Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 6/7/16
Staff Report
La Salle held Manheim Township scoreless for the last 38:43 of the game and scored 10 unanswered goals to earn a 10-2, lightning-shortened victory today in the PIAA semifinals at Exeter High.
The District 12 champion Explorers (21-3, ranked no. 3 by Phillylacrosse.com) advance to their first state championship since 2013 Saturday at West Chester East (2:30 p.m.) where they will play Springfield-Delco, which downed Strath Haven, 8-5.
The La Sale-Manheim game was called with 1:23 left on the clock after lightning halted play.
La Salle will be making its fifth state final appearance. The Explorers have won twice (2009, 2013) and lost twice – all four games coming against Conestoga.
Cody Mazurek scored three goals and Chris Hladczuk and Brett Baskin each added two goals and an assist while Matt Clibanoff scored twice and Colin Cahill dished three assists for La Salle.
“It’s a great feeling to have a team back in the state finals,” said Cahill. “We have a great group of guys who’ve all worked really hard to make it here and it’s great to see the hard work paying off.”
Manheim Township took a 2-0 lead on goals by Grayson Sallade and Reagan Ketchum. Mazurek got the Explorers on the board off a nice dish by Brendan Meagher with 2:21 left in the first quarter
“Finally getting one past the goalie on our third possession helped us settle down and just play the way we’ve been playing,” said Cahill. “Then the defense made some big stops and the offense was able to get into a groove.”
Cahill said his team is excited to be returning to the state finals
“We are playing some good lacrosse right now,” he said. “We’ve been consistent, too. Our defense has played great and the offense has been clicking the past few games. We’re playing good lacrosse at the right time of year.”
La Salle 10, Manheim Township 2
La Salle 1-4-2-3- 10
Manheim Twp 2-0-0-0- 2
La Salle
Chris Hladczuk 2g, 1a
Cody Mazurek 3g
Colin Cahill 3a
Brett Baskin 2g, 1a
Craig Coleman 1g, 1a
Matt Clibanoff 2g
Ethan LaMond 1a
Brendan Meagher 1a
Manheim Township
Grayson Sallade 1g
Reagan Ketchum 1g
PIAA Championship scores
2009: La Salle 7, Conestoga 3
2010: Conestoga 10, La Salle 6
2011: Conestoga 13, St. Joseph’s Prep 4
2012: Conestoga 10, La Salle 7
2013: La Salle 13, Conestoga 4
2014: Penncrest 12, Avon Grove 7
2015: Radnor 11, St. Joseph’s Prep 10, OT
2016: La Salle vs. Springfield-Delco, West Chester East, June 11, 2:30 p.m.