Photos/Videos: Lennie Malmgren & Mike Livingston
By: Mike Livingston
WYNDMOOR, PA — It’s a rivalry as old as the league itself, literally.
Well, some call it a rivalry and some call it more of a one-sided affair, but whatever the case may be, it’s a league favorite to watch… La Salle vs. St. Joseph’s Prep. Two of the area’s top teams went head-to-head Wednesday evening at La Salle College HS in Wyndmoor as the Explorers pulled away late with a 12-9 victory over the Hawks.
The victory marked La Salle’s 18th consecutive over The Prep, albeit despite a ton of very close matchups dating all the way back to 2015.
“The guys before us led the way,” said La Salle head coach Jack Forester. “The Coaches and players have led the way, and we want to keep building off that.”
You have to make your way to May of 2015 to see St Joe’s last victory over La Salle, that came in the PCL Championship that year.
The Prep left the campus of Neumann University following a 12-10 win while Dan Fisher went 19/25 on face-offs and scored the game clinching goal.
Fast forward to today with another face-off guy who played a big part in this “rivalry,” La Salle senior Christian Peterman. Peterman went an astounding 19-0 on faceoffs in the game all while recording a hat trick in only the first half.
Peterman's stellar play was only the tip of the iceberg for the Explorers who boded with a St. Joe’s Prep team that showed no let-up all game long.
“I think (winning the faceoffs) were a huge part of winning the game,” said Peterman. “It was a back-and-forth game and having those possessions early in the game and late in the game just helped all throughout.”
La Salle vs. St. Joe's Prep - Game Highlights by Lennie Malmgren for PSD
Keeping the game close is something Prep has struggled to do with La Salle in year’s past. Only two of those previous 17 games that La Salle had won were decided by less than three goals.
Though in the first quarter, second year head coach Mark Princehorn and his squad made sure to not let this be the case - at least out of the gate as Dom Flynn struck first for the Hawks just seconds into the game to make it 1-0 on an electric transition shot.
Though it would be Peterman off the ensuing face-off that began a recurring trend for La Salle as the Explorers struck right back to tie things up at one a piece with 11:27 to go, only 12 seconds after Prep went up 1-0.
York College commit Trot Cush made it 2-1 Prep soon after
However, it was the dual threat of Max Wickersham and Will Trymbiski that put La Salle up 3-2 in the ensuing minutes. Prep’s Luke Bieberbach was able to knot things up at three apiece as the quarter closed, nonetheless.
La Salle senior Christian Peterman Dominated in Face-offs in game vs SJP. (video/ Mike Livingston for PSD)
sophomore Michael Van Bastelaar talks about the importance of each game. (video/ Mike Livingston)
“It’s been a ton of years that we’ve beaten them,” said La Salle midfielder Mike Van Bastelaar. “It was important to build off things with a new head coach and get better from this.”
Quinn Gaffney would be the first to strike in the second quarter as he gave The Prep a 4-3 advantage with about nine minutes to go in the half.
Though as the story goes Shane Dominello quickly snapped back for La Salle just seconds after the Hawk’s goal and tied things back up at four.
Trymbiski and Peterman then got in on things, adding two more goals and giving the Explorers a 6-4 lead before Bieberbach struck back for the Hawks.
Peterman got one more before Gaffney beat the buzzer in the final seconds to make it 7-6 La Salle at the half.
first-year head coach and La Salle HS Alum Jack Forster is proud to be part of the Winning Program. (video/ Mike Livingston for PSD)
Van Bastelaar gave La Salle some space at the open of the half with what would be the first of his three goals to make it 8-6.
However, the Prep came roaring back with goals from Bieberbach and senior Nick Cunningham to tie things up once again.
Van Bastelaar and Wickersham came right back and made it 10-8 La Salle before Prep’s last real attack came to light at the end of the period. That being when Mason Warrick buried his first goal of the game to make it 10-9 at the end of the third quarter.
As the fourth period began, it became abundantly clear La Salle would not be letting up.
“I think we need to do a better job of not allowing transition goals,” said Forester. “Most of the goals we have up today I feel were probably on our offense for letting up and taking bad shots - low angle shots and turnovers that went the other way. I think we were just more disciplined, and we stopped letting the emotion get to us in the fourth period.”
Trymbiski and Peterman both finished off their hat tricks in the fourth period.
Even as The Prep got a couple big shots, they couldn’t get the results they needed as the lockdown La Salle defense lived up to its reputation.
“It’s going to be fun to see these guys again,” said Van Bastelaar. “Obviously we’re going to watch a ton of films and build off that, but we’ll get better as the season goes on.”
As the season indeed continues, the Explorers hope to claim number 19 in an anticipated Catholic League Title rematch, a game the two clubs have met in every season since 1995.
For the Explorers they’ll move to 5-0 in the league and look to face off with Archbishop Ryan this coming Friday at home for a 4:00 p.m. face-off.
As for The Prep, they’ll have to stay hungry at least for a few more weeks. The Hawks are 5-1 in league play and face a quick turnaround when they take on Cardinal O’Hara on 4/24 in Springfield for a 4:00 p.m. face-off.
Note: St. Joseph’s Prep defeated Cardinal O’Hara 16-4. The Hawks will face Devon Prep (5-0, league) on Saturday, April 26th at the Kroc center. Game time is 2 p.m.
