Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 6/9/12
Phillylacrosse.com Editor Chris Goldberg is here at HersheyPark Stadium for the 2012 Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) boys’ lacrosse championship game between two-time defending champion Conestoga and La Salle.
The girls’ game just ended as Garnet Valley defended its crown by toppling Strath Haven, 10-9, in a thrilling overtime game The weather is mostly cloudy and hot and the crowd is building.
These two teams are no strangers to this setting. La Salle downed Conestoga, 7-3, in the first PIAA championship game three years ago and a year later the Pioneers avenged the loss and topped the Explorers, 10-6. Last year Conestoga defeated St. Joseph’s Prep, 13-4, in the title game.
This season Conestoga took a 5-4 victory over La Salle in a regular-season game.
1st Quarter
Conestoga wins opening face-off, but fails to score after a nice chance for Pierre Atkinson
L: Brian McNamara from Matt Rambo, 9:12 – Explorers lead, 1-0
L: Stephen Hudak, from Rambo, 7:56 – 2-0 Explorers
La Salle controlling the tempo and possessions
Conestoga long pola Mile sThomas makes a key caused turnover and groundball of a Rambo pass, 2:00
La Salle regains possession, Rambo is stopped by Brody Shea
C: Tyler Brooke scores off Tim Langerhans pass after big save by Shea, 2-1, 1:20
Shea makes another big save, :20
End period – La Salle up 2-1
Saves – Brody Shea (C) 3, Cory Shaffer (L) 2
2nd period
L: Rambo takes it himself, unassisted, 9:04, La Salle, 3-1
C: Connor Frisina in transition, after La Salle TO, 7:22, 3-2 Explorers
Shaffer stops Lord in tight
C: Brooke ties it off a Lord feed, 3-3, with 6:10 left
C: Brooke again from Lord, 3:05 – Pioneers tale 4-3 lead
L: Adam Schaal from Rambo in transition after Conestoga shot hits post, 1:46 – 4-4 game
C: Jake Scott puts home rebound, :06 – Pioneers take 5-4 lead into halftime
saves – Shaffer (L) 5, Shea (C) 4
End half
C: Brooke again from Lord, 10:19 – 6-4 Conestoga
L: Adam Stefanowicz from Schaal, 9:51 – Lead down to 6-5
Zonino great save on Schaal in tight, 6:40
Zonino another great save – that’s 4 already in this period
C: Lord a left-handed blast from Jordan Klunder, man-up, 3:25, 7-5 Conestoga
C: Frisina from Lord, 1:06, now 8-5, Conestoga – the attack is ripping
Zonino another amazing save on McNamara – splits to his right, with buzzer sounding, no rebound!
end 3rd period
4th period
Conestoga wins face-off – Jared Jacobs having big day at X
C: Pierre Atkinson unassisted, 8:53, Now 9-5, Pioneers taking control
L: Stefanowicz, unassisted, 5:28, 9-6 Conestoga
Conestoga Timeout, 3:06
Pioneers give it away, 2:52
La Salle gives it right back
C: Lord off a La Salle turnover, 10-6, 2:40
L: Sean Coleman, unassisted, 1:36, 10-7 Conestoga
Zonino another big save!, :50
:09 – La Salle turnover
Conestoga wins, 10-7, for third straight state title!
Their seniors are 96-8 over the past four years!
Conestoga 10, La Salle 7
Conestoga 1-4-3-2- 10
La Salle 2-2-1-2- 7
Conestoga
Tyler Brooke 4g
Brad Lord 2g, 4a
Connor Frisina 2g
Jordan Klunder 1a
Jake Scott 1g
Pierre Atkinson 1g
brody Shea 5 saves
Robbie Zonino 6 saves
La Salle
Matt Rambo 1g, 3a
Adam Stefanowicz 2g
Sean Coleman 1g
Stephen Hudak 1g
Adam Schaal 1g, 1a
Brian McNamara 1g
Cory Shaffer 8 saves
