PIAA lacrosse playoffs 2026: Top players and keys to Mars boys, girls quarterfinal matchups
Mars boys lacrosse looks like it’s peaking at the right time, and the girls avenged last year’s home loss in the first round.
The reward: quarterfinals half a state away in Mechanicsburg against Philadelphia-area teams for a shot at next week’s PIAA semifinals.
Here are the keys to the Planets advancing in both games.
Livestream: Some games will be livestreamed on the NFHS Network ($13.99 for a monthly subscription) or broadcast by local or regional media outlets. The state championship will be broadcast and livestreamed on PCN. A digital subscription to PCN costs $14.99 for one month.
Tickets: According to the PIAA, tickets can be purchased for $9 in advance on hometownticketing.com and for $10 at the door
Site/time: Mechanicsburg’s Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Park, 3 p.m. Saturday
Up next: Winner of 3-1 Lampeter-Strasburg vs. 7-2 South Fayette
Planets’ key player: Reed Fuller, a junior defensive midfielder, has scored 21 goals and added 21 assists and 43 ground balls to go with his solid defensive play.
Flying Cardinals’ key players: Nate Brown (midfield), Chase Foster (midfield) and Matt Shohen (attack), who each scored three goals in Tuesday’s first-round win over Moravian Academy.
Mars wins if ... its defense, led by senior Mike Duffy, can keep Upper Dublin from finding and maintaining its offensive groove.
Site/time: Mechanicsburg’s Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Park, 1 p.m. Saturday
Up next: Winner of 7-2 Quaker Valley vs. 3-1 Wyomissing
Planets’ key player: Lucy Balazs, a junior midfielder, has scored 36 goals and added 23 ground balls and 26 caused turnovers. She also has controlled over 100 draws.
Spartans’ key player: Freshman attack Bella Cappelli scored three times, including the game-winner, in Tuesday’s 8-7 first-round win over Southern Lehigh.
Mars wins if ... its best players, who reside on the offensive end of the field, can control the pace of the game.
