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PREVIEW: Deer Lakes roll into Hershey hungry for sweet taste of first-ever PIAA soccer title

PIAA Boys 3A Soccer Final

Deer Lakes (21-1-1) vs Fleetwood (19-6-1)

Saturday, November 17 – HersheyPark Stadium, Hershey, PA – 1:30 p.m.

On Saturday, the last WPIAL team remaining is another team making a first appearance in Hershey –Deer Lakes boys.

In a highly competitive Boys 2A classification, Deer Lakes’ rebounded from a WPIAL semifinal loss to Section rival Shady Side Academy with an impressive run through the PIAA playoffs.  The Lancers beat defending PIAA champions Quaker Valley in a hard-fought, physical match in the quarterfinal, then avenged its WPIAL playoff loss, by stunning Shady Side Academy with two goals in the final six minutes on Tuesday.

Head coach Jordan Wiegand previously coached Deer Lakes from 2011-14 where he took the program to new heights at that time — getting them as far as a WPIAL quarterfinal. After three years at North Catholic he had the Trojans in the WPIAL final and PIAA quarterfinals for the first time in school history.  Returning to Deer Lakes in 2017, Wiegand inherited a program that graduated eight starters. Leaning heavily on a roster that includes numerous talented freshman and sophomore starters, Deer Lakes one loss this season, this Deer Lakes squad has matured quickly and suddenly find themselves in a place where this program has never ventured — a PIAA final.

 

BROADCAST:

PCN will have coverage of the PIAA Soccer Championships. The championships will air LIVE on November 16 at 11 AM on cable or streamed on the PCN App.

Website: pcntv.com/sports

Social Media: @pcntv, #PIAAonPCN

GAME NOTES:  Deer Lakes vs Fleetwood

  • Deer Lakes makes its first PIAA championship game appearance, looking to become the first school team to win a state title since the boys volleyball team in 2011.
  • In the comeback against WPIAL champion Shady Side Academy, the Lancers did it on two big set piece plays. The game winner came when Michael Sullivan‘s throw-in deflected off a Shady Side defender. The sophomore midfielder has goals in back-to-back games.
  • Colton Spence scored the tying goal about five minutes earlier. All three of Deer Lakes’ victories in the PIAA playoffs have come by one goal, with the winner coming in the final five minutes each time.
  • Junior A.J. Dorman has seven goals in seven postseason games. Goalkeeper Jesse Greyshock has 10 shutouts, including three in the playoffs.
  • District 3 runner-up Fleetwood is making its first PIAA championship game appearance since 2000, when it shared the title with Quaker Valley. Yes– that’s not a misprint. If you ever run into former QV coach Gene Klein, I am sure he’ll be happy to share all the details. Fleetwood plays Quaker Valley each year in the season opening East-West Classic. This year, Fleetwood beat Quaker Valley, 1-0.
  • The Tigers are in the state playoffs for the first time since 2014. Haydyn Zagorski, an all-state forward, scored three goals and added two assists in Fleetwood’s 6-2 win over Midd-West in the semifinals. Lucas Strange added a goal and two assists. Fleetwood’s other two PIAA wins came over District 1 champion New Hope-Solebury in the first round (5-0) and District 11 champion Notre Dame GP in the quarterfinals (3-1).

Resilient and composed Deer Lakes stun rival Shady Side to advance to first-ever PIAA final

PSN Featured Game: Deer Lakes caps unbeaten section run with rout

 

THEY SAID IT

“It takes a lot of grit, and it shows what kind of team we are,” Michael Sullivan said after coming from behind against Shady Side. “We never stop running. We were down (with) six minutes left, and we never stopped. We kept running, we kept putting a sprint in for each of our teammates, and it was great to see. I can’t wait for Hershey.”

“As I’ve said all season, we haven’t really had time to dwell or reflect. We’ll prepare for Fleetwood, and we’re going to be ready for them,” Jordan Wiegand.

 

 

John Krysinsky has covered soccer and other sports for many years for various publications and media outlets. He is also author of 'Miracle on the Mon' -- a book about the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, which chronicles the club, particularly the early years of Highmark Stadium with the narrative leading up to and centered around a remarkable match that helped provide a spark for the franchise. John has covered sports for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, DK Pittsburgh Sports, Pittsburgh Sports Report, has served as color commentator on Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC broadcasts, and worked with OPTA Stats and broadcast teams for US Open Cup and International Champions Cup matches held in the US. Krysinsky also served as the Head Men’s Soccer Coach at his alma mater, Point Park University, where he led the Pioneers to the first-ever winning seasons and playoff berths (1996-98); head coach of North Catholic boys (2007-08), associate head coach of Shady Side Academy boys (2009-2014).

Glory on the Grass

Riverhounds MF Kenardo Forbes

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