Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 4/18/17
Staff Report
The last time Penn Charter defeated Haverford School, Gavin Tygh was a year old and the Fords were to embark on a stretch of being a dominant force in the Inter-Ac League with 10 titles in 13 years.
Penn Charter’s Dylan Schwartz celebrates one of his two goals in Tuesday’s win (Photo courtesy Penn Charter lacrosse)
That last Quaker win over the Fords had occurred on April 29, 2003, a 17-4 win, and 28 games ago for the Penn Charter-Haverford School series.
But today at Haverford, Penn Charter shed years of frustration and defeated the Fords, 9-7, as Tygh won 13 of 19 faceoffs, Carson Marano made 16 saves and Nick DiCicco and Ryan Dickson each scored three goals.
“I didn’t realize it was that long (since we beat them),” said Tygh, a 2019 committed to Virginia. “I assumed with guys like (Joey) Sankey (former North Carolina All-American who is now the Offensive Coordinator), they had won at some point.”
The closest Penn Charter came to beating Haverford in the past years was an 8-7, triple-overtime loss in 2012, the year after Sankey graduated.
Penn Charter entered play just 4-8 overall and 0-2 in the league, but against a national schedule. Tygh said the team was confident.
“We sort of approached game with coach Pat McDonough’s theory that we just want to win every quarter,” said Tygh. “We scored in the first two minutes and proceeded with the mindset that we would possess and be patient on offense and not make silly turnovers.
“We knew they would cost us. On the defesive side we had a well-planned zone from coaches Bobby Tait and John Moderski and and it worked great.”
Penn Charter trailed briefly, 3-2, in the second period, but took a 5-4 halftime lead and led the rest of the way. The Quakers’ defense was led by Sammy Keyser (LSM), Alex Malitas, Noah Evans, and Terrance Thompson. DiCicco also excelled at defensive middie with Kyle Jones and Tygh.
“Carson (Marano) stood on his head and had his best performance I have ever seen,” Tygh said.
Dylan Schwartz added two goals and an assist and Mac Wilson dished three assists while Luke Stansfield had a goal and an assist. Luke O’Grady led the Fords (6-4, 2-1) with three goals and an assist. Haverford is now tied atop the league with Malvern Prep, Episcopal Academy and Springside Chestnut Hill Academy.
Tygh knew he had a major challenge in facing Joel Trucksess, the Fords’ standout face-off specialist.
“I knew this would be my toughest matchup (to date) in the Inter-Ac,” said Tygh. “Trucksess was good at getting the clamp, but my wing guys and I did a good job boxing their guys out and getting loose balls. I think five of our goals came out of transition and a couple off the face-off. That was really great to see.”
Penn Charter 9, Haverford School 7
HS -1-3-2-1 -7
PC 2-3-3-1 – 9
Penn Charter
Nick DiCicco 3G
Ryan Dickson 3G
Dylan Schwartz 2g, 1 a
Mac Wilson 3a
Luke Stansfield 1g, 1a
Gavin Tygh 13/19 FO
Carson Marano 16 saves
Haverford School
Luke O’Grady 3g, 1a
Peter Garno 1g, 2a
Adam Salvaggio 1g
Johnny Nostrant 2g, 1a
Connor Mosebrook 1a
Scott Deck 1a
Parker Henderer 10 saves