Late goal sinks Mars in PIAA boys lacrosse title game
UNIVERSITY PARK — Ryan Gorman gave Marple Newtown its only lead of the game — and the only one the Tigers needed.
UNIVERSITY PARK — Ryan Gorman gave Marple Newtown its only lead of the game — and the only one the Tigers needed.
The senior midfielder came around the right side of the net and put a shot past Mars goalie Jonathan Grieco for an 11-10 edge with just two seconds remaining in Saturday’s PIAA Class 2A boys lacrosse championship game at Penn State University’s Panzer Stadium.
One final faceoff was held, but it was a mere formality as the Tigers (20-5) celebrated the first state title in program history.
Gorman’s goal capped Marple Newtown’s final possession, which lasted two minutes and 27 seconds. Jace Kostack had scored the tying goal for the Tigers with 2:36 remaining.
With the score knotted at 10, the Tigers won the ensuing faceoff and their head coach, Kevin Merchant, called a timeout with 2:29 on the clock. They played keep-away for a minute and a half before another timeout was taken.
“We talked about things that looked open for us,” Merchant said. “We also wanted to make sure everyone was on the same page after a stalling warning was called.”
A shot attempt from Brian Box was too high with 11 seconds left, but the Tigers maintained possession, leading to Gorman’s game-winner.
“We figured we’d play our normal defense, play the percentages and hope for a save or a turnover,” said Mars coach Bob Marcoux.
“I saved those two timeouts for late in the game,” Merchant said. “I had a feeling they’d be important and they were.”
Over the final three quarters of the game, the Tigers outscored Mars 10-4. It was in stark contrast to the first period when the Planets jumped out to a 6-1 lead that knocked Marple Newtown onto its heels. In the first 4:11 of play, Enzo Grieco scored three times on assists from Kyle McEwen, Dylan Phillips and Jack Dunham.
Ben Bowser and Ian Coulter both scored and Grieco added another goal and Mars seemed to have taken total control with a five-goal lead.
In Tuesday’s semifinal win over Lampeter-Strasburg, Mars came back from an early 5-1 deficit. But on this day, the Planets found themselves on the wrong end of a spirited rally.
“(Grieco) is a phenomenal player,” said Merchant. “He got some touches and goals early, but we are a very young team and I think some nerves had to play out. Once that happened, we settled down.”
The Tigers received four straight goals — from Robert Wagner, Joey Yukenavitch and Box (2) — in the first 7:25 of the second period to slice their deficit to 6-5. Bowser answered for the Planets, the first of three goals the teams combined for in just 23 seconds, ending with Ian Edinger’s score for Mars.
Ryan Keating closed the half with a score for Marple Newtown, which trailed 8-7 at the break.
“The mood was good at halftime,” Marcoux said. “We’ve been a second-half team all year and were confident about our chances.”
Coulter scored with 6:38 left in the third quarter and Grieco tallied his fifth score of the game later with only 19 seconds left. Both goals were set up by turnovers caused by Cole Yoshioka and Dom Caldwell, respectively.
But leading 10-8, the Planets (22-3) were denied on the three shots they got off over the final 12 minutes. Marco D’Alicandro made a save on one and the other two were off the mark.
Ryan Keating began the Tigers’ 3-0 run to end the game with his second goal with 7:02 left.
“We knew they had good goal scorers,” said Mars senior defenseman Evan Frye. “We had the lead late in the game and were optimistic, but it just didn’t work out for us.”
In his final high school game, Jonathan Grieco made eight saves for the Planets. D’Alicandro stopped seven shots.
Marple Newtown avenged a 9-6 loss to Mars in last year’s state final.
“We have six seniors who were part of that team a year ago,” Merchant said. “They’ve led the program to where it is right now.”
Mars won a seventh straight WPIAL title this season and played for the state championship for the third consecutive year.
“I’m proud, just incredibly proud of our guys,” Marcoux said.
