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General McLane Lancers
Coach (season, record): Mike Merriam (4th season, 61-4)
2010 overall record: 20-2
2010 region record (place): 16-0 (champion)
2010 playoff results: Lost to Fort LeBoeuf in the District 10 Class AA semifinals.
Top players lost: Val Majewski, Katie Petrusky, Kayla Fox
Top returning players: Aspen Weber, Leah Hansen, Lindsey Jahn, Katie Clark
Assistant coach: Pat Regan
Outlook: General McLane hasn’t lost a regular-season dual since 2008 but it will take the Lancers an extra effort to keep that streak going this fall. McLane is back with only three seniors, but one is returning Region 5 co-Player of the Year Apsen Weber. Weber was named to the all-district team last year and a unanimous all-region first-team pick. Also back are all-region pick Leah Hansen, Lindsey Jahn and Katie Clark. The Lancers must get some production from the underclassmen in order to stay competitive in the region and district. Juniors Morgan Behr and Britt Hunt could be impact players this year along with sophomores Molly Regan, Louisa Lytle and Maureen Nkomo. McLane will also focus on its defense. The Lancers won’t be very tall at the net and will need to make up for that with solid defense.

Schedule
September
6 Girard* 7:15
13 Northwestern* 7:15
15 at Iroquois* 7:15
19 North East* 7:15
20 at Seneca* 7:15
22 Fairview* 7:15
27 at Corry* 7:15
29 at Fort LeBoeuf* 7:15
October
4 at Girard* 7:15
11 at Northwestern* 7:15
13 Iroquois* 7:15
17 at North East* 7:15
18 Seneca* 7:15
20 at Fairview* 7:15
25 Corry* 7:15
27 Fort LeBoeuf* 7:15

Monday: Girard, Greenville

– Tom Reisenweber

General McLane Lancers
Boys
Coach (season, record): Josh Hopkins (2nd season, 10-8-1)
2010 overall record: 10-8-1
2010 region record (place): 8-4-0 (third)
2010 playoff results: Lost 2-1 in a shootout to Commodore Perry in a District 10 Class AA play-in match.
Top player lost: Collin McAndrew
Top returning players: Dan McCallion, Peter Keim, Zack Benedict, Kirk Dillen, Andrew Kromer
Assistant coach: Dan Young
Outlook: General McLane made strides in 2010, including reaching the 10-win mark, putting together an eight-game unbeaten streak and a District 10 playoff spot. The Lancers lost a heartbreaker in the D-10 playoffs to Commodore Perry in a shootout. McLane lost all-region first team midfielder Collin McAndrew to graduation but the Lancers have plenty of experience coming back. Dan McCallion, Peter Keim and Zack Benedict return after being selected to the all-region team, while goalkeeper Kirk Dillen and Andrew Kromer are back to lead the defense. The Lancers are looking to build off their momentum from last year under coach Josh Hopkins with a goal to return to the D-10 playoffs. McLane is in a brutal region and found that out in the final two weeks of the season. With a region title staring them in the face, the Lancers lost one-goal matches to Central Tech and Fort LeBoeuf to barely miss sharing the region title. McLane has experience, talent and depth this year and will be a handful for Region 5 teams.

Schedule
September
8 at Cathedral Prep 5:30
10 at Hickory 2
12 Strong Vincent 5:30
14 Girard* 7
17 at Warren noon
22 North East* 5:30
26 at Harbor Creek* 6
28 Central Tech* 5:30
October
1 at Saegertown* 10 a.m.
4 at Fort LeBoeuf* 4
6 at Girard* 5:30
12 at North East* 7
15 Grove City 2
18 Harbor Creek* 7
21 at Central Tech* 3:30
22 Slippery Rock 2
24 Saegertown* 5:30
26 Fort LeBoeuf* 7

Girls
Coach (season): Maura White (6th season)
2010 overall record: 12-6-1
2010 region record (place): 8-3-1 (second)
2010 playoff results: Lost 2-1 to Slippery Rock in the District 10 Class AA quarterfinals.
Top player lost: Sara Waldemarson
Top returning players: Becca Albert, Leanna Schaefer, Shannon Regan, Sydney Ericson
Assistant coaches: Claudio Olivieri, Angela Olivieri, Peggy Sansone
Outlook: General McLane continues to compete in a tough Class AA region and with most of last year’s team back, the Lancers are looking to take the next step. McLane made the District 10 playoffs last year but fell to Slippery Rock in the first round. The graduation of Sara Waldemarson leaves a big hole for the Lancers this fall, but all-region first-team selection Becca Albert is back. Leanne Schafer, Shannon Regan and Sydney Ericson are also back after making the second team last year. The Lancers’ biggest problem will be overtaking powerhouse Harbor Creek and holding off Fairview. McLane is primed to make the playoffs once again and could be a threat to Mercyhurst Prep in the postseason.

