By Bradley Schlegel
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 5/22/16
Ethan Walker, Alex Simmons and Wheaton Jackoboice each scored twice to lead the Culver Military Academy (IN) to an 8-7 victory over Haverford School in the Inter-Ac Challenge title game Sunday at Villanova University.
Culver celebrates the Inter-Ac Challenge title
Ryan Prior and Brett Hansdore also scored for the top-seeded Eagles (20-3), who built a five-goal lead before hanging on for the victory.
“Winning this tournament, just being invited, is huge,” said Jon Posner, Culver Military Academy’s head coach. “It’s a big deal. I’m so proud of the boys. They showed a lot of heart.”
Liam Duff, a 2016 defender, was named the tournament’s MVP. Matthew Schmidt recorded seven saves for the Eagles.
“Coming from the Midwest, winning this tournament means a lot,” Walker, a 2016 attackman, said. “Beating some of the best teams on the East Coast will be great for our program.”
Tommy McNamara registered three goals for the No. 2-seeded Fords (20-5), the defending tournament champions. Goalkeeper Alex deMarco stopped seven shots.
Down 8-3 at the start of the fourth quarter, Haverford School nearly rallied to force overtime. Keyveat Postell’s goal with 17 seconds remaining got the team within 8-7. Forry Smith fired the final shot with the clock winding down, but it missed wide.
“We had a chance to win at the end,” Fords head coach John Nostrant said. “That’s all I can ask for.”
Jackobice’s goal less than five minutes into the third quarter staked the Eagles to an 8-3 lead. But they didn’t score again.
While Haverford School’s defense tightened, the offense scored the four consecutive goals to make the fourth quarter interesting. Smith converted a pass from Postell just over three minutes into the quarter. Then McNamara beat the goalkeeper on a rebound less than a minute later.
McNamara scored with 2:30 remaining to get his team within 8-6 and Postell made it 8-7 with 17 seconds left.
After Joel Trucksess won the ensuing faceoff for the Fords, Smith had a shot at the game-tying goal from the right wing. But it missed wide as time expired.
“The five-goal lead was a blessing and a curse,” Walter said.
“Haverford School is not the kind of team you can usually allow to get back into the game. Fortunately, we were strong enough to persevere.”
Haverford School 2 1 0 4 – 7
Culver Academy 4 2 2 0 – 8
Haverford School: Tommy McNamara 3g, Forry Smith 1g 1a; Keyveat Postell 1g, 1a; Dox Aitken 1g, Peter Garno 1g, Brendon O’Neill 1a.
Culver Military Academy: Ethan Walker 2g, Alex Simmons 2g, Wheaton Jackoboice 2g, Ryan Prior 1g, Brett Hansdore 1g, Harry Bogle 1a, Jackson Reid 1a. Brodie Gillespie 1a.
Saves
Haverford School: Alex Demarco 7.
Culver Academy: Matthew Schmidt 7.