Pio, Haven let one get away to Hershey

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EXETER TWP — The second-guessing started soon after Strath Haven’s season ended in dramatic fashion at Exeter High School Tuesday night.

Ibo Pio, the Panthers’ dynamic senior midfielder, could play armchair quarterback for days about this one loss that ended his squad’s run in the PIAA Class 2A boys lacrosse tournament.

Hershey stormed back from three goals down, scoring the game-winner with 23 seconds to go in regulation, a 10-9 win for the upstart Bears to send them into a state final for the first time in program history. The District 3 reps will meet defending champion Bishop Shanahan Saturday afternoon at West Chester East High School.

Pio can drive himself crazy thinking about what could’ve gone differently when the Panthers, up a goal, controlled possession with three minutes to play. Pio was at the X. Maybe he could’ve hit Ethan Belville crashing the net, or maybe he could’ve held the ball for himself until he was ready to attack.

Strath Haven eventually went on attack.

Pio made a move and fired a shot from inside the crease. No good. Hershey’s Nick Rizzo scooped up the ground ball and fired an errant pass from near the end line, which was intercepted by Belville, who had a wide-open look to put Haven ahead again by two goals. Alas, his shot was off the mark.

Haven secured possession and called timeout with less than 90 seconds to go. The Panthers had another chance to run out the clock.

“I get why they played it that way, a lot of teams do the same thing,” Hershey coach John Schein said.

It just didn’t work.

Pio was magical at times for the Panthers, scoring two goals and assisting on three more.

“There was definitely an opportunity where we should’ve taken that chance, and maybe we should’ve been a little more aggressive,” Pio said. “Losing that two-point lead was really critical because, if they get the ball back like they eventually did, they can score off of it and it’s a tied game. So, maybe if we were a little more aggressive at the end, we could’ve got a goal there or tried for a goal sooner. And, you know, we almost did score there at the end. We had a shot hit off the pipe (by Belville), an open-netter. That was just something that happened … it’s tough.”

But there’s a flip side to everything and Strath Haven learned the hard way Tuesday.

“At the same time, being too aggressive could mean we over-force it and they could get a fastbreak and score easily,” Pio said. “That could’ve changed everything.”

Hershey’s defense made something happen when it needed to. Mark Sickler stripped the ball away from Belville. Sickler passed to a streaking Nick Rizzo, who sent a shot past outstanding Strath Haven goalie Vincey Palermo (10 saves) to tie the score with 1:06 to play.

Hershey won the ensuing faceoff and went in to score. Sickler cut in, made a spin move and fired a shot past Palermo for the winning tally with 23 seconds left.

“We’re making history and it kind of leaves you speechless,” Sickler said. “I’m just thinking in that spot to look for the best opportunity to put one away.”

Sickler did, and the celebration was on for the Bears.

“It’s nice to not be known just for chocolate anymore,” he cracked.

Hershey had rushed to a 4-0 lead in a first quarter the Panthers would like to have back. Junior Colin Kondracki scored three of the team’s first four goals. He finished with a game-high five.

Haven snapped out of its funk in the second period. Nicky Palermo was the first to strike, then Pio fed Belville on back-to-back goals to make it a 4-3 game. Out of halftime, the Panthers retained control and possession, outscoring the Bears 5-1 in the third quarter to take an 8-5 advantage into the final period.

Hershey trimmed its deficit to one goal with 8:36 to go. Matt Faggioli found the back of the net to put Haven back up by two, 9-7. Kondracki scored his fifth and final tally to make it 9-8 with 3:35 left.

Nicky Palermo and Belville each notched a hat trick for the Panthers, who were vying for their straight appearance to the state final.

“I think we relaxed a little, especially earlier in the game,” Pio said. “Just a little bit of relaxation is too much, especially against a tough team like them. It’s the state semifinals and the teams are good. They’re here, just like us, for some reason and they’re good.”

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Matthew De George

Matthew De George
Matthew De George is the Asst. Sports Editor and the lead Union writer for The Daily Times.

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