By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 5/21/22
Hill School had just whipped Kiski Prep, 16-6, a week earlier.
But the Blues were not expecting to roll over Kiski today in the semifinals of the Victory Events Mid-Atlantic Prep Championships at Academy of the New Church.
And indeed it was a different game.
Hill (12-5) found itself in an 8-8 tie early in the fourth period against the physical Cougars, but scored three unanswered goals to claim an 11-8 victory and a berth in the title game.
The final is an ideal matchup that pits Hill vs. Academy of the New Church (15-4) at ANC’s turf field at 1:30 p.m. ANC (ranked No. 7 by Phillylacrosse and No. 4 among PA privates in the PA State Rankings) defeated Hill (No. 10 by Phillylacrosse, No. 5 among privates) in a tight 8-7 contest just 10 days ago.
Hill junior midfielder Noah Macielag put his team up, 8-7, with a hockey-style tip-in, with 8:46 to play, but Kiski’s David Peterkin tallied this third of the game to tie it 29 seconds later. Macielag put the Blues ahead for good with 5:02 to play and then Hill’s Pierce Hart won the remaining faceoffs while Eric Kolar (2G, 4a) and Will Lesko scored insurance tallies.
“They came out more physical than last time,” said Macielag of the Cougars (18-9). “With them winning the groundballs and being so physical it rattled us since we call ourselves a pretty physical team.”
“There’s no doubt that it was a much different game than last Saturday,” added Hill senior defenseman and Maryland signee Will Schaller. “We were expecting that, it was a tournament setting. But I think we stuck to our fundamentals and played our game.”
Anthony McMullan scored three first-half goals and Hill led, 6-3, at intermission before Kiski – which scored three times on the EMO – went on a 4-1 surge. One key was tying up Hart – who dominated the faceoff X in the first meeting – with a pole.
“I’m pretty happy with how the guys played,” said Kiski senior midfielder and RIT commit Nicholas DiLauro, who had two goals. “We didn’t back down.”
Hill also got some key saves from senior goalie Andrew Albert (9 saves).
Hill admitted it must win the groundball battle to beat ANC.
“When we played them last time we were not good on the ground,” said Macielag. “We need to make sure we come up with possessions and not give unforced errors, but we must win the groundballs and if we do that we’ll have a good game.
Hill coach Dave Page agreed: “They (ANC Lions) are incredibly well coached with some really talented players. I think we have more depth. I think they beat us in the groundball battle the first time. If we’re kicking the ball around like we did today that will hurt us. But it’s going to be fun.”
Hill School 11, Kiski Prep 8
Hill 2-4-1-4 – 11
Kiski 0-3-2-3- 8
Kiski
Eric Ward 2g
Nicholas DiLauro 2g
David Peterkin 3g
Nicholas Cuda 1a
Jackson Smith 1a
Carter Accursi 1g
Donald Gillingham 1a
Adam Daley 9 saves
Hill School
Eric Kolar 2g, 4a
Noah Macielag 2g
Anthony McMullan 3g, 1a
Hayden Fruhling 2a
Harry Winter 1g
Will Lesko 1g
Michael Kapral 1g
Joey Asterino 1a
Eli Schaller 1a
Andrew Mannato 1a
Andrew Albert 9 saves