Springfield’s balanced attack on target heading into final
MIDDLETOWN >> The scouting report against Springfield, as it’s been shaped through 26 games this season, naturally gravitates toward the big scorers.
The passing and dodging of Kyle Long, the lethal shooting of Mike Gerzabek, those aspects deservedly draw most of the attention from opposing defenses as the points have piled up for them.
But Tuesday night, in the biggest game of the season, Springfield’s three most important goals didn’t feature that duo. Instead, they highlighted how deep a team with aspirations of making a state final has to be.
The five-goal surge that powered Springfield over Strath Haven, 8-5, Tuesday night showcased the talents of the Cougars’ complementary scorers.
Long and Gerzabek had their say. The sophomore Long dished three assists to go with a goal, pushing his helper tally on the season to 76 and his points mark to 109. Gerzabek rifled home two markers; he’s got 64 for the season and has scored in all but one game.
But when Springfield mounted its comeback, the ancillary weapons in the arsenal powered it.
Nick Martin, who had scored just three goals in seven postseason games, deflected home a Long pass on the crease late in the third quarter, a hockey-type traffic goal that ended a 4-0 run by the Panthers and cut the deficit to 5-4.
Jack Spence, who scored four goals in the District One quarterfinal win over Spring-Ford but has tallied just once in four games since, shook off a marker as he rolled from behind the cage and fired home the equalizer with 9:28 to play.
The winning tally was a nifty passage of play, Mike Vent creeping from behind the cage to feed Martin in front of the net — the kind you’d expect from Long and Gerzabek.
“We’ve just been working our butts off,” Vent said. “We’re getting goals from everybody. It’s not just one person. We’re able to work the ball around. We’re able to get shots from everyone. Everyone’s able to get some dodges. We’re able to get some really good team offense going.”
Vent added the cushion goal with four and a half minutes left, nine seconds before Gerzabek found the final margin.
The evolution from the Cougars attack shouldn’t be a surprise, since it’s played out each of the last few seasons. Gerzabek is the only senior of the bunch, while Spence is merely a freshman. The Cougars’ maturation hasn’t occurred in isolation of Gerzabek and Long, of course, as the attention paid to them is vital to open opportunities for others.
But when Springfield tangles with La Salle Saturday (2:30 p.m., West Chester East) in the PIAA final, paying too much attention to Springfield’s leading lights can have dire consequences for the Explorers.
