Kambitsis leads Mt. Lebanon to PIAA win
Five goals highlight 14-7 win over Penn Manor
After Kris Kambitsis scored five goals to lead Mt. Lebanon to victory, 14-7, over Penn Manor in the first round of the PIAA Class 3A boys lacrosse playoffs, it was difficult to discern who was happiest about the performance. Kambitsis, his teammates or Blue Devil head coach Mike Ermer.
“I love that kid. His positivity,” Ermer said. “He showed up every day and worked hard. He did the little things he needed to do and for it to pay off like that was really special. It made me really happy.”
Kambitsis was delighted especially because it was only his second game back after sustaining a hamstring injury at the start of the season.
“It feels great. Feels great,” he emphasized. “I think I played pretty well.
“It’s so great to be back out here with my boys. It was such a freak accident and I have been hurt all year,” he added.”It had taken a long time to heal. It was rough but I kept at it.”
Kambitsis first game back this season came during Mt. Lebanon’s dramatic triumph over Shady Side Academy, 12-11, in the WPIAL Class 3A championship game on May 22. Next he spearheaded the win over the Comets on June 3 at Bethel Park High School stadium.
He registered a hat trick in the first 12 minutes as Lebo opened up a 5-3 lead. He tacked on two more tallies in the fourth frame as the Blue Devils cruised to their largest lead, 14-6. Max Prezioso, the hero of the WPIAL final, set up the two tallies.
“I give credit to all my teammates,” Kambitsis said. “They really make it happen for me. They made some good passes for me.”
In addition to his two assists, Prezioso scored a goal in the victory. Garrett Cramer and Lukas Biles each supplied a tally and an assist.
Brenton Thompson, Xavier Bias, Sam McAuley, Keagan Green, Nicholas Zundel and Ty Pirain completed the goal-scoring for the Blue Devils.
For Penn-Manor, Grant Bradburn led the attack with two goals and five assists. Elijah Garland, Cooper Bradburn, Peyton Englert, Ayden Horn and Williard Smith scored the other goals.
With the win, Lebo improved to 17-4 overall and advanced to the quarterfinals of the state tournament. The June 7 showdown against Radnor (18-4) at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Park in Mechanicsburg was a quicker but more welcome turnaround for the Blue Devils than their 12-day layoff from winning their district championship.
“Coming off a WPIAL championship is a real challenge. You are coming off the highest of highs,” said Ermer. “When the whistle blew, the guys showed up and reacted well.”
In Class 2A state playoff action, South Fayette (20-1) defeated Meadville, 23-2, and advanced to the quarterfinals of the tournament. The Lions were scheduled to play undefeated Trinity (21-0) at noon on June 7 at Penn State University’s Panzer Stadium.