Boys Lacrosse Overcomes Perk Valley 10-9

Methacton's Boys lacrosse team has made a habit of starting slow this year.  Wednesday's home game against Perk Valley had implications in the league standings and chances for a final four birth and the Warriors found themselves in a familiar hole.  

The visiting team opened the scoring just 1:26 into the game as Sean Tornetta found the net for his first of the day.  Methacton was able to respond as Michael DelVecchio found himself on the right wing and ripped a time and room shot into the upper portion of the net.  Perk Valley would respond behind a Sean Dickey goal unassisted with 3:33 in the first quarter.  The remainder of the quarter would be scoreless as the visitors held a 2-1 advantage at the end of the first.

The second quarter would open with Perk Valley taking a 4-1 lead behind the work of Midfielder Jake Lynn and Attackman Connor Dee.  Dee would assist Lynn to make the lead 3-1 before stretch the gap to 4-1 on an unassisted tally of his own.  Methacton however, would respond as the transistion game came alive.  Keith White scored twice in a row to draw dead even at 4-4.  The first would come from Matt McClay who fed white in transition as White went low to high to beat Goalie Bryce Womak.  The second would come from Defenseman Andrew Desana who took a clear into the box and found White unmarked on the backside.  Perk Valley would respond as Sean Tornetta would find net on his second unassisted goal of the game.  The first half would close at a 5-5 tie as Aidan Denecke scored in transition on a feed from Senior Luke Herber.  This would prove to be just the start for Herber who would go on to finish with four points on the day.

Methacton has shown itself to be a second half team all year and this game would prove to be no different.  Senior Kevin Markle would give the hosts the lead on Senior Day as he scored unassisted for his first of the day.  The Vikings would again knot the score behind a goal from Kris Boyd but Methacton would win the quarter as Aidan Denecke scored his second of the day on an assist from Luke Herber.  

The fourth quarter would see the lead change hands as Perk Valley took a 9-8 lead on unassisted tallies from Dee and Tornetta.  However, as they had all day, Methacton's Seniors would make a difference as Luke Herber scored his first on an assist from Keith White and Kevin Markle would give the hosts the lead for good on a goal assisted by DelVecchio.  Luke Herber, with the game still at a tenuous one goal differential, would extend the lead on a tremendous individual effort.  Taking the ball from the defensive end on a clear, Herber beat multiple Viking defenders, pushed to the net, and beat Goalie Bryce Womack in the five hole on what would prove to be the game winner.  Perk Valley would get as close as 10-9 as they turned some hectic lose ball play into an unassisted goal by Jake Lynn but the Warriors would hold tight to earn the important PAC-10 win.  

Coach Ryan noted "It wasn't pretty throughout but I'm proud of how we responded to adversity.  We've been talking about our decision making all year and I thought there were some moments today where we looked really sharp.  [Jake] Blitzer was really good for us today down the stretch and made some really timely saves and we had contributions from a number of guys on the defensive end to really tighten up in the second half.  It was a big win for us and I was glad to see us earn a win for the Seniors."  

With the win, Methacton improves to 9-7 overall (8-5 PAC-10) and moves on to face PJP II in an away game on Friday.  With the win Methacton improves their standing for a PAC-10 final four spot and need another PAC-10 win to clinch.