Searching for a Thursday boys' soccer matchup packing a little oomph?
If that's the case, we're here to point fans in a number of potentially intriguing directions. And maybe one of the games highlighted below will turn out to be an end-to-end, instant classic.
One just never knows.
Carlisle at Chambersburg, 7 p.m. — Just another of those energy-draining Mid-Penn Commonwealth Division scraps that will feature one of the area's top defensive players in Sid Ewell trying to defuse the unique schematic employed by Chambersburg skipper Guy Furfaro. If Furfaro can get away with it — and the gentlemen sporting the unfashionable stripes aren't paying close attention — he just might try to field 16 forwards and a goalkeeper against Brandon Eiserman's Thundering Herd. These two split a pair of one-goal affairs in 2012, with each winning at home. And since both sides are sporting identical records (2-1 overall, 1-0 in Commonwealth), the survivor will be sitting at the top of the table after just two league fixtures. Of course, that's assuming someone manages to win.
Central Dauphin at Cedar Cliff, 3:45 p.m. — While PennLive's well-placed sources tell us curious CD skipper Gregg Davis made the drive to Carlisle on Tuesday afternoon to get a first-hand look at the Cliff, he's probably one of many wondering just who and what the Rams will be dealing with when they show up at Lowther Field. Particularly since Jeff Dapp's Colts (0-2 overall, 0-1 in Commonwealth) are likely to show up in a remarkably foul mood after dropping a pair of one-goal setbacks. Might be early, but those two early losses make this one of those must-have games for the Cliff. Meanwhile, the yet-to-be-tested Rams (0-0) will be unveiling their reconstructed defensive backfield against one of the Commonwealth's top attacking units. So, both sides should walk out with a number of needed answers.
East Pennsboro at Trinity, 7:30 p.m. — Although both programs are among the early favorites to claim the Mid-Penn Capital Division championship, as they were a season ago when East Penn collared gold, Randy Rich's puzzling Panthers (0-3 overall, 0-1 in Capital) have struggled thus far and really need a timely pick-me-up. And the folks at FTD may be a better option than strolling into COBO Field to face a Trinity club (1-2 overall, 1-0 in Capital) chasing a victory that would really put the reigning Capital champs in a sizable early hole. Pocked 11 times in their three losses, Rich's Panthers have no choice but to put a leash on the Shamrocks' high-octane David Bricker. If Bricker can find space — and let's just say he's really, really fast — East Penn could be in trouble. Then again, Bricker managed just one goal against the Panthers in 2012. Check back in a few hours to see what happened.
MICHAEL BULLOCK:mbullock@pennlive.com
BULLOCK ON TWITTER: @thebullp_n