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By TIM IRVING
All season, Pittsford boys lacrosse’s defensive unit allowed no more than ten goals in a game.
“It’s a credit to how good their (Rush-Henrietta) offense is, how athletic they are, they really are a good, athletic team.”
Pittsford coach Andrew Whipple saw his offense pick up the pace in the second half, en route to a 12-11 victory over the Royal Comets in the Class A boys semifinals.
The teams played a rollercoaster first half, finishing the first 24 minutes in a 6-6 tie with James Cook leading the way for the Panthers with three goals.
Tyler Bernarduci and Chase Petschke scored different goals to open the second half for R-H, Bernarduci going low and Petschke under the crossbar to make the score 8-6.
That’s when junior Ben Steingass went on a roll for Pittsford, cutting the lead to 8-7.
Killian Ceci replied with his third goal of the game for a 9-7 lead.
Steingass got the next two to knot the game at 9-9.
Late in the third quarter, Luke Fliss rolled to right and scored to give Pittsford at 10-9 lead heading to the fourth quarter.
“They’re both super athletic kids and they found the mismatches and were able to take advantage of that,” Whipple said of Fliss and Steingass.
Steingass lasered home his fifth goal of the game early in the fourth but the celebration was short-lived as sophomore Cody Coleman answered at the other end off a face-off win by Mike Valent, who went 21-for-26 at the “X”.
“He’s without a doubt one of the best if not the best in the Section, “ Whipple said of the Rush-Henrietta junior.
With under four minutes to play, Fliss took the ball out near midfield, went left and scored to give Pittsford the lead, 12-11.
The Panthers got the ball off the face-off and went into stall mode but with 44 seconds left, Hayden Hobbs made a stick check and got the ball back for the Royal Comets.
Rush-Henrietta got off a good shot but junior goalie Nolan Dehan held the post and held on to the rebound.
For the second straight year, the Panthers will face Fairport in the Class A Final.
Whipple said, “It’ll probably be the same kind of game, back and forth. It’ll be a tough game for sure.”
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