Skip to main content

District 3 soccer: 5 questions for YAIAA teams


The YAIAA soccer tournaments may have wrapped up this Thursday, but the playoffs are just getting started for local teams.

The District 3 playoffs start this Monday, and the YAIAA will be represented by nine teams on the boys' side and nine on the girls' side. With a number of teams poised to go on serious runs, here are five things questions for York-Adams teams.

Can any team stop Fairfield? 

The Green Knights spent most of this season looking practically unstoppable, starting 18-0 and scoring at least five goals in every game. But the Knights finally met a defense they couldn't crack against Central York, getting shutout, 1-0. Still, it would be surprising if Fairfield doesn't get its offense going again in the Class 1A tournament. The Knights outscored the third-ranked team in the tournament, York Catholic, 18-4 in two games this season and will only have to win three games to win its first district title. Second-seeded Mount Calvary Christian (15-2) could be a challenge, but Fairfield seems to be the clear favorite. The Knights open play against Lancaster Country Day (10-8) at 7 p.m. Monday at home.

Will Gettysburg win a title?  

After starting out 22-0 last season, the Warriors were upset by Lancaster Mennonite, 2-1, in the District 3 Class 2A title game. It was the second straight year Gettysburg lost in the title game, and it was especially disappointing for a team that seemed like the favorite all season. While the Warriors (17-2-2) were expected to take a step back this season, they just wrapped up their second straight YAIAA title and enter districts as the third seed in Class 3A. While the favorite in the bracket has to be undefeated Lower Dauphin, a title for Gettysburg would help erase the painful memories from last year for returning players like Matt Yingling, Drew Wivell and goalie Yanni Tassou.

Any other title contenders?

There isn't a YAIAA girls' team outside of Fairfield that jumps out as a title contender, with the next highest seed being No. 3 York Catholic in 1A. Central York seems to be peaking after winning the league title, but as the 15 seed in 4A the Panthers will have to make a special run to win more hardware. Some other teams that could get hot are Delone Catholic (sixth seed, 2A), Northeastern (seventh seed, 3A), and Dallastown (ninth seed, 4A).

Will Canners win a title?

On the boys' side, besides Gettysburg, the two teams to watch are Biglerville in 2A and Susquehannock in 3A. The second-seeded Canners (16-2-1) were the class of Division III this season and feature one of the league's best players in versatile midfielder Conner Griest. Top-seeded Tulpehocken is undefeated, but Biglerville's current group of seniors won a district title their freshmen season and would certainly like to finish their careers the same way. As for the Susquehannock (15-2-1), the Warriors looked like arguably like the top team in the YAIAA this season before falling to Central York in the league semifinals. They'll be eager to get back on track as the No. 2 seed in their bracket.

Any YAIAA grudge matches?

An exciting one on the boys' side would be Gettysburg and Susquehannock, as the two teams could meet for the third time this season in the Class 3A semifinals. The top two teams in Division II, Susquehannock won the first matchup, 1-0, while Gettysburg won the second, 2-0. A rubber match between the two Warriors squads would be a lot of fun. On the girls' side, Fairfield and York Catholic could meet in the 1A title game if the Irish get by second-seeded Mount Calvary Christian. While the Knights won the first matchup this season, 13-0, the second was a 5-4 Fairfield victory.

District 3 soccer tournaments

YAIAA programs

Boys' tournament

Class 4A: Central York (seventh seed), Dallastown (13th), Red Lion (14th)

Class 3A: Susquehannock (second seed), Gettysburg (third), West York (ninth), Dover (16th)

Class 2A: Biglerville (second seed) 

Class 1A: York Catholic (sixth seed) 

Girls' tournament

Class 4A: Dallastown (ninth seed), Red Lion (10th) Central York (15th)

Class 3A: Northeastern (seventh seed), Susquehannock (eighth)

Class 2A: Delone Catholic (sixth seed), Biglerville (eighth)

Class 1A: Fairfield (first seed), York Catholic (third)