Mars' ultimate quest falls short
WEST CHESTER — On Saturday afternoon, the Fightin' Planets had every ounce of fight left in them from the beginning to the end of their 14-5 PIAA Class 2A boys lacrosse championship loss to Allentown Central Catholic at West Chester East's Zimmerman Stadium.
The loss was the only one of the season for Mars (22-1).
The Mars fan section erupted when Nick Crowley scored the game's first goal during a man-up situation in the first quarter.
Representing Western Pennsylvania, Mars played to the end by scoring three goals in the second half of the game. But the Planets trailed 8-2 at halftime and never recovered.
The Planets' quest to become the first WPIAL boys lacrosse team to win a state championship came to a halt as soon as Allentown Central started to gain momentum with six goals in the second quarter. The Vikings scored eight consecutive goals after Crowley's tally gave Mars a brief lead.
In the first half, the game was going Allentown Central's way for the most part. The Viking offense was hitting on all cylinders and Mars knew that.
“We just needed the ball,” said Mars coach Bob Marcoux. “Lacrosse is a game of possession and I think we needed to possess the ball a little bit more and on offense, I think we needed to be a little bit more patient.
“Sometimes I feel like we like to watch Austin Cote dodge, and we needed to move around that dodge and help him out.”
Cote was held to a single goal after scoring five goals against Bishop Shanahan in the semifinal round.
Crowley and Wes Scurci scored two goals each for the Planets. Mars averaged 18 goals per game this season.
Scurci, the WPIAL Player of the Year, scored 88 goals and had 56 assists this season.
Jack Dunham had an assist and Mars goalkeeper Jake Gareis made nine saves.
In Pennsylvania lacrosse, the Eastern region has been the most successful and dominant over the years and Mars has made a statement in proving that the West can play the game, too.
“It is good for lacrosse in the state of Pa., and they (Vikings) are the first to come from District 11 and so to have two teams outside of Philly is great,” Marcoux said. “For us personally, it was our goal to make state and the furthest any Western Pa. team has gotten, so I think we have a lot to be proud of.”
Allentown Central had everything its way and Chuck Kuczynski ended the game with three goals. A defender using a long pole, Kuczynski entered the game with just four goals all season.
Jack McCorry and Ben Scandone also scored three goals each for the Vikings. Goalkeeper Davis Ike made 13 saves.
The Vikings had a 33-25 edge in shots.
Allentown Central (23-1) outscored its four PIAA opponents 65-18 in rolling to the program's — and District 11's — first state title.
“We were knocking on the door for like five or six years now and we just couldn't get through the door and it is just thrilling for myself and the kids,” Vikings coach Dan Dolphin said. “This gives credit to the Lehigh Valley team as we are always portrayed as the little sister to the Philly teams and we can play with any team in the state.”
Dolphin has won 201 games in his 14 years as Allentown Central head coach.
Sports Editor John Enrietto contributed to this story
