Spring-Ford Can't Hold Off OJR Rally, falls 12-10

Momementum is a hard thing to describe in words but you know it when you see it. A robust crowd on a chilly night at Owen J. Roberts saw it clearly in the 1st half for the Rams and for the Wildcats in the 2nd half.  Spring-Ford and Owen J. Roberts Boy's Lacrosse programs know each other as much as any two teams as they have squared off 3 times a season since the beginning of the PAC-10. Momentum has switched back in forth in seasons past with OJR winning 3 straight PAC-10 titles with Spring-Ford answering back with the last 2. Last night was no exception.

Spring-Ford came into the game knowing it couldn't have played any worse than they did the night before if they were to have any hope of taking down their fiercest conference rival.  Senior Paul Major made sure that the offense wasn't going to repeat their performance vs. Avon Grove with a goal less than 2 minutes into the game. OJR tied it back up at 1 on their next possession.

Man-up goals by Zach Hare and Paul Major pushed Spring-Fords lead up to 3-1 as the 1st period approached the half-way point. That's when both goalies decided to insert themselves into the game as Christian Wood (13 saves on the night) and Matt Messerle (8 saves in first half duties) came up with big save after big save. Another pair of goals by Major and Hare, however helped SF extend their lead to 6-1.  A failed clear led to a OJR goal by Sam Garges cut that lead to 6-2 just before halftime giving OJR some life.

It was clear that in the 1st half Spring-Ford was executing well while forcing the Wildcats into many unforced turnovers and they were dominating at the face-off X with Freshman Matt Della Croce.  The 2nd half would, however, be a completely different game.  Despite an early goal by Steve Bock giving Spring-Ford a 7-2 lead, the tide turned on what may have been a controversial goal.  Chris Antich coming out of the penalty box was able to bury one of his 3 goals while OJR may have had too many men on the field at the time but nevertheless the goal counted and the Cats went on a 6-0 run to take an 8-7 lead into the fourth.

Paul Major answered the 4th quarter with a goal 15 seconds in pulling the Rams back within 1.  From here, the teams traded goals with a SF goal tying the game at 9 with just over 8 minutes left.  OJR scored the next 3 goals in what proved to be the run that put the game out of reach.  Casey Pettine scored a late goal on a long outlet pass by goalie Greg Bresnan to make the final 12-10.

OJR was led offensively by Ryan Kent's 5 goals, Chris Antich 3 goals and two assists, and John Pennell with 1 goal and 4 assists.  Spring-Ford was led by Paul Major's 4 goal/2 assist effort along with 2 goal efforts by Sophomore Zach Hare and Senior Steve Bock, and 1 goal each by Troy Szostek and Casey Pettine.  Greg Bresnan had 3 saves in 2nd half action for Spring-Ford.

Spring-Ford falls to 1-2 overall and 1-1 in the PAC-10 with their next game against Perkiomen Valley on Friday night.  OJR moves to 3-1 overall and 2-0 in the PAC-10.  Owen J. Roberts returns to action Friday night at home versus Boyertown.  The two rivals next meet on Friday April 19th at 7 PM at Spring-Ford in what is sure to be another classic matchup.