Warriors Can't Overcome Slow Start

Methacton entered today's contest against Perk Valley standing at 3-0 overall and with a 2-0 PAC-10 record.  This important league match-up was one of the featured games at the Headstrong Rivalry Games.  Both Perk Vally and Methacton made a fund raising committment to the Headstrong Foundation, a group started by lacrosse player Nick Collelouri, to help those affected by Blood Cancers, promote awareness for the disease, and generate money for research for a cure.  Together, the programs were able to donate over $5,500 to the Headstrong Foundation.  

Before the game, the family of Nick Collelouri made a presentation thanking the program participants and awarding the Nick Collelouri Award to members of each team.  For Perk Valley, Attackman Sean Tornetta was honored for his one and off field leadership.  Methacton was represented by Senior Midfielder Ben Schimpf.  Coach Ryan said "Ben is one of our leaders in every facet.  He's an outstanding young man who is a credit to our program and I'm really proud that he is representing us in receiving the Nick Collelouri Award."  The awards would seem fitting from a lacrosse standpoint as both recipients would leave their mark on the game.  

Methacton was able to get on the board first as Freshman Attackman Aidan Denecke pushed around the goal to score on an individual effort.  However, the Vikings of Perk Valley would quickly strike back on a Sean Tornetta tally.  This would prove to be just the start for Tornetta as he would finish with five goals on the day.  

The first half saw the Vikings take the lead, largely on unsettled play and extra man opportunities.  While both teams traded goals in the first half, the Vikings were able to maintain and stretch their lead to hold a 7-3 advantage at halftime. Ben Schimpf led the scoring for the Warriors finding the net twice in the first half. 

The second half would be a different story as Methacton held Perk Valley scoreless through the third quarter while adding two goals of their own from Denecke.  The fourth quarter saw a lot of back and forth action with neither team being able to find the net for the first 3:15 of the quarter.  During this timeframe both goalies, Jake Blitzer for Methacton and Bryce Womack for PV, would make a number of impressive saves.  With 8:45 left in the game, Senior Midfielder Kevin Markle was able to find paydirt on an unsettled play.  After an initial flurry of shots, the ball bounced out to Markle about 15 yards out who fired a low bounce shot past Womack to cut the lead to one.  

Methacton had a number of opportunities to draw even but couldn't find the net.  While pressing out defensively to try to gain pressure, the Warriors had a blown defensive assignment that left a PV attacker on the doorstep who put the ball away to stretch the lead to the 8-6 final.  Despite a number of opportunities in the final minutes the lead would hold as the Vikings were able to salt the game away.  

With the loss, Methacton drops to 2-1 in the PAC-10 (3-1 overall) while PV moves to 2-0 in the PAC-10 (2-1 overall) following a league win over Phoenixville on Wednesday.  Methacton returns to action this week facing Pope John Paull II at home on Wednesday, before traveling to Phoenixville Friday afternoon.