By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 6/1/23
The first District 1 championship was special to West Chester Rustin’s boys’ lacrosse team.
“I’m so excited right now,” said Rustin senior goalie Billy Carney, who had 13 saves in Wednesday’s 9-4 victory over Marple Newtown in the District 1 2A title game at West Chester East. “I felt I played well, but the team as a unit was firing on all cylinders, doing exactly what coach (Kevin Philibin) has been preaching to us all season.
“It’s so big for the school. It’s been empty of lacrosse banners and finally, we’re going to bring one back.”
With Carney anchoring the defense, the Golden Knights (16-5) overcame an early 2-0 deficit, holding the defending champion Tigers (16-5) scoreless for two full quarters. In that span, Rustin used a 4-0 run to lead, 7-3, as Jake Jackson (4G, 2A), Antonio Santangelo (3G, 1A) and Marek Seaman (2G) led the attack.
WC Rustin – making its first state tournament appearance in school history – will open PIAA play Tuesday against District 2 runner-up Scranton Prep at a site and time to be determined. In the same top bracket, Marple Newtown, the 2022 state runner-up, faces District 2 champion Wyoming Seminary Tuesday at a site and time to be determined.
“I am ecstatic right now,” said Rustin coach Philibin. “We kind of got the monkey off our back last game (an 11-3 semifinal win over Bishop Shanahan) when we got into the championship game and into states. Winning was always the goal, but it kind of loosened us up.
“I just love this team and they’ve been through so much. The seniors lost freshman year (due to the pandemic) and they lost in the (district) semis the past two years to some good teams. So, for them to break through and achieve some goals they set for themselves, I’m just really really happy for all of them.”
The Tigers took the quick lead on goals by freshman Evan Kostack (two goals) and Robert Wagner, but Jackson tallied his first one soon after and then tied it before Seaman made it 3-2 early in the second period. Kostack scored again to tie it, but Santangelo and Seaman put the Knights up for good heading into the halftime break.
Carney and the Rustin defense took over as neither team scored in the third quarter, but Jackson converted twice early in the fourth.
“I feel like I am on top of the world,” said Jackson. “They knocked us out last year. We went down 2-0, but we climbed back.
“Billy Carney played out of his mind. He stood tall in the net and everyone was dialed in. We knew if the outcome was right, it would be something nobody in the history of Rustin lacrosse has ever experienced.”
Said Carney: “Coming right back after their second goal was big for us to get the momentum back and keep us firing for the rest of the game.”
Marple Newtown played without standout sophomore midfielder Brian Box, who has been out with an undisclosed medical reason.
“They are missing Box and that hurts a little bit, but these guys can play and they move the ball super well,” said Philibin. “Our defense did a very good job of getting through their rotations, sliding into coverage, communicating with each other and allowing Billy to see the ball. When Billy sees the ball, he can get hot and we can compete with anybody.”
Marple Newtown coach Kevin Merchant said the Tigers will regroup and aim at another shot for a state run.
“I think we have got to clean up some stuff,” he said. “We were flat in some areas. I think we were a little tight, not making that extra pass and not really making the goalie move side to side. I’m not taking anything away from him, he played a heck of a game.
“These were two good teams. We take everything as a learning experience and what we learn from this game will make us better next week.”
District 1 2A Championship
WC Rustin 9, Marple Newtown 4
Marple Newtown 2-1-0-1- 4
WC Rustin 2-3-0-4- 9
WC Rustin
Jake Jackson 4g 2a
Antonio Santangelo 3g 1a
Marek Seaman 2g
Jack O’Hora 2a
Nate Pechin 1a
Billy Carney 13 saves
MN
Evan Kostack 2G
Joey Yukenavitch 1G
Rob Wagner 1G
Alex Chambers 9/16 F/O
Marco Dalicandro 5 Saves
