Since bringing back the boys soccer program in 2020, Montgomery’s continued to get better year after year and it’s shown as the Red raiders are in the postseason for a third consecutive season under coach Michael Sherman. Give Montgomery credit, they are turning the program into playoff contenders. The Red Raiders haven’t won a playoff game yet since getting a program back, and the Red Raiders have a tough first-round draw against Millville.

The Quakers have beaten Montgomery twice this year, but Montgomery has kept it close. Montgomery’s offense runs through Dylan Sherman, a 50-goal scorer who has 25 for the year and is an outstanding player who can find his way to seemingly always get open. And Camden Dalrymple is a nice addition to the offense as well. Add in players like Porter Hall, and Montgomery can move the ball well.

Sophomore Max Schloegel has led Galeton’s offense this year with 12 goals and seven assists while fellow sophomore Trey Sykora has nine goals and seven assists. Those two have helped Galeton reach the postseason, but the Tigers have to compete against a talented Benton team in the quarterfinals. Benton is 16-1-1 and has allowed just six goals all year, while outscoring its opponents, 72-6.

Benton will be a tough team to beat in the field.

MARK NANCE/ Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Connor Hofstrom and Lewisburg's Eli Abunassar battle for control in the first half of a game. The Millionaires are in the District 2-4 Class AAAA playoffs and Lewisburg is the top seed in Class AA.

PREDICTIONS–QUARTERFINALS: Benton def. Galeton; Southern def. Northeast Bradford; Montgomery def. Millville; Northumberland Christian def. Juniata Christian. SEMIFINALS: Benton def. Southern; Northumberland Christian def. Montgomery. FINAL: Benton def. Northumberland Christian.

CLASS AA

Midd-West is a talented team. Central Columbia has a lot of great players. Montoursville is superb both offensively and defensively.

But Lewisburg? Well, the Green Dragons seem to be in a league of their own. Lewisburg is 17-0-1 — its first undefeated regular-season since a perfect 22-0 record concluded in 2020 with a state championship — and have allowed only three goals all season. Teams don’t get many chances to score against Lewisburg, and that’s a tribute to the defense.

Lewisburg’s Viktor Permyashkin has 21 goals and 14 assists while teammate Isaac Ayres has 19 goals and eight assists, forming a potent 1-2 senior duo. Keegan Crosby has seven goals with 14 assists. Gabe Pawling has already etched himself in Lewisburg history as one of the program’s top goalies ever and has 15 shutouts this season.

But the games aren’t won on paper, they’re won on the field, and anything can happen in any game.

Montoursville has a first-round matchup with Lourdes and the Warriors have been playing well all year. The Warriors defense has been superb and is not allowing teams to get many shots or goals against them and have eight shutouts this year as Mason Fry has played well in goal.

Bryce Winslow leads the offense with 17 goals and has seven assists, CJ Lucas has 11 goals and 16 assists and Quinn Winslow has 11 goals and 19 assists this year, creating a talented three-headed scoring monster up top.

Loyalsock won its season-finale against Shikellamy to qualify for the postseason and get a regular-season rematch with Wellsboro. The two tied 0-0 in double overtime and fans can expect another great matchup in the playoffs. The Lancers have plenty of offensive playmakers such as Logan Edmonds and in goal, Connor Lang has been playing great late in the season. Wellsboro has been a talented team defensively this year with just 18 goals allowed this year. The Green Hornets’ offense may not be as potent as it was last year, but Jonathan Carl has 12 goals, David Seeling has scored seven and Jacob Strang has scored six.

Hughesville qualified for the first time since 2019 this year and the Spartans get a tough test in the first round under first-year coach Cole Lesher against Danville. Carter Gormont has been having a breakout sophomore year as he leads the team with 14 goals and six assists and Sam Haddon, a senior, has 10 goals. Defensively, the Spartans will have to try and limit Danville senior Jacob Marks, who leads the Ironmen with 16 goals. Adam Elbetagy has scored five goals, as that duo account for 21 of the team’s 27 goals.

Warrior Run faces North Penn-Liberty in the first round. The Mounties don’t have any standout scorers who put up a ton of goals, but rather a scoring by committee offense. Seven players have at least two goals scored and David Graf and Parker Jackson lead the team with six goals apiece. Deakon Valentine has been solid in goal as he is averaging 7.1 saves per game and has 128 for the season with six shutouts.

Gideon Kennel leads Warrior Run with 12 goals and has nine assists and Ori Kennel has 10 goals with 12 assists. Ryan Kemock has eight goals and four assists. That trio will be a focal point of the Mounties’ defensive game plan.

Milton faces Williamson and the Black Panthers are led by Tobin Strous (10 goals) and Orrie Godown (seven). Williamson enters with an 11-6 record this year and the Warriors have had a bumpy end to the season, going 4-3 in its final seven games, alternating wins and losses every other game.

PREDICTIONS–FIRST ROUND: Warrior Run def. N.P.-Liberty; Montoursville def. Lourdes; Loyalsock def. Wellsboro; Danville def. Hughesville; Milton def. Williamson. QUARTERFINALS: Lewisburg def. N.P.-Liberty; Montoursville def. Loyalsock; Midd-West def. Danville; Central Columbia def. Milton. SEMIFINALS: Lewisburg def. Montoursville; Central Columbia def. Midd-West. FINAL: Lewisburg def. Central Columbia.

CLASS AAA

Athens is the top seed in the boys Class AAA field after going 10-5-2 this year. Athens’ biggest strength has been its defense, allowing just seven goals all year. Athens goes into the postseason on a two-game skid, however, with back-to-back one-goal losses to North Penn-Liberty in overtime and a 1-0 loss to Horseheads.

The Wildcats will face Shikellamy. The Braves have allowed more than 50 goals this year and have struggled a bit defensively, but Shikellamy’s hoping to shake that off in the postseason. Jaden Garcia leads Shikellamy with 12 goals and eight assists.

Selinsgrove faces Mifflinburg in the other semifinal. The Seals have an offense that runs through Nick Bisaccia (13 goals) and Bobby Bruskie (eight goals, two assists). Mifflinburg, like Shikellamy, enters districts on a two-game skid with losses to Loyalsock (3-1) and Juniata (1-0) to close out the year.

PREDICTIONS–SEMIFINALS: Athens def. Shikellamy; Selinsgrove def. Mifflinburg. FINAL: Athens def. Selinsgrove.

DISTRICT 2-4 CLASS AAAA

Williamsport wrapped up the season with a 6-9-1 record and are the fourth seed in the boys tournament. Wyoming Valley West (11-5) is seeded No. 1, Wilkes-Barre Area (10-6) is seeded No. 2 and Delaware Valley (8-7-3) is seeded third as Williamsport hosts Scranton at Balls Mills on Wednesday at 5 p.m.

The Millionaires have showed they can compete with a lot of tough teams and have been more than battle tested throughout the year with a tough schedule. Coach Brett Hofstrom and Williamsport hope that leads to postseason success.

The Millionaires fell in the District 2-4 Class AAAA quarterfinals last year to Wilkes-Barre area and have not reached a district final since 2020.