PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA- Overcast dubious clouds skied over the Bishop Shanahan and La Salle PIAA Lacrosse first-round matchup Wednesday and the finish was electric.
Junior Brett Baskin hustled down the field of Plymouth Whitemarsh High School on a three-on-two breakaway, cut across the middle and scored to give La Salle the 8-7-overtime victory.
“I took a step across the middle of the crease and he stepped with me,” Baskin said. “I put it back where he was. I just wanted to make sure I got it across the middle of the cage and put it in.”
Baskin led La Salle with two goals and three assists, with five of his teammates adding one goal apiece.
The junior’s goal was definitely important, but Matthew Webster’s defense in overtime also fueled the overtime win for La Salle. It didn’t go unnoticed by head coach William Leahy.
“He [Webster] picks off passes all the time in practice,” Leahy said. “He didn’t pick it off, but he knocked it down and he made a great play. That’s how we win the game.”
Alex Wagner led Bishop Shanahan with three goals, but two straight goals by La Salle ended the visitor’s season. However, head coach Jon Heisman is excited for next year’s campaign, despite the playoff loss.
La Salle's Matt Webster's strong defensive play fueled the OT win for the Explorers
“We’ll be fine,” Heisman said. “We have a good, young team. Our JVs were undefeated this year and we got a great group of young kids. We’re looking forward to it.”
La Salle doesn’t have time to celebrate exuberantly, as they will take on the District 3 No. 1 seeded Wilson lacrosse team this Saturday in the PIAA state quarterfinals.
La Salle 5 2 1 – 8
Cody Mazurek 1g
Brett Baskin 2g, 3a
Brendan Meagher 1g, 1a
Matt Clibanoff 1g
Ethan LaMond 1g
Kohler Setley 1g
Jared Walls 1a
Colin Cahill 1a
Michael Clibanoff 5 saves
Bishop Shanahan 2 5 0 – 7
Alex Wagner 3g
Ryan McNulty 1g
Eli Goforth 1g
Nck Skulski 2a
Sam Goforth 1g
Spencer Bicking 1a
Connor Heisman 1g
Ryan Smith 1a
Jason Yoquinto 7 saves