WW-P South outlasts Allentown in rain to reach quarterfinals
PRINCETON JCT. » Steady rain and a soaked turf were not ideal conditions for Wednesday’s state playoff action, but the West Windsor-Plainsboro South boys lacrosse team was not deterred.
All season South has quietly been one of better teams in the CVC, and the eighth-seeded Pirates again showed their discipline by outlasting ninthseeded Allentown for an 8-5 win to reach the South Jersey Group III quarterfinals.
South (9-7) has now won a first-round game in two of the last three years. The Pirates will meet top-seeded Moorestown on Saturday.
“Sometimes the ball slides out of their sticks a little bit, so you just kind of keep them focused and have them just be a little extra careful,” first-year head coach Mike Sheehan said. “Focus on just good fundamental passing and shooting, and not worry too much about the conditions as much as we can.”
Despite trailing 2-1 after the first quarter, South began to settle in and control the pace with methodical offensive possessions.
David Mattia scored unassisted to tie the game with 10:01 left in the second quarter. Three minutes later out of a timeout, Josh Daly scampered down the field and netted his second goal to give the Pirates a lead they would nurse the rest of the way.
Charles Jiang added one goal and one assist. Griffin Bruno, Luke Cerrito, Daniel Kelly and Tyler Shankoff each stuck the ball into the back of the net once.
South also beat Allentown (5-11) back on April 6, 11-7, in the first meeting between the two relatively evenly matched county rivals.
“We knew who a couple of their guys were. We knew that they don’t quit,” Sheehan said. “They’re a feisty team; they play hard, they play physical. We just kind of knew coming into this that it was going to be a battle. So that was kind of our message beforehand: ‘Be ready to go out and play hard and have to earn this one.’”
Despite winning only three of the 17 faceoffs, the Pirates executed a sound game plan of dominating time of possession and dictating tempo.
Led by Gordon Hesterberg’s 13 saves, South’s defense stood tall even as Allentown twice pulled to within two goals during the fourth quarter.
On another well-executed play out of a timeout with 2:21 remaining, Kelly scored the dagger that made it 8-5.
“It was just great poise from the offense,” Sheehan said. “I thought halfway through the fourth we were getting a little bit frantic on clears and ground balls and stuff. It was just like, ‘You know, guys, everyone relax. Go play your game, play the game the way you know how to play and all will be good.’ That was really just my message in our timeouts.”
In addition to leading the CVC with 64 goals this season, Mattia is also the area’s leading scorer over the last four seasons with 244 career points.
He and fellow senior Nick Tello (111 career assists) have helped lay a strong foundation for the future of Pirates lacrosse.
“They have a great chemistry, the two of them. They play in a way you can’t really teach,” Sheehan said. “They’ve grown so much together in this program and in the summertime. They’re good leaders, they’re great kids and they’re always positive. They’re always there picking their teammates up. The way they can work together and they get going, it can be hard to stop that combination from scoring some goals.”
Allentown (5-11) WW-PS (9-7) Goals —
Jordan 2, Moench, Kapone, Pinto (A), Daly 2, Mattia, Jiang, G. Bruno, Cerrito, Kelly, Shankoff (W).
Pinto (A), Mattia, Jiang (W).
18 (A), 15 (W).
Mehta (7), Hesterberg 13 (W).
Assists — Shots — Saves — 2 1 0 3 1 2 — 2 2— 5 8