Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 4/2918
From Press Release
Second-seeded Gwynedd Mercy University advanced to the CSAC Men’s Lacrosse Championship game with a 9-3 win over third-seeded Marywood in semifinal action on Saturday.
The Griffins (10-3) will play at top-seeded Cabrini (15-2), who were 24-2 winners over Centenary in the other semifinal, next Saturday in the title game. It marks the fourth appearance in the championship game for GMercyU and the first since the 2016 season. Time is TBA.
Ryan Simpson (Upper Darby) scored three times, including a man-up tally, and Dominic Moscariello (Lansdale Catholic) added two scores and two assists, but it was the Griffin defense, one of the top ranked units in Division III, not allowing a single second-half goal in the win. The defense yielded zero Pacer shots in the fourth quarter alone.
After the teams traded scores in the first, the Pacers’ Matt Casto gave them their first lead with his tally 2:34 into the second. The Griffins cashed in late in the frame with both tallies from Moscariello with under a minute in the second quarter to take a 4-3 lead at the half. His first came on the man-up after a Marywood penalty during a timeout. Joey Giordano won the ensuing faceoff to give possession and another Gwynedd timeout to set up one last play before halftime. With just three seconds left, Jacob Snavely fed Moscariello for the eventual go-ahead goal.
Goals from Jordan Dzierzgowski (Washington Township) and Kohler Setley (La Salle) in the third quarter opened up a three-goal advantage. In the fourth, Lucas Gray (Harry S Truman) got on the scoring act, as the sophomore netted his first tally of the season to make it 7-3. Simpson closed out the scoring with two more, the last coming on diving effort across the crease with 3:43 to go.
Defensively, goalie Chris Burns (Washington Township) made eight saves and added two caused turnovers to help keep the Pacers off the board in the final two quarters. Giordano was 4-for-8 and Nick Heiler (Lansdale Catholic) was 4-for-6 on faceoffs.
Casto added two assists while teammate Zach Vaughan tallied twice for Marywood (8-8).
Cabrini 24, Centenary 2
The Cabrini men’s lacrosse team made its reservation for a 19th consecutive appearance in the Colonial States Athletic Conference championship game today, as the Cavaliers cruised to a 24-2 win over Centenary University.
The Blue and White was in prime form as it scored a 24-2 win over the Cyclones in today’s CSAC Tournament semifinal at Edith Robb Dixon Field.
Cabrini, the tournament’s top seed, will host number two seed Gwynedd Mercy (10-3) in Saturday’s title game, after the Griffins topped Marywood 9-3 in today’s other semifinal. Saturday will mark the fourth time the Cavaliers and Griffins have met in the championship tilt.
Fourteen Cavaliers marked the scoring column in today’s victory, with four players recording three goals. Freshman Kyle Tucker led the Blue and White with three goals and three assists, while junior Jordan Krug (Cherokee) paired three goals and two assists.
Junior Timmy Brooks (Haverford School) and freshman Griffin Shira also notched hat tricks. Juniors Nicholas Waligurski (Berks Catholic) and Bill Morgan (Marple Newtown) also joined sophomore Ty Kostack (Marple Newtown) with three points each, as the trio combined for four goals and five assists.
Sophomores Mike Gerzabek (Springfield-Delco) matched Morgan’s two goals, while classmates Matt LoParo and Ty Moschella (Garnet Valley) added a goal and an assist each.
The Cavaliers’ dominance at the faceoff spot sparked the offense, as Cabrini won 11 of the 17 faceoffs in the first half. Senior Riley Michaels (Pottsgrove) won 10 of his 16 chances and scooped a team-high four ground balls.
Freshmen Nick Matty (Springfield-Delco) and Corey Carver scooped three ground balls each, while six Cavaliers secured two loose balls.
Junior goaltender Riley White (Plymouth Whitemarsh) recorded four first half saves to secure his 13th win of the campaign. Sophomore Matt Nestler and freshman Leo Godefroy (Princeton) combined for three second half stops.
The Blue and White forced 10 of Centenary’s 17 turnovers on the day, while committing just six of its own. Senior Ethan Trusty (Penncrest) accounted for two caused turnovers.
Nolan Gottshall and Nick Biango recorded the goals for the Cyclones (5-8), while Chris Snow went 14-26 at the X and secured 11 ground balls. Wayne Safreed suffered the loss in the cage, despite recording six first half saves.
