POSTGAME Good day and good hockey, everyone
POSTGAME That’s all for the championships today; let’s see how the brackets form when they are released in a day or two
POSTGAME Goalkeepers can have an outsized influence on the outcome of playoff games, and Kai Killian of Lower Dauphin and Isabella Clair of Manheim Township were outstanding
POSTGAME A Game of the Year candidate, for sure… but these sides could wind up meeting each other in two weeks at Cumberland Valley in the state final, depending on the way the brackets fall
63:50 LD GOAL Lizzie Day is able to finish off a break and gets it in the goal! Lower Dauphin wins 1-0 and the celebration is all blue here!
63:30 Township worked a shot that Weaver almost puts in! Wow!
61:00 LDPC From a Brooklyn insert, Lower Dauphin goes around the horn to Strohm, but the hi-lo pass is defensed
60:00 Overtime has begun in the PIAA District 3 Class AAA final
END REGULATION If Township wins, it will because of the experience that MT coach Jessica Shellenberger has had in the past coaching in close games against Lower Dauphin when she coached Mount Joy Donegal (Pa.)
END REGULATION I think if Lower Dauphin wins this game, it will because of their speed in the 7-v-7 format
END REGULATION The game goes to overtime with the teams tied 0-0
59:00 MTPC Weaver’s shot is topped and dealt with by the LD defense
58:00 MTPC Shot saved; will rerack for a foot
55:00 MTPC Weaver’s hi-lo fails to find a teammate
52:30 Just as the power play ends, Manheim Township takes a timeout
48:25 LDPC A low cross is just missed at then far post
48:25 Timeout, Lower Dauphin
47:23 LDPC Strohm has her shot blocked
47:23 MT YELLOW Julia Weaver is off for five; critical juncture here
45:00 The final term is under way
END THIRD Wouldn’t this make an amazing state final? The site of the championships are about five miles away from Frederick Field. We will see in two weeks
END THIRD We are set for a grandstand finish as these teams are goalless heading to the last 15 minutes of regulation
43:45 Township pits it back into the mixer but cannot get off the telling shot
41:00 MTPC Insert is flubbed; LD takes possession
38:00 LDPC Shot blocked by the Township defense
35:00 LDPC A shot/pass to the left post almost is tipped in, but we play on
33:45 Lower Dauphin with a chance on the left wing but Dani Murphy’s shot is saved
31:45 MTPC Option left is a little slow to develop, and Lower Dauphin cuts it out and clears
30:00 The second half is under way. We are still in a Lower Dauphin power play
HALFTIME But isn’t that the nature of field hockey? It is impossible to predict, especially at this level
HALFTIME Wow, this has been a breathlessly-played half and I cannot believe neither team has scored yet
END HALF The siren goes with the teams still goalless
28:53 MT YELLOW Clawson is off for an elbow; the Streaks will play short for the rest of the half
28:00 MTPC Grace Clawson’s shot is saved and the rebound finds a Township foot
26:25 MTPC Julia Weaver’s shot attempt deflected but just wide of the left side
24:30 LD PC Brooke Weaver with the block over the end line; 23M for Lower Dauphin
24:14 LD PC Manheim Township breaks early and will now have only three outfielders on this reset
22:48 LD GREEN Lily Rost is off for delay of game
22:15 And again, Township is in the attack end and has the goalie down, but cannot get off a telling shot
21:50 Falcons jet up the right side but the shot is saved by Clair as she hugs the post!
19:50 And back on the other side,
19:30 Lower Dauphin counters but an outstanding 1-v-1 defensive play by Ainsley Bounds
18:50 Weaver with a backhand that Killian plays; almost a chance for the streaks
15:00 The second quarter commences
END FIRST A fine goalkeeping exhibition thus far; can both of them keep their nerves?
END FIRST The first quarter ends with the sides goalless
14:55 Manheim, in the dying seconds, gets an open shot on the Falcon cage but Killian makes a 10-bell save!
14:00 MTPC Brooke Weaver’s flip shot is gloved and the rebound is blocked by the Lower Dauphin defense
10:30 MTPC Brooke Weaver with the 1-Up; Killian with the stop
7:10 Township with a chance across the front but Strohm streaks across and breaks up the play! Wow!
5:10 MTPC Play goes across the goalmouth but it comes out for then Township foul
4:40 MTPC Shot stopped by goalie Kai Killian; will reset
2:45 LDPC Strohm shoots, and freshman goalkeeper Isabella Clair makes the confident save
0:00 The game is on
PREGAME Lower Dauphin is in the blue tops with anthracite kilts; Manheim Township is in the white tops with navy kilts
PREGAME It’s a smidge warmer for this pregame, with temperatures around 60 with sunshine and clear skies
PREGAME As such, this is a critically important game for both teams in terms of tactics and confidence. Class AAA has at least five teams which can win the tournament, and two of them will take the pitch in a few minutes
PREGAME Lower Dauphin is the most successful team in the history of PIAA District 3 field hockey, winning 16 titles. Manheim Township won its only District title a year ago on its way to a PIAA Class AAA runner-up finish
PREGAME Manheim Township will be led by senior Brooke Weaver; a player to watch for Lower Dauphin is sophomore Chase Strohm
PREGAME Manheim Township is 18-2 on the season, and Lower Dauphin is 18-3
PREGAME And we are back for the PIAA District 3 Class AAA final between the Lower Dauphin Falcons and the Manheim Township Blue Streaks
