By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 4/22/14
Sparky Hilburn scored off a feed by defenseman Greg Pelton today with 55 seconds left in double overtime as Malvern Prep defeated host Haverford School, 8-7, in an Inter-Ac League showdown.
The win left the Friars (14-0) – No. 1 by Phillylacrosse.com and No. 7 in the Warrior/TopLaxRecruits North America Rankings – alone atop the Inter-Ac at 5-0 after the first half of games. No. 2/10 Haverford is 4-1 and 11-4.
Hilburn’s goal came after Pelton (Duke signee) went coast-to-coast despite hard riding most of the way.
“When a pole is coming down we are told to get to the flat break,” said Hilburn. “Greg did a great job – one taking a man on his back – and then throwing it to me..
“It definitely feels great to beat them after last year’s last game (a loss in the Inter-Ac Invitational championship game after the Friars had won the league title). That cut into us pretty deep. Emotions are great; our defense dug deep. This was a great win all around.”
The Friars have won five one-goal games this year.
After Haverford took an early 2-0 lead on goals by Drew Supinski (two goals) and Brendan O’Neill, but the Friars scored the next three and the game went back and forth the rest of the way.
Dox Aitken gave the Fords a 6-5 lead early in the fourth period, but sophomore Kyle Anderson (three goals) scored twice to put the Friars ahead. Grant Ament (two goals) then tied it with 30.8 seconds to play.
Both goalies – Malvern’s Carson Cocco (nine saves) and Haverford’s Alex DeMarco (five saves) – had key stops in the second overtime before Pelton got a loose ball and set up the game-winner.
Malvern Prep also got strong work at the X by junior Charles Kelly (North Carolina), who was 16 of 20.
Malvern Prep coach John McEvoy credited Haverford School’s zone defense and tried to downplay the game.
“It’s just another Inter-Ac game, this was the fifth one and we safely made it through the first round,” he said, “And now we play the second round. Every one is that important and I know that sounds like a coach talking.
“But it’s Haverford School and no matter what the scenario is, it’s a big game. I am proud of our guys hanging in and battling.”
Malvern Prep 3-0-2-2-0-1 – 8
Haverford School 2-1-2-2-0-0- 7
Malvern Prep
Kyle Anderson 3g
Sparky Hilburn 1g, 1a
Kevin McGeary 1g
Tripp Traynor 1g, 1a
Conor Glancy 1a
Mike Fay 1a
Adam Goldner 2g
Carson Cocco 9 saves
Charles Kelly 16 of 20 FO
Haverford School
Grant Ament 2g
Drew Supinski 2g
Phil Poquie 1g
Brendan O’Neill 1g
Dox Aitken 1g
Alex DeMarco 5 saves
