Strath Haven Wills its way to win over Penncrest

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NETHER PROVIDENCE >> Will Bozentka knew things would have to be adjusted this week.

He and his Strath Haven teammates faced one of the most daunting weeks on the schedule, and early in the week, they learned attackman Jack Borbee would miss out with an injury.

So with Radnor looming Tuesday, then Thursday’s Media Bowl against Penncrest and the Malvern Prep Saturday kicker, there’s wasn’t much time to recalibrate.

“We knew someone had to step up,” Bozentka said.

The Panthers received plenty of volunteers in Thursday night’s 12-7 win over Penncrest, spreading the scoring load evenly.

Jeffrey Conner was his usually influential self, pairing two goals with two assists. Bozentka and Will Huestis each emerged with two goals and an assist, while attackmen Sam Mutz and Tyler Fink buried two goals apiece.

That offensive distribution meant that even a talented Penncrest defense couldn’t come to grips with who to key on and how to consistently mute the Panthers.

Haven deposited three straight goals late in a lively first quarter — a streak started by Huestis, continued by defenseman Anders Camp in transition and capped by a Conner rip with 8.9 ticks left — to build a 5-2 lead it would never relinquish. Three unanswered goals in the second quarter built the margin to 8-3 at the break, and while Penncrest cut it to three entering the final stanza, Haven saw out the result with a scoreless fourth.

The win keeps Haven (12-1, 7-1 Central League) apace with the league leaders in a four-way tie atop the standings. It’s also the first time Strath Haven has topped Penncrest since 2009.

Haven needed another Will to preserve the win: Goaltender Will Brake. He made 14 saves, including five in the first six minutes of the game, several of outstanding quality.

“It really builds up the confidence, helps you see the ball really well, and it carries on throughout the whole game,” Brake said.

There was one blemish on his record, though. Conner’s goal with 8.9 ticks left in the first quarter appeared to secure the momentum for Haven. But Penncrest threatened to steal it back when Zach Groses (14-for-22 on draws) won the faceoff and handed off to pole Ryan Granger, who took a couple strides and ripped a 35-yard blast through the wickets of Brake.

“You just have to forget it, wipe it right out of your mind and get to the next one,” Brake said.

More often than not, he succeeded. Ryan Kinnard scored three times to go with an assist, and Alex Bonnett (goal, assist) was largely muzzled by Camp. Outside of those two dangers, Brake was generally equal to the task presented by the Lions.

Penncrest (8-4, 5-3) did itself few favors with a glut of turnovers. Some were attributable to rainy conditions that made simple tasks treacherous for both sides. But the youth and lack of experience in the Lions’ attack was evident, particularly in the face of an aggressive Haven defense that slid early to cut down time and space for Bonnett and Kinnard.

That’s part of the reason why Kinnard, the Hofstra-bound All-Delco midfielder, convened a players meeting after coach Wayne Matsinger concluded his brief postgame remarks.

“We’ve got a lot of young guys this year, and trying to help build them into varsity lacrosse players and teach them that they need to put work in if they want good results out,” Kinnard said. “We’ve been having trouble at the start of every half, catching and throwing the ball, and I’m just trying to figure that out and see what we can do.”

The Lions came out with a spark in the second half, shrugging off a goal by Fink 97 seconds into the third quarter that stretched the lead to its largest at 9-3. Bonnett, David Stevens and Kinnard (off a nifty feed from Bonnett with a man-advantage) rattled off three straight goals.

When Fink bulged the cushion back to four, Kinnard answered with 17 seconds left in the third, restoring the three-goal margin and setting up what could’ve been a dramatic final 12 minutes.

Instead, Brake and the defense suffocated the game, aided by Bozentka scoring 69 seconds into the fourth to restore the four-goal spread and notch a memorable win.

“We knew we had to come out strong, and when that happened, we knew right from there, from the get-go, mental toughness as coach always says,” Bozentka said. “And everyone bought into that.”

Also in the Central League:

Haverford 11, Harriton 6 >> Billy Farrell recorded a hat trick, and Bobby McClure paired two goals with four assists as the Fords (11-2, 7-1) kept pace with the leaders.

Luke McCallion and Cole Lukasiewicz tallied two goals and an assist each, and Danny Tierney made seven saves as the Fords pitched a second-half shutout.

Springfield 9, Radnor 7 >> Kyle Long scored and dished six assists, including the game-winner to Jack Spence as the Cougars (7-6, 4-4) scored the final four goals to overturn a deficit.

Spence, Nick Martin, Mike Vent and Mike Gerzabek scored twice each for Springfield.

Jack Wilson led Radnor (6-7, 3-5) with four goals.

Conestoga 13, Ridley 9 >> Brock Anderson scored four goals, and Cade Stratton added three goals and two assists, but the Green Raiders (6-7, 2-6) couldn’t keep pace as the Pioneers outscored them, 6-3, in the final quarter.

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Matthew De George

Matthew De George
Matthew De George is the Asst. Sports Editor and the lead Union writer for The Daily Times.

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