Baskin’s OT goal lifts La Salle over Bishop Shanahan in PIAA 1st round

WHITEMARSH >> La Salle’s Brett Baskin had the easy part.

The Explorers attack, who was helplessly watching while first-round PIAA Lacrosse Championship foe Bishop Shanahan dangerously circled his team’s net at the outset of overtime didn’t know he’d have the opportunity to play hero.

But when a pass in overtime was knocked loose by teammate Matt Webster and scooped up by Jared Walls, Baskin immediately bolted down the field and put himself in position to receive a pass.

Walls’ pass was on the money, Baskin made one move at the cage and flipped a shot past goalkeeper Jason Yoquinto to give La Salle a thrilling 8-7 win over the Eagles, propelling the Philadelphia Catholic League champs into the second round, where they’ll take on Wilson, an easy winner over Shadyside Academy in another first-round matchup.

The goal, which set off a wild Explorers celebration, looked unlikely after the Eagles had played a lockdown fourth quarter, holding La Salle to one (man-up) goal while completing a comeback that saw them trail by as many as three goals in the first half.

But Shanahan shored up its offensive and defensive problems, lifted its faceoff percentage and climbed back in it, eventually taking a 7-6 lead with 6:58 left in the fourth.

“It was a great lacrosse game,” said Eagles head coach Jon Heisman. “And we did everything but win.

“We played our butts off, and we’re happy about that. That’s lacrosse. Sometimes you deserve to win and don’t and other times you don’t play well and come away with the victory.”

Early on, it was all La Salle, as the PCL champs pulled away from a 2-all tie to score three times in less than 3:00 into the second quarter to go up, 5-2.

The Explorers got goals from five different players in building the lead, and seemed primed to blow the Eagles out.

But Shanahan had other ideas.

An increase in their faceoff percentage was huge for the Eagles, who began earning more possessions and evening out the time of possession.

“Once they began winning more draws, that turned the game around,” said Explorers head coach Bill Leahy. “We were losing possessions and they were getting good looks.

“But this has happened to us all year. And when things like that happen, all you can do is dig deep and trust your brother.”

A goal by Kohler Setley put La Salle up, 6-4, early in the third quarter, but the Eagles had the better of the play from there, ultimately tying the game in the final minute of the third period and then going ahead on Connor Heisman’s goal with 6:58 left.

The Explorers huffed and puffed, but could not get the equalizer until they got a man-up advantage with 5:32 left in the fourth quarter.

“There were no man-ups at all, and then with five minutes left they get a man-up,” said Coach Heisman, who vociferously protested the call.

La Salle capitalized, tying the score on Cody Mazurek’s goal with 4:35 left.

The Explorers possessed the ball for most of the remainder of the quarter, but could not break through.

And when the Eagles won the draw to begin overtime, the Explorers looked to be in trouble.

But then Webster’s pole intervened, and Walls and Baskin were off to what would be the final shot of the game.

“At first, I thought (a Shanahan player) had the ball,” Walls said. “But when I saw it on the ground, I knew I had to get it.”

That began a fastbreak with Baskin finishing off what Walls and Webster had begun.

“I had the easy part,” Baskin said. “I just caught the ball and finished.

“I took a step, he came with me and I just put the ball where he had been.”

That put the Explorers in the state quarterfinals, and gave the Eagles another heartbreaking first-round state playoff loss.

“We just can’t seem to get past this round,” Coach Heisman said. “But we’ll regroup and get back at it next year.”

LAX-ENDS: Baskin finished with two goals and three assists, while Mazurek had two goals. … Alex Wagner led the Eagles with three goals.