian 1-0 to reach the District 1-A title game against FCA.
The winner will face the winner of (4-1) East Juniata and (2-1) Holy Cross in the quarterfinals Saturday.
GIRLS SOCCER
CB West at Parkland >> (1-4) Central Bucks West travels to (11-1) Parkland in the first round of the Class-4A state playoffs Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Parkland High School.
The Bucks won three straight road games in the District 1 playoffs to get to states. As the No. 26 seed in the 28-team tournament, they beat No. 7 Hatboro-Horsham, No. 23 Downingtown West and No. 2 Pennridge to get to the final four.
The winner will face the winner of (12-1) Central and (1-5) Pennridge in the quarterfinals Saturday.
Pennridge at Central >> (1-5) Pennridge travels to (12-1) Central in the first round of the Class-4A state playoffs Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the Germantown Super Site in Philadelphia.
The Rams went 15-1 through the Suburban One League Colonial Division to win the league title. They entered the District 1-4A playoffs as the No. 2 seed before losing to CB West in the quarterfinals. The Rams beat Abington to clinch a spot in states and earned the fifth seed with a win over Owen J. Roberts.
The winner will face the winner of (1-4) CB West and (11-1) Parkland in the quarterfinals Saturday.
CB East at Central Dauphin >> (1-2) Central Bucks East travels to (3-2) Central Dauphin in the first round of the Class-4A state playoffs Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Central Dauphin Middle School.
The Patriots went from the 14th seed in the District 1-4A playoffs to the second-place finishers. They averaged more than three goals per game in their four wins to reach the championship game. Central Dauphin is 18-2-1.
The winner will face the winner of (7-1) North Allegheny and (3-4) Warwick in the quarterfinals Saturday.
Archbishop Wood vs. Bishop Shanahan >> (12-1) Archbishop Wood hosts (1-2) Bishop Shanahan in the first round of the Class-3A state playoffs Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Holy Family University.
The Vikings are the Philadelphia Catholic League and District 12-3A champs. They won their second straight PCL title with an overtime win over Lansdale Catholic last month. Bishop Shanahan is 12-6-2.
The winner will face the winner of (11-1) Pottsville and (3-2) Greencastle-Antrim in the quarterfinals Saturday.
Lansdale Catholic vs. Trinity >> (12-1) Lansdale Catholic hosts (3-2) Trinity in the first round of the Class-2A state playoffs Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. at Ramp Playground in Philadelphia.
After dropping the Philadelphia Catholic League title game to Archbishop Wood in overtime, the Crusaders responded with a 9-1 win over Masterman in the District 12-2A final. LC, which won a state title in 2019, will look to carry that momentum into the state tournament.
The winner will face the winner of (4-1) Central Columbia and (3-3) Susquenita in the quarterfinals Saturday.
Dock Mennonite at Moravian Academy >> (1-1) Dock Mennonite travels to (11-1) Moravian Academy in the first round of the Class-A state playoffs Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Whitehall High School.
The Pioneers, who are 16-4-1 this season, avenged a 2021 loss against Faith Christian Academy in the District 1-A championship game. Dock took this meeting, 2-1, to punch its ticket to the state playoffs.
The winner will face the winner of (4-1) South Williamsport and (3-2) Harrisburg Christian in the quarterfinals Saturday.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Plymouth Whitemarsh at Parkland >> (1-4) Plymouth Whitemarsh travels to face (11-1) Parkland in the first round of the Class-4A state playoffs Tuesday at 5:15 p.m. at Parkland High School.
After starting the season 21-0, the Colonials dropped their last two matches – a District 1 semifinal against Garnet Valley and the third-place game against Lower Merion.
Parkland enters states undefeated at 22-0.
The winner will face the winner of (12-1) Central and (3-2) Wilson in the quarterfinals Saturday.
Pope John Paul II vs. Carver >> (1-1) Pope John Paul II hosts (12-2) Carver in the first round of the Class-3A state playoffs Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Pope John Paul II High School.
The Golden Panthers are undefeated after a perfect run to Pioneer Athletic Conference and District 1 championships. Carver is 11-3, including a loss against Cardinal O’Hara in the District 12 final.
