By Buddy Scott
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 5/21/10
Top-seeded Haverford School survived a first-half scare and earned an 11-5 victory tonight over Lawrenceville School (N.J.) at Cabrini College to advance to the Inter-Ac Invitational Tournament championship game.
The Fords (19-4) will meet Episcopal Academy in the finals on Wednesday at Cabrini at 7 p.m. EA advanced by downing Malvern Prep, 5-4 in the other semifinal.
Haverford School trailed, 3-2, at halftime and saw numerous shots hit the post. But the Fords used a 5-1 third-period surge to seize a 7-4 lead after three periods
“It’s fun to be part of postseason play,” said Haverford School coach John Nostrant. “We struggled a little in the first half, but competed in the second half by getting to more loose balls.
“Lawrenceville’s goalie played extremely well. Now, we’re looking forward to Wednesday.”
Haverford School was led by senior midfielder Liam O’Connor (signed with Notre Dame), who earned the STX MVP Award by scoring once and winning six face-offs. Junior attackman Carl Walrath (committed to Virginia) collected two goals and two assists and junior middie Joe McCallion (Penn) had two goals and five face-off wins. Junior Hup Hupfeldt (Penn) also had two goals. Conor Kelly made 10 saves in goal.
Junior attackman Matt Walters (Syracuse), senior attackman Stephen Aitken (Penn Stata), junior attackman Grove Stewart and sophomore defenseman Will McNamara all chipped in with one goal. Sophomore Zach Rego sang a great national anthem and also had an assist.
Lawrenceville was led by sophomore goalie Matt O’Connor who had six saves and frustrated the Fords in the first half. Senior Christian Clay (Haverford College) had three points on two goals and an assist, while Charlie Payton (Duke) and Mac Cordrey (Princeton) each had a goal and an assist. Post-graduate Westy Hopkins (Notre Dame), who starred at La Salle College High, had one assist and Brendan Newman had one goal.
Nostrant admitted that Episcopal Academy will present a unique challenge in the finals. Haverford School won the first two games by scores of 12-6 and 10-3.
“EA is a familiar foe with a big, strong defense,” Nostrant said. “To beat a team three times in one year is very difficult.”
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