NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA – Every sport is intense, but none more than lacrosse.
So when Episcopal Academy hosted LaSalle Wednesday afternoon, it didn’t matter that it was a non-league game, or that there were no state playoff implications on the line. Both teams wanted desperately to win.
Not surprisingly, the contest lasted into overtime before a winner was declared.
LaSalle 5, Episcopal 4.
LaSalle's Matt Clibanoff describes his overtime goal.
With the score knotted at 3-3 thanks mostly to a two-goal outburst by both LaSalle junior Brett Baskin and Episcopal junior Matt Emrick, LaSalle took a 4-3 lead with 3:42 left in the fourth and final period on a goal by junior Chris Hladczuk. LaSalle was unable to hold the edge, as senior Benjamin Valdes knotted the game on a right-wing blast with only 26.3 seconds remaining.
In overtime, both teams had chances, but then it became the Clibanoff Brothers Show.
After making a big stop, sophomore goalie Mike Clibanoff passed to his senior brother Austin. With Episcopal’s defenders in fast pursuit, Austin fed Baskin, who found an open Matt. One flick of Matt Clibanoff’s wrists later, a triumphant LaSalle was embracing at midfield.
“I really have to give it up to our defense,” said Matt. “My twin brother made a helluva save, then he passed it to my other brother running down the field. We settled it. We got an opportunity. Luckily, I hit the net.”
In LaSalle’s season opener against Conestoga, the Explorers won, 6-5, on a goal with 14 seconds left in the game.
The goal was scored by . . . Matt Clibanoff.
“I don’t know,” he said. “Scoring a goal is great, but getting a win is more important.”
Good response.
(John Knebels can be reached at jknebels@gmail.com.)