La Salle’s composure lands Explorers back in PIAA final

 

EXETER >> It would have been easy, maybe even expected for La Salle’s lacrosse team to panic after PIAA semifinal foe Manheim Township scored the first two goals in the two schools’ state semifinal matchup at Exeter Township High School Tuesday afternoon.

The Blue Streaks had a lead, were playing a sticky zone defense, and seemed to have everything going in their favor.

But the Explorers are not prone to the “P” word very often.

And Tuesday was no exception.

“We just kept playing,” said Explorers head coach Bill Leahy. “They got off to that good start and then settled into a zone.

“So all we could do was wait them out.”

Which is what La Salle did.

And pretty soon, the offense came around.

Cody Mazurek’s first-quarter goal got things going, and then it was the Explorers turn to take control.

Four second-period goals pushed La Salle in front by halftime.

And once they had their collective hands around the Blue Streaks’ collective throats, there was no panic, no fear and no stopping the Explorers.

Ten unanswered goals gave La Salle a 10-2 victory and a berth in the state final (where the Explorers will face the Springfield-Delco) Saturday afternoon (2:30) at West Chester East.

But the key for La Salle, Leahy explained, was keeping its collective cool when early goals and a zone defense might have frustrated a less experienced team.

“We worked it out,” Leahy said. “We made a slight adjustment at halftime.

“And once we got the lead, they couldn’t play zone, because all we had to do was get the ball behind the cage and stand there.”

With a 5-2 bulge, the Blue Streaks had to play them straight up.

And while the Explorers offense was making up for its slow start, the Explorers defense put on some clamps of its own.

With the likes of Matt Webster, Dan Jordon and Brett Mallee getting dirty in the trenches, the Explorers held Manheim off the scoreboard for the final 38 minutes-plus (the game was ended with 1:23 left on the fourth-quarter clock when lightning and rain invaded the Exeter complex) as the future state finalists played a little defense of their own.

“After they got the two quick goals we just huddled and decided to do what we’ve done all year,” said La Salle defensive midfielder Austin Clibanoff. “When our offense saw zone, it wasn’t anything new. It was something we’ve seen in our last two (playoff) games.

“Our offense was able to do what it needed to do, and our defense was able to do what it needed to do.”

And behind three goals from Mazurek and two apiece from Matt Clibanoff and Chris Hladczuk, the Explorers got back to a spot with which they’re familiar.

The state final appearance for La Salle will be its fifth since 2004.

But before the finals get underway, Leahy had some kind words for the vanquished Blue Streaks.

“I was very impressed,” Leahy said. “(Manheim) was well prepared to play us, and they played hard for four quarters.”

But as hard as the Streaks played, they couldn’t get La Salle to fall victim to the “P” word.