Carlisle not only hoisted the Mid-Penn Conference championship last spring, it was also the last Mid-Penn team standing by the end of the season.
The Thundering Herd enter the 2014 spring season with some question marks on attack and on defense. But if head coach Steve Kidder and his staff have proven anything over the past five years, it's that they always get the most out of their players.
And with returnees like senior attack Max Breschi, midfiedler Hunter Scott and defender Sid Ewell back in the fold, the Herd will be right in the mix for the Commonwealth Division title this season.
Lurking behind the Herd, though, is a deep and very capable Trinity squad that qualified for the District 3 playoffs in 2013, while Cumberland Valley returns a ton of experience to go along with a chip on its shoulder.
The wild cards in the division look to be State College, Northern and Chambersburg. Jeff King's State College club must replace the leadership of Andrew Kelly as it looks to repeat as District 6-10 champs and get back to the state playoffs.
Finally, Scott Brisbane is now at the helm in Mechanicsburg as he looks to rebuild the Wildcats back to a competitive footing.
(Teams listed by 2013 order of finish)
Head coach: Steve Kidder
2013: 18-4, 11-1 (division) - defending Commonwealth Division champions; defending Mid-Penn Conference champions; lost in the District 3 semifinals to Wilson and in the District 3 third place game to Hershey; lost to North Allegheny in the PIAA quarterfinals.
Top returning players: Max Breschi (sr attack), Hunter Scott (sr mid), John Mundell (sr mid), Colin Wallace (sr mid), Taylor McGrath (sr mid), Sid Ewell (sr def).
Head coach: Dave Heisey
2013: 12-6, 9-3 (division) - finished second in the division; lost to Central Dauphin in District 3 first round.
Top returning players: Connor Bailey (sr attack), Kyle Scott (sr attack), C.J. Sherlock (jr attack), John Miller (jr mid), Mark Mandak (so mid), Griffin Smith (so lsm), Tim Hickey (sr def), Preston Whiteman (sr def), Jon Behnke (sr def).
Head coach: Jeff King
2013: 13-6, 8-4 (division) - finished third in the division; defending District 6-10 champions; lost to North Allegheny in the PIAA first round.
Top returning players: Luc Michael (attack), Brady Franks (attack), Christian Restivo (mf), Jake Knouse (mf).
Head coach: Jeff Miller
2013: 9-8, 5-7 (division) - finished fourth in the division.
Top returning players: Zach Martick (sr attack), Richard Settle (sr def), Brandon Heller (sr mid), Luke Lynes (sr def), Derek Myers (so mid), Noah Richwine (jr def), Zach Shumberger (sr goalie), Sam Haak (sr attack).
Head coach: A.J. Bogaczyk
2013: 6-11, 5-7 (division) - finished fifth in the division.
Top returning players: Brian Chewreka (sr mid), Nick Zumbrun (sr mid), Brady Bowman (sr mid), Logan Fazakerly (sr attack), Rod Jamieson (jr attack), Tommy Lehman (sr attack), Thomas Arentz (jr def), Bryce Weiss (sr def), Brendan Pagni (sr goalie), Sean Park (jr lsm).
Head coach: Paul Flohr
2013: 6-8, 4-8 (division) - finished sixth in the division.
Top returning players: J.T. Hopple (sr mid), Grant Swisher (jr mid), Jake Pierson (jr attack), Nick Lombardozzi (sr attack), Greg Funk (sr def), Jacob Melego (jr mf).
Head coach: Scott Brisbane
2013: 3-13, 1-11 (division) - finished seventh in the division.
Top returning players: Joe Becker (sr goalie), Eddie Martin (sr mid), Aaron Heisey (sr mid), Donnie Houseal (sr mid), Reagan Prichett (so def), Sam Shipman (so mid), Quinn Dolan (sr attack), Adam Fennel (sr attack).