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YAIAA field hockey rankings: Who reigns this season?


Now that we're a few weeks into the field hockey season, the YAIAA pecking order is starting to shake itself out. Some familiar faces such as Gettysburg and Dallastown have settled in at the top of the league, who reigns at the top? It's never too early to analyze, so here are the first power rankings for the 2015 season. Enjoy.

Dallastown (7-0, 4-0 YAIAA Division I)

Why does Dallastown get the nod over defending league champ Gettysburg? Because in seven games, the Wildcats have surrendered just one goal. Seven games...one goal. That's good, right? Head coach Jeri Myers has built that program into a dynasty, and this year the Wildcats are on track for their 12th division title in 13 years after squeaking by Red Lion, 1-0, on Monday.

Myers has nine starters back including junior goaltender Syd Terroso, and all-YAIAA midfielder Maggie Noll has stepped up in the absence of YAIAA Player of the Year Bryna Cook, who graduated after the 2014 season.

Gettysburg (7-0, 3-0 Division II)

Fresh off a league title and a trip to states, the Warriors have started the 2015 season undefeated as well. On Monday, Gettysburg handed Susquehannock its first loss, cementing their position at the top of Division II. On the season, the Warriors have outscored their opponents, 74-5.

Both the Warriors and Wildcats have a legitimate shot at going undefeated which could set up an intriguing potential rematch of last season's YAIAA semifinals when Gettysburg shut out Dallastown, 3-0.

Red Lion (6-1, 4-1 Division I)

The Lions, who are the only other team in Division I besides Dallastown to win a division title in the last decade, are off to a solid start. The lone blemish on their resume came only because they ran into Dallastown. The Lions held their own in that matchup but eventually fell, 1-0.

Two key divisional matchups come this week when Red Lion hosts Central York Wednesday, then visits New Oxford Friday.

Susquehannock (5-1, 2-1 Division II)

Despite early upset scares against Littlestown and Hanover, the Warriors are off to a 5-1 start with their lone loss coming against Gettysburg.

"(Our girls) read the papers and they know Gettysburg is supposed to be creaming everybody," Susquehannock head coach Sharon McLaughlin said afterward. "We stepped up and we matched them."

The Warriors will get another chance at Gettysburg Oct. 5, but in the meantime a tough road game against Kennard-Dale looms Friday.

Bermudian Springs (4-1, 2-0 Division III)

The Eagles have faced more adversity off the field than any other team. On the field, head coach Neil Bixler and the Eagles have a legitimate shot at their ninth-consecutive division title.

Bermudian made a statement at Dallastown's tournament last week when they picked up an impressive win over Kennard-Dale, and went toe-to-toe with Dallastown. The Eagles are the only team to score on Dallastown all season and even in a 2-1 loss, they proved they can play with the best.

Keep an eye on New Oxford knocking on the door. I put the Colonials in the Honorable Mention category, but with impressive wins over Littlestown, Central York and South Western, the Colonials are on the verge of breaking into the Top 5.

Honorable mention: New Oxford (4-1-1, 3-1), Central York (4-2, 3-2), Littlestown (3-3, 3-0), Kennard-Dale (4-3, 2-1)