A fast climb
As first-year head coaches go, Mars' Chris Knauff and Palmyra's Jerry Hoffsmith have set the bar pretty high.
The two will meet in the PIAA Class AA boys soccer championship at 2 p.m. Saturday at Hersheypark Stadium.
Knauff and Hoffsmith were assistant coaches on their respective teams before taking over the reins earlier this year.
The two teams have, in one sense, come out of nowhere to battle for a state title.
Before this season, the Planets (21-3-1) had never won a state playoff game while Palmyra made the District 3 playoffs for the first time in four years.
But both coaches were optimistic back in August.
"I thought we had a good chance to win the section and go deep in the WPIAL playoffs," said Knauff. "But I didn't really give any thought to the state playoffs."
"We've got a nice group of kids," said Hoffsmith. "It's the kind you look at and say, 'They've got a shot to be good.'"
Mars defeated Susquehannock 2-1 in double overtime Tuesday night in Hollidaysburg for the right to play Saturday.
Palmyra (23-4) sent Manheim Central packing with a 2-0 win the same night in Hershey.
Sophomore Brett Jankouskas scored both goals for the Cougars.
"The team played very well Tuesday and we were able to finish on our opportunities," said Hoffsmith, who was not willing to give in-depth information about his team.
The Cougars goalkeeper is Ryan Zellner, a two-year starter who needed to make only five saves Tuesday night, as Palmyra's defense was able to shut down a potent Manheim Central attack — just like Mars did against Susquehannock.
The Cougars lost to Hershey in the District 3 title match, but then defeated two district champions in the first two rounds of the PIAA playoffs, District 11's Bethlehem Catholic and District 1's Holy Ghost Prep, by scores of 1-0 and 3-2, respectively.
Planets junior goalkeeper Joe Haefner has given up just two goals in the last four games, which includes the WPIAL consolation win over South Park Nov. 1.
"He's playing the best I've seen him play," said Knauff. "He's kept us in every playoff game."
At the other end of the field, sophomore forward Ryan McKenzie has led the offensive attack with 17 goals and six assists.
"I knew from watching him play last year that he was going to make a big jump as a sophomore," said Knauff. "But he's exceeded everybody's expectations."
Mars starts only one senior in midfielder Drew Glavin, but Knauff credits junior midfielders Scott Sowers and Andy Knauff, and sophomore defender Jack Leslie with taking leadership roles on the field.
"The team may be young, but they're playing like juniors and seniors," he said.
