Check out the recaps for SOL boys’ lacrosse teams in action in the District One 3A Tournament Tuesday. CB East/Pennridge photos courtesy of Tracy Valko. Pennsbury/CB West photos courtesy of Karla Donohoe. Check back for galleries of both games.
No. 11 Central Bucks East 9, No. 22 Pennridge 8
Despite their difference in seeding, it wasn’t a surprise this game came down to the wire.
East – the SOL National Conference champions – had edged the Rams by a single goal during the regular season, and the same scenario played out in Tuesday’s first round playoff game. A goal by the Patriots’ Luke Christmas with 5:17 left in regulation was a welcome present as it held up as the game-winner.
“It was a good game – all the players performed well with a sense of purpose. It was a good day for both teams,” East coach Bruce Garcia said.
The Patriots jumped out to a 2-0 lead on two goals from Nicholas Knepp before the Rams tied it on goals from Chris Fanelli and Tom Hart. East took the advantage in the second, winning the frame 4-1 on scores by Jonah Osborne, Joey Stella and two from Shane McEntire for a 6-3 lead.
Pennridge cut the lead to two by taking the third quarter 2-1 and scored the first goal of the fourth. Osborne responded to restore the two-goal cushion but the Rams weren’t finished with Frankie Fanelli scoring with about six minutes left before Christmas came through with another insurance goal.
Ryan Carickhoff cut the lead back to one in the final minute, but the Rams ran out of time to complete the comeback.
Osborne, McEntire and Knepp led the Patriots with two goals each, with Knepp adding in two assists while Stella had a goal, two helpers and three ground balls. Mike Skulksky added a goal along with Christmas, who also tallied a ground ball.
Evan Bullotta was a force on defense, causing four turnovers and gathering five ground balls. Ryan McCauley had a caused turnover and two ground balls while Chris Funston caused a turnover and secured a ground ball.
East (14-4, 10-0 SOL) will face No. 6 Springfield Delco in the second round. Pennridge closed out its season with a 9-10 record (5-5 SOL).
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 2 4 1 2 – 9
PENNRIDGE 2 1 2 3 – 8
No. 13 Pennsbury 11, No. 20 Central Bucks West 8
A pivotal play in the final second of the first quarter set the Falcons on the right path to their first playoff win in nine years.
An energized Bucks team came out eager to spring the upset and avenge a regular season loss to Pennsbury. West scored with nine seconds left in the opening quarter for a 2-0 advantage before Pennsbury won the ensuing faceoff and changed the flow of the contest.
“We came out flat in the first quarter, and thankfully, Nico (Cione) had four good saves, which had it 2-0 with nine seconds left,” Falcons coach Dean Curtis said. “We won a face-off and went down and Ryan DeZutel got a feed to score with one second left on the clock, and it completely changed our momentum and our confidence.”
The Falcons carried the spark into the second quarter, where they wrested control, thanks to a sterling 12-minute run by Jack Kalinowski. Pennsbury won the frame 6-2, building the three-goal lead it would make hold in the second half.
“Jack Kalinowski either had or assisted on five of the six goals in the second quarter, and he was just a game-changer,” Curtis said.
The teams played to a 1-1 draw in the third and a 3-3 lock in the fourth quarter, but it didn’t mean things were on cruise control to the finish.
Cione finished with 18 saves on a busy night in goal. Much of the game’s outcome came in the battle between the offensive zones where Pennsbury had plenty of contributors that may not have shown up in the stats.
“Defensively, Pat Kirk, Reece Millman and Will Cusick had monster games for us and just helped us between the lines. Winning that midfield battle that was key to the game today,” Curtis said. “Avery Dysart doesn’t show up in the stats, but Avery was really instrumental in setting up our offense. He played incredible between the lines and really just did everything we asked of him.”
Kalinowski posted a hat trick and three assists but it was Shane Siegmund who had the team high in goals with four. Curtis credited the attacker for creating several opportunities on his own while fitting into that grind-it-out game in the middle part of the field.
“Shane Siegmund – you can see four goals and one assist,” the Falcons’ coach said. “Two of those goals came off interceptions of the goalie for quick shots. Shane’s hustle in the ride really made the difference for us in the second half.”
Ryan DeZutel set the pace on the faceoff X, winning 12-of-18 draws, adding that crucial first quarter goal and four ground balls. Dysart’s hustle was rewarded with a goal while Will Taylor posted a goal and an assist and Kyle Rinehimer rounded out Pennsbury’s scoring with a goal.
West’s Evan Hee did all he could to keep his team in the game with 10 saves and the Bucks’ offense challenged the Falcons. Austin Hahn led his team with four goals and an assist while Jeff Woosnam added two scores and a helper.
Brayden Albrecht had a goal while Connor Albrecht scored one and assisted another.
“I would credit CB West for battling – Austin Hahn and Jeff Woosnam challenged our ‘D’ every time they had a chance. They were very good today,” Curtis said.
Pennsbury (13-3, 8-2 SOL) will head to No. 4 Garnet Valley in Thursday’s second round. The game is scheduled for a 7:30 start. Central Bucks West closed out its season with a 9-9 record (6-4 SOL).
PENNSBURY 2 6 1 3 – 11
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 2 2 1 3 – 8
No. 19 Upper Dublin 17, No. 14 Council Rock North 5
The Cardinals didn’t shy away from competition outside of their SOL schedule and while it didn’t show in their record, they were heading toward everything coming together.
A win over CB East to close the regular season finally showed some of that potential, then Upper Dublin kept it going with a resounding win on the road to open the District 1 playoffs.
“COVID has affected everybody throughout the country and, more importantly, in the athletic world,” UD coach Patrick Lacon said. “Normally, we start gelling towards the middle of the year – we’re now starting to hit that stride towards the end of the year, which is great because you always want to be playing your best lacrosse at this time of year.
“I think the kids have really embraced the idea that we just want to keep playing, and we want to keep hanging out and being together and competing with one another and really having a good time, and it showed today.”
Brett Rama led a well-rounded attack with five goals and an assist. Six different players found the net for the Cardinals while seven players chalked up assists in a contest that saw UD open up a 6-2 lead after one quarter and never look back. The Cardinals, who led 9-4 at halftime, outscored the Indians 8-1 in the second half.
Brett Callahan had three goals and two helpers while Steve Pileggi notched a hat trick. Andrew Sowers and Caleb Kelly each recorded a goal and assist while Chris Kohlbrenner also scored and Vijay Foster and Kyle Spirt each assisted one goal.
“It was pretty even early on,” Lacon said. “We really played well. The kids continue to fight and grind and really played smart, solid, tough-nosed lacrosse, which was great.”
Nate Fechter posted nine saves in goal.
Chris Kohlbrenner, a freshman, and older brother John, a senior, were impact players outside the scoresheet.
“Chris Kohlbrenner played really well. He just continues to get better game after game after game,” Lacon said. “The brother duo (John Kohlbrenner) played really well today doing the dirty work outside the main stat sheet.”
UD (12-6, 6-1 SOL) will face No. 3 Perkiomen Valley in Thursday’s second round.
“We have our work cut out for us, but we’re excited to keep playing,” Lacon said.
Council Rock North closed out its season with a 13-4 record (7-3 SOL).
UPPER DUBLIN 6 3 2 6 – 17
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 2 2 0 1 – 5
No. 15 Strath Haven 12, No. 18 Central Bucks South 3
No. 16 Unionville 15, #17 Souderton 6
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