Moved by earlier loss, Interboro beats Sun Valley for hockey title
From the first day of practice, Interboro hockey coach Tom Aikens thought the Bucs had the makings of a championship team.
The team had talent, Aikens said, but it was more than that.
“They listened from the very first minute to what me and the coaching staff had to say,” Aiken said. “They soaked it all up and away we went.”
The Bucs won 11 of their first 12 games to reach the Ches-Mont American championship game against Sun Valley, the only team to beat Interboro this season.
“It was a more than a little motivation,” Aikens said. “We wanted to show them that it was a mistake. It should not have happened. The kids were very up for this game.”
Behind three goals from Frank Jirak, Interboro avenged that earlier setback to the Vanguards with a 5-3 victory Wednesday night at IceWorks, to win its first championship since the program was re-started seven years ago.
Sun Valley jumped out to a 1-0 lead on Ian Finley’s unassisted goal in the first period before the Interboro offense game to life.
Jirak scored his first goal five seconds after Finley’s tally to start a four-goal outburst that put the Bucs in control. Ian Birney converted a feed from Ryan Barrett. Jirak added another unassisted goal in the second period and Brett Linker made it 4-1 off assists from Brian Rhoads and Christopher Caldwell.
After Hayden McGinnis scored the first of his two goals for Sun Valley to cut the deficit in half, Jirak completed his hat trick 4:12 into the third period.
“Frankie Jirak is a gamechanger for us,” Aikens said. “The kid has tremendous talent. They scored a goal and Frankie came right back and popped one in. I think that burst Sun Valley’s bubble a little bit and we kept pressuring and pressuring. I told the boys to keep shooting, it’s going to go in, and they did just that.”
The defense did its part, too, as did goalie Hunter Chubb (13 saves).
“Frankie’s a game-changer and Chubb in the net was great, but the whole team played a fantastic game,” Aikens said. “They all did their part this year for us.”
In the PCL championship: SALESIANUM 5, CARDINAL O’HARA 4 » Vincenzo Varriale’s goal with 2:20 left in the game sealed the title for the Sallies.
Salesianum scored three times in the third period to break a 2-2 deadlock. Logan Downs finished with one goal and one assist and Caelon Driggs had two assists for the Sallies. Goalie Aiden Kikut stopped 39 of 43 shots.
Luke Melito tallied twice to lead O’Hara. Steve Graney had a goal and assist and Kevin Roney also scored for the Lions.
Boys Lacrosse
Damien Bogsch score five goals and Marple Newtown’s defense stood tall in a 13-2 win over West Chester East.
The Tigers pitched a shutout in the first half and allowed single goals in the third and fourth quarters. Joey Yukenvitch added three goals. Cooper Conroy had one goal and two assists and Charlie Box dished three helpers. GARNET VALLEY 18, DOWNINGTOWN WEST 4 » Max Busenkell collected six goals and three assists to pace the Jaguars. Bishop Barnes added four goals. Ryan Nealon added one goal and three assists and Joey Halloran chipped in with one goal and two assists. HAVERFORD SCHOOL 11, LA SALLE 4 » Colby Kim, Will Costin and Mac Zeller turned in strong defensive efforts and Chuck Cacciutti had 10 saves.
Avi Mehl led the offense with four goals. Geordy Holmes had two goals and one assist.
Girls Lacrosse
Goalie Rachel Conran turned back 12 shots to lead Springfield to a 10-3 nonleague victory over Central Bucks West.
Gabby Rizio led the offense with three goals. She also had three draw controls. Mia Valerio added two goals and five draw controls. Devin Buggy chipped in with one goal and two assists, while Erin DeStefano (two draw controls) and Claire Lynch contributed one goal and one assist each.
Baseball
Will Ferris and jake Stacey provided the power and Colby McNeely tossed five strong innings as the Haverford School topped Perkiomen School, 9-6.
Ferris slugged a three-run homer in the fourth inning and Stacey blasted a threerun double in the fifth. McNeely fanned nine and allowed one earned run. Ben Fosnocht, Johnny Fliederand Eric Genther pitched in with three hits each.
Girls Tennis
Andria Neal and Isa Osage turned in a strong performance at second doubles as Academy Park dropped a 5-0 decision to Cheltenham.
Neal and Osage fell to Lena Cathcart and Julia Cesarone, 6-1, 5-7, 10-6.
Boys Volleyball
Stefan Bilc recorded 23 kills as Haverford dropped a 3-1 decision to Central Bucks East.
Erich Bassill dished out 29 assists in the 25-16, 23-25, 2523, 25-17 setback. Alex Harrison added eight kills and Addam Bassill had six kills.