CB West, Upper Dublin and Pennridge were winners in District One 3A boys’ lacrosse action. Photos of the Pennridge/Unionville game provided by Keith Clemens Photography. CLICK HERE to go directly to the boys' lacrosse gallery.
#12 CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 7, #21 BOYERTOWN 6
The Central Bucks West defense pitched a shutout in the first half, allowing just three shots on goal; then, the Bucks had to rely on that defense again to thwart a furious fourth-quarter Boyertown rally.
Joey Rockovich scored three times for CB West to go along with an assist and Ben Sexauer had two goals and an assist for the victors. In the first home playoff lacrosse game for CB West’s senior class, the Bucks delivered in the end.
“It was an important occasion for our seniors to host a playoff game at CB West for the first time,” head coach Matt Coverdale said. “To get a playoff win is a great moment for them. It got a little hairy toward the end with them coming at us, but we showed our true character and toughness to deny their opportunities. Our goalie (Max Dunar, eight saves) had big saves in the fourth, and we managed to hold them off with our defense.”
Shane Early and Erik Ojert also scored for the Bucks, while Nick Werner chipped in an assist and eight ground balls. Brandon Gervais and Garrett Hitchens each had four GB’s, and Hitchens won 11-of-16 face-offs.
Now, the stage is set for a dramatic showdown between CB West and #5 CB East on Thursday. Coverdale said it’s the first time the two fierce rivals will play each other in the lacrosse postseason. The Bucks (13-5, 7-2 SOL) lost 10-4 to CB East on May 9.
“We know the quality team CB East has,” Coverdale said. “Our guys are very familiar with their players. Motivation is not going to be an issue for either squad. We’re going to look at some of the things we did wrong the first time we played them and make some adjustments heading CB East will enter as favorites, but in the playoffs, anything can happen.
“My players are excited for another crack at them,” Coverdale said. “They’re a great squad, loaded with weapons from front to back. Our kids are pumped for another shot
Boyertown 0-0-3-3 6
CB West 2-1-4-0 7
#13 UPPER DUBLIN 8, #20 CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 7
To open the district playoffs, Upper Dublin built an 8-3 lead and then had to hold on for dear life. Max Winebrake led the way with four goals and an assist, while Jerry Bardol and Jed Hanson each scored twice for the victors.
“It was a great win for a very young, inexperienced team,” UD coach Dave Sowers said. “We didn’t have a senior see the field today, so it was awesome to see our guys handle the adversity that came their way in the fourth quarter.”
Dante Poli scored three times and added two helpers for the Titans, and Justin Abbonizio and Mike Dutkiewicz each scored twice and scooped a pair of ground balls each in the losing effort.
“The guys were scratching and clawing, they knew they were still in the game,” CB South head coach Mike Strayline said. “We started chipping away in the fourth, finally got some stops on defense that led to opportunities for the offense.”
Sowers said UD was guilty of taking its foot off the gas, allowing CB South to get back into the game. UD goalie Dillon Lojeski played the role of hero with nine saves, including several game-savers in the closing minutes.
“Dillon made three amazing saves with under two minutes to play,” Sowers said. “He made one with 10 seconds left that saved us.”
Strayline concurred.
“He stood on his head,” Strayline said of Lojeski. “My goalie (Brad Ross) made 14 saves and he played really well too, but credit goes to theirs. He was lights out. It’s unfortunate to come out on the losing end, but as a young team with six sophomores and two freshmen, we learned something from it and know what we need to do next year.”
Lucas Roselli had six ground balls for UD, while Nick Sowers had four. Roselli went 12-for-19 in face-offs.
Ian Vogt had two assists to get to 100 points on the season, and Ross added six ground balls in goal.
Upper Dublin (12-6, 8-1 SOL) will play at No. 4 Spring-Ford on Thursday.
“There’s a big smile on my face because a very young group responded in the face of adversity,” Sowers said. “And I told them to smile, because being faced with that is a great learning experience for us. Moving forward, every game we play is with house money.”
For CB South (10-9, 4-5), the focus will now be on moving forward and learning from the close loss. Strayline knows the result will stick with his returning players and keep them hungry going into the offseason.
“I’m not going to dwell on it and I won’t let them, either,” he said. “The type of effort we gave today can make us a competitive playoff team for years to come. The younger guys bought in, and we have the heart, hustle, desire and toughness to win. We needed to be perfect today, and we came up one goal short. I couldn’t be prouder of this group of kids. It’s a solid group that will grow from this and get better heading into next season.”
