Check out the recaps for SOL boys’ lacrosse teams in action Thursday. Upper Dublin/Wissahickon photos provided courtesy of Kim Supko. Springfield Twp/Cheltenham photos provided courtesy of Michael Rice Photography. Check back for photo galleries. CLICK HERE to go directly to Suburban One Sports' BOYS' LACROSSE GALLERIES.
National Conference
Pennridge 12, Souderton 11
Rocco Fanelli certainly has a flair for the dramatic.
With Thursday’s National Conference showdown with neighboring rival Souderton knotted at 11-11 late in the fourth quarter, Fanelli netted his second goal of the game with just six ticks left on the clock to give Pennridge a heart-stopping 12-11 victory and lift the Rams to their fourth consecutive National Conference championship.
Souderton – ranked 13th in the District 1 3A standings – had tied the game at 11-11 with about 30 seconds left, but Cole Nitterour (20/27 on faceoffs) won the ensuing draw to set up Fanelli’s heroics.
Sean Leuthe scored four goals and added an assist for the Rams, ranked ninth in the District 1 3A standings. Justin Gramlich turned aside 12 shots to earn the victory in the cage.
Logan Blair paced Souderton with two goals and four assists. Ty Sauerwald scored three goals.
By the numbers: Souderton: Logan Blair (2G, 4A, 3GB, 2CTO, 3/10FO), Ty Sauerwald (3G), Brody Anderson (2G, 1GB), Cam Ruff (2G, 1GB), Chris Touhey (1G, 1GB), Liam Murray (1G, 3GB, 4CTO), Max Ryon (6GB, 1CTO), Alex Benfield (2GB, 2CTO), Dylan Brun (2GB, 2CTO), Otto Brewer (2GB), Dan Trumbore (1GB), Carter Henning (2/15FO, 1GB), Andrew Rivera (7 saves, 2GB).
Pennridge: Rocco Fanelli (2G), Matteo Fanelli (1G, 1A), Reid Moyer (3G, 1A), Sean Leuthe (4G, 1A), Emerik Tasker (1G), Gage Gottshalk (1G), Cole Nitterour (20/27 FO), Justin Gramlich (12 saves).
Pennridge coach Chris Pianko:
—Expectations: “We definitely had the expectation the last few years, and we had them again this year, but it was a lot further, I’ll say, of a stretch goal this year than it had been the last two years. The last two years, we returned a bunch of players that had a ton of starting experience. I don’t want to say it was expected, but we knew if we took care of business that the result would be there at the end.
“This year we talked about it a lot. A lot of it was the belief that we can do it. We had a super-light roster – 31 kids on the roster. Fifteen of them are seniors, and I think we only returned three or four kids that had a lot of varsity time last year, so a ton of new faces on all areas of the offense, the defense, in goal, and everywhere.
“A lot of it was – how quickly can the kids rise to the occasion and see where the chips fall at the end of the day.”
—The Souderton rivalry: “I’ve been either an assistant or head coach at Pennridge since 2016, so the 10th year depending on how you count COVID. It seems like every single year, no matter which team is better or worse, it’s always a super-close game, whether one team is up or down or anything. They had a great team this year, and they had a great, great game plan heading into the game. The ball happened to bounce our way a couple times.”
—Keys to the win: “Souderton tied it with about 30 seconds left, and the biggest thing that we talked about leading into the game was winning at the face-off X, and Cole Nitterour did a great job on the face-off X, handling the pressure they sent out, and they do a great job sending pressure. All of their long poles are really good players who can throw a ton of stick checks. If you let them dictate the tempo, you are going to have problems all night.
“I thought they did a great job defensively pressuring out, and there were times when our guys had trouble handling that pressure, and there were times where they were able to kind of keep cool, calm, and composed and kind of dictate the tempo ourselves and not necessarily push things too fast, which I thought was really big for our offense.”
—Props: “Sean Leuthe had four goals for us, and he did a great job getting to the middle of the field and taking some great shots. He’s been kind of the motor of our offense, causing it to hum and drawing slides and moving the ball when he needs to and getting shots when the slides don’t come. He did that more tonight.
"Reid Moyer had a great game. He’s by our far our best defensive midfielder, and we asked him to do a ton this year on the offensive side of the ball as well, and he had another great game flying around in the middle of the field.
