Spring-Ford tops Owen J. Roberts for third straight PAC boys’ lacrosse title
GRATERFORD >> It’s no longer just a streak of championships – it’s a legacy of excellence.
Mike Bendowski and Brady Welsh each had hat tricks while the defense held Owen J. Roberts off the scoreboard for the game’s final 18 minutes as the Spring-Ford’s boys’ team continued its domination of Pioneer Athletic Conference lacrosse on Thursday night at Perkiomen Valley High School. The top-seeded Rams took down No. 2 Owen J. Roberts, 12-7, to retain their league championship for a third consecutive season.
Winning championships isn’t anything new to the Spring-Ford program. Thursday night marked the Rams’ 13th PAC lacrosse title overall, and the Rams have played in all 16 PAC finals since the league added the sport in 2007 (the event took a two-year pandemic-related hiatus in 2020 and 2021).
The Spring-Ford boys’ lacrosse team poses with the PAC championship plaque after defeating Owen J. Roberts in the final on May 9 at Perkiomen Valley. (Austin Hertzog – MediaNews Group)
Spring-Ford players celebrate after defeating Owen J. Roberts in the PAC championship game on May 9 at Perkiomen Valley. (Austin Hertzog – MediaNews Group)
But this year’s Spring-Ford class began their high school careers with an unfamiliar task – regaining the top spot after Perkiomen Valley took top honors in 2021, when this year’s seniors were freshmen.
“That year, there were no PAC playoffs because of COVID,” recalled Spring-Ford midfielder Hayden Wedemeyer. “We lost a regular-season game to Perkiomen Valley, and never got a chance to redeem ourselves.”
Final: Spring-Ford 12, Owen J Roberts 7, PAC boys lacrosse championship
The kings of the PAC capture a threepeat pic.twitter.com/Y3lcYNvJlJ
— Austin Hertzog (@AustinHertzog) May 10, 2024
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
That’s exactly what the Rams have done ever since, right down to the Thursday night title game. Owen J. Roberts topped Spring-Ford, 12-11 back on April 9, but exactly one month later the Rams got their payback with a dominant late surge.
“We had a sour taste in our mouth,” said middie Ian Evans. “Just like last year, we came out ready, excited for the game. It’s a mindset where we just know we have to lock in. We don’t sit there talking about getting revenge, it’s more just having things under control.”
Spring-Ford’s seniors pose with the PAC championship plaque after defeating Owen J. Roberts in the conference championship on May 9 at Perkiomen Valley. (Austin Hertzog – MediaNews Group)
Spring-Ford’s Mike Bendowski celebrates after scoring a goal against Owen J. Roberts in the PAC championship game on May 9 at Perkiomen Valley. (Austin Hertzog – MediaNews Group)
The recent years of Spring-Ford’s dominant run are linked by an on-field factor as well – year in, year out, the Rams have the area’s strongest midfield unit. On Thursday night, Spring-Ford middies accounted for seven of the team’s 12 goals.
The 2024 edition rolls 9-10 players – three full units – in and out of the game and trusts those players to do whatever is asked of them offensively, defensively, or in the margins of the game.
There’s no better example than Bendowski, the Shippensburg-bound linebacker who’s pretty good at his spring sport as well. Bendowski spent his first three years in high school playing primarily as a short-stick defensive specialist who had the skill to contribute offensively when called upon. As a senior, however, he runs with the high-scoring Evans (two goals, three assists) and Wedemeyer (goal, two assists), exhibiting his own improved versatility.
“I’ve been developed and guided along really well by coach (Kevin) Donnelly and his staff,” said Bendowski. “Last year, I don’t think I could’ve run the offense the way I can now.”
Spring-Ford senior Hayden Wedemeyer, right, looks forward as Owen J. Roberts’ Logan Brower defends in the PAC championship game on May 9 at Perkiomen Valley. (Austin Hertzog – MediaNews Group)
Spring-Ford’s Brady Welsh celebrates after scoring a goal against Owen J. Roberts in the PAC championship game on May 9 at Perkiomen Valley. (Austin Hertzog – MediaNews Group)
Spring-Ford struggled offensively for long stretches of Tuesday night’s semifinal win over Upper Merion, and those wobbles continued in Thursday’s early going. But Bendowski ignited a rally when he got the Rams on the board with 48 seconds left in the opening quarter, tying the contest at 1.
He struck again in the opening minute of the second stanza, which turned into a six-goal quarter for the Rams. OJR’s leading scorer Gabe DellaPenna had the first two of his three goals to get the ‘Cats within 6-4, but SF’s Evans scored in the dying moments to send the Rams to the locker room with a three-goal advantage.
