The 2024 PIAA state field hockey championships are set to take place Saturday, Nov. 16 at Chapman Field, 6746 Carlisle Pike in Mechanicsburg.
There are six teams standing that have made it all the way to the grueling end of a tough, challenging, journey.
Here’s what we know:
Class 1A
11 a.m., Cumberland Valley High School, Chapman Field
Tickets: $8, must be purchased online
[3-2] Boiling Springs (20-5) vs [3-1] West Perry (23-0)
This is West Perry’s first time to the finale. The Mustangs have a packed roster with senior-heavy leadership, nine in total, who have cultivated their good and bad experiences. Regardless of the outcome, the Class of 2025 seniors have helped to shape the future of the school’s high school field hockey program.
The Boiling Springs field hockey team has already clashed with West Perry in a championship game earlier this month, where the Bubblers fell 6-2 to the 2024 District 3 Class 1A championship.
Both Mid-Penn Conference, and District 3, teams are familiar with each other’s style. The Bubblers learned a lot from the championship game. And, following it, they quickly ran an overall team update and moved into the state championship tournament with a different mentality.
West Perry plays fast. They have low shots, high shots, and a clean defensive penalty corner crew. They do less running, and more passing, to keep the ball moving. And, once it’s in motion, they are seeking the next available teammate.
Boiling Springs is a younger team, but it does have a handful of players on it from the 2022 PIAA Class 1A championship team. The Bubblers went undefeated that season, much like West Perry’s 2024 season.
The Bubblers grow stronger quarter to quarter. They seem to gain confidence as they feel out their opponent, but in a game like the championship, if they don’t move fast enough, West Perry will take advantage, as the Mustangs dig deep and play with their hearts.
Tippers and penalty corners are going to play a huge part in determining the winner. This is West Perry head coach Wendy Byers’ first time to the championship game. She also won her first District 3 Class 1A gold.
Boiling Springs’ Bayley Leonard is in her second season as head coach. She already has a District 3 Class 1A silver medal, and it’s her first time to the championship game as the team’s leader.
In the last MAX Field Hockey national ranking, West Perry is ranked No. 18. The stats-based website also had West Perry ranked No. 10 in Pennsylvania. Boiling Springs wasn’t ranked nationally or in Pennsylvania.
FAN’s playmakers to watch:
West Perry: Jordan Byers
Boiling Springs: Kendall Longenberger
West Perry roster: Alexis McKeehan, Jordan Byers, Madison Bell, Isla Boden, Shay Dyer, Bristol Sheaffer, Laurel Fite, Emma Stump, Linsay Shepard, Allison Dillman, Jensyn Dillman, Addison Brandt, Elana Morrison, Zoe Steppe, Carsyn Meek, Autumn Albright, Mariah Brown, Callie Haag, Bella Biezad, Briley Comp, Marty Morrison
Coaches: head Wendy Byers; assistants, Ashley Miller, Alison Twigg
Boiling Springs roster: Lexi Boyle, Molly Kimmel, Ryann Walters, Kayla Fry, Kate Yenser, Molly Sowers, Anna Lucido, Makayla LaBuda, Ali Rynard, Kendall Longenberger, Kate Hovis, Gabby Pacheco, Gracie Bush, Avery Doyle, Ella Wright, Ella Woodman, Katie Pabis, Libby Scherer, Ava Creech, Gabby Bush, Bella Brown, Ellie Shoemaker
Coaches: head, Bayley Leonard; assistants, Emily Ashworth, Melissa Dershem
Class 2A
1 p.m., Cumberland Valley High School, Chapman Field
Tickets: $8, must be purchased online
[3-2] Northern (22-3) (vs [3-1] Warwick (22-1)
The Northern field hockey program had a breakthrough this season. They had never been to the championship stage in the school’s history. The farthest damage that the Polar Bears caused was making it into the District 3 Class 2A championship in 2023.
They earned some silver hardware but that was it for last year’s run.
This year’s team will debut as a championship contender and they continue to have the silver dangling around their necks from the 2024 District 3 Class 2A championship. It’s a big deal for the girls and the program, one that hasn’t moved out of the quarterfinals bracket in school history. The Polar Bears have only competed in the state tournament for the past two years.
The secret is they play nervous hockey. Until they work out their jitters, they look to each other for support. Once that support is established, then smooth hockey begins to flow.
Warwick already beat Northern in a championship setting, exactly like the PIAA Class 1A competition. The Warriors adorned gold after winning in the 2024 District 3 Class 2A game.
The Warriors this week lost their longtime high school field hockey coach Bob Derr. There has been an outpouring of memories shared online about Derr’s influence and his immeasurable contribution to the sport in Lancaster and beyond.
Current head coach Ron Stief has said that he’s determined to return the program to Derr’s dynasty. And, so far, he’s done that by winning the 2024 District 3 Class 2A gold.
