WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – After a golden-goal overtime win in 2011, the Lycoming College men’s soccer team will look to retain ‘The Boot’ for the first time in the 12^th annual Battle of the Boot with local rival Susquehanna University when it heads for Sassafras Fields in Selinsgrove, Pa., for a 7 p.m. match on Wednesday, Sept. 5.
 
The Warriors have won three of the first 11 meetings in the trophy game, but have won two of the last three, including the 1-0 win in 2011 when senior Charlie Vess (Lexington Park, Md./Great Mills) delivered the winning strike on a breakaway in the 96^th minute. The game was close throughout, with the Warriors taking 10 shots and the Crusaders taking 14, forcing senior James Quinn (Tonawanda, N.Y./Kenmore East) to make 10 saves to preserve the shutout, helping him earn the game’s MVP award.
 
The Lycoming senior class will not only be looking to become the first set of Warriors to leave the program with a winning record against the Crusaders since the 1997 class went 1-0, it will also be looking for its first ‘Boot’ win in Selinsgrove. The last time the Warriors won in Selinsgrove was 1997, when the Warriors posted a 6-2 win, before the trophy game was created.
 
The Warriors (1-0 overall) showed off a solid offense in its season-opening 5-0 win over Penn State York on Friday, Aug. 31. Senior Pat Marion (Stevens, Pa./Cocalico) posted two assists and sophomore Luke Klingler (Bloomsburg, Pa./Bloomsburg Area) added a goal and assist to lead the Warriors to the win. In net, Quinn and sophomore Connor Keenan (Exton, Pa./Downingtown East) combined for the shutout by making two saves.
 
 The Crusaders also enter the game with a perfect record after going 2-0 with wins over Grove City and Penn State Harrisburg on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, respectively. Brandon Kates led the team’s defensive unit, which allowed just six shots on the weekend, while scoring two goals and an assist against Penn State Harrisburg, and Gannon Keller led the offense, as he scored the game winner in double overtime against Grove City and added a goal against Penn State Harrisburg.
 
The Battle for the Boot has grown in stage and size during the 12 years of the rivalry, with the crowds in the past six years averaging more than 500 fans. In the past three years, it has been the best attended game on the Lycoming College men’s soccer team’s schedule.  
 
The trophy is a bronzed cleat mounted to a wood platform with a plaque reading “Battle of the Boot – Susquehanna vs. Lycoming” and is awarded to the winning team each season. The host institution switches annually between the rival schools.
 
Directions to Sassafras Fields, Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, Pa.
Travel south on Rte 15 from Williamsport. Take 15-S until you get just past the Susquehanna Valley Mall. Instead of taking the Route 15 bypass, continue into Selinsgrove on Route 522 and travel past four traffic lights. Turn right onto Sassafras Street (Sunoco gas station on near right corner) and travel 3/4 mile. Sassafras Fields are on the left just past the Church of the Nazarene.