Warwick's rally stuns Warriors in District 3 lacrosse tournament

It was one stunning event piled on top of another.

The Susquehannock boys' lacrosse team entered the District 3 tourney as the No. 5 seed and earned a first-round home game against 12th-seeded Warwick on Tuesday evening.

The Warriors entered the final 12-minute quarter with a three-goal lead, but saw Warwick rally back to score five fourth-quarter goals and celebrate a 7-5 win on Susquehannock High School's turf field.

"We didn't make the plays," said Susquehannock coach Russ LeBlanc. "We didn't play with self-discipline. We let this one get away."

Making matters worse, it was the second-consecutive loss Susquehannock (13-4) had at home as it also dropped the YAIAA championship game there to West York last Thursday. The Warriors had only lost once at home during the regular season.

Warwick (14-5) began the final quarter with a man advantage for the first three minutes, as Susquehannock's Jack Allred was flagged for an illegal stick. It was the third such penalty in the game and second called on Susquehannock. Both coaches were hard-pressed to recall a single game where three such penalties were called.

"We spent six minutes a man down because of sticks," LeBlanc said. "It's tough to survive that."

No goals were scored during the first two such penalties, but Warwick struck for two goals in that final three-minute penalty span to pull to within a goal of tying the game.

The first goal by sophomore midfielder Even Crawford came 31 seconds into the penalty, while the second goal by senior midfielder Shane Galway came with two seconds remaining.

"If you're able to stay calm in those high-pressure situations, a lot of times you are able to come out OK," Warwick coach Wayne Hummer said. "We tell them a lot that culture is going to eat strategy for breakfast."

Warwick then tied the game with 7:45 left on a goal by sophomore attack Joshua Croyle, and scored the eventual game-winner 35 seconds later on a goal by junior midfielder Tyler Bogda. It was Bogda's second goal of the game.

"As we got down to the end of the game, guys weren't forcing stuff to make things happen," Hummer said. "When you are looking at that goose egg on the scoreboard, you really try to make more happen. You are not always patient. Credit to my guys, I've been trying to get them to do it all year, they were patient with the ball at the end of the game."

After six first-quarter shots on goal by Susquehannock, the team managed only 10 the rest of the game and three in the final quarter.

Susquehannock senior midfielder Zach Orner also dominated the faceoffs against Warwick, winning 11 of 14, but two of Warwick's wins were during that last quarter.

Both Susquehannock goalie Shane Silk and Warwick goalie Cameron Epple turned in solid performances. Silk, who is going to continue his lacrosse career next season at NCAA Division III Virginia Wesleyan, blanked Warwick for the first half and finished with 11 saves. Epple held the Warriors scoreless in the second and fourth quarters while recording 12 saves.

"Cam had some really big saves," Hummer said. "When you have somebody doing that for you, it gives you a chance to win."

Junior attack Aiden Kirkendall had two first-quarter goals and had two assists for Susquehannock while teammate Allred added two scores.

Warwick 7, Susquehannock 5

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Warwick goals — Tyler Bogda (2), Kobi Biemensderfer (2), Evan Crawford, Shane Galway, Joshua Croyle.

Warwick assists — Alex Dagen (3), Cole Lownsberry.

Susquehannock goals — Aiden Kirkendall (2), Collin Riley, Jack Allred (2).

Susquehannock assists — Brady Gallegos, Aiden Kirkendall (2).

Shots — W 19, Sus 16.

Goalie saves — W, Cameron Epple (12 saves). Sus, Shane Silk (11 saves), Nick Chamberlin (0 saves).