Phillylacrosse.com Posted 5/23/13
Staff Report
Amid the roar of the crowd celebrating Jonathan Vandenberg’s game-tying goal in Thursday’s District 1 championship, Anthony Cardile walked over to the faceoff X and got ready.
Vandenberg’s man-up goal with 11.6 seconds to go brought Garnet Valley even with Avon Grove as the crowd looked to a possible overtime. Cardile, though, knew things weren’t over.
He won the biggest faceoff of his career by besting Zach Penfil, then got the ball to freshman Beau Kush. Kush found Tanner Peck, who in turn fed Bryce Reid, standing by himself to Jaguars’ goalie Mitch Rose’s left. With 0.8 seconds to go, Reid’s shot beat Rose for the game-winning goal in Avon Grove’s thrilling 5-4 win.
“Get the darn ball down the field,” were Cardile’s exact thoughts. “I thought I did (have a chance to move it up the field). I had a good game. I did a lot better in the second half of this game and I thought I could move it up the field well.”
The Red Devils (19-3) will plays Hershey, the District 3 third-place finisher, on Wednesday in the first rounjd of state play. Garnet Valley (17-6) will meet District 1 fifth-place finisher Great Valley.
“It’s a crazy feeling,” said Reid, who had two goals and an assist. “With everyone here, all your students, it’s awesome. We’re a young team and no one saw us coming, so it’s a great feeling.”
Peck was held off the scoresheet before that crucial assist, but he came through when it mattered most. Afterward, though, he couldn’t find the words to put it into perspective.
“It’s…it…I mean, I can’t even put it into words,” Peck said. “It’s unbelievable. As a team, we came in as the 10 seed with a little chip on our shoulder, especially coming into this game with them knocking us off on our Senior Night. We were ready to play and a little ticked off.”
As jubilant as the Red Devils were, the Jaguars were equally flabbergasted and shocked. Some laid down on the turf unwilling to move and it was clear that the silver medals won’t have a special place in their hearts.
“It seemed like there was a little panic on the slide over to Tanner when he got the ball,” Garnet Valley coach Frank Urso said. “Tanner’s a great player and he made the right play. Instead of shooting, he found the open man.”
And just like that, Avon Grove won a district title.
Avon Grove 5, Garnet Valley 4
Avon Grove 0 1 2 2 – 5
Garnet Valley 1 2 1 1 – 4
Avon Grove Scoring:
Bryce Reid 2g 1a (GW with 0.8 seconds to go)
Tanner Peck 1a on game-winning goal
Matt King 2g
Ryan Cook 1a
Beau Kush 1g
Will Schreiner 8 saves
Garnet Valley Scoring:
Brock D’Annunzio 2g
Jake Snow 2a
Matt Taulane 1a
Kyle Roberts 1g
Jon Vandenberg 1g (GT goal with 11.6 seconds to go)
Mitch Rose 8 saves
