The Pioneer Athletic Conference Field Hockey Final Four commences Tuesday, 6 p.m. at Upper Perkiomen.
Top-seed and Liberty Division champion Methacton meets wild card Spring-Ford in Keeny Stadium whilst No. 2 Frontier champion Upper Perkiomen faces No. 3 Boyertown on Tribe Field.
A breakdown of the matchups, each at 6 p.m.:
Methacton (1) vs. Spring-Ford (4)
Records: Methacton: 9-1 PAC Liberty, 12-1 PAC, 16-2 general, Liberty champion, No. 6 in District 1-3A scores. Spring-Ford: 6-4 PAC Liberty, 9-4 PAC, 10-8 general, 2nd wild card, No. 17 in District 1-3A scores.
Head-to-head: Methacton blanked Spring-Ford 4-0 and 3-0 inside of per week in mid-September.
PAC Playoff History >> Methacton misplaced 2-1 to Boyertown in extra time in closing yr’s semifinals. The Warriors received the PAC identify in 2008 and 2017 (3-1 over two-time protecting champion Owen J. Roberts). Spring-Ford’s closing look used to be in 2016, shedding 1-0 to Owen J. Roberts. The Rams have received two titles, the latest in 2012.
Warriors at a look >> Methacton misplaced 3-1 early within the season to Oley Valley — these days ranked No.1 in District 3-A — after which ran off 14 wins in a row prior to a 2-0 setback to Boyertown. The Warriors were given a variety of playoff enjoy closing yr whilst completing fourth within the district prior to shedding to undefeated and eventual champion Emmaus within the PIAA match.
This yr, a stingy protection led by means of Penn State-bound Elise DeWan and the goalkeeping of Emily Drake and Natalie Drake has allowed handiest 19 targets in 18 suits. On offense, a veteran lineup together with senior Nicole Uebele, juniors Lily DeWan and Renee Blake and sophomore Carmela Maro has produced 80 targets.
Rams at a look >> Spring-Ford misplaced 3 instantly non-league video games to begin the season and stood at 3-6 after the 2 losses to Methacton. Since then, the Rams have long gone 7-2 with losses handiest to District 1’s No. 8 Downingtown East and No. 6 Boyertown. They have scored 63 targets whilst permitting 41.
Matchup >> Methacton out-scored Spring-Ford by means of a mixed 7-0 of their two conferences, however the Rams have advanced after a rocky get started and general crew pace makes them a perilous opponent for any individual. Probably nearer this time, however almost certainly nonetheless a Warriors win … 3-1?
Upper Perkiomen (2) vs. Boyertown (3)
Records: Upper Perkiomen: 10-0 PAC Frontier, 10-3 PAC, 12-6 general, PAC Frontier champion, No. 5 in District 1-2A scores Boyertown: 9-1 PAC Liberty, 11-1-1 PAC, 14-3-1 general, first wild card, No. 8 in District 1-3A scores.
Head-to-head >> Boyertown downed Upper Perkiomen 3-2 on Sept. 26 after struggling its handiest PAC loss to Methacton in its earlier trip.
PAC Playoff History >> Upper Perkiomen defeated Perkiomen Valley 3-2 within the semifinals and Boyertown 3-1 within the ultimate closing yr for its 3rd instantly identify, handiest the 3rd time that has been achieved within the PAC’s 35-year historical past. The Indians had been a virtually annually playoff contender and feature received seven championships.
Boyertown made its first playoff look since 2008 closing season. The Bears received 2-1 in extra time within the semifinals over Methacton with Katelyn Dulin recording two assists. Boyertown received its handiest identify in 2002 in its first season after transferring from the Berks Conference to the PAC.
Indians at a look >> Upper Perkiomen went undefeated in its department, however misplaced all 3 of its matchups to the bigger Liberty Division faculties, together with Boyertown. The Indians have outscored their warring parties 84-36. Their non-league contests incorporated an early-season 3-1 win over closing yr’s PIAA Class 3A quarterfinalist Twin Valley and a up to date 2-0 loss to Oley Valley. Last yr, they completed fourth within the district and 7 gamers who earned All-PAC honors are within the lineup this yr.
Bears at a look >> Boyertown has long gone 6-0-1 since shedding 5-2 to Methacton on Sept. 23. Michigan State-bound Katelyn Dulin used to be The Mercury Player of the Year closing season and he or she is not any much less spectacular this yr. But she isn’t a one-player display on an offense that has scored 61 occasions and the protection has allowed simply 25 targets.
Matchup >> Upper Perkiomen defeated the Bears in closing yr’s ultimate andhas custom and a want to win every other identify on its facet. But Boyertown has received giant video games every time it had to this yr and needs to raised closing yr’s playoff efficiency. Will Boyertown win once more in every other shut one, 3-2 just like the common season fit?