The Fairfield Knights are doing everything they can to keep their heads above water in the chase for a berth in the District 3-1A boys soccer playoffs.
It’s a battle they’ll be fighting all season.
If the playoffs started today, Fairfield would be on the outside looking in, but the good news for the Knights (4-3) is that there is still plenty of season left to play.
As the regular season reaches its halfway point on Thursday, Fairfield knows it has work do, and that starts with locking horns against the Littlestown Thunderbolts, a team that has been a regular in the 2A district tournament.
The two-win Thunderbolts are down this season, but they’ll be ready to test the Knights in a game at Fairfield that could go a long way in determining the district playoff picture. For that reason, we’ve selected this contest as our Game of the Week.
We plan on picking a Game of the Week every week during the high school sports season, spotlighting multiple schools and sports along the way. Do you have a team in the Local.News coverage area — Waynesboro, Greencastle-Antrim, Chambersburg, Fairfield, Smithsburg, North Hagerstown and South Hagerstown — with a big game coming up? Let Andy Sandrik know via email at big_andy76@yahoo.com.
Littlestown at Fairfield
Kickoff: Thursday, 5 p.m., at Fairfield
Records: Fairfield is 4-3 overall (3-3 YAIAA III), while Littlestown comes in at 2-8 (1-5 YAIAA III).
Last game: The Knights secured a 3-2 victory over Bermudian Springs on Tuesday, and the Thunderbolts topped Hanover by a 5-0 score on the same day.
Last meeting: Littlestown topped Fairfield twice last season, 2-1 and 3-0.
Meet the Knights: Coach Brad Willock’s Fairfield squad is fighting for its playoff life in District 3-1A, where it currently ranks No. 13 amongst a group that will send just 12 teams to the postseason. The Knights are led by a couple of midfielders in senior Ciaran Phelan and sophomore Michael Phelan, a returning YAIAA III all-star. Ciaran has posted multiple goals in at least three different games, while Michael’s biggest game this fall has been a two-goal showing in a win over Hanover in August. With opponents focusing on the Phelans, scoring opportunities should be available for Coghan Jones, Jeremy Talcott, and Victor Garazo Garazo, all of whom who have scored goals this season. Sophomore goalkeeper Jude Willock has seen his confidence rise with two wins over the last three games. This is certainly a winnable game for Fairfield, but the Knights can’t be deceived by their opponent’s two-win resume, and will need to play aggressively to seal victory.
Meet the Thunderbolts: It’s been a rebuilding year for Brett Powell’s Littlestown squad, who are still coming to terms with the losses of five YAIAA all-stars to graduation, including Goalkeeper of the Year Christopher Meakin. After three consecutive winning campaigns that concluded with trips to the District 3-2A postseason, the Thunderbolts have just two wins to their name this fall. But Brett Powell’s Littlestown program is a proud one and won’t go down without a fight. Captained by Victory Guzman, Ian Welty, Carter Owings, and Kyle Kauffman, the Thunderbolts snapped a seven-game losing streak on Tuesday with a blowout win over Hanover. Littlestown has a puncher’s chance against favored Fairfield, but it will need to shore up on defense, where it has allowed three or more goals in six of 10 games.
Sandrik’s pick: Knights by 2.
