Basilli lifts Crusaders in 4th OT
WHITEMARSH >> With two games cancelled this week, Lansdale Catholic lacrosse coach Thomas Nace decided to work his team just a bit harder in practice this week.
That extra work nearly cost the Crusaders a game Wednesday afternoon.
Looking a bit ragged, Lansdale Catholic played from behind for most of its non-league tilt with Plymouth Whitemarsh until Michael Basilli’s goal in the contest’s fourth overtime gave the Crusaders an 8-7 win over the Colonials in a game that may prove beneficial to LC’s district playoff chances.
The goal pushed LC’s season mark to 12-2 and gave them another feather in their collective caps heading into district seeding time.
“We’re getting ready for a district run,” said LC head coach Thomas Nace, “and we had four straight days off ahead of this game.
“So we decided to work on our conditioning, and we even did sprints before the game today.”
So there was an excuse for LC’s slow start, which saw the
Colonials build a 3-2 lead at halftime and the game tied at 5 after three quarters.
But LC hung tough, and could have won in regulation had the Colonials not gotten a late goal from Brendan Sullivan in the fourth quarter’s final 30 seconds.
That goal set off a wild four-overtime extravaganza, which did not conclude until Basilli grabbed a loose ball and stuffed it in the Colonials net to end the marathon.
“That was a tough way to lose,” said Colonials head coach Bryan Gregg. “A little pop up ends up on their kid’s stick.
“But as bad as it hurts, I thought our team played really well. We fought the whole game.”
The Colonials got on top early, taking a 1-0 lead on a goal by Brendan Sullivan, then doubled it early in the second on a goal by Sullivan before Ryan Flanagan halved the deficit.
PW took a 3-2 lead into the break and stretched the lead to 5-4 late in the third before the Crusaders knotted the score late in the third.
Lansdale Catholic took its first lead on a goal by Joe Walsh early in the fourth quarter, but PW battled back to tie it at 6 with 6:14 left in regulation.
Basilli gave the lead back to the Crusaders with 3:58 left, but Sullivan tied it in the fourth quarter’s final 30 seconds to force extra time.
Four overtimes later, the weary Crusaders were bailed out by Basilli.
“it was a team thing,” Basilli said. “We’re all equal here. And in the end, to win the game is a big weight off our shoulders.
“Now, we’re looking for a District 12 berth.”
That berth, Nace said, is not a lock. But the Crusaders are preparing as if they’ll be invited to the postseason soiree.
“With an 8-1 record in the Catholic League, I think we’ll at least get a District 12 opportunity,” the coach said. “But wherever we go, I know there are a few seniors on this team that are determined to finish this season real strong.”