Dragons aren’t looking ahead in state tourney
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Lewisburg avenged an early-season loss to Central Columbia by winning the District 4 Class AA title over the Blue Jays, 1-0, in a thrilling game. It's the sixth District 4 banner for the Green Dragons since the 2020 season, and 14th since 2010 as Lewisburg routinely keeps claiming district hardware to display in the trophy case.
Lewisburg is a perennial power each year, and fans can usually pencil in a state playoff appearance every November given the tradition Lewisburg has each fall.
Lewisburg travels to District 2 champion Lake Lehman on Wednesday for a 6 p.m. game.
But Lewisburg coach Ben Kettlewell will be the first to tell anyone that Lewisburg doesn't take anything for granted. The Green Dragons are only guaranteed the game at task, as he will often say. So don't think Lewisburg is eyeing the bracket too far ahead. They're 100% focused on Lake Lehman on Tuesday and know they have to take care of business Tuesday night before anything else.
In year's past, Lewisburg has been able to rely on a standout offensive threat, such as Viktor Permyashkin, Isaac Ayres, Ben Liscum or numerous Bhangdia brothers.
This year is different. There's no one scoring threat but rather a handful that Lewisburg relies on and it helps the Green Dragons win as no defense can try to contain one single player.
"That's our team this year. There really isn't a guy we go 'hey, lets give the ball to him and he'll do it.' It has to be all of us together," Lewisburg coach Ben Kettlewell said after a 9-0 rout against Williamson in districts.
Jack Kohl (12 goals, five assists), Keegan Crosby (10 goals, 13 assists), Daedrian Campbell (10 goals, 14 assists), Eli Abunassar (10 goals, 11 assists), Everett Good (eight goals, seven assists), Dylan Vogel (seven goals, four assists), Riley Gulden-Luthi (five goals, four assists) and Taylor Gulden-Luthi (four goals, two assists) have all stepped up throughout the season to deliver, and a number of other players have shown the ability to score such as Lincoln Ayres, Marcos Iudica and Mason Pawling.
And, like years prior, Lewisburg's defense has been rock solid. Lewisburg has outscored its opponents, 83-8, this year and getting a goal past standout goalie Gabe Pawling is much easier said than done.
Pawling has a .800 save percentage with 37 saves, but he's posted 15 shutouts and is without a doubt one of District 4's most talented keepers.
He's second all-time in program history in shutouts with 58, six behind Logan Cho's all-time mark of 64. Kettlewell has spoken highly of Pawling and his ability in goal, and he reads the field outstanding and rarely lets a dangerous shot get off.
Lake Lehman won the District 2 title with an exciting 3-2 win against top-seeded Dunmore to get to the state tournament.
The Knights (17-3-2) have a potent offense with 71 goals and defensively, the Knights have played well by giving up just 26 goals through 22 games. Dunmore on Saturday was the first tema to score two or more goals against the Knights since a 3-0 loss against Dallas in mid-September.
Lake Lehman has also scored two or more goals offensively in nine consecutive games, and 17 total.
Lewisburg is the defending PIAA Class AA champion, but a lot of last year's team graduated and this group of Dragons are looking to carve their own history out.
But Lewisburg is solely focused on Lake Lehman and not looking down the road.