Kennett topples Downingtown West to secure at least a share of C-M crown
DOWNINGTOWN >> You will have to excuse Bob Alvord for getting a bit emotional on Thursday evening at DiSerafino Stadium.
The Kennett boys’ lacrosse coach just watched his Blue Demons topple Downingtown West 8-3 in a critical Ches-Mont clash that secured no worse than a share of the 2021 league crown. It’s worth noting that it is the Kennett program’s first ever championship.
“This program’s had its ups and downs,” said Alvord, who has had two stints as the head coach. “To have an accomplishment right in front of us like this is huge. It speaks volumes for the entire Kennett lacrosse program, from the youth level on up. They’ve worked very hard.
“I’ve been around in Kennett since 2006 and I’m more emotional than (the players) are. It may have to do with understanding of the time and effort it’s taken to get to this point. Kennett’s been in my blood for a long time.”
Now a perfect 13-0 overall, the Demons used a strong second half push to prevail in a battle between squads that came in with identical unblemished records in the Ches-Mont. Kennett (11-0) will wrap up the league portion of its regular season next Tuesday against Downingtown East (8-1) knowing that a win will secure sole possession of the title.
“We want the title and we don’t want to share it,” said junior long-stick defender Luke Good.
“I truly believe that the sky is the limit for this group,” added junior attacker Jake Freeberry. “Just coming out and competing with these top programs is awesome.
“We came here to do things like this. Instead of going to a private school or a program that’s already established, we wanted to do something different in our home town. We are living up to our own expectations and it’s the greatest.”
The Whippets fall to 10-1 (13-3 overall). They entered the day riding an 11-game winning streak, which included recent wins over West Chester Rustin and Downingtown East when both had unblemished records in the league.
West head coach Billy Davis declined to comment.
“We just destroyed (Downingtown) East, so we thought we were going to come out and win this game,” said Whippets’ senior attacker Luke Venzie. “We are surprised and pretty disappointed in our performance.”
With the win, the Blue Demons move up to fourth in the latest District 1 3A power rankings. But Downingtown East (12-2 overall) beat Wissahickon on Thursday and moved into the top spot in the district.
“These kids are smart – they know what’s going on. And I can tell you they aren’t going to settle for anything,” Alvord said.
“Coming into this season, we knew we could be a special team,” Good added. “We have high expectations for ourselves.”
Deadlocked 2-2 late in the first half, Kennett seized control by scoring the next six goals. Freeberry delivered a pass to teammate Broc Fantazzi to make it 3-2 at the half, and then Good forced a turnover that led to what ended up being the game-winning goal by Evan Hartmann. Freeberry then scored in the final minute of the third quarter on a solo move from behind the cage to make it 5-2.
“This is a special group,” Freeberry said. “We came out hot for the second half and we’ve been a second half team all season. Getting on these runs is kind of expected these days.”
And when sophomore Zach Hulme scored with 10:50 remaining, and Good grabbed the ensuing faceoff and scored just 10 second later, the writing was on the wall. Freeberry notched his second goal later to round out the scoring.
“We are streaky, and we’ve done it before,” Alvord pointed out. “When they get it in their heads that they don’t have to rush, and if they just execute and take care of the ball, good things happen.”
Averaging more than 12 goals in Ches-Mont action, West managed just one goal over the final 32:51. The Blue Demons defense allowed just seven shots on goal, and faceoff specialist Richie Hughson wound up winning 12 of 15 against the Whippets’ Michael Straub, also one of the league best. And in the critical second half, Hughson was 7-1.
“Richie’s earned everything he gets,” Alvord said. “I challenged him at the half and he really responded. The second half was his.
“Plus I can’t say enough about our defense tonight. (West) scored two goals in transition and a man-up goal. So that speaks volumes.”
Freeberry added: “Our defense beats us up in practice, and they’ve been like this all season. It’s a special group back there and we rely heavily on them.”
Hulme tallied Kennett’s first two goals and led the way with three, plus an assist. Freeberry chipped in with two assists.
“We knew that Kennett had never won a lacrosse title and we came out tonight trying to change it,” Good pointed out.
“I don’t think (West) expected us to be as good as we are. We surprised them a little bit.”
Venzie scored West’s first two goals, and Straub added a late goal, but the outcome was already determined.
“What killed us was that (Kennett) controlled the ball more than us,” Venzie said. “They had it in their offensive zone a lot more than we did. They weren’t throwing it away like us.
“Our mindset now turns to the playoffs. We will have to move on from this loss.”
Oddly enough, however, the Whippets (No. 6 in power rankings) could still grab a share of the crown by winning out (versus Unionville and Oxford) and then hoping that archrival Downingtown East can knock off Kennett. And if the Cougars can also win out, they could make it a three-way title.
“Things are going in the right direction for us at the right time,” Alvord said. “But these kids are not stopping. They are hungry.”
Kennett 8, Downingtown West 3
Kennett 1 2 2 3 — 8
Downingtown West 1 1 0 1 — 3
Kennett goals: Hulme 3, Freeberry 2, Good, Harmann, Fantazzi.
Downingtown West goals: Venzie 2, Straub.
Goalie saves: Astle (K) 4; Rossman (DW) 6.
