The Wissahickon boys’ lacrosse team saw its historic season come to an end with a hard fought loss to Kennett. Game photos provided by Richard Owens. Check back later for the complete gallery of photos.
#1-4 Kennett 11, #1-5 Wissahickon 8
Each of the Wissahickon seniors would get a piece or two of gear off and packed before they'd pause and exchange a goodbye or thanks with a teammate.
It was a process of disassembly they had hoped to avoid this postseason, the one that follows a season-ending loss. The Trojans had accounted well for themselves once again, but couldn't find a way to break the wave of momentum the Blue Demons found late in the third quarter and carried through the final 12 minutes.
Even though they fell short of their final, ultimate goal there was no denying the Trojans and especially their seven seniors had just completed the best season in program history.
“Every single kid on this team has each other’s back,” Wissahickon's All-American senior Matt Fritz said. “I’m proud of everyone on the team. Sometimes in these games, our depth does hurt us but I love all these kids and how close our team is. We’ll remember we made it to the final eight in states, but at the end of the day, it only means so much. It’s the relationships with the guys on the teams and all the fun we’ve had that I’ll remember.”
Fritz, the Ohio State bound maestro on the faceoff X, was quick to deflect praise for his dual All-American honors (the other an All-Academic selection) and added that three teammates - Jackson Intrieri, Jake Licata and Scott Pfeiffer - had been named all-state.
Wissahickon's seven seniors - Fritz, Intrieri, Pfeiffer, Brody Myers, Ethan Glass, EJ Schreiner and Alex Solomon - were the core of a group that went further than any squad in program history. They led Wissahickon to an undefeated SOL American title, an impressive regular season win over Garnet Valley, a District 1 3A quarterfinal appearance, a pair of playback bracket wins and the program's first ever state playoff game and win, which came Tuesday against perennial power La Salle.
"It's an awesome group and such a pleasure to coach," Wissahickon coach Matt Conway said. "The seniors, watching them coming up through the youth league, there's only seven kids. It's not like there's 15, it was seven and all of them contributed. They left their mark for sure."
Confident they had the team to make noise this spring, the Trojans subjected themselves to a grueling nonleague slate of games that included a who's who of state championship programs and area powers. Games against Springfield Delco, Conestoga, Downingtown East, Academy of the New Church and Garnet Valley steeled Wissahickon for postseason play.
They didn't win all of them, but they didn't lose by many goals either and sent a message they weren't going to be happy to just be included in the playoff bracket. The Trojans didn't get the chance to prove themselves in 2020 but they more than made up for it the past few months.
“It’s crazy, no one really thought we were going to go in and beat all these teams this year, but we knew we could do it coming in,” Intrieri said. “I love these guys and I wouldn’t have wanted to play with anybody else.”
Intrieri, off to Ursinus, left his mark on Saturday's game with three goals and three assists and also credited the Blue Demons for finding a way to rally late and pick up the win.
The game, played in front of a good crowd at Marple-Newtown High School, was a battle throughout and the effort Wissahickon displayed earned them some plaudits from the Kennett fans as the Trojan players left the stadium.
"Playing tight games against them and Radnor, beating Conestoga, Garnet Valley and La Salle, it's never happened," Conway said. "It was about respect coming into the year and earning it, so getting to the quarterfinals of states, I think we accomplished that."
There was a little bit of a kindred feeling between the two teams on Saturday. Kennett went 17-0 in the regular season, earning the district's top seed but losses in the district semis and third-place game cast some doubt over their overall ability.
Wissahickon knew it was going to get a fired-up opponent on Saturday.
"It was kind of like a battle of dark horses in my opinion," Fritz said. "We're both scrappy, tough teams.
Wissahickon sped out to a 4-0 first quarter lead but a strong second quarter response by Kennett and goalie Jason Astle meant the Trojans could only take a 5-4 lead to halftime. Astle was a thorn for the Trojans attackers, stealing several would-be goals at point-blank range throughout.
Conway credited the Kennett senior as the difference in the game and Intrieri said Astle and the Demons' defenders forced Wissahickon into shooting low, where the goalie thrived.
The Trojans had a hot spurt early in the third quarter, speeding out to an 8-4 edge thanks to three goals in less than a minute-and-a-half of play. That would be the high water mark for the day as the Blue Demons punched back with three goals to end the quarter and got within one on a superb goal by Sam Forte, who led all scorers with five tallies.
Forte scored back-to-back goals in the fourth to give Kennett its first lead and a pair of late defensive stops allowed the Demons to hold off Wissahickon's last surge.
"You give credit to the opponent at the end of the day. I feel like every team in the state tournament, especially the final eight, was capable of doing great things and it just wasn't our day," Fritz said. "Wasn't our half, I guess."
They aren't all playing at the next level, so Saturday was the end of the line for several of the Trojans' fourth-year players. What they accomplished this year won't soon be forgotten however and it was the reason the normally simple act of packing up pads and sticks took so long Saturday.
Although Wissahickon will have a different look next spring, the cupboard isn't bare either. Licata, Joey Connolly and all-league pick Quinn Fonash return to anchor the defense, Sam Baker should return from injury to help Andrew Slackman in the midfield and the attack still has plenty of punch with Kyle Lehman and Dean Wolfe.
"For the guys coming back, have a winner's mentality," Intrieri said. "Always take the high road and know you can play at this level every year. If you put your mind to it and you believe it, you can go out and take it."
After sharing some heartfelt moments with their teammates, Intrieri and Fritz had one of their own before they too gathered their things and made the walk across the field one last time.
"Every single kid on this team is my brother for life," Fritz said.
EXTRA SHOTS: In addition to Intrieri’s three goals and three assists, Kyle Lehman had two goals. Dean Wolfe had one goal and one assist while Brody Myers and Andrew Slackman both added one goal. EJ Schreiner had an assist. Pfeiffer had 10 saves in goal. Fritz led the way at the faceoff X, going 14 for 23…The Trojans closed out the season with an 18-6 record, the most wins by any Trojan boys’ lacrosse team.
KENNETT 0 4 3 3 - 11
WISSAHICKON 4 1 3 0 - 8
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