By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 5/25/18
Andre Smyth was not surprised Bishop Shanahan won its first district championship Thursday night – nor that it came so convincingly over defending District 1 and PIAA AA champion Springfield-Delco.
“Really it’s confidence,” said Smyth, who had six goals in the 14-4 rout at Henderson High. “We knew from the start of the season how good we were.
Bishop Shanahan wins the District 1 AA championship
“Many people have underestimated us and beat down on us. But we are one tough group and we fully believed from the beginning of the season that we were poised for a district and eventually the state championship. We believe in ourselves. We love playing and we are having the best time of our lives.”
Shanahan (18-1) will meet District 3 fifth-place finisher South Western in the first round of the PIAA AA tourney Tuesday. The Cougars (16-3) face Archbishop Wood, the District 12 runner-up.
Shanahan led, 3-2, after one period and then ripped off five straight goals. Springfield-Delco scored its second man-up tally before halftime and the Eagles tallied four of the next five in the third period to break it open.
Shanahan dominated on all facets as Tyler Kingsbury won 13 of 17 faceoffs and the attack led by Smyth, Gabe Goforth (three goals, one assist), Kyle Gucwa (two goals, two assists) and Bryan Rafferty (two goals) moved the ball freely.
“It was unexpected but we played the way we should play,” said Goforth. “That was one of the best games we ever played we just meshed together. The good thing is we have so many dodgers; anyone can beat anyone and feed anyone and score form anywhere.”
Springfield-Delco got four assists from senior Kyle Long.
“We got outplayed in every phase of the game,” Long said. “Shooting, clearing, riding dodging, faceoffs … any way you go about looking at a lacrosse game, we got outplayed tonight.
“But we go on the bus ride home and regroup and get ready for states next week. Nobody is going to feel sorry for us, especially because of what we’ve done in the past. Everybody is going to look and say hopefully we can knock them out again.”
Shanahan coach John Heisman was thrilled with his team’s accomplishment.
“Everything came together today – they played awesome,” he said “Every single kid was on his game and when that happens, we’re so athletic… I am not taking anything away form Springfield; they are super.
“We never gave them a chance. Our kids played very well. We’re happy but not satisfied – we want to win a state title.”
District 1 Class AA championship
Bishop Shanahan 14, Springfield-Delco 4
Shanahan 3-5-4-2 = 14
Springfield 2-1-1-0 = 4
Shanahan scorers
Kyle Gucwa 2 G’s 2A’s
Connor Heisman 1A
Andrew Smyth 6G’s
Bryan Rafferty 2G’s
Michael Tagliaferri 1G
Gabe Goforth 3G’s 1A
James Bevevino 1A
Nicolas Pezone 6 saves
Tyler Kingsbury 13/17 on FO’s
Springfield scorers
Joe DeBarnardi 1G
Kyle Long 4A’s
Spence 1G
Michael Tulskie 1G
Ben Garcia 1G
Jim Donegan 6 saves
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