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Shawnee nips Moorestown in double OT for S.J. Group 3 title

When David Smith turned toward the cage, the first thing he noticed was a defender bearing down on him.

When David Smith turned toward the cage, the first thing he noticed was a defender bearing down on him.

It was a fitting moment because it summed up the entire game: One team pushed, the other team pushed harder.

And with that defender in the corner of his eye, Smith starting pushing.

"I saw I had a step on him, and I just took off down the field. I was able to slide left toward the goal and get a quick shot off top-shelf," Smith said. "The first thing I thought when it went in was: It's about time."

Smith's winning goal - a bullet from about 15 yards with 1 minute, 54 seconds left in double overtime - sealed an 8-7 win for Shawnee over Moorestown in the South Jersey Group 3 boys' lacrosse championship game.

It capped a game that was great theater: hard-nosed and tense throughout.

This was the third straight season the teams met in the sectional final. Two years ago, Shawnee prevailed in double overtime. Last year, Moorestown escaped with a one-goal win.

Saturday afternoon at Shawnee, both teams knew what to expect.

"When we play Moorestown it is literally the hardest game of the year," said Smith, a senior midfielder and Virginia recruit. "I'm just happy I could score that goal for the rest of the seniors.

"We talk it about every year: 'Our goal is to beat Moorestown.' This year, we did it, and we're on to the next one."

Shawnee jumped out to a 4-1 first-quarter lead. But the Renegades were plagued by long scoring droughts after that, owing largely to a physical Moorestown defense.

Shawnee (18-3) was scoreless in the second. The Renegades scored three goals in less than three minutes in the third. And they were held scoreless in the fourth. Smith's winner came after almost 23 minutes without a goal, despite an edge in possession.

Sophomore Dan Wigley led Shawnee with four goals. After Moorestown (15-9) took its only lead of the game - a 5-4 advantage with 9:06 left in the third quarter - Wigley scored three in a span of 2:42 to give Shawnee a 7-5 lead.

"I just felt I had a matchup and I could attack it - I just went," Wigley said. "It's great because every year, we know this is going to be a good game. Bodies are going to be flying, goals are being scored - it's a great atmosphere."

Kevin Tsao scored a goal with 2:42 left in the third to make the score 7-6. He also scored the equalizer with 10:08 left in regulation.

"It was a battle," said Moorestown coach Baron Wallenhurst. "We kept fighting, kept scraping. But we just made too many mistakes and turnovers, and it hurt us. . . . In the end, I'm just really proud of everything we did this year."

Shawnee moves on to the state title game against the winner of Ridgewood-West Morris.

"We respect Moorestown, it's always a great game," said Shawnee coach Erik Stilley.

"It's just really special to be on the winning side of this."

Moorestown 1 3 2 1 0 0 - 7

Shawnee 4 0 3 0 0 1 - 8

Goals: M-Christian Snodgrass 3, Quinn Willis 2, Kevin Tsao 2; S-Dan Wigley 4, Jack Tyrrell 2, Curtis Corley 1, Dave Smith 1.

Saves: M-Liam Peck 17; S-Ryan Miller 12.

rallysports@phillynews.com