Seneca Valley Edges Shady Side To Win D-I Boys Lacrosse Championship

By: Bruce Markey
Friday, May 25, 2012 | 11:28 PM

The Shady Side Academy Indians had come in to the WPIAL Division I Lacrosse finals with quite a bit of momentum winning 6 of their last 7 including playoff wins over Upper St. Clair (7-5) and Mt. Lebanon (8-3).  They were, however, only 9-8 coming into their title match with the Seneca Valley Raiders, who were consistent winners all season long with a record of 16-1.  This matchup was also a contrast in styles with SV's run-and-gun approach as opposed to SSA's more methodical, patient style. Run-and-Gun Won 8-5.

It would not take the Raiders long to strike as just 54 seconds in, Mike Argyros took a feed from Cole Fyock and drove a shot past SSA netminder Tucker Gillman for the early 1-0 advantage.  That wold be the only scoring in the 1st period.

The Indians would get on the board quickly in the 2nd, however.  Tyler Edwards would find a little carck in SV's highly-touted defense and find John Ellis, who beat the Raiders goalie Jake Succop to tie the game at 1.  A little over 2 1/2 minutes later, SSA would strike again as Edwards woudl find his own way through the defense and score to take a 2-1 lead.

Most of the 2nd period was played in the SV defensive zone, but eventually, the Raiders would finally gain control and capitalize on the offensive attack.  2 goals by David Hall at the 7:30 and 10:06 marks would give SV the lead at 3-2.

SSA would respond again right before the end of the half as Leland Jones cashed in with just 4 seconds left to deadlock the game at 3.

Derek Finney gave SV the lead back at the 3:35 mark with an unassisted goal, but the game was tied once again just a little over a minute later by SSA's Dan Marous, who had assisted on two of SSA's goals up to that point.

With the game tied at 4, SV started to take control as Argyros netted 2 goals in 2:23 to give the Raiders a little cushion at the end of 3 periods.  Those 2 goals came at 7:28 and 10:51.

Just 11 seconds into the 4th period, Dan Mathieson took advantage of an SV midfield turnover and brought the Indians back to with in 1. on his own unassisted goal.  That, however, would be the closest they would get for the rest of the game.

Argyros' 4th goal of the game restored the 2-goal lead for the Raiders at the 5:49 mark, and Finney's 2nd of the game finished off SSA for an 8-5 win and the WPIAL Division I Lacrosse Title.

Seneca Valley (17-1) and Shady Side Academy (9-9) both advance advance to the PIAA State Playoffs along with Mt. Lebanon, who defeated Pine-Richland, 11-6 in the Consolation match played earlier Friday at Chartiers Valley High School.

BOX SCORE:
SSA :  0 – 3 – 1 – 1 = 5
SV :  1 – 2 – 3 – 2 = 8

SCORING
1st Period
SV – Mike Argyros (Cole Fyock) SV 1-0 :54

2nd Period
SSA – John Ellis (Tyler Edwards) Tied 1-1 1:11
SSA – Edwards (Dan Marous) SSA 2-1 2:43
SV – David Hall  Tied 2-2 7:30
SV – Hall SV 3-2 10:06
SSA – Leland Jones (Marous) Tied 3-3 11:56

3rd Period
SV – Derek Finney SV 4-3 3:35
SSA – Marous Tied 4-4 6:44
SV – Argyros (Mason Pynos) SV 5-4 7:28
SV – Argyros (Fyock) SV 6-4 10:51

4th Period
SSA – Dan Mathieson SV 6-5 :11
SV – Argyros SV 7-5 5:49
SV – Finney (Brendan Thomas ) SV 8-5 9:04