Check out the Black Bear Lacrosse Club recaps. Pennridge advanced to the District 1 3A semifinals for the first time in program history and also earned a berth in states. Pennridge/Souderton photos courtesy of Tracy Valko. Check back for a gallery of photos. CLICK HERE to go directly to Suburban One Sports’ BOYS’ LACROSSE GALLERIES.
District 1 3A second round
#4 PENNRIDGE 9, #5 SOUDERTON 7
It wasn’t always pretty, but it sure was competitive.
If Pennridge and Souderton needed any extra motivation on Tuesday night – and they certainly didn’t – a free pass to the PIAA Class 3A state tournament provided it. That was only the end prize as the two SOL National rivals clashed again less than two weeks after they met at Souderton in a de facto division championship.
The Rams had eked that one out by a goal, and while Tuesday’s final margin was two scores, it somehow felt even closer than their first meeting.
“It took a lot from the guys and just putting your 100 percent effort out there to get every ball,” Rams’ senior defenseman Colin Manville said. “We knew we needed the possessions – possession is key in lacrosse. As much as goals matter, possessions matter a lot more and containing the ball and playing at our own pace is the way to win.”
Manville – who registered what was essentially the dagger when he intercepted a pass on the defensive end with less than two minutes to play – and his defensive mates were engaged all game fighting for those extra possessions. He, along with fellow poles Chase Clontz and Tyler Borneman plus long stick midfielder Andrew Horensky and short stick midfielder Reid Moyer found themselves in numerous multi-player pileups trying to secure ground balls.
On the other end of the field, Souderton’s Max Ryon, Jackson Hirschman, Dylan Brun and LSM Liam Murray could say the same. It felt like whatever team’s players had the ball in their sticks last would win, so every opportunity to earn another possession turned into a scrum.
“We thought the first time we didn’t play very well, and we knew today that they were going to come out a lot harder,” Pennridge senior attackman Kevin Matthews said. “It was a revenge game for them. We knew it was going to be sloppy a little bit, so we just wanted to get the ground balls, create some turnovers and we turned it into offense.”
Souderton trailed 6-3 at halftime but scored the first two goals in the third quarter to begin a chase that lasted the entire second half. While Pennridge kept coming up with a goal that kept the Indians at bay, the visitors refused to go away.
Having already made history by advancing to the district quarters for the first time, Souderton will have a chance to make its first state playoff appearance with a win in the playback round.
“We’re a team that’s big on short memory and forgetting previous plays,” Souderton junior defenseman Max Ryon said. “We have a saying of ‘what’s the score? 0-0,’ so it’s always 0-0 in our minds, and we just have to focus on the next play that’s happening.”
Matthews, who led the Rams with three goals, played a role on both of Pennridge’s fourth quarter scores. On the first, he provided the final pass to Carson Tormey while falling down, capping a sequence that started with Reid Moyer recovering a ground ball on the defensive end and then starting a three-pass string that included Rocco Fanelli before Matthews’ assist to Tormey.
After Souderton’s Brody Anderson, who led all scorers with four goals, forced the ball out of the goalie’s stick and put away the chance to cut the lead to 8-7 with 3:10 left, Matthews came through again. A deflected pass in front of Souderton’s goal found its way into the senior’s stick, and he didn’t waste the opportunity.
“I got a little nervous there, but once we came down the field on the fastbreak, it was tipped and when I caught the ball, I knew I had to score,” Matthews said. “It tipped off his stick and landed almost like a present right in my lap.
“I knew our defense, up two goals with two minutes to go, would be able to hold it for us.”
By the Numbers: Pennridge: Carson Tormey (2 goals,1 assist), Rocco Fanelli (1 goal,1 assist), Kevin Matthews (3 goals,1 assist), Levi Souder (1 goal, 3 assist), Andrew Horensky (1 goal), Sean Leuthe (2 assists), Reid Moyer (1 goal), Cole Nitterour (9/20 FO), Calvin McGuire (10 saves)
Souderton: Brody Anderson (4 goals, 2 GB), Chris Touhey (1 goal, 1 assist), Trey Bui (1 goal), Logan Blair (1 goal), Oliver Brewer (1 assist), Ty Sauerwald (1 assist), Dylan Brun (1 CTO, 1 GB), Max Ryon (1 CTO, 6 GB), Jackson Hirschmann (2 GB), Liam Murray (2 GB), Alex Benfield (5 GB), Peyton Bannak (11/20 FO, 7 GB), Andrew Rivera (12 saves, 2 GB)
Pennridge coach Chris Pianko: “Another great team win for the team tonight. Souderton played another aggressive game, and both teams caused a bunch of turnovers tonight.
“Our defense did a good job holding strong and limiting their quality shots while our offense handled the pressure fairly well and was able to find the back of the net. A great feeling to win the third round game and advance to the semifinals of districts, a great team accomplishment that hasn’t been done before in the history of the program.”
Pennridge senior attackman Kevin Matthews:
—On the coaches’ impact: “I give all the credit to them, they are the greatest. They come up with the best game plans before every game, offensively and defensively. We go through it so many times it almost
drives us insane, and we may get annoyed at it, but at the end of the day, it helps us tremendously.”
—Props: “(For) Calvin McGuire, our goalie, Andrew Horensky and Tyler Borneman. I would say everyone actually, every person who touches the field and even the sideline, they give us our momentum.”
Pennridge senior defenseman Colin Manville:
–His late defensive interception: “In the moment, I had a feeling and a hunch that they were going to throw it there, so I just read them. It felt pretty awesome, felt pretty awesome to hear the crowd as well and know that pretty much sealed the game.”
–Going all out on the field: “In practice, we keep it lighter to keep our legs fresh because we know how big these games are and how much running we have to do. I know Andrew Horensky – me and him like to fly around the field, and we love to cause havoc. Our coaches love it too, and that’s the way to win games.”
–Team’s mantra: “Our motto is ‘one team, one mission,’ and we just want to stay as one team and one unit throughout these playoffs all throughout May and throughout June.”
Up next: Pennridge (17-3, 9-0 SOL) will face top-seed Springfield Delco, a perennial state powerhouse, in the semifinal round on Thursday. Souderton (17-3, 9-1) will host No. 8 Downingtown East in a playback game with only the winner advancing to the state tournament.
Souderton 2-1-3-1 7
Pennridge 2-4-1-2 9
District 1 Class 2A semifinals
#2 MARPLE NEWTOWN 8, #3 UPPER DUBLIN 6
Nate Brown scored a pair of goals, and Michael Pileggi had a goal and an assist, but the Cardinals came up short in Tuesday’s low-scoring district semifinal contest.
Ben Shervin recorded 10 saves in goal.
By the Numbers: Michael Pileggi (1 goal, 1 assist), Chase Foster (1 goal), Matthew Shohen (1 goal), Nate Brown (2 goals), Dom Paone (1 goal), Aarush Pillai – 8 Face-off wins, Ben Shervin – 10 Saves
Upper Dublin closed out its season with a 9-0 record and the SOL American Conference title. The Cardinals were 12-8 overall.
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