Spring-Ford bombards Boyertown, stays atop PAC in boys’ lacrosse

BOYERTOWN >> Spring-Ford’s boys lacrosse team is accustomed to their role as “the hunted.”

Upstarts and emerging Pioneer Athletic Conference contenders alike use the Rams as a measuring stick; the game they circle on their calendars as the ultimate determinant of where they stand among the area’s best.

When Boyertown raced to a 9-0 start this season and the No. 1 spot in the District 1-3A rankings, Thursday’s matchup with Spring-Ford — winners of 10 of the past eleven league titles — loomed large. 

But the Rams served notice that nothing’s changed at the top of the PAC with a convincing 19-7 victory on Thursday afternoon.

The Rams filled up the scoresheet early and often, scoring in every possible situation — settled, unsettled, in transition, and with the man advantage.

Even goalie Charlie Power (15 saves) got in on the act, clearing the ball to midfield before finding Justin Wixted at the top of the crease for an assist on Spring-Ford’s second goal. 

“Never done that before,” Power admitted. “We saw on film that was their ride method, leaving [the goalie] uncovered.” 

Despite never recording an assist before, Power insisted he was prepared for that situation.

“My coaches told me if that happened, just keep going. I did, and Justin was open on the crease,” the senior goalie said.

“We’re just good with versatility. Whatever comes, we can match it. We practice these scenarios so we’re always prepared.”

In all, eight different Rams scored, with a half-dozen of those players tallying two goals or more. Perhaps most impressive, Spring-Ford players assisted on fifteen of the team’s season-high 19 goals in a game that epitomized the unselfishness coach Kevin Donnelly preaches.

“We like team offense — find the matchup, get the best look,” said senior attackman Lance Terrizzi, who led Spring-Ford with four goals and two assists. “It’s when we’re at our best.”

Indeed the Rams did have an answer every time the host Bears attempted to rally. Trailing 3-0, Cole Marinello put Boyertown on the board with a pole goal a man down at 4:50 of the first quarter.

Thirteen seconds later, however, Hayden Wedemeyer (three goals, three assists) responded with his first tally of the day en route to a 6-2 SF lead after one quarter. 

By the end of the first half, it was 12-4 Rams, with Brady Welsh joining Terrizzi, Wixted, and Wedemeyer with multiple first-half goals.

Colin Song and Will Fish would record their second (and in Song’s case, a third) goals in the second half, joined by midfielders Ian Evans and Mike Bendowski, who punctuated a quick run at the start of the second half to send the contest into running time.

For Boyertown, PAC leading goal scorer Aidan McFalls led the way with a hat trick, while Gio Daddario, Mason Barndt, and Gavin Loshnowsky also scored in addition to Marinello’s opening goal. 

Boyertown (10-2, 4-1 PAC) looks to rebound when they visit Emmaus of District 11 on Saturday.

Bears coach Grady Wise acknowledged that the PAC championship will go through Spring-Ford yet again in 2023, so the best thing for Boyertown to do is focus on getting another chance against the Rams.

“That was the speech at halftime,” he said. “The goal is to see them again. They’re well-coached, athletic, disciplined — we want another chance at them for sure, but that requires us to work on some things.”

“When we were able to get into our offense, we dodged well from X and got some good looks,” Wise continued. “We didn’t put them away, so credit to [Power] for making the saves.”

For the Rams, their base offensive set yielded the looks they wanted all day. Terrizzi says it’s no accident.

“We get into the set we want, but there’s no set play really,” he said. “But it’s not just serendipity either – we’ve got guys with high lacrosse IQs who know what to do with the ball.”

Now tied atop the PAC with Perkiomen Valley, Spring-Ford (9-1, 5-0 PAC) gets their sternest test to date on Saturday when they travel to two-time defending PIAA 3A champions Radnor, a nationally ranked squad who stands as the favorite for a third consecutive state championship in 2023.

“We prep the same way for every game,” said Power. “Get in a good practice, go out and play our game. It doesn’t matter who we’re playing, we’re focused on our team.”

 

Spring-Ford     

Lance Terrizzi 4 goals, 2 assists

Hayden Wedemeyer 3 goals, 3 assists

Colin Song 3 goals, 2 assists

Justin Wixted 3 goals, assist

Will Fish 2 goals, 2 assists

Brady Welsh 2 goals, assist

Ian Evans goal, 2 assists

Mike Bendowski goal

Charlie Power 15 saves, assist

Boyertown

Aidan McFalls 3 goals

Mason Barndt goal, assist

Gio Daddario goal, assist

Cole Marinello goal

Gavin Loshnowsky goal

Mike McMahon 4 saves