Carlisle is hoping that a nearly week long rest will serve it well when it opens the PIAA boys' lacrosse playoffs Wednesday afternoon against WPIAL champ Mount Lebanon.
Opening faceoff is set for 5 p.m. at Hempfield Area High School in Greensburg (not to be confused with Hempfield High School in Landisville, Lancaster County).
The Thundering Herd (17-3) entered the District 3 playoffs as the second seed and was looking solid on both sides of the ball. In the District 3 semifinals, however, Steve Kidder's club suffered a 12-4 setback to Wilson before a 12-6 loss to rival Hershey in the District 3 third place game.
Defensively, Carlisle has been stingy all season before the district playoff losses to Wilson and Hershey. The Herd need to find their defensive identity once again as well as get some of their top scorers back to full strength.
Chris Fowler and Max Breschi were both injured during the Wilson game, Fowler with a hip contusion and Breschi with a calf contusion. Breschi sat out the Hershey game, while Fowler was in the lineup, but didn't seem nearly as effective.
Furthermore, long stick midfielder Sid Ewell was ejected in the Hershey game after receiving back-to-back unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. He will not be eligible for Wednesday's game with Mount Lebanon.
Carlisle is making its second straight PIAA playoff appearance and third in the five-year history of the PIAA tournament. In the previous two trips, Carlisle has won its first round game.
Last season, the Herd drove over two hours for a first round win over Delaware Valley. In Wednesday's state opener, Carlisle will trek over 2 1/2 hours to take on the Blue Devils (16-4).
Mount Lebanon, coming off of a 9-8 win over North Allegheny in the WPIAL Division I title game, is making its third straight trip to states. The Blue Devils fell in the state semifinals to St. Joseph's Prep in 2011 and to La Salle College in 2012.
What are your thoughts on Carlisle's chances against Mount Lebanon? Will the long bus ride affect the Thundering Herd?
More PIAA lacrosse:
» CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL PIAA BOYS' LACROSSE BRACKET
» CLICK HERE FOR CARLISLE'S 2013 SEASON STATISTICS
» CLICK HERE FOR A HERSHEY-AVON GROVE PREVIEW