Wissahickon gets defensive in win over Plymouth Whitemarsh

WHITEMARSH — In normal years and under normal circumstances, Tuesday morning’s Wissahickon-Plymouth Whitemarsh boys lacrosse game might have been considered a huge contest with Suburban One League American Conference title implications.

But with Upper Dublin loaded to the gills and playing as though it might be in the state-championship hunt, the stakes the Trojans and Colonials were likely playing for was a District One playoff berth.

And in a contest that saw both head coaches displeased with their respective attacks, a 4-1 Wissahickon win was probably not unexpected.

“We definitely played great team defense today,’ said PW’s first-year head coach Bryan Gregg, “but, offensively, we didn’t do a good job maintaining possession.’

“We had some missed opportunities,’ echoed the Trojans’ first-year head coach Dan Layfield. “Our attack has to finish better.’

That became obvious almost immediately as the two sides played a scoreless first period while totaling a combined nine shots.

Wissahickon’s Nate DeGroat changed that at the 8:28 mark of the second period, rifling a pass from John Carrozza past PW netminder Riley White to put the visitors on top.

Carrozza, who would finish with a goal and two assists, said the Trojans are using a different offense this season, and that while the team is enjoying its emphasis on personal creativity, there are still a few bugs that only time and familiarity will cure.

“Our offense is more open than it was last year,’ Carrozza said. “Last year’s, we felt, was a little too strict. But this year the coaches are letting us play, and we’re comfortable with it.

“PW’s defense played really well, but we should have buried more of our shots.’

Carrozza doubled the Trojans’ lead with an unassisted goal with 1:36 left in the half, and Wissahickon seemed to be in control.

But when PW’s Alex Saverese tallied on the Colonials’ first possession with just 53 seconds gone in the second half, the home team seemed poised for a comeback.

But it wasn’t to be.

Eric Kaufman scored midway through the quarter, and the Trojans were able to nurse that lead the rest of the way.

Only Jack Shea’s goal, again off a pass from Carrozza, midway through the final period, would be added to the scoring column.

“We lost 17 seniors from last year’s team,’ Layfield said, “but we have a good returning core, and they’ve really worked hard in the off-season.

“We’re also looking for some contributions from our younger players, and they have shown us some good things early in the season.’

“Our hope and our goal is to make the playoffs,’ Gregg said of the Colonials. “We want to compete in the league.

“The league seems a little more competitive this year, and we’d like to win all the games we should win and maybe squeak out a few more.’

If Wissahickon is to, at least, challenge Upper Dublin the SOL American, Carrozza said they’ll need everybody’s best.

“We have to start using more of what we have,’ Carrozza said. “We’re expecting a lot out of the guys who are coming up to varsity.’

OVERTIME: Wissahickon outshot PW, 24-11. … PW’s netminder Riley White made nine saves, while Wissahickon’s Jack Myers had five stops.