CB South 2-4-2-0 8
Upper Dublin 2-1-0-4 7
#14 PENNRIDGE 13, #19 UNIONVILLE 12
Pennridge ensured its first-ever home playoff game was one to remember.
The Rams trailed by two at halftime before erupting for five third-quarter goals on seven shots before enduring a nail-biting fourth quarter.
Goalie Tristan Banks made 18 saves, including a 1-on-1 denial with 19 seconds left to seal the win for Pennridge. Down 12-11 with time winding down, Nick Fanelli and Kevin Britner scored for the Rams inside the final three minutes, setting the stage for Banks’ heroics.
“My hat’s off to Unionville, because those kids came to play,” Pennridge head coach JP Banks said. “It was a gut-wrenching finish, but Tristan was great. I think we played a little nervous to start, but we settled down and focused on what we do best.”
Fanelli scored four times and added two assists, and Britner had three goals to go along with one helper for the victors. Ryan Garner scored twice to go along with an assist, Chris Warner found the back of the net twice on top of an assist. Jack Garner and PJ Matkowski each scored once, and Danny Hart picked up an assist.
“We made plays and finished when we had to,” Banks said. “The kids have an opportunity to keep improving every day. I’m extremely excited and proud to have a team come to our field for the first time, and we loved having the opportunity to compete. It’s a great feeling now, and we’re going to enjoy this one for a couple hours before we start preparing for Conestoga.”
Speaking of Conestoga, the Rams (12-7, 6-3 SOL) will travel to the No. 3 seed on Thursday. Pennridge played Conestoga on May 6, losing 19-1. It was a humbling experience, one Banks hope his team has learned from heading into a rematch with one of the favorites to win a district title.
“The kids understand Conestoga is a favorite to win a district and state title,” Banks said. “We got an education on how good they are two weeks ago. I hope the kids are a little less nervous this time, and the goal is to go in and take care of the little things that we didn’t against them the first time around.”
Unionville 3-4-1-4 12
Pennridge 2-3-5-3 13
#17 RIDLEY 15, #16 COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 10
Jack Early scored four times, had two assists and picked up three ground balls, and Beckett Thompson had a hat trick but Council Rock North fell short against Ridley in its district opener.
CR North (10-8, 5-4 SOL) had a 5-4 lead at one point before Ridley built a 9-6 halftime lead and pulled away with a 12-7 lead after three.
“We fought hard today but made too many turnovers on offense,” CR North head coach John Fitzgerald said. “Against a really good team like Ridley, you just can’t do that.”
The very young Indians got two goals from Peter Lehman and another from Ben Hoefer. Jack Jogerst had two assists and six ground balls, while senior Joey Scardino notched three ground balls.
Goalie Phil Huddy, also a senior, made 14 saves in goal in his final game.
“I’m sad for my two senior captains, Phil and Joey,” Fitzgerald said. “I’m very proud – the team had a very good season, and this was due to strong senior leadership.”
Cade Stratton and Brock Anderson each scored four goals for Ridley, who will travel to play top-seeded Avon Grove on Thursday.
With so many underclassmen on the roster, Fitzgerald has much to look forward to for CR North heading into next season and beyond.
“We’re a very young team, and I expect to be back in the playoffs last year,” he said.
#10 HAVERFORD 10, #23 WISSAHICKON 3
Wissahickon (7-12, 6-3 SOL) trailed by just two after one, but the offense fell silent thereafter and Haverford cruised to a 10-3 opening-round win.
John Dickson, John Esposito and Tommy Clements all scored for Wissahickon, and Owen Bain added an assist.
Cooper McMaster had 10 saves in goal in the losing effort.
Nick Dilorio had three goals for Haverford, while Cole Lukasiewicz, Luke McCallion and Alex McKendy all scored twice. Haverford travels to No. 7 North Penn in the quarterfinals on Thursday night.
Wissahickon 2-0-0-1 3
Haverford 4-2-2-2 10
#22 WEST CHESTER RUSTIN 11, #11 SOUDERTON 6
Souderton’s dream season, the most successful one in school history, came to an end early on Tuesday night against WC Rustin.
Souderton (16-3, 7-2 SOL) was in the playoffs for the first time in school history. They led 1-0 after one and trailed just 3-2 at the half before WC Rustin erupted for four third-quarter goals to create some space on the scoreboard.
Cal McKenzie, Mike Burke and Forest Rosser all scored twice for Rustin in the winning effort. Rustin will face No. 6 Hatboro-Horsham on Thursday.
WC Rustin 0-3-4-1 8
Souderton 1-1-2-2 6
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