Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 5/18/23 – Staff Report
Haverford School used a 4-0 run in the third period to erase a 6-4 deficit and toppled Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, 12-8, Wednesday at West Chester University to advance to the Inter-Ac League Tournament finals.
The Fords (17-2), who won the Inter-Ac championship by virtue of an undefeated regular season (10-0), will play Malvern Prep for the tourney crown Saturday at West Chester’s Farrell Stadium at noon. Second-seeded Malvern Prep (15-7) advanced with a 16-7 triumph over Episcopal Academy.
Haverford School led, 4-3, at halftime, but the Blue Devils tied it on a goal by Finn Dougherty (one goal, one assist) with 7:53 to play in the third period and Brendan Dundas (three goals, one assist) put SCH ahead 1:12 later. Just 11 seconds later, Dougherty fed Dundas after another faceoff win by Ross Prince (16 of 22) to give Springside Chestnut Hill a 6-4 advantage.
Haverford, though, converted off a 2-man advantage as Wills Burt (two goals) beat Hayes Schreiner (22 saves) with 1:55 to play in the period. Jack Long tied it with 30.5 seconds left in the period.
Burt then put the Fords ahead, 7-6 early in the final frame and Aydan DiRocco scored to make it 8-6.
Ryan DiRocco led the Fords with four goals and an assist and Brady O’Kane scored twice while Colin Zeller had a goal and two assists. Brody Murphy had 13 saves in goal.
Also for SCH (11-9), Stevie Pileggi had two goals and two assists and Cole Carberry scored twice.
For Malvern Prep, Ennis Udo pumped in six goals and had one assist and AJ Nikolic had four goals and two assists while Michael Ortlieb added two goals and four assists. EA (12-9) – which got two goals each from Lucas Slate and TJ Lamb – opened with a 2-0 lead, but the Friars scored seven unanswered goals to seize control.
The Fords, ranked No. 1 by Phillylacrosse.com and No. 3 in both national polls, have defeated Malvern Prep (No. 3 by Phillylacrosse.com) twice this year and ended the Friars’ 4-season hold on the Inter-Ac championship.
Inter-Ac League Tournament semifinals
Haverford School 12, Springside Chestnut Hill 8
Haverford School
Ryan DiRocco – 4g/1a
Colin Zeller – 1g/2a
Brady O’Kane – 2g
Wills Burt – 2g
Aydan DiRocco – 1g/1a
Jack Long – 1g
Gavin Cooper – 1g
Brendan Leary – 1a
Wells Flinn – 1a
Brody Murphy – 13 Saves
Griff Meyer – 4GB’s
Aydan DiRocco – 3GB’s
Ben McCarthy/Griff Meyer – 7/23 FO’s
Springside Chestnut Hill
Brendan Dundas 3g, 1a
Cole Carberry 2g
Finn Dougherty 1g, 1a
Stevie Pileggi 2g, 2gb
Charlton McDevitt 2gb
Hunter Rexford 2gb
Hayes Schreiner 22 saves
Ross Prince 16/23 FO, 14GB
Malvern Prep 16, Episcopal Academy 7
Malvern 2-6-4-4-16
Episcopal 2-3-0-2- 7
Malvern Prep
AJ Nikolic – 4g, 2a
Michael Ortlieb – 2g, 4a
Ennis Udo – 6g, 1a
Hagen Mctear – 1 goal
Cullen Lotz – 1 A
Billy Irish – 1 G
Owen Mears – 1 G, 1 A
Jack Lehman – 1 G
Peri Dibartolomeo – 1 A
Roman Buono – 4 GB, 3 CT
Lucca DiBartolomeo – 4 Gb, 5 CT
Patrick Keenan – 3 GB
Chris Rabena – 10 saves
Nick Wehmeyer – 6/20 FO
Aidan Cabahug-Almonte – 1/6 FO
EA
Lucas Slate 2G
TJ Lamb 2G
Charlie Kraftson 1A
Eddie Jones 1G
John Malone 1G
Jake Manion 1G
Brody Garrison 3 GB’s
Jack Guido 10 saves
Will Hohn 20/25 FO