Greater Philadelphia high schools close in on state titles

Area high schools in Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey are one win away from playing for state titles.

Washington Township aims to return to the Group 4 final last won by the program in 2015 after losing in the semifinal to eventual champion Hunterdon Central a year ago. The Minutemen play Princeton at Rowan University tonight at 7:30 p.m.

Delran is making its third straight trip to the Group 2 semifinals but the Bears haven’t made it to a state final since winning the school’s eighth title in 2013. They won the South Jersey title on Friday with a convincing 4-1 win over Haddonfield behind a hat trick from forward John Stroehlin (pictured above). Tonight’s match in Hopewell Valley is a rematch of a 2015 semifinal Holmdel won 2-0.

Glassboro faces Highland Park at 7:30 p.m. tonight at Paul VI after winning the school’s first South Jersey title in 41 years in a penalty shootout against Palmyra on Friday. A win tonight would put them in a state final against the winner of Pompton Lakes and Dayton for the first time since the Bulldogs lost a state final in 1969.

The state finals in New Jersey will be played at Kean University on Sunday.

In Delaware, Salesianum is one win away from competing for the school’s eighth straight D1 title. The Sallies, ranked No. 7 in the most recent United Soccer Coaches poll, take on Cape Henlopen at 8 p.m. Wednesday in Smyrna while Appoquinimink and Caesar Rodney do battle in the other semifinal at 6 p.m. The Division II semifinals will feature St. Andrew’s and Caravel at 6 p.m. followed by the DMA and Indian River match at 8 p.m. in Dover. Both finals will be played Saturday in Smyrna.

In Pennsylvania, Conestoga will put their undefeated season on the line against Central Bucks West at Souderton Area High School at 7 p.m. while Hempfield plays Peters Township in the other Class 4A semifinal in Altoona at 7 p.m. Conestoga is the eighth ranked team in the nation in the most recent United Soccer Coaches poll and has amassed a 23-0-1 in its quest to win a second straight state title. The Pioneers have conceded only two goals – both from the penalty spot – in a postseason run that has included their first district title since 2011.

The Class 3A semifinals will see defending champions Lower Dauphin take on Montour at 5 p.m. in Altoona and Archbishop Wood take on Northwest Lehigh at Upper Perkiomen High School at 7 p.m.

Lancaster Mennonite plays Lewisburg in the Class 2A semifinal at Central Dauphin Middle School at 7:30 p.m. The Blazers are 22-1-0 on the season and are seeking their fourth appearance in the state title match and first since 2014. The Blazers last won a state title in 2011 when Philadelphia Union defender Keegan Rosenberry was on the team.

Masterman will be representing Philadelphia in the Class A semifinal, where Camp Hill is all that stands in the way of a trip to the final.

State title matches for all four classes will be played at Hersheypark Stadium on Friday and Saturday with game times at 1:30 and 6:30 p.m.

Another championship team in Pennsylvania will be crowned on Wednesday night in the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association final at Immaculata University at 7:30 p.m.

The Hill School will be defending its title from a year ago against Springside-Chestnut Hill Academy. The Hill School is seeking the school’s fourth title, having won it in 2013, 2014 and 2016.