Upper Dublin’s lacrosse season came to an end when the Flying Cardinals fell to Great Valley in a District One playback game Tuesday.
By Mary Jane Souder
FORT WASHINGTON - Upper Dublin had just completed its final postgame meeting after Tuesday’s heartbreaking 11-10 loss to Great Valley in a District One playback game when coach JP Banks asked his seniors to remain.
There wasn’t anything Banks needed to tell his departing seniors. As a matter of fact, words weren’t important. The UD coach simply shook hands and hugged each one of his seniors - Michael Rama, Ben Winebrake, Drew Potts, Jack Deragon, Tim Chwal, Reed Rapine, Brian Lunney, John Minehart, Chris Day, Colin McMorrow, Shane Kelley - and then made the final walk across the field with them.
“They’re such a special group of seniors,” Banks said “I have coached some of them since seventh and eighth grade.
“They came in, and they wanted to excel. They have a legacy. Upper Dublin teams have gotten progressively better and better. It would have been easy for a senior group knowing that the younger class was coming in to say, ‘Oh, they’ll be the ones to do it,’ but this senior class took it upon their shoulders to say, ‘We’re going to elevate this program.’ They’re just a phenomenal group of kids.”
Waiting for the seniors when they got to the other side of the field were the underclassmen, who formed a tunnel and – along with family members and friends who surrounded the field - greeted the seniors with appreciative applause.
“They were like our big brothers,” freshman Michael Sowers said. “We grew up with that class. We have four or five sets of brothers on our team.
“We knew this was going to be a special season because they were going to lead us, and we didn’t want to let them down. They were our role models coming in, and they showed us the way. They showed us how to work hard, and it paid off. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to where we wanted to be.”
Upper Dublin appeared to be in position to eke out a win, but their shot for the lead with 25 seconds remaining in a tie game was turned away by Patriot goalie Peter Hayes. The Patriots had just enough time to set up for the game winner, and it was Greg Merrill, who had scored three straight goals in the fourth quarter, finding teammate Noah Joseph for the goal with two seconds remaining on the scoreboard clock.
“You would always like a couple of extra seconds,” Banks said. “Again, it’s another excellent team. We had our opportunity. We thought we had a good look, but their goalie made the save.
“They did a great job of moving off ball. Their kid Merrill is just an absolute stud. We did a good job. He went behind and found a tiny little window and put it in there. It happens.”
The Flying Cardinals have had the corner of the market in heartbreakers, falling by one to Garnet Valley in Saturday’s quarterfinal game and then losing at the final horn on Tuesday.
“It’s very disappointing,” Sowers said. “When it gets down to that, it could go either way. Hats off to Great Valley – they did a great job with their game plan.
“They came out in a zone at the very end, caught us off guard, but at the same time, when it comes down to it, it’s anyone’s game at that point.”
Early on, things looked promising when the Cardinals jumped out to a 5-1 lead, but the Patriots roared back to take a 6-5 lead into halftime. The Cardinals came out of halftime looking very much like a team that didn’t want its season to end. A goal by Sowers (Michael Rama assist) off the opening face-off knotted the score. Another Sowers goal put the Cardinals on top, and they still led 8-7 after a Rama goal late in the period.
Another Rama goal at the 7:25 mark of the fourth quarter gave the Cardinals a 9-7 edge, but Merrill answered with three straight goals to give the Patriots a 10-9 lead with 4:52 remaining in regulation. Rama knotted the score at the 3:19 mark, setting the stage for the dramatic finish.
“It was a very special season,” Sowers said. “A lot of it has to do with the senior class because they refused to let us lose.
“At the same time, we looked up to them. We followed their lead.”
Despite the graduation of an outstanding senior class, the future would appear to be bright for a Flying Cardinal squad that started five freshmen.
“It’s going to be tough because of how strong this senior class was not only in their skill but in their leadership,” Sowers said. “We have a good junior class that also has a lot of leadership.
“I think with some hard work we could be back here. Next year we’re going to look to make it a little bit farther.”
Rama and Sowers each scored four goals to lead the Cardinals. Rama also had an assist. Drew Potts and Ben Winebrake both contributed one goal and one assist, and Nicholas Vernacchio had an assist. Goalie Jack Deragon was credited with 17 saves for the Flying Cardinals, who closed out a successful season as SOL American Conference champions.
“I told the kids before each of the last three playoff games – no matter what happens, the work they’ve put in – it made it a joy to get in the car every day and come out here to practice,” Banks said. “I spend over an hour a day commuting to be with these guys. I told them already, ‘Usually at the end of the year, I sit down and decide am I going to do it again or not?’ I’ve already made my mind up. I love these guys, and I want to be back with them.”
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