Fanelli scores 6, Pennridge cruises past Quakertown

EAST ROCKHILL >> A steady rain throughout most of Wednesday night did little to dampen the spirits of the Pennridge boys lacrosse team.

“We’re lucky it’s raining tonight and it’s not 35 degrees, that’s typically what it’s like up here,” Rams coach JP Banks said. “No, I don’t think rain affects the kids, they just love being out. After being bottled up for so long just any time you can get out on the field’s a great day.”

Pennridge produced its own offensive downpour against visiting Quakertown at Helman Field. The Rams raced out to a 6-0 lead after the first quarter then added nine goals in the third as they cruised to a 16-2 Suburban One League nonconference win over the rival Panthers.

“Based off of last year, the season being cancelled, any time we’re able to play, we’d love to come out here and compete and win like this,” Pennridge senior Chris Fanelli said. “So we just love to play so we just come out here all the time.”

Fanelli struck for the first goal just 52 seconds into the contest, recorded a hat trick before the end of the first quarter and finished with a game-high six goals as the Rams (1-1) bounced back from a 15-6 loss to Germantown Academy in their season opener Tuesday.

“I think we came out, we were real confident in ourselves,” Fanelli said. “Last night we played well too but tonight we just were a lot more confident, we had a feel for it and we were definitely more we played with a chip on our shoulder cause of the loss last night.”

Tom Hart added four goals – two each in the first and third quarters – while Jack Lenox found the back of the net twice as Pennridge had a total of seven players record at least one goal.

“I think we came in, our goal today was to play well, to make good decisions, to play a lot of kids and get a lot of kids experience,” Banks said. “We got to run through, I think everybody on our roster got on the field tonight which is a great experience for all of them. It was a good night.”

After a scoreless second quarter, Alex Jalboot – who had both goals for Quakertown – pulled the Panthers to within 6-1 at 10:34 in the third. But Hart struck for his third of the night at 9:00 then picked up the assist as Fanelli rifled a shot into the top of the net at 7:33 for an 8-1 advantage.

“Third quarter, I think they said something to our coach, so then they were kind of trash talking so we didn’t really like that,” Fanelli said. “So we went back in there and we gave it to them.”

Fanelli assisted on a goal by his brother Frank Fanelli at 6:57 with the freshman returning the favor on Chris’ strike 21 seconds later. Chris Fanelli then recorded his third of the quarter and sixth total for an 11-1 lead at 5:46.

“He’s come so far since he came to school here and over the last year he’s just become such a strong leader for this team,” said Banks of Chris Fanelli. “Not just through his play but helping along some of the kids that were a little less experienced, talking to guys about being in the right spot and really the thing I love about him is he shows by example. He’s one of the hardest working kids we have out on the field. He’s here early, he’s leaving late, he’s putting in all the extra work.”

Goals by Hart and Jake Stranix put the Rams up a dozen before Lenox’s back-to-back tallies pushed the lead to 15-1.

“We played strong, definitely a lot better than last night,” Chris Fanelli said. “But that’s what you get after you lose, you come out strong.”

Pennridge next plays 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at home against Council Rock South. The Rams finish the week with two road games – first at Council Rock North Friday, April 9 then at Wilson-West Lawn on Saturday, April 10.

“Two tough league games and a really tough out of league game coming up next week,” Banks said. “Hopefully we’ll have a good practice tomorrow, good practice on Monday and be ready to hit the ground running on Tuesday.”

Quakertown (1-1) starts SOL American Conference play against Springfield-Montco 5 p.m. Tuesday then hosts Abington on Friday, April 9.

After Chris Fanelli collected Wednesday’s opening goal at 11:08 in the first quarter, Drew Ferguson doubled the Rams’ lead at 8:41. Hart’s first goal made it 3-0 at 7:08 while Chris Fanelli followed with a strike off a behind-the-back shot at 6:39.

“It’s something in the moment, play around with in the backyard,” Chris Fanelli said.

Hart posted his second at 2:40 in first quarter before Chris Fanelli added his third with 49.0 seconds left for a 6-0 lead.