Shanahan tops Southern Lehigh, rolls into state semifinals

REIFFTON – The well-worn sports adage about the immovable object versus the unstoppable force was on display Saturday afternoon in the first half of the PIAA 2A Lacrosse Quarterfinals.  But in this case, the Bishop Shanahan boys were both.

Boasting an overwhelming attack and an unyielding defense, the Eagles started strong and eventually moved a step closer to winning its second straight state title by surging past Southern Lehigh 12-8 at Exeter Township High School. Now just two wins away from a repeat, Shanahan (20-1 overall) advances to the semifinals on Tuesday to face District 2 champion Crestwood.

The title game is scheduled for Saturday, and District 1 finalist Strath Haven is still alive on the other side of the bracket.

“I think if we play to our potential, we could be the best team in the state and one of the best in the country,” said sophomore midfielder Owen Mehok, who scored a huge early fourth quarter goal that wound up being the game winner.

“We want to take care of business on Tuesday and then we will worry about Saturday when we get to that point,” said Eagles’ head coach Jon Heisman.

As if facing the defending state champs wasn’t enough of a challenge, the District 11 champion Spartans (15-6 overall) were playing their second game in two days. On Friday, Southern Lehigh topped Archbishop Carroll, 14-5, in a first round playoff game that was postponed twice due to the weather.

“(Southern Lehigh has) a good faceoff guy and we played a lot of defense (Saturday),” Heisman said. “But our ‘D’ is good. We knew it was going to be a tough game.

“We are solid all-around. We got great goaltending (from Nic Pezone), we can play defense like we did in the second half, and when we have to we can take care of the ball and go to the goal.

“We are primed.”

Trailing by five at the half, the Spartans cut the deficit to 8-5 heading into the final period and appeared to have all of the momentum. But senior long stick midfielder Connor Whalen won his first of three big late face offs, Mehok eventually go the ball and scored for the second time on Saturday with 10:49 to go.     

“Owen’s been a guy all season that knows his role and plays that way,” Heisman said.

“I just beat the defender, got a good look and took it,” Mehok explained. “We needed to get one to stop (Southern Lehigh) from going on a run.”

Southern Lehigh did cut it to 9-6 a few minutes later, but Mehok found teammate Gabe Goforth who scored on a man-up situation at the 5:56 mark. Seniors Kyle Gucwa and James Bevevino chipped in goals in the final three minutes to close it out.

“We haven’t had much competition this season, so this will prepare us for Strath Haven, or whoever we see,” said Mehok, who finished with two goals and an assist.

“Our goal all along was to win districts again and then states again,” said senior attacker Bryan Rafferty. “We know the farther we get, the better the opponents get. We’re just keeping our heads down and working.”

The two-time District 1 champs, Shanahan scored twice in the opening 3:41 and never trailed. By the end of the first quarter, Rafferty already had three goals, and the Eagles had scored in five of their first six possessions.

“We want to come out firing. That’s our thing. We like to come out and show people who we are,” said Rafferty, who led the way with four goals and an assist.

“We had some mismatches early and tried to exploit them,” Heisman added. “We are pretty good (on offense) and we have some pretty good players.

“Rafferty is a moose and the kid can score. He’s been doing that to everybody all season. He’s about 220 (pounds) and a very tough matchup.”

Second quarter goals by Goforth and Kyle Gucwa put Shanahan comfortably ahead 7-2 at the intermission.

“We have a good core back – nine seniors – and from the start of the season, our top goal is to win (the state crown) again,” Heisman acknowledged. “This team is just as good as last year or maybe better.”

Except for its lone blemish – a one goal setback to eventual Ches-Mont champ West Chester East in March – Bishop Shanahan has been clobbering opponents all season. The Eagles’ average margin of victory is 11-plus, and it’s actually been even more lopsided in the postseason. Heading into Saturday, Shanahan has outscored its playoff foes 60-9.

“That loss was a wake-up call for us. We needed that,” said Rafferty, who has committed to play Division I lacrosse at St. Bonaventure.

“We went into that game thinking we were going to steamroll (West Chester East) and got kicked in the face,” Mehok added. “It really motivated everybody and we haven’t lost since.”

The Spartans’ Ben Linden won 13 face offs, but the Eagles used three different players – Tyler Kingsbury, Bevevino and Whalen – to get 11.

“Even though we didn’t dominate today, the three guys we used are second to none,” Heisman said.

Maryland-bound Goforth finished with three goals and Gucwa (a Manhattan College signee) chipped in two goals and three assists.

Afterwards, Mehok was asked about the one overriding motivation for the final week of the season.

“The energy the seniors have just spreads to everybody else,” he said. “We all want (a state title) for them. They want to repeat and we want to go get it.”

Bishop Shanahan 12, Southern Lehigh 8

Southern Lehigh                             2 0 3 3 — 8

Bishop Shanahan                           5 2 1 4 — 12

Southern Lehigh goals: Cooper, Hoff 2, Wolfe 3, Johnson, Scozzafava.

Bishop Shanahan goals: Rafferty 4, Bevevino, K. Gucwa 2, Goforth 3, Mehok 2.

Goalie saves: Schlosser (SL) 4; Pezone (BS) 9.