Rising as teams to beat are ...
... Central Catholic boys, Easton girls a cut above
The Lehigh Valley lacrosse scene is starting to take shape as we prepare for Week 3 of the 2021 season.
Without a 2020 season, as the COVID-19 pandemic that swept the country canceled scholastic sports in the spring, it was almost impossible to offer preseason predictions with any sort of confidence.
But now, with all of our District 11 teams playing at least two contests to date and some teams as many as five games entering Monday’s schedule, let’s take an educated look at where we are (both boys and girls) as we approach the midway point of the season:
Boys breakdown
Central Catholic is clearly the top team in all of District 11 and coach Dan Dolphin’s Vikings appear to be a legit contender for a state crown.
Senior Jack McGorry, committed to Saint Joseph’s University, has compiled 22 points, including 17 goals, through four games and is the Vikings’ No. 1 offensive option. Syracuse-bound junior defenseman Chuck Kuzcynski anchors a stout Central Catholic defense.
Unchallenged in the four victories, it’s very possible that the Vikings enter postseason play undefeated (at least against area rivals).
The list of contenders behind Central Catholic is a long one — and it remains relatively unclear.
Emmaus is 4-0, but coach Stu Speicher’s club has yet to hit the hard part of their Eastern Pennsylvania Conference schedule. The Green Hornets should be tested by Nazareth on Friday and Southern Lehigh on Saturday.
Beyond unbeaten Central Catholic and Emmaus, the foursome of Easton, Freedom, Nazareth and Parkland owns one loss each. Freedom entered Monday’s contest against Southern Lehigh off an impressive 10-7 win over Nazareth, which owns a Week 1 win over Parkland.
The Patriots are off to their best start ever thanks in part to the efforts of freshman Jared Karabinus, who has won 72% of the faceoffs he’s taken.
Parkland, which was upset by Emmaus in the 2019 District 11 Class 3A championship game, appears to be back on track with three consecutive lopsided victories. It would surprise no one, despite their early-season stumble, to see the Trojans return to the EPC and/ or District 11 finals in 2021.
Offensively, balance is a key for Parkland as Matthew Albertson, Will Filipovits, Matt Geroulo and Mason Zaun headline the attack.
Southern Lehigh’s program was shut down for 10 days from March 25-April 4 and the Spartans opened with back-toback losses to Parkland and Nazareth. They beat Saucon Valley, 11-5, to close out last week.
It’s likely that Southern Lehigh will again be the best of the independents, although both Moravian Academy and Northwestern Lehigh are gaining ground.
Girls at a glance
Easton, District 11 silver medalists from 2016-19 (falling to Parkland in the
finals each season), looks like the team to beat in the EPC and Class 3A this year.
Coach Michelle Mihalko’s Red Rovers are off to a 4-0 start overall. The team’s core group is as deep as it is talented, with senior Lindsay Geiger on attack and an outstanding junior class that includes Lea Krieger, Ava Milia, Eran Gleason and goalie Kylee Hager. Milia leads with 16 goals, while Geiger and Krieger have combined for 35 points.
Emmaus also is 4-0 and Freedom is right behind at 3-0.
Coach Charis Innarella’s Patriots are looking for their breakthrough season and a first-ever trip to the EPC championship game or District 11 3A final. This could be the year for her Patriots.
The quartet of seniors Abby Burnette and Caitlin Donello, junior Kailey Turpening and sophomore Paige Telatovich is as skilled as any foursome in the area.
Parkland was the dominant team of the decade in the 2010s, especially the last five years.
The Trojans, under the guidance of coach Dawn Cipolla, captured four straight district titles from 2016-19 and they owned the EPC as well. Parkland, however, opened the season with a 19-4 setback to Southern Lehigh and enter this week at 1-1.
Pleasant Valley, led by junior Alexandra Bush, should win its share of games and Northampton is off to a solid 2-2 start.
The Class 2A and independent scenes are intriguing with Southern Lehigh aiming to dethrone three-time district 2A champ Saucon Valley.
Coach Kevin Cain’s Spartans upended the Panthers 10-8 on Saturday in the first matchup between the rivals. Both teams are 3-2 overall.
Freshman Reese MacIntosh has burst onto the scene with 25 points, including 22 goals, in five contests for Southern Lehigh. MacIntosh is tied for second in the area in scoring behind only Saucon Valley’s Maria Donahue, the Pittsburgh-bound senior who has 26 points.
