Civitella’s goal in double-overtime brings disappointing end to Nostrant’s career

RADNOR — Malvern Prep was one second, just a clock-tick, one breath, one blink away Tuesday from celebrating its second consecutive Inter-Ac lacrosse championship in regulation time.

That’s when Haverford School scored to create overtime. And that’s when the Friars’ Matthew Civitella had a telling, foreshadowing and, given the back story of the evening, relevant thought.

“Sweet,” the Malvern senior remembered thinking. “We get to play more lacrosse. I’ve got some more time to play for Malvern.”

So play, he did. And late in the second overtime, Civitella took possession around midfield, apparently figured he’d played enough this season for Malvern, charged deep into Fords territory and scored his second goal of the night for a 9-8, sudden-death victory with 26.4 showing.

That was one side of the play-more-lacrosse spirit.

The other was that, after 28 years of immense success, legendary John Nostrant would not have any more lacrosse to coach at Haverford School. Aware all season that he would depart at its end to become the head coach at the Gillman School in Maryland, Nostrant’s season lasted nearly eight minutes longer than scheduled. Just the same, he would finish the Delaware County portion of his career with 491 wins and not what would have been a dramatic 492.

Desperate to win for the popular Nostrant, Haverford School scored twice within the final 2:15 of regulation to force an 8-8 tie. After Peter Garno scored from Pearse Glavin to draw the Fords within a goal, Mac Costin charged from the left corner with 6.3 seconds left, peeked at the clock which was favorably positioned at that end of the field at neutral-site Cabrini University, and scored to make sure Nostrant would stick around for just a little longer.

“We’re never out of it until the clock hits double-zeros,” Costin said. “We never think we’re out of it. We always think we’re in it. There’s been some close ones. But we always stick around until the clock hits zero.”

Sometimes, though, time runs out, and it did Tuesday for the John Nostrant era.

“It was a tough night,” Costin said. “We wanted to get a win for him. But it is what it is. I wish I could change some things on the field. We can’t do anything about it. But ‘Notie’ has been the greatest coach I’ve ever had, and I think he will be one of the greatest coaches I will ever have.”

Nostrant had the top-seeded Fords prepared, or at least motivated enough early, to score twice within the first 2:43. But second-seeded Malvern, which defeated Haverford in the championship game last year, took an 8-6 lead with 4:55 left in regulation on Colin McGill’s fourth goal. Shortly after, Garno answered with his fifth goal and Costin gave Nostrant just a little more time on the Fords sideline.

“It’s been an honor,” Nostrant said. “It’s been great. Haverford has been great to me. We’ve had two losses in the state of Pennsylvania in two years and unfortunately both were to Malvern, both were here, both were in the last game of the year. So it’s a shame.

“This game doesn’t define our season. There’s a lot of things I probably could have done better this year. But it is what it is.”

Haverford School finished at 17-5. Malvern, which received goals from Nick Potemski, Eric Spanos and Evan Lotz, in addition to the multi-goal Civitella and McGill outbursts, improved to 16-5. Will Peden provided four assists and goalie Will Pettit the winning goaltending.

“That was a big momentum killer, them scoring late like that,” Malvern coach John McEvoy said. “But our defense did a nice job. Our goalie played fabulously. It was a great game. It was a little bittersweet. That guy (Nostrant) is my buddy, and I wanted him to have a little bit of a happy ending, too.

“I’ll miss him.”

It had to end some way. Matthew Civitella was determined to enjoy every moment until it did.

“I saw the goalie dip, I went high, and hoped for the best,” Civitella said. “I knew it was either dish it off or go to the goal. I guess I went to the goal.

“This is unbelievable. My last game. It is surreal.”

At both ends of the field, it was nothing less.

“I’ve been through this so many times as a player and a coach,” Nostrant said. “I am looking at a scoreboard that says 9-8. I don’t think we ‘lost’. I think we had a bunch of great, competitive kids out there who gave it their all. That’s what we ask them to do. We ask them for so much, and they gave everything out there tonight. That’s all you can do.”

For 28 years, Nostrant gave plenty to Haverford School, which next season will be led by former Widener and Haverford College coach Brendan Dawson.

Regrets?

“None,” Nostrant said. “I put my faith and trust in God and I believe this is what is meant to be. I am excited about what’s next. But it’s hard to leave Haverford. There’s no doubt. It has been a part of my life for 28 years. But you can’t do anything about the past. And I am looking forward.”