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YAIAA boys' soccer tourney: Five teams to watch


The end of the YAIAA boys’ soccer regular season is right around the corner, and so is the league tournament.

There will be plenty of intrigue heading into this year’s tournament as Gettysburg tries to defend its’ league title against some stiff competition. The YAIAA tournament begins on Saturday at Northeastern, Susquehannock, Gettysburg and Bermudian Springs.

Here are five teams to watch this year in the tournament.

Dallastown Wildcats

The Wildcats' regular-season success could mean Dallastown is headed to a memorable YAIAA tournament this year. Dallastown qualified last season but was knocked in the first round by Biglerville.

This year the Wildcats are having a strong season in Divison I, keeping pace with defending division champion Central York. Drake Pew and Carter Miller have appeared on the score sheet this season, but the Wildcats have benefited from 14 different players finding the back of the net this season.

AJ Lentz has anchored the Wildcats in net and Dallastown has found plenty of depth on its bench this year.

Susquehannock Warriors

Susquehannock came up a game short last year in the league tournament but it has been a force to be reckon with all season.

The Warriors have wins over Gettysburg, Dallastown, Biglerville and Central York during the regular season. Their only loss of the year has come against Gettysburg, which defeated Susquehannock in the teams' second meeting of the year.

Susquehannock has been averaging about three goals a game during the regular season. Joseph Lippy, Zach Buchanan, Colton Mumley and Jason Wager, who leads the team in scoring with 14 goals in 16 games, have played big roles offensively.

Goalkeeper Aaron Bilbie has allowed only four goals in 16 games.

Gettysburg Warriors

The defending YAIAA champions, Gettysburg could very well return to the championship game again this season. The Warriors have had several lopsided wins, which include a 6-0 win over Dover and a 9-1 victory over Eastern York.

They also split the season series with Susquehannock, winning one game, 2-0, and dropping the other, 1-0.

The Warriors have benefited from another strong season from senior midfielder Matt Yingling. Yingling is the team’s leading scorer this season, and the Warriors have also gotten help from versatile midfielder Drew Wivell.

Biglerville Canners

The Canners already have locked up the Division III regular-season title this season and will be looking to add to that in the postseason. Biglerville made it to the second round of the tournament last season before it fell to Gettysburg.

Biglerville has dominated its divisional opponents during the 2016 season and even played to a 2-2 draw with Gettysburg in the second game of the season.

Conner Griest has been the Canners best player all season, leading the team in goals and assists. Griest also recently scored his 100th career goal.

York Catholic Fighting Irish

The Fighting Irish will be making their first league tournament appearance since 2013. The Irish have played well against Division III opponents, with their only divisional losses coming to Biglerville and Bermudian Springs.

York Catholic will have a challenging road ahead of them likely finishing second in Division III and having to play the Division I champion.