Moravian Academy and Northwestern Lehigh are ascending independents with two wins apiece.
Games of the week Boys
Nazareth at Emmaus, 6:30 p.m. Friday: Let’s be real — this contest will be Emmaus’ first true test of the season. Speicher’s Green Hornets have taken care of business by beating Moravian Academy, Bethlehem Catholic, Saucon Valley and Hershey. They also play Liberty, Pleasant Valley and Northampton prior to Friday’s date vs. Nazareth. At 7-0 perhaps, a capable and physical Nazareth squad will be an obstacle for Emmaus.
Girls
Southern Lehigh at Emmaus, 2 p.m.
Saturday: See above, as the same is basically true for the Emmaus girls. The Green Hornets survived an 8-7 scare vs. Central Catholic last week and they play four times this week, including a Monday date with District 2 s Crestwood. If Emmaus is still perfect by the time Southern Lehigh invades Memorial Field, it should only add suspense to the rivalry showdown.
Michael Blouse is a freelance writer.
RANKINGS
(Through April 11)
BOYS TOP 5
1. Central Catholic 4-0 2. Emmaus 4-0
3. Easton 3-1
4. Parkland 3-1
5. Freedom 4-1
GIRLS TOP 5
1. Easton 4-0
2. Emmaus 4-0
3. Freedom 3-0
4. Southern Lehigh 3-2 5. Parkland 1-1
STANDINGS
(Through April 11)
EPC BOYS
Team, Overall, EPC Central Catholic, 4-0, 3-0 Nazareth, 3-1, 2-0 Emmaus, 4-0, 1-0
Easton, 3-1, 2-1
Parkland, 3-1, 2-1
Freedom, 4-1, 1-1
Pleasant Valley, 1-4, 1-4
Northampton, 0-2, 0-2
Liberty, 0-3, 0-3
Becahi, 0-4, 0-1
INDEPENDENT BOYS
Team, Overall
NW Lehigh, 3-3
Moravian Academy, 2-2
Southern Lehigh, 1-2
Saucon Valley, 1-4
EPC GIRLS
Team, Overall, EPC
Easton, 4-0, 2-0
Freedom, 3-0, 2-0
Emmaus, 4-0, 1-0
Parkland, 1-1, 1-0
Pleasant Valley, 2-2, 2-2
Northampton, 2-2, 1-1
Central Catholic, 1-4, 1-2
Nazareth, 0-2, 0-1
Liberty, 0-2, 0-2
Becahi, 0-5, 0-2
INDEPENDENT GIRLS
Team, Overall
Saucon Valley, 3-2
Southern Lehigh, 3-2
Moravian Academy, 2-2
NW Lehigh, 2-3
* Standings based on contests reported to District 11/EPC websites.
SCORING LEADERS
(Through April 11)
Boys
Player, School, Goals, Assists, Points
1. Drew Sabo, NW Lehigh, 13, 14, 27
2. Jack McGorry, Central Catholic, 17, 5, 22 3. Connor Flok, Emmaus, 17, 4, 21
4. Trent Griffin, Easton, 15, 5, 20
4. Austin Sosnovik, NW Lehigh, 11, 9, 20
4. Angelo Luzzetti, Nazareth, 10, 10, 20
7. Colin Johnston, Saucon Valley, 15, 3, 18
7. Connor Bevan, Freedom, 5, 13, 18
9. Zach Whalen, Emmaus, 13, 4, 17
9. Colin Zyck, Saucon Valley, 11, 6, 17
9. Kyle Evancho, Easton, 9, 8, 17
Girls
Player, School, Goals, Assists, Points
1. Maria Donahue, Saucon Valley, 20, 6, 26 2. Reese MacIntosh, Southern Lehigh, 22, 3, 25
2. Alexandra Bush, Pleasant Valley, 20, 5, 25
4. Lauren Nelson, Central Catholic, 17, 4, 21 5. Paige Telatovich, Freedom, 15, 5, 20
5. Teah Lakatos, Southern Lehigh, 14, 6, 20 7. Abby Burnette, Freedom 14, 5, 19
7. Caitlin Donello, Freedom, 14, 5, 19
9. Lea Krieger, Easton, 15, 3, 18
10. Isabella Sunday, Central Catholic, 14, 3, 17
10. Lindsay Geiger, Easton, 12, 5, 17
10. Brielle McInaw, Pleasant Valley, 10, 7, 17 *Scoring leaders based on statistics reported to The Morning Call.