Rustin stays atop league standings with comeback over Great Valley

WEST CHESTER >> Prior to the start of the 2022 boys lacrosse season, Ches-Mont coaches got together and the consensus was that the league race was going to be wild.

“We were saying that there are seven or eight teams, at least, that can beat anybody on any given day,” said West Chester Rustin head coach Kevin Philibin. “There are a couple who look strong right now, but I don’t think anybody looks unbeatable – and that includes us.”

The Golden Knights have definitely emerged as one of the legitimate contenders, and on Wednesday Rustin needed a strong finish to put away another one of those top eight: Great Valley. Trailing by one midway through the third period, Rustin notched the final three goals to stage a come from behind 8-6 victory that was hard earned and intense.

“We battled back as a team,” said junior midfield star Marek Seaman. “We had a good fourth quarter, we settled the ball and started to get some good looks – and the defense played well.”

It was the Knights’ fifth win in a row and ups the league record to 5-0 (7-2 overall). The Patriots fall to 2-2, 5-3 overall.

“I keep telling our guys that we are on an upward trajectory,” said Great Valley head coach Ben Walton. “We just need to stick together and stick with it. We have guys on both sides of the ball I would not want to coach against.”

One is undoubtedly his goaltender, Nick Mort. The senior turned aside 11 shots and kept the Pats in it until the very end.

“Great Valley has a very nice goalie,” Philibin said. “They packed in a zone (defense) and we started out taking the first shot we saw. We made some adjustments about working through our progressions and finding better looks, and tire that zone out.

“One of the things our guys have been good at throughout the season is making those adjustments and put it out on the field.”

Great Valley inched ahead 6-5 in the third period on a goal by senior Brady Mitchell, but Rustin maintained possession for a big chunk of the quarter, and tied it up on a goal by sophomore Jack O’Hora at the 5:51 mark.

And then less than two minutes into the final period, Seaman unleashed a missile that found its mark and gave the Knights the lead for good. Fellow junior Jake Jackson registered an insurance goal a few minutes later.

“I don’t think many teams can play with us for four quarters,” said Seaman, who finished with two goals and two assists. “If we can wear teams down like that, the outcome shows.

“When we spin the ball like that, it makes things difficult (for our opponents). Great Valley has a great goalie, but it definitely helps if we can possess like that.”

Walton acknowledged that his squad was gassed in the second half. But he had nothing but praise for his back line, including Mort and defenders Jackson Wolff, Archer Crane and Sean McNamara (all seniors), and freshman Davis Reilly.

“I have to give my defense credit,” he said. “Against an opponent like (Rustin) we knew we needed a zone (defense) to work, and we haven’t been practicing it for very long. Those guys just stepped up and played huge today.

“(But) we were certainly worn down, and that’s been an issue for us this season. Our bench isn’t very deep. We dressed 18 guys today and that includes two goalie.”

Seaman, Jackson and O’Hora each scored in the early going and Rustin was ahead 3-1. But the Patriots roared back to score three in a row (on two goals by sophomore Daniel Siaton and one by senior Andy Talone) to take their first lead. The Knights’ Nate Pechin tied it again at 4-4, but Talone delivered his second goal just before the half.

Jackson – the son of former Avon Grove head coach Eric Jackson – wound up with two goals and two assists, and was particularly effective when operating behind the Great Valley cage. Pechin (freshman) and O’Hora (sophomore) each added two goals for Rustin.

“(Jackson) is not the biggest kid but he’s got the biggest heart. He is a great finisher and passer – he probably has the best lacrosse IQ on this team,” Seaman said.

“Marek (Seaman) is just one of the best athletes, maybe, in the state,” Philibin added. “And Jake (Jackson) is an incredibly high IQ player. Having both of those options, and being able to play off each other along with Antonio (Santangelo) on the wing, it is a young core. All three of them were starters and big-time contributors as sophomores last season. They’ve stepped into even bigger roles as juniors.”

West Chester Rustin 8, Great Valley 6

Great Valley                                                 1 4 1 0 — 6

West Chester Rustin                                  2 2 2 2 — 8

Great Valley goals: Siaton 2, Talone 2, Mitchell 2.

West Chester Rustin goals: Jackson 2, Seaman 2, O’Hora 2, Pechin 2.

Goalie saves: Mort (GV) 11; Carney (WCR) 5.