By James Boyle
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 5/30/12
Matt Rambo scored four times and had four assists as La Salle defeated Great Valley, 16-4, on Wednesday in a first-round Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) boys’ lacrosse playoff at Plymouth Whitemarsh.
The District 12 champion Explorers (18-4) advance to play Downingtown West on Saturday in the quarterfinals. Great Valley closes its season at 14-10.
“I knew they were a really good team, so we came up the whole week fired up and we weren’t going to take them lightly at all,” said Rambo. “I mean it’s states, everyone’s good.
“In the first couple minutes we went up four nothing. And that’s when we were working the ball around and once you get a little confidence… we just moved the ball so well and shared it.”
La Salle took an early 4-0 lead in the first quarter before Great Valley was able to get a goal with four seconds left in the quarter.
The first half ended with La Salle on top, 7-3. Adam Schaal (three goals) and Rambo each scored twice in the first half.
The Explorers – who won 18 of 22 face-offs – dominated the third period, scoring five goals to make it a rout.
Sean Coleman had one of three hat tricks for LaSalle. He also had one assist. Adam Stefanowicz reached the back of the net twice. Brian McNamara, Pete Auteri and Mitch Soufleris each scored once. Jeff Cimbalista and McNamara also had assists.
“They’re a really good team, they pretty much were upsetting everyone,” said Coleman. “We didn’t want to take them lightly.
“Honestly they were playing amazing lately so we wanted to come out there firing. I think today we came out and played really well. We just got to get to work tomorrow.”
Tyler Haines led the Patriots with two goals and one assist. Dillan Buettner and Greg Merrill each had one goal. Timmy Lamb and Mack Hasz had one assist apiece.
“I didn’t expect to be overwhelmed like we were in the second half,” said Great Valley coach Tony Verna. “But I got what I expected.
“My kids played hard to the final whistle. I told them that no matter what the score said on that scoreboard that they had every right to be proud of themselves and that they deserved to be here in the state tourney.
“We really we didn’t have our full team until the end of the year and that’s when you saw what this team really can do.”
Corey Shaffer set aside six saves for La Salle. Peter Hayes had seven saves for Great Valley.
La Salle 16, Great Valley 4
La Salle 4-3-5-4- 16
Great Valley 1-2-0-1 – 4
Matt Rambo 4g, 4a
Adam Schaal 3g
Sean Coleman 3g, 1a
Adam Stefanowicz 2g
Brian McNamara 1g, 1a
Pete Auteri 1g
Mitch Soufleris 2g
Jeff Cimbalista 1a
Corey Shaffer 6 saves
Great Valley
Tyler Haines 2g, 1a
Dillan Buettner 1g
Greg Merrill 1g
Timmy Lamb 1a
Mack Hasz 1a
Peter Hayes 7 saves