“Justin Gramlich in goal had 12 saves, and he had some really big saves at the end to keep us in it, and Tyler Borneman on the defensive side had to cover number 4 for them (Brody Anderson), who’s a really good player, and he did a fairly good job of closing him down and causing us to be able to come out with a victory."
Souderton 2 3 2 4 – 11
Pennridge 3 2 6 1 – 12
Central Bucks West 12, Council Rock North 11 (OT)
Colton Albrecht made sure Central Bucks West completed the regular season on a positive note. Albrecht scored his third goal of the game in overtime to give the Bucks a thrilling 12-11 victory over Council Rock North in Thursday’s National Conference game.
Ben Hutchinson made eight big saves for West to keep the Bucks close throughout. Michael Rafalowski had one goal and four assists.
West is ranked 17th in the latest District 1 3A standings while the Indians are ninth.
By the numbers: Central Bucks West: Michael Rafalowski (1G, 4A), Colton Albrecht (3G, 1A), Luke Fisher (3G, 1A), Ben Greenspan (2G, 1A), Owen Becker (2G), Brad Mulreaney (1G, 1A), Gavin Todd (1A), Killian Eickman (15/26FO), Ben Hutchinson (8 saves).
Central Bucks West 5 1 1 4 1 – 12
Council Rock North 0 3 5 3 0 – 11
Council Rock South 6, Central Bucks South 5
Council Rock South closed out the regular season with a hard-fought 6-5 victory over Central Bucks South in Thursday’s National Conference matchup.
With the clock winding down in a 5-5 deadlock, Conor McCaffery delivered the decisive moment, finding the back of the net with 2:36 remaining for what proved to be the game-winning goal — his third tally of the night. After a Titans’ possession, Hayden Cattie and Cole Telegadis helped the Golden Hawks maintain possession and run out the final 84 seconds.
Council Rock South grabbed momentum before halftime when Jake Baniewicz scooped up a faceoff, outran the defense, and scored on the run to give the Golden Hawks a 4-1 lead heading into the break.
The Titans battled back in the second half, but Brendan Malone’s third-quarter goal pushed the Golden Hawks back in front, 5-4. The Titans answered again, tying the game at 5-5 late in regulation.
McCaffery also made program history, finishing the regular season as Council Rock South’s all-time leading scorer with 164 goals and 68 assists.
The Golden Hawks finish the regular season 12-5 and entered the game ranked No. 12 in the PIAA District 1 3A standings. The Titansentered the final week ranked 24th in the District 1 3A standings.
By the numbers: Council Rock South: Conor McCaffery (3G, 1A), Hayden Cattie (1G, 1A). Jake Baniewicz (1G, 6/11FO), Pat Malone (1G).
Central Bucks South 1 0 3 1 – 5
Council Rock South 3 1 1 1 – 6
Central Bucks East 12, Pennsbury 7
Central Bucks East pulled away in the middle two quarters to put Thursday’s National Conference game out of reach as the Patriots topped Pennsbury 12-7 in the regular season finale.
Ben Winward led the Patriots with three goals and three assists. Colin Campbell scored twice and added one helper.
Trent Becker scored three goals for Pennsbury, who trailed 4-3 after one quarter, but the Patriots scored eight goals to the Falcons’ one in the second and third quarters.
The Patriots are ranked 22nd in the latest District 1 3A standings while the Falcons are 23rd.
By the numbers: Central Bucks East: Ben Winward (3G, 3A, 2GB), Jack Williams (2G), Colin Campbell (2G, 1A, 1GB), Grant Bullard (1G, 1A), Davis Bullard (1G, 1GB), Jackson Jagoda (1G, 1A, 4GB, 2CTO), Connor Post (2G, 2GB), Ben Dempsey (6GB, 3CTO), Charlie Munshower (3GB, 1CTO), Luke Walters (1GB, 2CTO), Joe O’Leary (6GB), Oliver Rennie (6GB, 2CTO, 1A), Jak Kern (1CTO), Cooper Planck (2CTO), Bobby Purring (1GB), Jax Disantis (9FO, 2GB), Alex Sipperly (10 saves, 2GB).
Pennsbury: Trent Becker (3G), Tucker Monzo (2G), John Curtis (1G), Jackson Thau (1G), Gavin Lucisano (1A), Luke Flannery (12/23FO, 8GB), Colin Rakowski (7 saves).
