Quick-draw McCallion helps Haverford put away Penncrest

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MIDDLETOWN >> The strategy session in the Haverford huddle at halftime was concise Tuesday night. Coach Greg Decina didn’t introduce new ideas as much as refine execution of what brought the Fords a first-half lead against Penncrest.

The first item on the list was remarkably simple, just a tweak and a nod between faceoff man Luke McCallion and wing Jack Farrell. And that small change sent the Fords on their way.

McCallion won 14 of 17 draws, including all nine contested after halftime, as Haverford triumphed, 9-4, in a Central League affair.

With Penncrest electing to contain McCallion and the Fords’ potent run-and-gun attack with pole Zach Granger, McCallion went to plan B, a quick swipe at possession shoveling the ball backward to Farrell to scoop up. It wasn’t the most technically proficient way to dominate the draws, but it got the job done.

“Luke’s always got something up his sleeve,” said Farrell, who gobbled up eight ground balls and assisted on a Matt Young tally in the third quarter. “I think he’s one of the best if not the best faceoff guy around. He always trusts me, and I trust him. … That’s what got us going in the second half, Luke winning them back to me and me getting it right back to him and letting him run the offense.”

Haverford goalie Danny Tierney denies a shot as teammate Mike Romanofsky, center, and Penncrest’s Zach Granger look on Tuesday. Tierney made five stops in a 9-4 Haverford win. (Digital First Media/Anne Neborak)

With the steady flow of the ball, a Fords side that entered the game averaging 12 goals per game settled into Tuesday’s leisurely pace. The rotation of a half-dozen attacking threats yielded goals from extended possession for the Fords (6-3 overall, 3-2 league).

Cole Lukasiewicz set the early tone, teaming with Jack Daly for a pair of first-quarter goals. Lukasiewicz added an unassisted tally midway through a languid second quarter to make it 3-0, then provided the back-breaker after Cody Hershock fought off a John Sheivert shot, depositing the carom with five ticks left in the third to make it a 7-3 ballgame.

“I guess it’s just the feel through the game,” Lukasiewicz said. “I try to come into every game with that confidence. That’s a mentality you want.”

McCallion’s work on draws epitomized the Fords’ attention to detail. Both first-quarter tallies capitalized on (albeit soft) Penncrest penalties. The Fords scored four goals in the final 90 seconds of periods, including Daly (from McCallion) and Lukasiewicz in the final 58 ticks of the third.

Daly and Nick DiIorio scored twice apiece, Daly adding an assist. Both teams added goals from defensemen, with Granger and Haverford’s Mike Dice tallying.

Granger’s goal is a particular point of emphasis for the Lions (2-7, 1-4). Penncrest’s lineup has been decimated by injuries, with seven starters missing time this year, including Granger. With the strength of a senior-laden defense that includes he and Zack Kaut, the calculus of when to attack and when to pull back is different than most teams, as Granger showed on a groundball clear that he lost, regathered, then circled the net and whipped home in the third quarter.

“You just have to make a good decision with the ball,” Granger said. “If we have a chance to go, we go. But especially if we have a long defensive stand, we like to bring it out and let the offense work.”

Joe Quintiliano added a pair of goals, but the Lions got no closer than 4-3 on Granger’s goal at 5:19. That owed in part to Haverford’s aggressive defense taking advantage of the Lions’ youth.

“We kind of wanted to get after it today,” Farrell said. “Coach Decina’s always getting on us. He lets us play our game, but in the structure that he wants, which is good. We can really get behind him and what he wants from us. He kind of let us play our game a little bit today.”

Young answered Granger’s tally within 10 seconds, orchestrated by Farrell in transition. The quick response illustrated the Fords’ aspiration to dictate a low-scoring game. They’ve shown an ability to outlast teams in the teens in the last two successful seasons, but mastering games in single-digits best serves their long-term goals.

“We want to be able to do everything,” Farrell said. “We want to be able to play 4-2 at halftime; we want to be able to play 10-9 at halftime. We want to be able to do everything to make sure we’re ready for all situations coming down into the second half of the year.”

Also in the Central League:

Conestoga 17, Strath Haven 7 >> Liam Carney scored twice, but the Pioneers pulled away in a battle of Central League elites.

Springfield 18, Upper Darby 1 >> Kyle Long scored once and dished six assists as coach Tom Lemieux picked up his 100th win in charge of the Cougars.

Zach Broomall, Mike Vent, Joey DeBernardi and Jack Spence scored twice each for Springfield (8-2, 4-1).

Radnor 15, Harriton 4 >> Jackson Birtwistle tucked away four goals as the Raiders won the middle two quarters by a 12-1 margin.

Drew Brown registered a hat trick, and Connor Pierce and Clayton Proctor tallied twice apiece for Radnor (7-3, 4-1).

Marple Newtown 18, Lower Merion 5 >> Alex Viola led a balanced scoring attack with three goals and three assists, and Alex Funk (two goals, three assists) and James Kelly (goal, three assists) also celebrated big days to power the Tigers (8-3, 2-3).

Garnet Valley 18, Ridley 8 >> Devon Tavani recorded a hat trick for the Green Raiders in defeat. Details were not reported for the Jaguars.

In the Inter-Ac League:

Penn Charter 9, Haverford School 7 >> Luke O’Grady scored three goals and added an assist, and Johnny Nostrant marked his return from injury with two goals and a helper, but the Quakers beat the Fords (6-4 (2-1) for the first time since 2003, a run of 28 straight setbacks, to throw open the doors to the league title race.

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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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