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TREDYFFRIN >> The official 2024 roster for the Conestoga boys’ lacrosse team lists goaltender Mikey Johnson as a senior. He is, of course, just a junior, but Johnson has been so steady and poised since starting as a sophomore, the mistake is understandable.
With Johnson taking a lead role yet again, the Pioneers opened the District 1 3A Tournament with a dominating 9-3 victory over visiting Council Rock South in what is normally a very tight battle between the No. 16 and No. 17 seeds.
“I am actually kind of surprised. I thought it would be a closer game, but I’ll certainly take a win like this,” Johnson said.
“Everybody stepped up when we needed it – especially Mikey,” added senior attacker Clif Hawkins. “It’s a big relief having him in there for us.”
Now 13-6 overall, ’Stoga advances to round two where top-seeded Springfield (Delco) – a Central League rival — awaits on Thursday. The Pioneers fell to the Cougars 12-1 last month.
“Springfield is one of the best teams in the state,” said Conestoga head coach Brody Bush. “It will be a challenge, but that’s why you play the game. The last time we played them, they served us a defeat. But we also learned a lot and we’ve improved since then.
“I hope our guys give the effort that it’s going to take: 100 percent from everybody on the team. That will give us a shot.”
And with a backstop like Johnson, the Pioneers always have a chance. He turned aside a dozen shots sent his way by Council Rock South, who ends the season with a 12-7 mark.
“Mikey plays like a senior,” Bush said. “He is a leader and a captain for our team. Big players perform in big moments, and that’s what he does. He gives us a chance to win any game.
“In my opinion, he’s one of the best goalies in the country.”
Over taxed for a large chunk of the regular season, the Conestoga defense had a worry-free start on Tuesday thanks to an offensive barrage in the early going by the attack. The Pioneers peppering the CRS cage, and Hawkins finally hit paydirt, off a pass from Liam Donovan, on ’Stoga’s sixth shot on goal in the opening three minutes of play. Less than a minute later, senior Adrien Grove made it 2-0 with a man-up goal.
“As a goalie, you always want to make a save on that first shot, but it didn’t go that way today,” Johnson said. “But when you score the first goal, it always brings the energy.”
The Golden Hawks got on the scoreboard late in the opening period, but the Pioneers notched the next four to take a 6-1 lead into the break. Grove added his second of the game, senior midfielder Charlie Newhall registered both of his goals, and junior Holt McGinn won a faceoff and then scored in the final two minutes.
Conestoga wound up scoring on all four of its second quarter shots on goal.
“(C.R. South) plays a pressure defense where they are extending out pretty far,” Bush explained. “The slides had to come from far away and it opened up a lot of opportunities for us. I thought we could done a better job shooting early, but when you get enough shots, they tend to eventually go in.”
Hawkins added: “This entire season we leaned on our defense a lot – maybe too much. So when we were able to build a little bit of a cushion, we were able to take the edge off the defense.”
The home team added three more goals to start the second half – which wound up being seven in a row dating back to early in the second quarter – to make it 9-1 late. The Hawks scored twice in the final 2:30, but the outcome had already been decided and the Pioneers had already brought in a bunch of substitutes.
“We have so many first-year players on varsity, so it was good for them to get some playoff experience,” Hawkins said.
“I told the guys right before we went on the field that this is a brand new season,” Bush added. “Everybody’s record is 0-0. Our guys were ready to play. I feel like our effort was at a high click.”
A lot of teams would be weary of facing 15-2 Springfield in the next round. After all, the Cougars won a share of the Central League crown along with Radnor, and ’Stoga finished in the middle of the pack. But the Pioneers are anxious for another shot.
“I can’t wait to face (Springfield) again. It’s always fun to face a lot of shots and they will bring that because they are a great team,” Johnson said.
“We are absolutely looking forward to another game with (Springfield),” Hawkins added. “It should be a good test and I look forward to another opportunity to keep our season going.”
Conestoga 9, Council Rock South 3
C.R. South 1 0 0 2 — 3
Conestoga 2 4 1 2 — 9
C.R. South goals: Smith, McCaffery, Fenney.
Conestoga goals: Hawkins 2, Newhall 2, Grove 2, Ford, Lukens, McGinn.
Goalie saves: Houser (CRS) 8. Johnson (C) 12.
