BOYS' LAX: La Salle is Heading to the State Championship

La Salle's Cody Mazurek scores a game high 3 goals vs. Manheim Twp.

READING, PA- Things did not start off well for the La Salle Explorers as they faced District 3 runner-up Manheim township Tuesday in the PIAA semifinal round at Exeter High School.

Manheim Township’s, Grayson Sallade and Reagan Ketchum scored two goals within the first two minutes of the game.

Blue Streaks fans were going wild as they cheered their team's initial command of the field.

But just as quickly as the clouds assembled over the field, La Salle’s momentum quickly turned and what happened next was a complete turnover.

La Salle’s senior Cody Mazurek scored one in the first quarter with an assist by Brendan Meagher and that just set the tone for the rest of the game.

“They were really well prepared,” said La Salle head coach Bill Leahy about Manheim’s commencing two goals.

“I think we just had to settle in and got a couple goals. Our defense buckled down. We shot the ball well. We handled the zone well. It just took a bit of time.”

The District 12 Title holders did not waste any time taking the lead in the second quarter.

La Salle’s Brett Baskin, and Craig Coleman scored one goal a piece and teammate Mat Clibanoff netted two goals along with assists by Coleman and Ethan LaMond.

The scoring frenzy continued as the Explorers took advantage of every opportunity to keep the ball moving to their advantage.

Great deflection by La Salle goalie Michael Clibanoff

“We play a lot of guys. I think we played 22 to 23 guys so we are a lot to handle. When we play that many guys, it gives you a different look it’s never the same out there,” said Leahy.

La Salle goalie Matt McLaren with 6 saves on the day

Mazurek scored another unanswered goal for the Explorers and junior attacker Chris Hladczuk also scored taking the Philadelphia Catholic League Champs into the fourth quarter with a 7-2 lead.

This time the offensive trio of Mazurek, Baskin and Hladczuk netted a goal each with two assists by senior Colin Cahill making it 10-2 before the game was called with only 1:23 left to play due to heavy rain and lightning.

Chris Hladczuk scores 2 for the Explorers

Colin Cahill's 3 assists help garner La Salle's 10-2 victory

Matt Clibanoff nets 2 for the Explorers

La Salle's Brett Baskin talks about how his team will prepare for Saturday's Championship game vs. Springfield Delco

(pictured below left to right) Defensive linemen Dan Rivera, Blake Rondeau,and Joseph Burnham form wall to assist goalie Mike Clibanoff against Manheim's offense

“We were able to stay confident and believe in each other and we were able to rally off 10 goals for the win,” said La Salle junior attacker Brett Baskin who scored in the second and fourth quarters of the game.

The four-time state title holder La Salle (22-3) will take on Springfield-Delco (19-7) in the PIAA Championship this Saturday at West Chester East High School.

La Salle last faced Springfield(D) in the first round of the 2014 PIAA Tournament. La Salle beat the Cougars 9-5.

The Explorers, who held the title in 2004, 2008, 2009, and in 2013, are looking to keep their winning streak going and regain the championship come this weekend.

*note: game time has been changed to begin 30 minutes after the girls' championship game which is scheduled for 10 a.m.