Central Bucks East 4 4 4 0 – 12
Pennsbury 3 1 0 3 – 7
American Conference
Upper Dublin 10, Wissahickon 2
On paper, there couldn’t have been a more fitting way to end the regular season.
Neighboring archrivals Upper Dublin and Wissahickon entered Thursday’s regular-
season finale undefeated in American Conference play with the league title on the line.
On the field, however, Upper Dublin was dominant, rolling to a 10-2 victory to secure the Cardinals’ third straight American Conference title.
“I thought we did a really good job of executing our game plan, and I thought we did a great job of being able to highlight our skills and really play what we feel is Upper Dublin lacrosse,” said Cardinals’ coach Pat Lacon.
Matthew Shohen led the Cardinals with four goals, while Michael Pileggi was dishing out dimes all night, picking up six assists. Nate Brown added three goals and an assist for the Cardinals, who finish the season 9-0 in conference play, 11-6 overall.
By the numbers: Upper Dublin: Ryan Bond (1G, 2A), Tristen McNichol (1G, 1A), Michael Pileggi (6A), Chase Foster (1G), Nate Brown (3G, 1A), Matthew Shohen (4G), Vinny Afflisio (4FO), Ben Shervin (9 saves).
Upper Dublin coach Pat Lacon:
—Keys to this title: “One of the things we had to readjust and focus in on was 
focusing on what our mission was and really embrace our journey – the good, the bad, the highs, and the lows and everything in between. Our growing pains weren’t designed to be personal – they were designed to be growing pains.
“We had a great few days of different activities, some on the field and some off the field. It allowed us to kind of come together as a group but also come together individually to refocus what our mission is, and our mission is just to be the best person, the best player, the best teammate, the best role model that we can be at every event or every activity.
“We always rely on our guys with the most experience, and they’re always going to be the seniors, and I’m also relying heavily on our coaches – Corey Kelly, Willy Beury, Haley Gifford, Kurt Dick, and Steve Young. Our coaches have done a really good job this year.”
—Props: “I thought Noah Beamer did a great job as a D-middy and transition guy. I thought Vinny Afflisio did a great job on the face-off, and we relied heavily on our offensive experience with Nate Brown and Matt Shohen and our juniors, Chase Foster and Michael Pileggi. A shout out to the D guys for executing team defense – Chris Idi, Jacob Reif, Joey Burns, George Stein, Duncan Boyd, Luca Serrao, Danny McMonagle and Noah Beamer, and Ben Shervin in the net making great saves."
(Submitted by Wissahickon lacrosse)
In a matchup defined by defensive dominance and missed opportunities, the latest showdown on the turf proved that possession doesn’t always translate to points. Despite a Herculean effort at the "X" and a stellar performance between the pipes, the offense couldn't find the spark needed to overcome a stifling defensive front.
The story of the game was the disparity between control and execution. While the squad maintained possession for over 50 percent of the contest, finding a lane to the net felt like navigating a maze. The Cardinal defense "kicked us in the teeth," limiting the offense to just five shots on goal—a lone attempt in the first half followed by a desperate four-shot surge in the final frame. With 12 additional shots sailing wide of the mark, the opposing netminder had a relatively quiet afternoon despite the constant pressure.
The battle for the draws was a highlight reel in itself. Upper Dublin’s long-pole specialist, Vinny Afflisio, showed why he’s been a force all year by snagging the first three face-offs. However, the momentum shifted violently when Nolan Reilly took over. In a masterclass of technique and grit, Reilly dominated the circle, winning 12 of the next 13 draws to keep the ball in Wiss hands.
On the defensive end, Liam Ruhren was nothing short of spectacular. Facing a high-powered Upper Dublin offense that averages significant scoring, Ruhren stood tall with 15 saves, boasting an elite 60% save percentage.
The scoring output was led by Kyle Intal and Chase Comer, with an assist credited to Reilly. While the scoreboard didn't reflect the effort, the trio of Intal, Reilly, and Ruhren once again demonstrated why they are the best in the conference. You have to tip your hat to the Cardinal offense. Shohan, Brown, Peliggi, and Foster worked tirelessly to create looks, but the finishing touch remained elusive. Shohan started the game with a true ESPN highlight.
