When sports seasons get underway, everyone's goal is to reach the playoffs. It's only when that goal becomes reality that teams start to realize their season may end with a loss. After all, there is only one champion. The Penn Manor lacrosse teams reached that playoff goal and experienced that season ending loss last Thursday as part of a double-header in Neffsville against top seeds Manheim Township.

After opening the District Three playoffs with an overtime thriller over State College, the Comet boys went up against the undefeated Blue Streaks in the second game of that double header.

It was the third time this season the two teams met and the third time the Comets fell short. This time, however, it was their best showing. The boys lost 18-6 and 21-6 during the regular Section One schedule. Thursday night, in the District 3 quarterfinals, the Streaks finished on top, 21-11.

The ninth seeded Comets (13-7) fell behind 6-2 in the first quarter but scored the first two goals of the second, closing the gap to 6-4. Township scored four straight and led 10-4 at the break.

"I felt like we battled," said head coach Connor Rowe. "We went on some runs but unfortunately, they went on some bigger runs. We never backed down once and never let up."

Manor opened the third quarter with another two quick goals but again the Streaks rallied, outscoring the visitors 4-1 through the rest of the quarter and then taking control with a 7-4 fourth quarter advantage.

Adam Hollinger, who scored the overtime game-winner, matched Township's Jake Laubach with five goals. Benedict Flinchbaugh, who led the team in scoring this season with 46 goals and 19 assists, added a hat trick with one assist. Eli Warfel scored twice, and Aidan Gerlach chipped in with two assists.

For their efforts this season, Flinchbaugh was a Section One first team attack player, Warfel was first team midfield, Kyle Schmidtke was first team defense and Nick Hollinger was first team goalie. Coach Rowe and MT coach Dan Lyons were co-Coaches of the Year. Second team players included Grant Bradburn (attack), Jack Warfel (short stick defensive midfielder), and Mike Evans (defense). Hollinger and Evans are both Jim Fiora Class Act Award Academic All-Stars as well.

"We return the majority of our roster, and these experiences will help pave the way in the off season," said Rowe. "We had a small class of seniors, but they left their mark on this program and their leadership made our jobs easy as coaches.

"This is the third year in a row that our team won a district playoff game," he added. "The expectations to be playing late into May are certainly all over the locker room.

"Our youth program has exploded over the last five years and our JV team had a record-breaking season going 12-2. I'm exciting to see our guys take their success in lacrosse to some other sports teams at Penn Manor and watch them compete," Rowe stated. "I love that the guys play multiple sports and watching them respond in those other sports. As PM legend Jeff Roth would say, "The Comets are rising. We will be back."

The girls' scenario was almost a mirror image. They defeated Dallastown in the opening round by scoring the last two goals of the game and then took on the Streaks for the third time this year. Township, coming off a L-L League championship victory, beat the Comets 22-2 and 14-1 during Section One play and advanced to the semifinals with a convincing 23-2 final. They are 13-1 to date. The No. 8 seed Comets finished the year at 14-6.

"Going in we knew we were the underdogs, but we put in our best effort as we knew it was a single elimination game," said head coach Anneli Starry. "I think we improved each time we played them, and I am proud of that."

After falling behind 2-1 early, the Comets gave up nine straight goals and never got back in the game. Ten different Streaks scored in the 23-2 victory. Township led 13-2 at the half and rallied for ten straight second half tallies.

Erin Shipley, a first team attack player, and Lillie Swanson scored for the Comets.

Mia Jones was honorable mention attack, Grace Gerner and Joelle Kroesen were second team midfield, Ciana Suydam was second team defense and Brooklynn Ayala was second team goalie.

"All of our all-stars are leaders on and off the field," said Starry. "Erin is also an academic all-star.

"Erin, Grace, Joelle, and Brooklynn lead in stats on the team in their respective positions. Erin and Joelle had the highest number of goals and assists. Grace led with draw controls, while Joelle led in ground balls and caused turnovers," the coach continued. "Brooklynn ended with a 56% save percentage. Defense is definitely a team effort, but Ciana was definitely our leader there and the reason our defense was successful. I cannot wait to see what she will accomplish next year."

"We had five teams (baseball, softball, volleyball and boys' and girls' lacrosse) qualify for the post-season," noted athletic director Pat Tocci. "It is a testament to the hard work and dedication that our coaches and student-athletes put into their programs. We hope to continue to build on this success as we move forward in the future."