Hershey's first PIAA boys' lacrosse playoff appearance in four seasons features the unenviable task of traveling to the epicenter of Pennsylvania lacrosse.
District 1.
Suburban Philadelphia has been home to the last four state lacrosse champions with the other - La Salle College - coming straight out of Philadelphia in 2009.
Talent rich, tradition rich Philly has been at the top of the boys' lacrosse food chain since anyone can remember, so drawing a team - any team - from District 1 makes for tough sledding through the bracket.
Nevertheless, that's where Hershey will have to start when it opens the state playoffs against District 1 champ Avon Grove on Wednesday evening at West Chester Henderson High School. Opening faceoff is set for 6 p.m.
Hershey (20-3) can ill-afford the slow start that plagued it in its last two losses - the Mid-Penn final against Carlisle and the District 3 semifinal against Manheim Twp.
In both cases, the Trojans trailed by at least four goals before it could ever settle into the offense. If that happens Wednesday against the Red Devils, it'll be a quick exit for John Schein's club.
To its credit, Hershey rebounded from the lopsided district semifinal loss to Manheim Twp. with a 12-6 win over Carlisle in the third place game last Thursday. George Briggs turned in a terrific effort in with a game-high five goals, while teammates Joe Clark and Logan Calhoun were also strong on the attack.
Avon Grove (19-3), meanwhile, is making its first PIAA playoff appearance after claiming the program's first ever District 1 championship in dramatic fashion.
The Red Devils edged Garnet Valley 5-4 on a goal from Bryce Reid with less than a second remaining. The assist came from his cousin, Tanner Peck.
Peck, an attack, has verbally committed to Penn State, while teammate and defenseman Danny Norris has verbaled to Lehigh, according to phillylacrosse.com. Goalie Will Schreiner is also set to join the Nittany Lions in 2014.
What are your thoughts on Hershey's chances against Avon Grove? What do the Trojans have to do in order to knock off the District 1 champs?
More PIAA lacrosse:
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