Power rankings: YAIAA boys' soccer
Susquehannock proved that a team doesn't have to win its division or the YAIAA tournament to go far in the postseason.
The Warriors went farther than any other YAIAA boys' soccer team in 2015 despite finishing second in YAIAA Division II, losing in the semifinals of the league tournament and finishing third in the District 3 2A tournament.
The squad defeated District 5 champ Somerset and District 7 champ South Fayette in the state tournament before losing to South Park in the state semifinals.
But they weren't the only YAIAA school that made the state tournament.
Gettysburg also qualified in 2A and fell in the second round after a runner-up finish in the district tournament for the second consecutive season.
Central York, who was runner-up in 3A, lost on penalty kicks in the first round of the PIAA tournament.
"Central lost a lot of their players and we only lost three starters," Dallastown senior midfielder Drake Pew said. "We feel that we can take the next step and win the division."
While admitting that Central, Dallastown and Red Lion should be considered the top three teams, South Western feels that they have a chance to earn a spot in the league tournament as well.
"We're poised to compete for the division, and we saw a lot of potential in this year's senior class when they were freshmen," Mustangs head coach Clayton Wilcox said. "They've gained a lot of experience and some of them have started for three years."
In Division II, Gettysburg returns as the division champ. A possible contender could be York Suburban.
"We are a much more experienced team this year, we have six seniors that have played together for a long time," Trojan striker Nick Bowman said.
Meanwhile, in Division III, Bermudian Springs claimed its first division title since 2004, ending Biglerville's two-year hold on the division crown and the Canners' 28-game division winning streak in the process.
Bermudian graduated its top two players from a year ago in Samuel Johnson and Johnny King, but Biglerville head coach Jebb Nelson isn't writing off the Eagles' chances for 2016.
"York Catholic always gives us a fight, and Bermudian, as defending champs with an excellent coach, will be tough," he said.
Preaseason rankings
1. Gettysburg: The Warriors defeated Central York in the YAIAA title match on its way to a 22-0 start last season. The Warriors bring back six starters.
2. Central York: The gold standard in Division I and possibly the league, the Panthers have won three straight division titles and qualified for the state tournament in each of the past three seasons.
3. Susquehannock: No one from the league made it farther in the state tournament than the Warriors. A yearly contender in Division II, head coach Brett Maxwell led the school to a state title in 2008.
4. Dallastown: The Wildcats captured four straight Division I titles from 2009-12 but have finished third, second and second in the last three seasons. They have plenty of talent back to make a run at Central.
5. West York: The Bulldogs have a big hole in net following Darian McCauley's graduation, but West York appears to be solid everywhere else as they try to return to the top two in Division II.