Bain’s OT strike lifts Wiss over Springfield
SPRINGFIELD >> Owen Bain decided to try a different approach in overtime.
“All game I was shooting low. I got him the first time for a goal and then I kept getting stuffed low down right,” the Wissahickon sophomore said. “So coach pulled me over to the side in the third quarter and told me to shoot high.”
Getting some open space to move forward, Bain took a few steps before unleashing a blast in top of the net at 2:30 in the extra period as the Trojans hung on after a fourth-quarter charge from SpringfieldMontco to come away with a 5-4 Suburban One League American Conference boys lacrosse win Tuesday afternoon.
“This win is huge,” Bain said. “We’ve come close in so many games earlier this sea-
son, haven’t been able to finish. It feels great to finish and get the win.”
Bain finished with two goals and an assist in the tight, defensive contest as Wissahickon (6-11, 5-3 conference) earned a second straight win, giving a boost to its chances to make the District 1-AAA tournament. The Trojans were 25th in the latest power rankings, one spot out of the 24-team postseason field.
“We don’t have as much depth as we expected to this year, so we had to play a lot on the field and put some guys in situations that they might not be comfortable in,” Wissahickon coach Dan Layfield said. “But overall the team has really come together these last couple games. This was a must win to even have a chance at playoffs.”
Trailing 3-1 after three quarters, Springfield (114, 4-4) twice rallied to pull level but could not take the lead. The Spartans had possession late and score even 4-4, but twice had low shots denied by Wissahickon goalie Cooper McMaster. Springfield never got an offensive opportunity in overtime. “That’s one of the better games we’ve played,” Spartans coach Hank Resch said. “Wissahickon’s a quality team we haven’t beat in a long time. Usually, we had trouble being in games with them sometimes but today we played very well. I thought we were toe-to-toe with them. So it’s a tough one to lose.”
Both teams have SOL American matchups Thursday. Springfield hosts Plymouth Whitemarsh at 3:30 p.m. while Wissahickon is home against Upper Moreland at 7 p.m.
Paul Richardson had a goal and an assist for Springfield, which had its two-game win streak snapped. The Spartans came into Tuesday sixth in the District 1-AA power rankings. Twelve teams make the AA tournament — the first as PIAA split boys lacrosse into two classes beginning this season.
Springfield has already posted a school record for victories as the Spartans play to honor senior captain Nick Bond, who died Feb. 6 from head trauma after collapsing a day earlier following a club ice hockey game.
“This is kind of his doing. I’m just sorry he’s not here to see it,” said Resch of Bond. “I’m not kidding when he said we’re going to be good, I was just like you got to be kidding. So, it a tribute to him as much as anything else.”
The Spartans have been boosted this year by the return of Princeton-bound George Baughan — who missed his junior season with an ACL injury — the long stick midfielder pulling Springfield within 3-2 with his goal at 11:41 in the fourth. Richardson found a wide-open Nick deQuevedo to knot the game 3-3 at 6:36.
Wissahickon retook the lead at 5:59 later as John Dunn scored off a Bain assist. But Springfield responded just 17 seconds later as long stick middie Brian Maienshein drove then found Richardson for a goal.
Bain gave Wissahickon a 1-0 advantage at 9:25 in the first quarter with the Trojans doubling the lead at 7:30 on Pat Halligan’s strike off a Dunn assist. Will Kauffman cut the margin to 2-1 at 4:28 in the opening period with neither side scoring again to rest of the first half.
Wissahickon collected the lone goal of the third quarter — Tommy Clements getting a ball to Dickson to put the Trojans up 3-1 at 9:25.