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LEHMAN TWP. — Anton Mackey fought to control the faceoff and give Delaware Valley for the important first possession of overtime.
Then, Mackey made sure it did not go to waste.
Mackey’s goal, off a feed from Josh Balcarel, 28 seconds into the sudden-victory period lifted the Warriors to a 9-8 victory over Wyoming Seminary in the Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 boys lacrosse championship game.
“We have 100-percent confidence in Anton Mackey on faceoffs,” Delaware Valley coach Jeff Krasulski said. “He’s the best. He battled to get it, then his teammates helped him.”
The win was the second in as many days by Delaware Valley to resolve a three-way tie for first place in the division. Dallas joined the Warriors and Blue Knights at 10-3.
“What these guys went through the last two days,” Krasulski said. “We had an opportunity to win it outright Wednesday.
“To have to play Sunday, after prom, on Mother’s Day at noon against Dallas, which has the best goalie (Corey McAndrew) in the league. Then, the hardest thing to do is beat a great team three times.
“Hats off to Wyoming Seminary. Dallas couldn’t beat us the third time (Sunday), then it took us until overtime to do it against Wyoming Seminary (Monday).”
This was the first time Delaware Valley has been pushed to win the WVC under Krasulski, a Wilkes graduate and former Nanticoke football player.
Krasulski’s program was 43-0 in the WVC prior to this season, winning the entire conference in 2013 and 2014 then winning Division 1 in 2015 and 2016.
New to the sport with a coaching background from basketball, Krasulski learned through U.S. lacrosse coaching clinics and advice from coaches at the established programs that the Warriors first competed against across the New York border.
As new programs keep joining the expanding WVC, Krasulski has tried to return the favor.
“I try to do my best to pay it forward,” he said.
Unlike other teams that have joined the WVC, Wyoming Seminary came into the conference this season with a long-established history. The Blue Knights had been playing on the prep school level with the possibility of including postgraduate students on the roster.
In their first season as a PIAA member in the sport, the Blue Knights will be the second seed and a top contender for the District 2 Class 2A title. The Warriors proceed into the District 2-11 Class 3A subregional.
Wyoming Seminary took a one-goal lead three times in the game that was tied at 2-2, 3-3, 4-4, 5-5, 6-6 and 8-8.
Delaware Valley scored three second-half goals with the man advantage, connecting just eight, 14 and 21 seconds after the restart when Wyoming Seminary players went to the sideline with penalties.
“Penalties played a big factor in the outcome of the game,” Wyoming Seminary coach Andrew Billen said.
After Delaware Valley made the most of going on the man-advantage four times, taking the first six shots of the fourth quarter, Wyoming Seminary rallied late.
Max Bartron scored his second goal and Ryan Anderson got his third 42 seconds apart to erase a two-goal deficit and tie the game 8-8 with 1:39 left.
“Overall we played great,” Billen said. “I’m proud of how we played.”
After winning the overtime faceoff, Mackey worked to the left side of the goal where he received a pass from Balcarel, who had set up behind the goal.
“We didn’t get the first possession or even get a chance to possess it,” Billen said.
According to Krasulski, a strong defensive effort by Wyoming Seminary’s Nick Ganter forced Balcarel into more of a playmaker role after he scored six goals in the playoff with Dallas Sunday.
Lake-Lehman 14,
Lakeland 4
Lake-Lehman senior goalie Luke Yaple registered eight saves in the win, and pitched in at attack with two goals.
Charlie Kuschke pitched in with a four-goal effort for the Black Knights. Christian Diana, Vince Ferrari and Owen Morgan all had two gals in the win. Morgan also added a pair of assists.
It was the ninth win of the season for the Black Knights, who will face Dallas on Thursday.
GIRLS LACROSSE
Crestwood 13,
Wyoming Area 3
Natasha Koslop scored six goals as the Comets cruised to victory.
Emily Roberts added a goal and two assists in the victory and Katie Coslett had a goal and three assists.
Vestal 19,
Wyoming Seminary 4
Abby Straub scored two goals, but the Blue Knights couldn’t keep up with Vestal.
Amanda Fedor scored eight goals in Vestal’s victory, while Sarah Harding finished with four tallies. Jamie Peters added two goals and three assists in the victory.
Lake-Lehman 11,
Delaware Valley 10
Kate Roberts finished with four goals, sparking the Black Knights to victory in a battle of two teams that entered the showdown with 9-1 records.
Alicia Galasso pitched in with two goals and an assist, while Jessica Evans scored twice for the Black Knights. Lehman’s Grace Evans made seven saves to preserve the victory.
Bailey Fedun scored three goals, the last being the 100th of her career, for Delaware Valley.
Delaware Valley 9, Wyoming Seminary 8
Delaware Valley`2`1`2`3`1`—`9
Wyoming Seminary`1`2`3`2`0`—`8
SCORING – DV, Rhett Padgett (3 goals), Anton Mackey (2 goals, 3 assists), Josh Balcarel (2 goals, 2 assists), Dan Matarazzo (goal, 2 assists), James Quinn (goal). SEM, Ryan Anderson (3 goals, assist), Max Bartron (2 goals), David Nape (goal, 3 assists), George Vavlas (goal), Josh Moses (goal), Duncan Breig (assist). Shots – DV 24, SEM 20. Saves – DV 6 (Bryce Haraldsen), SEM 7 (Connor Switzer).
