District 1 Class 3A Boys Lacrosse: Garnet Valley is good as Goldt in OT win
RIDLEY — Underdog Garnet Valley scored first, last and often enough to record a 10-9 sudden victory over defending champion Springfield in the District 1 Class 3A final Wednesday night at rain-splashed Ridley High.
Drew Goldt’s goal with 2:08 left in overtime was the difference. Goldt led the third-seeded Jaguars, who celebrated their first district championship since 2018, with five goals and one assist.
“I just took it to the rack and scored,” said Goldt, who credited the coaching staff for calling the winning play during a timeout. “We’re built for moments like that. All offseason is for moments like this. It’s a great feeling.”
Kai Lopez contributed two goals and three assists, Luke O’Donoghue one goal and three assists for the Jaguars, who got nine saves from goalie Drew Keaveney. That included a stop on Tyler Gougler in close on the stroke of halftime and a kick save on Brad Barber in the final minute of regulation.
The Jaguars were making their first appearance in the district final since losing to Springfield in 2022. For veteran Jaguars coach Frank Urso, the thrill of victory was “beyond” incredible.
“Nobody expected us here,” Urso said. “I’m not sure we expected us here. These guys played their hearts out. They got better and better and better. They started believing in each other. They started working together. It’s amazing.”
The top-seeded Cougars played catch-up much of the evening, Goldt and Lopez giving the Jaguars a 2-0 lead in the first 29 seconds. It was 3-0 after Goldt tallied with four minutes left in the first quarter for the third-seeded Jaguars.
However, the Cougars the only three goals of the second frame to even it up by the intermission. Brad Barber got the Cougars started with a goal, and Pat Flaherty netted two goals.
The third period belonged to the Jaguars, who scored three goals in 47 seconds. After Goldt’s goal with 4:14 remaining in the frame, they grabbed a commanding 7-3 advantage, and the Jaguars were ahead 9-4 entering the final frame.
Springfield answered with five straight goals in the fourth quarter. Flaherty and Luke Valerio scored twice each in the run, Valerio knotting the score at 9 with 2:01 remaining.
Cougars goalie Jackson Kennedy stopped Ethan Potochar from point blank range with his helmet at 3:22 left in regulation, then Keaveney stopped Barber with three seconds remaining to OT.
Springfield won the opening draw of the extra session but turned it over. Out of a timeout, about halfway through the extra session, Goldt buried a right-handed shot into the net past the left-handed goalie.
The Cougars and Flaherty, who hit the 100-goal mark in his career, were disappointed despite the comeback. The reigning district champs, who lost in last year’s state final to Radnor, efeated the Jaguars during the regular season.
“It was a good game,” Flaherty said. “Some bounces went their way and we didn’t start out the game hot. That’s what happened.”
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