North Penn survives test from rival Lansdale Catholic

TOWAMENCIN >> It  was just your everyday, normal North Penn-Lansdale Catholic clash Friday night when the two rivals exchanged non-literal blows at North Penn High School.

The Knights came out on top, 7-5, but the yelling, running, cheering and verbal taunts might still be going on.

Ultimately, it was a goal by Nick Keim late in the second period and a goal by Jake Diamond early in the fourth that turned out to be the difference on the scoreboard.

But the game was also a showcase for LC goaltender Bob Bausman, who not only made 16 saves but all but put the Crusaders on his shoulders and kept them in the game.

The visitors owned the first quarter, outshooting their hosts, 9-4, and taking a 2-0 lead on goals by Phil White and Joe Walsh.

But the Knights got back into it in the second period and behind three  goals by Luke Homan and a fourth from Nick Keim, carried a 4-3 lead into the half.

The real star of the show, however, was  Bausman, who not only had seven first-half saves, but made himself a threat moving the ball out of trouble.

With a two-goal lead in the third quarter, the Crusaders made it interesting when Mike Basilii found the net at the 6:01 mark of the third to pull the visitors within a goal.

But the Knights restored their two-goal lead on Keim’s goal with 3:23 left in the third.

Up 6-4 heading into the final stanza, the Knights got the goal from  Diamond to go up by three goals, then held on through a frantic finish that had everyone in attendance grafted to their seats until the final horn.

LC had multiple possessions down the stretch, and came close to making it a game, but were turned away by a revitalized Knights defense.

By game’s end, an incredible Transylvania-esque mist covered the field, and North Penn head coach Rick Smith had nothing but praise for the Crusaders.

“They battled their butts off tonight,” Smith said. “But our guys rose up and gave us a win.

“Guys like Brandon Ullman battled, got some key groundballs for us.

“But LC played us tough. For then, this was like the Super Bowl.”