Penalties costly in Pennsbury boys lacrosse loss to Neshaminy
FALLS TWP. – Rebounding from a 5-2 second-half deficit facing visiting Neshaminy, Pennsbury came back with a pair of goals late in the third period then scored three more in the fourth to take a 7-5 edge with 4-and-a-half minutes to go in regulation.
Then, the unthinkable happened. Pennsbury senior attack wing Hunter Lake was called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty with less than three minutes remaining. His second such infraction in the May 11 battle for the Greenfield Cup, Lake was ejected and the Falcons were forced to play shorthanded for the remainder of regulation.
What’s more, Ethan Glynn was cited for a minor infraction, forcing Pennsbury to play two men short in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter.
“It was tough – there were some questionable calls by the refs,” stated Pennsbury senior defensive captain Brian Doron. “The officiating was a little one-sided.
“It’s tough when the refs only call one side and you’re a man down near the end of the game – two men for the entire end of the fourth quarter.”
Before Lake’s ejection, Neshaminy had already closed within a goal at 7-6. The two-man advantage helped the Skins take an 8-7 lead on goals by sophomore Mason Zeberlein and Matt Dodge.
Defensively, it could have been worse for the Falcons.
“We just play together as a unit,” added Doron. “We all have each other’s backs when we’re a man down. We just move quick and do the best that we can.”
Still short on sticks on the field, Pennsbury actually managed to draw even on a goal by Ben Abraham – his third goal in the game – off a feed by Greg Lichtenstein.
Unfortunately for the Falcons, Neshaminy got the game-winner in sudden death overtime on a goal by freshman Nick Donato less than two-and-a-half minutes into the extra session.
Pennsbury got a man back, as it were, when Skins midfielder Adam Schwitter was sent off for slashing with 1:15 left in regulation. The Falcons also had a man-up advantage in the opening moments of the overtime session when Neshaminy attack wing Jeremy Sheley was sent off for unnecessary roughness.
But Pennsbury (10-7, 6-3: SOL National) failed to take advantage of the situation and Donato came through with the game-winner – his second goal in the contest – off a feed from Zeberlein.
With the win, the Skins (10-5, 6-2: SOL) claimed the Greenfield Cup for the second time in the two years the series was initiated by the grandfather of Pennsbury lacrosse.
Contact Steve Sherman at ssherman@21st-Centurymedia.com or @BucksLocalSport on Twitter
Neshaminy 9, Pennsbury 8 (OT)
(May 11 at Pennsbury)
GOALS: P – Ryan Kelly 4, Ben Abraham 3, Brian Doron; N – Dave Nuckles 3, Matt Dodge 2, Nick Donato 2, Jeremy Sheley, Mason Zeberlein.