The loss means the Suburban title is out of reach, and a rematch with Upper Dublin isn't on the playoff horizon being in different groups. However, the season is far from over sitting 8th in the district. The message in the locker room is clear, Regroup. The foundation is there, the possession is there, and the goaltending is elite. Now, it’s about recalibrating the sights for a deep postseason run.
COACHING STAFF "To all the fans and families supporting from the sidelines—Happy Mother’s Day. We'll see you at the home opener for the playoffs."
By the numbers: Wissahickon: Tyler Moore (2GB), Kyle Intal (1G, 2GB, 1 CT), Chase Comer (1G, 1GB, 1CT), Davide Pileggi (1gb), Paulie Brogan (4GB), Henry Kang (1GB) Charlie Hussa (3 GB, 2 CT), Quin McClintic (3GB, 2CTO),Liam Ruhren (15 saves), Nolan Reilly ( 1A, 6gbs, 12 WINS OF 16 FO), Gavin Hinchcliffe (6 GB) Auston Myers (2gb).
Up next: Wissahickon, as the eighth seed in the District 1 3A Tournament, has an opening round bye. The Trojans will return to action Thursday when they will host the winner of the #9 Perkiomen Valley/#24 Hatboro-Horsham in the second round.
Hatboro-Horsham 5, Upper Moreland 4
Hatboro-Horsham ended its regular season with a hard-fought victory over local rival Upper Moreland, pulling out a thrilling 5-4 victory in Thursday’s American Conference finale.
Shane Phillips netted the game-winner with his second goal of the game. Phillips also won 9-of-13 faceoffs and picked up five ground balls. Anderson Kirby made 16 saves to secure the victory for the Hatters, who are ranked 25th in the latest District 1 3A standings. The Golden Bears finish at X-X (X-X), and are ranked eighth in the District 1 2A standings.
By the numbers: Hatboro-Horsham: Anderson Kirby (16 saves), Nate Nemchinov (2G,1A), Shane Phillips (2G, 9/13 FO, 5GB), Caden Edwards (1G), Vinny Graziani (1CTO), Quinn Fullmer (7GB, 3CTO), Ian Conway (1GB, 3CTO), Charlie McKinney (3GB, 1CTO), Devin Tercha (1GB, 3GB), Dom Hernandez (2G, 1CTO).
Upper Moreland 2 0 1 1 – 4
Hatboro-Horsham 2 1 1 1 – 5
Plymouth Whitemarsh 12, New Hope-Solebury 3
For both the players and their coach, Thursday’s regular season finale marked the culmination of a four-year journey.
Celebrating Senior Night, the Colonials topped New Hope-Solebury 12-3 in an American Conference matchup.
Drew Strohl led the Colonials – ranked 19th in the latest District 1 3A standings – with six goals. Dylan Ippolito scored twice and added three assists. With the win, the Colonials close out the regular season on a four-game winning streak. New Hope-Solebury is ranked 11th in the District 1 2A standings.
By the numbers: Plymouth Whitemarsh: Drew Strohl (6G, 2GB, 1CTO), Dylan Ippolito (2G, 3A, 2GB, 1CTO), Nolan Schnieder (2G, 1A, 2GB), Jack Cooper (1G, 1A, 1GB), Sean Herron (1G), Zach Strohl (8GB, 4CTO), Gavin Best (3GB), Luke Smith (2GB, 1CTO), James Piacitelli (2GB), Kai Silverman (2GB), Matt Bracchi (2GB), Sam Montemayor (1A, 1GB), Kyle O'Kane (1CTO), Jake Piersol (1GB, 1CTO), Will Hartel (1GB), Kia Silverman (7/14FO), Mason Best (6 saves), Brian Devitis (3 saves).
Plymouth Whitemarsh coach Ryan Bonanni: "This evening we celebrated with our program’s seniors that have been working hard for four years. This was also a special night as well for me, as I started as a head coach at PW four years ago when our seniors were freshmen.
“It really has been outstanding to witness how they have developed as well as have been really helping this program evolve in the past four years. Our coaching staff is extremely proud of them as well as all of our program players this evening as we ended the regular season on a four-game winning streak."
New Hope-Solebury 0 2 0 1 – 3
Plymouth Whitemarsh 4 3 3 2 – 12
Nonleagueand
Quakertown 13, Bethlehem Catholic 11
Haverford 17, North Penn 8
- Log in to post comments
