Springfield survives challenge from other Cougars
When top-seeded Springfield trailed No. 24 Downingtown East by a goal late in the third quarter Saturday, there was no panic, not even the impulse to ward against it. Not from a program that has won two of the last three state championships, one vying for a sixth straight states berth.
“We’ve been in that spot so many times this year with all our one-goal games,” coach Tom Lemieux said. “We really did a good job staying poised, and that’s senior leadership to know that it’s a game of runs and that you can’t get away from what you’ve done all year.”
Collin Hopkins turned the tide of momentum with an equalizer in transition, and Springfield took off from there, scoring five of the game’s last six goals in a 9-6 win in the District 1 Class 3A quarterfinals.
The local Cougars advance to Tuesday’s semifinals, where Central League rival Garnet Valley awaits. The game at Halderman Field starts at 5:15.
Springfield (16-5) has had an odd run through districts. It took a late surge in the second round for a 9-7 win over No. 16 Spring-Ford, a perennial states contender. Then they got all they could handle from D-East despite going up 3-0 after one quarter.
Contrast that to the Ches-Mont League’s Cougars’ path, sneaking into the final spot in the field before thrashing No. 9 Wissahickon and No. 8 Boyertown by a combined 18 goals, owing to the inefficiencies of the district seeding system.
That isn’t something that a veteran team like Springfield bothers with, though.
“We just kind of do our thing, and we’re fortunate to come out on top,” Lemieux said. “We had a ton of respect for that Downingtown East team: They’re well-coached, and they’re great kids. But we were fortunate to come out on top.”
Hopkins, who missed six games late in the season, has provided a boost. Jack Spence led the way with three goals and one assist. Liam DiFonzo scored late in the third, Jack Clark added a goal and an assist, and Aidan Shandley tied a season-high with three points (goal, two assists).
“I think we’re getting contributions from everybody,” Lemieux said. “Everybody knows about Jack and Liam, and they’re starting to figure out about Jack Clark. But Aidan Shandley is starting to come into his own.”
That applies at the back, where Jeff Biancaniello has stepped in for injured All-Delco Pat Clemens to lead one of District 1’s stingiest defenses. Zach Broomall went 11-for-19 on draws, and Jimmy Donegan only made five saves, but they were at important junctures.
