Mount Lebanon’s Odd Streak Continues With Another WPIAL Boys Lacrosse Title

By: Bruce Markey
Friday, May 24, 2013 | 12:55 AM

In a game of Odd or Even, don't be surprised if any member of the Mount Lebanon boys lacrosse team always picked Odds. For the third time in five years, the Blue Devils have won a WPIAL Division I Boys Lacrosse title and kept the string alive of winning it in the odd years of 2009, 2011 and now 2013.

It did not take long for the North Allegheny Tigers to crack the scoreboard in the Division I Championship match with Mt Lebanon Blue Devils as Lebo's goaltender William Nabors was unable to make play on an NA shot, and the Tigers' Grant Page would bury the rebound past him just 10 seconds into the game.  Although NA would gain the early 1-0 advantage, the goal would not faze the Blue Devils as they would score the next four goals, including 3 in the 1st period by Chris O'Dell (2:16), Doran Graham (3:17, and Brian Kelly (10:37).

Graham's 2nd goal of the game would give the Blue Devils a 4-1 lead before NA's Alec McGovern would stop the bleeding.  His goal at the 1:48 mark of the 2nd would cut the lead to 4-2, and his goal would be followed by Ryan Mauro's roughly 1:45 later to bring the Tigers to within one at 4-3.  Tim McNichol would score the first of his 2 in the period to restore a 2-goal cushion at the 5:25 mark as Mt Lebo had the man-advantage.  Joe Griffin brought NA back to within a goal at 5-4.  McNichol's 2nd goal of the period and the game gave Mt Lebanon back the 2-goal advantage as they would take a 6-4 lead into the break.

NA would bring the game back to a goal difference as Kyle Rullan would make it 6-5.  O'Dell's 2nd goal of the game at 5:07 gave Mt Lebo a 7-5 lead, but the Tigers would reel off 3 goals to take the lead for the first time in the game since the :10 mark of the 1st.  Griffin's 2nd of the game made it 7-6, Stephen Kelleher's goal would tie the game, and McGovern's 2nd of the game would give the Tigers the lead at 8-7 going into the 4th period.

That 4th period, however, would belong to the Blue Devils.  Mt Lebo fought hard, and their persistence would pay off as Graham's hat trick goal would tie the game at 8 apiece at the 5:18 mark and 1:21 later, Sam White would put the match away with the game-winner.  Nabors would stay strong in the net as he would turn away every Tigers' opportunity to tie the game and force an overtime.  The Blue Devils would also play keep away in the final couple of mutes to ice the victory.  The Mt. :Lebanon Blue Devils are the 2013 WPIAL Division I LaCrosse Champions with a 9-8 win over the North Allegheny Tigers.  However, the season continues for both squads as both the Blue Devils and the Tigers have qualified for the PIAA State Playoffs.