Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 5/20/23 – Staff Report
West Chester University men’s senior co-captain Anthony Bachmayer said few expected his Golden Rams to win a National championship – except the Rams themselves.
“This is a high-energy team with loads of talent,” he said. “A lot of people doubted us and I couldn’t be more proud of these guys for putting our heads down all season and working in silence.
“We always knew the results would speak for themselves.”
Sunday at Penn State, the Rams proved Bachmayer right, routing High Point, 18-6, to claim the NCLL Division II National title. The Rams (12-3) avenged a 6-3 loss to High Point earlier in the year and claimed their first National title since 2017.
Mike Federico (Boyertown, SR ATT) and Dane Hagen (Perkiomen Valley, FR MF) shared the MVP award for the Final Four as West Chester defeated Brown, 13-9, and Louisville, 15-10, in the first two rounds of the tournament last Saturday. The Rams had to rally from an early 4-0 deficit in the semis against Louisville.
WCU, the 8-time Liberty Conference Champion, got key performances also from sophomore defenseman Ryan McCauley, senior goalie Blaze Hake, freshman midfielder Dan Brown, sophomore midfielder Troy Corson, and freshman faceoff specialist Ryan Ritti. Senior co-captains Vinny Riccardo and David Turnbull also were key contributors.
Hake had 20 saves in the title win and Hagen had six goals and an assist while Brown scored three goals and Federico, Matt Monroy and Travis Hershey each had two.
Head Coach Robert Amanto said: “We had to get out of our own way and heads. This is a talented group of young men and the skies are the limit when we learn to beat our biggest opponent, ourselves. If we play like we know we should we could win every game.” Amanto was assisted by Garrett O’Neil.
Scoring vs. High Point – 18-6 championship win
Dane Hagen 6g, 1a
Dan Brown 3g
Mike Federico 2g
Travis Hershey 2g
Matt Monroy 2g
Cain Tarquini 1g
Lane Facciolli 1g
Anthony Pileggi 1g
Scoring in Saturday’s games:
Brown: 13-9 W
Mike Federico- 4 goals
Matt Monroy- 3 goals
Dan Brown- 3 goals
Travis Hershey- 1 goal
Cole D’Annunzio- 1 goal
Dane Hagen- 1 goal
Louisville: 15-10 W
Mike Federico- 6 goals
Dane Hagen- 1 goal 6 assists
Dane Brown- 3 goals
Cole D’Annunzio 2 goals
Lane Facciolli- 2 goals
Blaize Botley- 1 goal
WCU roster
Dane Hagen Perkiomen Valley
Anthony Pleggi Archbishop Wood
Aidan Stansfield Garnet Valley
Wyatt Graham Twin Valley
Anthony Bachmayer Upper Moreland
Will Levin Wyomissing
Liam Fickes Penncrest
Blaise Botley Exeter
Vinny Riccardo Bishop Shanahan
Dan Brown Devon Prep
Andreas Mckendry Haverford High
Boomer Schroder Berks Catholic
Evan Fey Crestwood
John Krawczyk Bayard Rustin
Cole D’Annunzio Garnet Valley
Matt Monroy Scotch Plains-Fanwood
Travis Hershey Lower Dauphin
Connor Gunzelmann Spring-Ford
Matt Mueller William Tennent
Sam Meighan Delone Catholic
David Turnbull Avon Grove
Bob Stockbower Central York
Ryan D’Annunzio Oxford
Mike Federico Boyertown
Lane Facciolli Wilson West Lawn
Ryan Ritti Bishop Shanahan
Cain Tarquini Marple Newton
Aidan Brown Bayard Rustin
Gray McManus Kennett
Blaze Hake Central York
Colin Hetzel Neshaminy
Jackson Burns Easton
Troy Corson Wilson West Lawn