“Big goals at big times,” said Bendowski. “It took us some time to break the ice and get rolling, but we feed off one another.”
Ian Evans regains three goal lead for Spring Ford, 7-4, 22 sec 2Q pic.twitter.com/GHPh1sOXSU
— Austin Hertzog (@AustinHertzog) May 9, 2024
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Perhaps the best matchup on the field was the faceoff battle between juniors Justin Daubert of OJR and Sean Hassis of Spring-Ford. The two stalwarts battled to a standstill all night, but in the third quarter Daubert got on a run of four straight wins, allowing OJR to control possession and move within 9-7 on DellaPenna’s hat trick goal at 6:24 of the third quarter.
The Wildcats wouldn’t score again.
“Shout out to our defense (Jake Rogers, Brody Gunder, Ben Fish, Ryan Lynch, and Liam Ferrell), to Dylan (sophomore goalie Dylan Cyr, who had 13 saves), and to Sean (Hassis) for battling on faceoffs,” said Evans, who’ll continue his lacrosse career next year at Florida Southern College.
Owen J. Roberts’ Justin Daubert, left, and Spring-Ford’s Sean Hassis chase after a faceoff in the PAC championship game on May 9 at Perkiomen Valley. (Austin Hertzog – MediaNews Group)
For the second straight year, the Rams came into the championship tilt looking to avenge a one-goal loss to their opponent during the regular season. In 2023, they got payback on Perkiomen Valley with a comprehensive 13-1 victory to repeat as PAC champions.
Thursday night’s victory wasn’t as decisive but was no less convincing. The Rams’ quality shows best in turning tight games into comfortable, if not lopsided victories.
“I hope this program, this team, continues to learn from the class above them,” said Wedemeyer, who’ll play at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) next season. “Do what’s right, do your job, and Spring-Ford will continue to find success.”
Both teams’ seasons will continue in the District 1-3A tournament, scheduled to begin on Tuesday. Spring-Ford remains in contention for the last of the eight first-round byes and will host their first game of the tournament whether or not they maintain that standing.
OJR will host an opening-round game Tuesday. DellaPenna added to his league-leading goal total with the hat trick, while Blake Walther added a pair of tallies.
Owen J. Roberts’ Danny Walker (14) works toward goal against the defense of Spring-Ford’s Ryan Lynch in the PAC championship game on May 9 at Perkiomen Valley. (Austin Hertzog – MediaNews Group)
Owen J. Roberts’ Colton Loughin collects a ground ball against Spring-Ford in the PAC championship game on May 9 at Perkiomen Valley. (Austin Hertzog – MediaNews Group)
Wildcats coach Kevin Mo played his own high school lacrosse at Perkiomen Valley and has had a front-row seat for an extended portion of the Spring-Ford dynasty. Mo said the key to playing with the Rams consistently – and hopefully surpassing Spring-Ford – is staying the course as a program.
Last year, the Wildcats fell in the league semifinals to Perkiomen Valley. They were able to reverse that result on Tuesday night to be one of the last two teams standing, but ultimately, they’re still looking up at the Rams.
“I don’t think we’re as far off as people might think,” Mo said. “To me, it’s just about getting 100 percent buy in, year-round and for 48 minutes of lacrosse. That’s what you need to beat any team – clean up mistakes and play with heart. That’s all we can ask, and that’s what these guys give us.
“These are tough moments tonight, but there’s still something to play for – at least one district game in our future.”
It’s the same story for the Rams, who now look to avenge a season that ended too early in Districts one year ago. In echoing a classic of the past that’s become a rallying cry for the PAC champions in recent years, Bendowski made it clear that Spring-Ford won’t be satisfied with the PAC title.
“Keep our heads down and play our game,” he concluded. “We’re still hungry like the wolf.”
Spring-FOrd 12, Owen J. Roberts 7
Owen J. Roberts – 1 3 3 0 – 7
Spring-Ford – 1 6 4 1 – 12
Owen J. Roberts
Gabe DellaPenna 3 goals
Blake Walther 2 goals
Danny Walker goal
Brady Calle goal
Owen Clefisch 3 assists
Justin Daubert 12/23 faceoffs, assist
Chad Young 10 saves
Spring-Ford
Mike Bendowski 3 goals
Brady Welsh 3 goals
Ian Evans 2 goals, 3 assists
Hayden Wedemeyer goal, 2 assists
Gavin Roth goal, assist
Nick Valerio goal, assist
Preston Page goal
Sean Hassis 11/23 faceoffs
Dylan Cyr 13 saves