The team beat Palmyra 1-0 in the semifinals. The Cougars figured out how to stop Warwick’s intense speed. The game came down to an aerial on a penalty corner landing in the back pocket of the cage.
Warwick has explosive speed and very confident athletes. They won’t care if Northern plays strong, they’ll try to play stronger using quick shots and rebounds when given the opportunity. Palmyra was able to play chess against them by having their sticks on the ground at all times, especially in the circle. Palmyra cut off the Warrior’s speed from the right and left circle entries, and then they’d bring the Warriors into top of the circle to face double teams.
Warwick is powerfully strong. If Northern plays with confidence, the game could break their way.
In the last MAX Field Hockey national ranking, Warwick is ranked No. 7. The stats-based website also had Warwick ranked No. 5 in Pennsylvania and Northern was ranked No. 16.
FAN’s playmakers to watch:
Warwick: Karys Craver
Northern: Liv Anderson
Northern roster: Lauryn Hose, Courtney Heltzel, Maura Simpson, Olivia Anderson, Keairah Dykes, Ava Hondorf, Madisyn Albert, Ava Barrick, Paityn Albert, Presley Loomis, Emma DeBolt, Sara Gunning, Hanna Thomas, Savannah Boyer, Tori Snyder, Addison Fringer, Maria Pucino, Mallory Patrick
Coaches: head, Amelia Martire; assistants, Amy Perry Kayla Sloan, Lesa Kennedy
Warwick roster: Bree Zoccolo, Kenzie Ellis, Madelyn Kratzer, Mallory Bish, Addy Zimmerman, Lilly Bromirski, Taylor Hess, Aspen Grube, Izzy Wolfe, Shelby Kline, Calli Martin, Hailee Adams, Mara Moyer, Clara Thacker, Ally Hall, Falyn McCloskey, Natalie Heffner, Annalaye Glenn, Ella Libhart, Karys Craver, Maeve Zee, Kayla Gockley, Miriam Jackson, Elena Care, Samantha Knudson, Paige Riportella, Alana Stoltzfus, Karolina Kolawa, Victoria Kolawa, Stella Ashcroft, Taryn Toburen, Izzy Matthews
Coaches: head, Ron Stief; assistants, Moriah Stauffer, Peyton Thompson, Emily Davis, Casie Sands, Jennie Streich, Kelly Bollinger, Megan Johnson, Katie Pyle
Class 3A
3 p.m., Cumberland Valley High School, Chapman Field
Tickets: $8, must be purchased online
[1-2] Conestoga (21-3) vs [1-1] Villa Maria Academy (24-1)
It’s a year of repeated showdowns from the 2024 District championships.
Conestoga and Villa Maria Academy have already met in the same capacity as the Class 1A and 2A categories with the result favoring Villa.
This game for sure will be a barn burner. Stoga has been building up its confidence throughout the past three years to finally arrive in the finale. The team is filled with polished talent that can run down the best of the best backlines in the state.
And, Villa’s quick wit can trounce any play at any time. They only have one loss on their schedule to The Hill School, and at the time of the contest, Hill was No. 1 and Villa was No. 2.
Villa has remained ranked No. 2 nationally by MAX Field Hockey. Conestoga is ranked No. 14 nationally, by the stats-based website.
While it’s going to be what happens on the field that wins the game, it’s also going to be a heavily coached game. Both squads are going to have to draw up plays that they maybe haven’t used this season. Villa won the 2023 PIAA Class 2A championship, and is the only reigning team in the final three contests. They had to use a lot of strategy to beat Palmyra last year.
Penalty corner defense will play a huge role in who wins.
FAN’s playmakers to watch:
Villa: Caitlin Connell
Conestoga: Shae Wozniak
Villa Maria Academy: Lauren Kurek, Molly Deegan, Erin Mitchell, Sarah Zamrowski, Jack Shaw, Caitlin Connell, Naomi Niewinski, Alexa Clark, Hadley Coupe, Gabby Balzano, Alex Coupe, Ella Cellini, Lilly Ippolito, Sophia Tray, Viola Diorio, Mac Cush, Keira Connell, Lucy Jones, Georgi Kondrath, Catie Connolly, Annie Cellucci
Coaches: head, Katie Evans; assistants, Katie Grant, Aliya Kalman, and Kelly Gilliford
Conestoga: Maia Asselta, Alivia D’Ascanio, Hannah Simon, Peyton Esposito, Lauren Lofgren, Lexi Patterson, Shae Wozniak, Emily Todd, Lyla Matzinger, Grace DeVuono, Lauren Krapels, Jane Carson, Phoebe Ridder, Aubrey DelOrefice, Lucy Salata, Price Orcutt, Kate Jarema, Sophia Romano, Harper Derham, Sydney Wright, Managers, Kacey Aneser, Reilly Norton
Coaches: head, Regan Marscher; assistants, Emily Arnot, Karen Gately, Taylor DeBernardi, Megan DuVernois, Jean Allen, Katherine Barthelmeh
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Photos: Bob Benscoter
