Hopkins moves on, so does Springfield in taking down Manheim Township

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EXETER TWP. — The play in transition developed perfectly, Springfield passing down the field, tic-tac-toe. All that was left was middie Colin Hopkins, an out-of-position Manheim Township goalie and a lot of available goal-netting.

The only aspect missing was Hopkins applying a finish, as his shot early in the second quarter sailed wide and his hands found the sides of his helmet in dismay.

“Sometimes you’re going to miss the net,” the junior said. “You’ve just got to get over it and not focus on it too much, because then you’re going to keep missing the net. So you’ve got to move on to the next play.”

For the rest of the PIAA Class 3A first-round game at Exeter Township High School Tuesday, Hopkins connected much more than he missed.

The junior scored three goals as the Cougars put on a magisterial performance on both ends, upending the District 3 and reigning state champion Blue Streaks, 11-5.

Hopkins didn’t miss the next time he got a chance just a minute later, a sterling counter-attack started by a Jimmy Donegan save. The ball filtered through long-stick middie Jack Gerzabek to Liam DiFonzo to Jack Clark on one side of the crease feeding the opposite post to Hopkins to punch it home.

“It’s pretty good because then you’re not really thinking about the one you missed,” Hopkins said. “You’re thinking about the next one and the next one after that.”

Hopkins took a skip pass from DiFonzo in the final minute of the second and ripped one home to send Springfield into the break leading 6-4. And he made the single play that arguably typified Springfield’s effort early in the third when he was handcuffed by a pass into the slot, then checked a Manheim defensive middie’s stick to scoop the ground ball and whiz a shot past Tyler Moritzen in one motion.

Springfield (19-4) was in control on both ends. Senior Jack Spence scored three goals, the first two off peerless dodges, the third on a man-up from Aidan Smith. DiFonzo had two goals and an assist, and Jack Clark provided three goals and two assists. His last tally, a gritty sneak of the cage, involved absorbing a slash to the head and surviving a stick check, much to the bemusement of the Cougars bench.

That was more than enough for a Springfield defense that welcomed back three-time All-American Pat Clemens. The Saint Joseph’s commit injured his hamstring in the win over Avon Grove at the Katie Samson Lacrosse Festival, and the Cougars were just 5-3 without him.

Others have grown in his stead, and Clemens’ reintroduction to a wiser and tougher unit showed.

“It’s really huge,” senior pole Jeff Biancaniello said. “He just completes the whole defense. When he’s there, communication’s up and everything. He makes us a way better defense. He’s a really good leader.”

“Knowing that Pat’s back is great because it just completes the defense,” Hopkins said. “The talk is there, the communication is there. They’re a solid unit.”

Each member of the young defense — Biancaniello, Gerzabek, Ryan O’Connor and Connor Smyth — had to assume more responsibility with Clemens out. Now that he’s back, that seasoning shows.

Manheim tied the game at four when Sean Curcio snuck a shot short-side with 3:13 left in the second quarter. The Blue Streaks would get just eight more shots the rest of the game, only one in the fourth quarter. The combination of Springfield’s patient, prudent offense limited them to about a minute of possession in the final frame. Donegan, who had six saves, made one clutch denial in transition in the fourth, and the other two possessions ended with Biancaniello and Clemens separating overzealous Blue Streaks from the ball.

“We just play good on-ball defense and don’t give them any easy goals to let them get back in,” Biancaniello said. “… I thought we really played well together, everyone on the defensive end.”

Curcio had a goal and an assist for Manheim, who played most of the way without midfielder Bryce Hutchinson due to injury. Moritzen made eight saves.

But there was no stopping a focused Springfield squad that combined the emotion of Clemens’ return with a rare two-game losing streak and a newfound underdog mentality.

“Just the energy was at the highest I’ve ever seen this team,” Hopkins said. “So they knew that they were the higher seed, that we’re the underdogs, so we came in as an underdog story.”

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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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