Mt. Lebanon wins WPIAL lacrosse title
Mt. Lebanon is the WPIAL Division I champions in boys’ lacrosse for the fourth time in seven years for a reason.
“We have extraordinary players who make extraordinary plays,” said Blue Devils’ head coach Mike Ermer.
With six seconds remaining in the second, four-minute overtime period, Dan Lee and Jake Zoffer were those players as they combined to produce the decisive score in Lebo’s 9-8 triumph over North Allegheny at Highmark Stadium. After Zoffer intercepted a pass near midfield, he dished up an assist as Lee fired the ball into the goal.
“I knew we didn’t have a whole lot of time left,” Lee said. “So I shot it was fast and as hard as I could at the goal. I was happy it went in. It’s the most amazing goal in my life and winning a championship is awesome.”
Awesome was the defensive play of Nick Tommasi. He was saddled with shadowing Kyle Rullan. The WPIAL Division I Player of the Year was limited to one goal, a tally less than two minutes into the third quarter.
“Nick faced a tall task,” said Ermer. “He had to defend against an amazing player and he stepped up.”
In the nets, Matthew Lee stepped up, too. He turned away 15 shots, three in the second overtime alone.
Meanwhile, Owen Chamberlin and Brian Kelly pitched in at critical moments. With less than seven minutes remaining in regulation, the pair provided tallies that knotted the contest, 8-8, and forced overtime.
“We are pretty resilient,” Ermer concurred. “We faced adversity and overcame it because we received strong leadership from our senior and junior classes.”
Regardless of the score, Ermer admitted he was concerned throughout the contest. “Always,” he said but added, “I never lost confidence. Until the final horn blows, I believe we have a chance. I know these kids. They will play hard to the end.”
The first-half was a bitter, physical battle between two powerhouse clubs. A pair of goals from Brian Ward coupled with single tallies from Dan Lee and Chamberlin enabled Lebo to gain a two-goal advantage, 4-2.
Ward’s hat trick at the 5:22 mark in the third quarter afforded the Blue Devils a 5-3 edge but a single tally from Zack Smith and back-to-back scores, 32 seconds apart, from Ted Egnaczyk shifted the match into NA’s favor, 6-5. Though Lee tied the game, Gavin Hagen again propelled the Tigers back into the lead, 7-6, with 41 ticks left in the frame. Wes Powell made it 8-6, for NA with 10:26 remaining in regulation.
For the game, both Ward and Lee emerged with three goals. Chamberlin supplied two goals and an assist. Kelly racked up three assists.
History predicated the pace and outcome of the game. The two teams met in March and NA edged Lebo, 12-11, in overtime. Lebo held the upper hand against the Tigers in last year’s semifinal, 10-9, another overtime affair. The Blue Devils slipped past NA, 9-8, for the 2013 title.
“We knew it would be a knock-down, drag-out fight,” Ermer said. “I’m just happy to win.”
With the win, Lebo improved to 15-6 overall. The Blue Devils embark on PIAA playoff action May 26 at a site and time to be determined.