The Boiling Springs Bubblers took no prisoners on the boys soccer field when they marched to a championship in the Mid-Penn Colonial Division last fall.
Few division opponents felt the wrath of those powerful Bubblers more than Greencastle-Antrim, a squad that absorbed losses of 3-0 and 8-0 from their Cumberland County foes.
But 2026 is a new season, and the Blue Devils have plenty of reasons to believe they can turn the tables on Boiling Springs when they meet on Saturday in a contest that we’ve selected as our Game of the Week.
Greencastle has pasted its competition by a combined 15-4 score and features a lineup jam-packed with talented juniors and seniors, including captains Biruk Facchina, Mason DeVaughn, and Evan Shaull. The Blue Devils have been competitive in every game they’ve played, but make no mistake, they’ll be facing their toughest test yet when the Bubblers visit.
Boiling Springs graduated four All-Colonial selections, including Player of the Year Marc Becker, but has yet to taste defeat through five games.
Can Greencastle pull off the upset, or will the Bubblers extend their series winning streak to five games? We’ll find out on Saturday.
In the weeks and months to come throughout the high school sports season, we plan on spotlighting multiple teams and sports with our Game of the Week. Any big upcoming contests we should know about? Send suggestions to Andy Sandrik via email at [email protected].
Boiling Springs at Greencastle-Antrim
Kickoff: Saturday, 11:45 a.m., at Greencastle-Antrim
Records: The Bubblers check in at 3-0-2 overall and 1-0 in the Mid-Penn Colonial Division. Greencastle is 2-1-1 and 0-1-1 in Colonial play.
Last game: Boiling Springs toppled Waynesboro, 3-1, while the Blue Devils are coming off a 3-1 loss to Gettysburg.
Last meeting: The Bubblers swept their division series over Greencastle in 2025, outscoring the Blue Devils 11-0 in the process.
Meet the Bubblers: Boiling Springs has shaken off the graduation of four Colonial Division All-Stars, including the division’s Player of the Year in Marc Becker, and is off to an unbeaten start through five games … The Bubblers, who have outscored their competition 9-3, are ranked No. 8 in the District 3-3A power rankings … Boiling Springs’ most notable win came by a 3-0 score over Trinity, a Top 4 squad in the 2A rankings … The Bubblers are led by the Colonial’s 2025 Coach of the Year in Matt Brenner and return a trio of Second Team All-Stars in Daron Steel, Jon Becker, and Eli Ackerson … Checking in at 6-foot-2 and 175 pounds, Steel is an imposing defender on Boiling Springs’ back line … Look for the Bubblers offense to run through Becker, a smooth-passing midfielder and forward … Ackerson is a 6-foot-1 goalkeeper with a wide wingspan who pitched shutouts over the Blue Devils last season … Nate Weaver, Joe Eichenmiller, and Quinn Farrance are all proven point-scorers for Boiling Springs … The Bubblers have not lost to Greencastle since the 2023 season.
Meet the Blue Devils: After a fast start to the season that saw Greencastle-Antrim shut out its first two opponents by a combined 11-0 score, coach Ryan Palmer’s boys have gone 0-1-1 this week and would love to get back in the win column against the Bubblers … Team tri-captain Biruk Facchina, an All-Colonial First Team defender last season, guides a Blue Devils outfit that checks in at No. 19 in the latest batch of District 3-3A power rankings … Facchina is the leader of a senior-heavy roster that also includes Caleb Noll, Jack Michalsky, Carlos Reyes, Blake Witmer, Jesse Fye, Bryce Wilson, and Blaine Martin … Based on stats reported from two of four games, Reyes and Noll have each scored at least three goals, while Logan Andou leads Greencastle with four goals … The Blue Devils are also captained by juniors Mason DeVaughn and Evan Shaull … Playing primarily as a left wing and center attacking midfielder, DeVaughn is dangerous with the ball. He’s scored a goal, and leads Greencastle with five assists, three of which came in a 3-3 tie with West Perry on Sept. 7 … Shaull, who owns two shutout wins as the Blue Devils starting goalkeeper, has had some international exposure to soccer. In 2024, he was selected to travel to Portugal through the Maryland MSYSA Olympic Development Program (ODP), and spent the time overseas sharpening his game … Greencastle and Boiling Springs both own wins over Trinity, the No. 4 ranked team in 2A. The Blue Devils beat the Shamrocks, 2-0, while the Bubblers posted a 3-0 win.
Sandrik’s pick: Bubblers by 2.