The winner will face the winner of (3-1) Twin Valley and (12-3) Archbishop Wood in the quarterfinals Saturday.
Archbishop Wood at Twin Valley >> (12-3) Archbishop Wood travels to Twin Valley in the first round of the Class-3A state playoffs Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Twin Valley High School.
The Vikings reached the Philadelphia Catholic League title game last week, but lost to Cardinal O’Hara in five sets. Twin Valley is 17-3 after winning the District 1 title over previously unbeaten Northern Lebanon.
The winner will face the winner of (1-1) Pope John Paul II and (12-2) Carver in the quarterfinals Saturday.
FIELD HOCKEY
Souderton at Downingtown West >> (1-7) Souderton travels to (1-1) Downingtown West in the first round of the Class-3A state playoffs Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Downingtown West High School.
These teams met less than two weeks ago in the District 1-3A quarterfinals. West won that game, 2-0, before beating Spring-Ford in the semifinals and Conestoga in the championship. Souderton went to the playback bracket and lost to CB West, but beat Garnet Valley to earn a spot in states.
The winner will face the winner of (12-1) Cardinal O’Hara and (3-2) Wilson in the quarterfinals Saturday.
Methacton at Emmaus >> (1-5) Methacton travels to (11-1) Emmaus in the first round of the Class-3A state playoffs Tuesday at 6:15 p.m. at Emmaus High School.
The Warriors are led into the state playoffs by the three DeWan sisters – senior captain Elise DeWan, junior captain Lily DeWan and freshman starter Lea DeWan. They will try to follow in the footsteps of their mother, Kelly DeWan, who was a senior captain and helped win Methacton’s first ever state championship. Methacton has had plenty of sister duos play together, but never three at the same time.
The winner will face the winner of (2-1) Honesdale and (1-4) Spring-Ford in the quarterfinals Saturday.
CB West at Lower Dauphin >> (1-6) Central Bucks West travels to (3-1) Lower Dauphin in the first round of the Class-3A state playoffs Tuesday at Lower Dauphin Middle School.
West entered the District 1 playoffs as the No. 7 seed. After a first-round bye and second-round 6-1 win over Neshaminy, the Bucks lost to Spring-Ford. In playbacks, West beat Souderton and lost to Methacton to finish sixth in the district.
The winner will face the winner of (11-2) Easton and (1-3) Great Valley in the quarterfinals Saturday.
Archbishop Carroll vs. Mechanicsburg >> (12-1) Archbishop Carroll hosts (3-3) Mechanicsburg in the first round of the Class-2A state playoffs Tuesday at 1 p.m. at Cardinal O’Hara High School.
The Patriots enter the state playoffs after beating Cardinal O’Hara for the Philadelphia Catholic League championship and Benjamin Rush for the District 12-2A championship. They allowed zero goals in both games.
The winner will face the winner of (2-1) Crestwood and (1-4) West Chester East in the quarterfinals Saturday.
Gwynedd Mercy vs. Benjamin Rush >> (1-2) Gwynedd Mercy Academy hosts (12-2) Benjamin Rush in the first round of the Class-2A state playoffs Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. at Gwynedd Mercy University.
The Monarchs, who won the Athletic Association of Catholic Academies title, enter the state playoffs after a rare loss. They went 16-4-1 this season, but lost the District 1-2A title to Villa Maria Academy. GMA will look to bounce back and start a state playoff run similar to last year, when it reached the championship game.
The winner will face the winner of (11-1) Pocono Mountain East and (3-5) Northern in the quarterfinals Saturday.
Dock Mennonite at Oley Valley >> (1-2) Dock Mennonite travels to (3-2) Oley Valley in the first round of the Class-A state playoffs Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Oley Valley High School.
The Pioneers return a team with plenty of playoff experience. They reached the District 1 title game in 2021 and won their first-round matchup in states and most of the team was back this season.
The winner will face the winner of (4-1) Lewisburg and (3-6) Berks Catholic in the quarterfinals Saturday.
