Hempfield Knocks Mounts Out
- 23 May 2010
Saturday's District Three boys' lacrosse quarterfinal was like a chess match between old rivals who knew exactly what to expect from each other.Hempfield and Ephrata were playing for the third time this season, so no move came as a shock, no attack was a surprise.
Turns out, this one wasn't so much about strategy -- Hempfield goalie Charlie Pease made sure of that.
Pease was the backbone of a stifling Knights defense that allowed just one goal through 3½ quarters in a 5-2 win at Governor Mifflin High School.
"When's he's on, it almost doesn't matter how many takes on goal they get," Hempfield coach Doug Bailey said of his senior keeper. "They say it's 6-on-6, but with Charlie, it's 6-on-7."
Hempfield (21-1) will face Conrad Weiser in Tuesday's semifinal at a site and time to be determined. CW beat Wyomissing in a shootout, 17-13, in Saturday's early game.
The Knights also clinched a berth in the state tournament, which was a season-long goal, according to Hempfield's star goalie.
The quarterfinal between familiar L-L League foes was just as expected: a physical, defensive duel.
"Everyone knew each other," Bailey said. "They know how to play each other."
Pease (10 saves) was beaten 30 seconds in on a shot by Joey Sellers, but pitched a shutout for the next 39 minutes while the Knights compiled a 4-1 lead.
The Mounts -- underdogs according to the district seedings -- hung tough, but Pease just wouldn't let them within striking distance.
Understating his performance as "typical," Pease said he and his teammates have high hopes for the postseason. A loss this early on would be devastating, he said.
"Every game is a big game," Pease said. "It's that lose-and-go-home attitude [that drives us]."
Hempfield countered Sellers' goal with first-quarter tallies from Matt Senft and C.J. Bosch, then dominated the second quarter with 11 shots. Nick Valentino ripped a left-handed shot from the wing to make it 3-1 with 5:03 left before halftime.
The Mounts came back to life in the second half. Clinging to their playoff lives, they had 12 shots in the final quarters.
Trailing 3-1, they peppered Pease during a power play midway into the third. Phil Hess, the team's leading scorer, was twice denied by Pease on attempts up close.
"They like to work the crease," Pease said of Ephrata's tight-quarters attack.
Hempfield's Spencer Lehr made it 4-1 early in the fourth with a shot between keeper Brian Neff's legs.
Ephrata finally broke through Pease on Hess' long shot from the right wing with 8:28 to go, making it 4-2.
Pease fought off a furious rush with less than four minutes to play. Tyler Ulrich pulled the trigger on a shot that hit the left post. Seconds later, Tucker Keefer's shot was snared by the stingy goalie.
Derek Kline sealed it for the Knights, when he muscled through two defenders and scored from up close with just over a minute left.
We here at www.ephratamounts.com are proud sponsors of the Dodgeball for Diabetes tournament.