Upper Dublin boys rock Avon Grove for lacrosse championship
Only seconds remained in the third quarter of the District 1 boys' championship game Thursday at West Chester Henderson when seniors Nick Venacchio and Michael Sowers helped Upper Dublin seize control - and its first district championship.
Only seconds remained in the third quarter of the District 1 boys' championship game Thursday at West Chester Henderson when seniors Nick Venacchio and Michael Sowers helped Upper Dublin seize control - and its first district championship.
The Suburban One champion Cardinals led Ches-Mont champ Avon Grove by just two goals before Sowers maneuvered behind the net and deftly found Venacchio, who caught the ball in traffic and fired in one motion for a goal just before the buzzer.
The Cardinals never looked back and flew away with a 12-7 victory against the Red Devils, who had won three of the last four district titles.
"That was a huge play and kind of swung momentum for us," Sowers said. "Anytime you can get a goal like that at the end of a quarter, it kind of swung things in our favor."
Venacchio, who will play at St. Joseph's University, finished with four goals, including three in the second half. Sowers added two goals and four assists for the Cardinals (20-2), who avenged a regular-season loss to Avon Grove. Michael Mullen added three goals.
"It's unreal," Sowers said. "This is something we talked about on the field and in our house at the dinner table. And for our seniors . . . it's one thing to say it, but to finally do it is awesome."
On a hot, muggy, and sun-soaked day, the play on the field was fast and furious early. The first half featured five lead changes and four ties.
The Red Devils (18-2) took a 4-2 edge in the second quarter before Upper Dublin went on a 5-1 run to take a 7-5 halftime edge.
"I'm real happy for these kids," coach David Sowers said. "They put the time in. The great thing was they fought through the adversity."
His sons Michael, who will play at Princeton, and Nick, a sophomore defenseman, made the win more special, Sowers said. But the first-year coach has also coached several Upper Dublin players in football and lacrosse since they were middle school.
"They all feel like my sons," he said.
The strength of the team, Vernacchio said, comes from years of bonding with championship dreams in their heads.
"I've been playing with these guys since I was 8 years old," he said. "I grew up up the street from Mike Sowers. It's just everybody coming together and setting your mind to one goal and being devoted to it."
Senior long pole Jack Rapine, who will play at Johns Hopkins, won two critical fourth-quarter faceoffs after Avon Grove sophomore Nate Hammond dominated early.
Hammond won 11 of 15 faceoffs in the first half. He finished 15 of 22. Brendan Harmon and Jake Smith led the Red Devils with two goals apiece.
Upper Dublin sophomore goalie Dylan Lojeski stopped nine shots.
Both teams will advance to the PIAA playoffs next week.
For the Cardinals, one goal is down, another remains to be claimed.
"It's just surreal," Venacchio said. "Getting to this point has been our goal all four years. Win a district title, hopefully get into the state bracket, and win a state title. This is the first step of our journey and it's just incredible."
Upper Dublin 2 5 3 2 - 12
Avon Grove 3 2 2 0 - 7
UD: Nick Vernacchio 4, Mike Sowers 2, Michael Muller 3, Max WInebrake 2, Evan Scott.
AG: Zach Augustine, Jake Smith 2, Brendan Harmon 2, Beau Kush, Bryce Reid.
Saves: UD-Dylan Lojeski 9; AG-Andrew Spencer 5.