Schedule
September
3 at Warren 1:30
7 at North East* 4
10 at Hickory 10 a.m.
13 at Fairview* 4:30
19 Seneca* 5:30
21 at Harbor Creek* 6
27 at Fort LeBoeuf* 4
29 Girard* 5:30
October
1 at Corry 10 a.m.
3 North East* 5:30
5 Fairview* 7
8 Grove City 12:30
10 Corry 5:30
13 at Seneca* 4
17 Harbor Creek* 5:30
19 Fort LeBoeuf* 7
22 Slippery Rock 12:30
25 at Girard* 5:30

Sunday: Girard

– Tom Reisenweber

General McLane Lancers

Jim Wells

Coach (season, record): Jim Wells (15th season, 123-33)
2010 overall record: 10-2
2010 region record (place): 6-0 (champion)
2010 playoff results: Lost 29-28 to Hickory in the District 10 Class AA semifinals.
Top players lost: Kyle Shinn, Derek Schultz, Alan Buckel, Josh Niswonger, Travis Bryant, Zach Lucas
Top returning players: Josh Ponsoll, Chad Kulka, Matt Astorino, Quinn Thompson, Jacob Krizmanich, Drew Browning, Brian Suminski
Assistant coaches: Luke Graham, Brad Wheeler, Bill Frick, Tim Campbell, Tim Casey, Elliott Laplaka
Outlook: General McLane’s program is one of the strongest in District 10 and looks to win another region title this fall. The Lancers lost several offensive weapons to graduation, including speedy running back Kyle Shinn and wide receiver Josh Niswonger. Shinn, an all-region all-purpose back, ran for 833 yards on 46 carries and 11 touchdowns, while Niswonger was a first team selection as a wide receiver and defensive back. Niswonger led the Lancers in 2010 with 12 catches for 374 yards and five touchdowns, while Shinn had six catches for 156 yards and one TD. McLane also lost three key linemen in Travis Bryant, Alan Buckel and Derek Schultz. Bryant was the Lancers’ fourth-leading tackler with 63 tackles, while Schultz had 60 and Shinn recorded 49. Zach Lucas, who also graduated, led McLane with 99 tackles.

Josh Ponsoll was an all-Region 4 first-team quarterback in 2010.

Matt Astorino

Despite McLane losing several leaders and standout players, the Lancers have a solid core back. Josh Ponsoll, an all-region quarterback and defensive back, completed 31-of-58 passes for 884 yards and 11 touchdowns, while rushing for 683 yards and seven TDs. Ponsoll has emerged as a standout in several sports over the past few years and is a big plus for the Lancers. He is joined in the backfield by Matt Astorino and Chad Kulka. Astorino was McLane’s second-leading rusher last year with 709 yards and seven touchdowns, while Kulka carried the ball 98 times for 584 yards and nine TDs.

Chad Kulka

All three have received collegiate interest as well as up-and-coming junior Quinn Thompson, an all-region tight end and defensive lineman. Thompson caught six passes for 198 yards and four touchdowns as a sophomore and is an imposing force on defense at 6 feet, 5 inches.

Brian Suminski started to come on strong last season and could see more carries after rushing for 442 yards on 73 carries and seven touchdowns last year. He will look for holes in the line opened up by returning linemen Jacob Krizmanich and Drew Browning. David Olszewski, McLane’s long-time kicker, has graduated but soccer player Kirk Dillen is in line to replace him after kick six extra points last year.

Quinn Thompson

The Lancers, once again, have a solid non-region schedule filled with three Class AAA teams and Class AAAA Strong Vincent. McLane opens with two tough home games against Vincent and North East before an interesting four-game road trip later in the season featuring Bradford, Meadville and Fairview. Usually regions aren’t decided early in the season, but the Lancers’ Week 2 date with North East could determine the Region 4 champion.

Schedule
September
2 Strong Vincent 7
9 North East* 7
16 at Harbor Creek* 7
23 Seneca* 7
30 at Northwestern* 7
October
7 at Bradford 7
14 at Meadville 7
21 at Fairview* 7
28 Girard* 7
November
4 Franklin 7

Tuesday: Girard

– Tom Reisenweber