PIAA Class 3A Boys Lacrosse: Lucchesi keeps Radnor hot as state tourney starts
SPRINGFIELD – Step one in trying to shut down Radnor’s offense is figuring out where it’s coming from. Lately that’s become a difficult proposition.
As defenses key on the threat of Damien Ramondo and Ryan Goldstein, Radnor rotates a seemingly inexhaustible supply of middies, all capable of exploiting a matchup and beating their man.
In Tuesday’s PIAA state tournament opener, it was Nick Lucchesi’s turn, his four goals helping the third seed from District 1 to a comfortable 13-5 win over District 3’s Central York in the PIAA Class 3A tourney.
“Just testing the waters at the beginning of the game, and if someone’s hot, we’ll keep it going with that one person,” Lucchesi said. “But Chris Begier, my guy next to me, and Charlie Bernicker, they can do the same thing I can do. We’re all equal, and we can all put up the same amount of goals and assists as each other.”
Radnor (20-2) has five guys between 15 and 25 goals on the season. But that tally undersells its ability to strike in bunches when hot. So you have Lucchesi stepping up. Or Jack Murphy, who scored four goals in the district playback win over Kennett, pumping home two. Or Colin French who scored once to interrupt a string of three straight multi-point games.
If defenses limit Goldstein and Ramondo – a goal and an assist each – those middies can make them pay.
“It’s always super nice knowing the people behind you can always back you up if you’re not having a game,” Lucchesi said. “Obviously our second midfield, we always say they’re all ones and they can put up the same amount of numbers as us.”
Lucchesi’s strength made it his day against the Panthers (19-2). He ripped one from outside off a Bernicker assist to open the scoring three minutes in. He then bodied a man, with the Central York defense electing not to slide to him, to score late in the first and open up a 3-0 lead. And he sent Radnor to half up 8-2 by whipping home an over-the-top one-hander with six seconds left.
His final goal came with two seconds remaining in the third, Lucchesi splitting a double team, absorbing contact and giving Radnor an 11-4 lead.
Those goals cashed in a 37-23 shot advantage. Though Keelan Stroman was immense with 11 saves, Radnor poured on the pressure via a defense that collects turnovers in bunches. Despite Central York’s Brian McGarvey winning 12 of 20 draws, the constant pressure forced turnovers and rash decisions by the Panthers.
“We just played almost their game and didn’t play ours,” attackman Jimmy Kohr said. “They were a good team, good defense, bigger players than we’re used to, but it just didn’t go our way.”
Robert Hobbs stood tall in goal with eight saves. The defense contributed a goal (Grant Pierce on an man-up rush) and an assist (Casey Ott finding Goldstein).
“I have 100 percent trust in them with everything they do, and I know they’ve got my back every single time we don’t get ours on offense,” Lucchesi said of his defense. “They always step up.”
Kohr scored three times for Central York, but a team that won its first 18 games came up empty on its first states trip.
