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The boys soccer season didn’t exactly begin the way some of the top teams in the Wyoming Valley Conference expected. A handful of teams got off to slow starts this season, but now are hitting their stride at the right time as the District 2 Tournament kicks off on Wednesday.
In Class 3A, Crestwood, Wyoming Valley West and Dallas all faced struggles to open the campaign.
As of late though, those three teams have been on a tear.
The Comets, who are the top seed in Class 3A with a 15-0-3 mark, picked up all their of their ties in the first six games of the season. The Spartans, who are the No. 2 seed at 10-4-2, have lost just twice in its last 10 games. One was on a rainy night at Crestwood and the other was a 1-0 setback to Dallas to end the regular season.
Speaking of the Mountaineers, they rebounded from an uncharacteristic start of four straight losses and six in their first nine games, to streak to seven straight victories to close out the regular season. They claimed the No. 4 seed in the nine-team tournament with a record of 10-6.
In Class 4A, Wilkes-Barre Area started off on the right foot before hitting a little slump. But the Wolfpack have rebounded to win their last four games by a combined score of 19-0.
Over in Class 2A, Wyoming Seminary lost its regular-season opener but then reeled off 12 straight wins to close out the schedule.
Here’s a closer look at the brackets with facts about all 11 WVC teams competing.
CLASS 4A
Top seed: Delaware Valley
2018 champion: Scranton
Hazleton Area (11-6): The fourth-seeded Cougars get things started for the WVC on Wednesday with a match against fifth-seeded Scranton (1-12-1). The Cougars will try to reached the D2 title game for the first time since getting there in 2016 and 2017 but fell short both times. The team has never won a district title in boys soccer.
Wilkes-Barre Area (12-6): The Wolfpack enter their inaugural season as the No. 3 seed and will have to make the long trip to see second-seeded Williamsport in the quarters. WBA enters on a nice stretch of four straight wins, which came after losing four in a row.
CLASS 3A
Top seed: Crestwood
2018 champion: Crestwood
Crestwood (15-0-3): The Comets are looking for their fourth district title in five years. They enter the tournament having steamrolled opponents by a combined score of 75-11 in their last 12 games after starting the season 3-0-3.
Dallas (10-6-1): The Mountaineers are the only team that has kept Crestwood from winning a district title in the last four years having won a championship in 2016. They are seeded fourth and will start of against fifth-seeded North Pocono (10-7-1). During a seven-match win streak to end the regular season, the Mountaineers have outscored opponents 38-4.
Tunkhannock (6-6-2): The Tigers have struggled a bit this season, especially lately with three losses and a tie in their last six games. Their only two wins in that span were against the bottom two teams in Division 2. Their last district title came in 2013.
Wyoming Valley West (10-4-2): The Spartans, who are searching for their first district title since 2015, have only lost to either Dallas or Crestwood in the postseason the last three seasons.
CLASS 2A
Top seed: Wyoming Seminary
2018 champion: Wyoming Seminary
Holy Redeemer (5-10-2): The Royals, who are the No. 7 seed, have hit a slump with just two victories in their last 12 matches. The team is back in the tournament for the first time since 2017, and is looking for its first win in the event since 2015. The Royals have never won a district title in boys soccer.
Lake-Lehman (11-6-1): The Black Knights have one of the longest district championship droughts in the WVC having not won a district title since 1998. Seeded fifth, the team was last in the title game in 2012.
Wyoming Area (12-4-1): In records dating back to 1984, the Warriors have never won a district title in boys soccer. Being the No. 3 seed this season, the team has its best chance in years to make history.
Wyoming Seminary (12-1): Being the top seed yet again, the Blue Knights are looking for their eight district championship in school history in boys soccer. They have claimed three district golds in the last five seasons.
CLASS A
Top seed: Gregory the Great
2018 champion: Gregory the Great
MMI Prep (3-12-1): Entering as the No. 6 seed, two of the Preppers’ three wins this season came against out-of-conference opponents. They are in the tournament for the fourth time in five years, but they’re still looking for the first win in school history in the event.
District 2 Boys Soccer Glance
Class 4A Subregional
Quarterfinals
Wednesday
Scranton at Hazleton Area, 8 p.m.
Semifinals
Thursday
Scranton/Hazleton Area at Delaware Valley, 5 p.m.
Wilkes-Barre Area at Williamsport, 5 p.m.
Finals
Oct. 30, TBA
Class 3A
First Round
Wednesday
Tunkhannock at Abington Heights, 3:45 p.m.
Quarterfinals
Wednesday
North Pocono at Dallas, 6 p.m.
Honesdale at Wallenpaupack, 6 p.m.
Valley View at Wyoming Valley West, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday
Tunkhannock/Abington Heights at Crestwood, 6:30 p.m.
Semifinals
Oct. 28, TBA
Finals
Oct. 30, TBA
Class 2A
Quarterfinals
Friday
Holy Redeemer at Scranton Prep, 3:45 p.m.
Western Wayne at Wyoming Area, 4 p.m.
Riverside at Wyoming Seminary, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday
Lake-Lehman at Dunmore, 4 p.m.
Semifinals
Monday, TBA
Finals
Oct. 30, TBA
Class A
Quarterfinals
Saturday
MMI Prep at Forest City, 11 a.m.
Old Forge at Gregory the Great, noon
Mountain View at Blue Ridge, noon
Elk Lake at Holy Cross, 1 p.m.
Semifinals
Monday, TBA
Finals
Oct. 30, TBA