SPRINGFIELD — When Springfield and three-time defending state boys lacrosse champion Radnor get together, the sticks are cracking, the bodies bumping and the victory celebration noisy and long lasting.
So, it was Thursday when Springfield, thanks to a season-best six goals by Ty Gougler, defeated Radnor, 10-8, in the District 1 Class 3A semifinals. Gougler has 10 goals in two playoff games for the Cougars, who host Garnet Valley for the district title next Wednesday.
“We just went back and forth,” said Gougler, who also had an assist. “I guess we just kept the ball on offense longer and had better ball movement. All my players got me the ball, let me dodge. This win is huge. We advance to the district championship and it’s just always good to beat Radnor because it’s always a big game against them every time.”
Brad Barber scored three goals for the top-seeded Cougars, who never trailed, and goalie Jackson Kennedy collected eight saves, including an outstanding stop in the last 30 seconds after Owen Knight scored his third goal for the Raptors to cut the lead to two goals.
Radnor, the fourth seed in the district, hits the road to play Downingtown East in a seeding game next Wednesday. Garnet Valley defeated East, 7-5.
Gougler scored three goals to spark the Cougars to a 4-1 lead in the first quarter. The home team hit three posts and Raptors goalie John Webb made four of his nine saves in the frame.
Radnor fought back to knot the score at 4-all with Kessy Cox spinning and scoring the first of two goals on the night.
After Cougars coach Tom Lemieux called time with 8:49 left in the half, Gougler and Barber scored but the Raptors rallied within 7-6 by the intermission.
“The emphasis this week was no turnovers,” Gougler said. “The last game we played them we lost and had like 21 turnovers. That was a lot. We just kept going and kept the turnovers down.”
Gougler and Conner Aughe tallied in the third quarter to stake the Cougars to a 9-6 lead entering the final frame. Too early, obviously, for the Cougars to take their foot off the gas against the Raptors, who last spring defeated them for their third straight state title.
In the final frame Gougler netted his sixth goal and faceoff man Lucas Aaron added a goal to hold off the Raptors.
“It was just two good teams battling and this is what you get,” Lemieux said. “This is just such a big rivalry that you kind of black out in the middle of the game because you feel like you’ve been there so many times. They’re just really good and well coached. We have a ton of respect for them and we’re just glad to come out on top.”
Owen Smith had two goals and one assist for the Raptors.
“These games are classics,” Raptors coach Mike Friel said. “Tommy is my best friend. We know each other. We know what each other is going to do. They made a few more plays than us and now we’ve got to grind our way back and try to see them again. We’ve got a long way to go.”
