Avon Grove boys win 3A state lacrosse title
Following a heartbreaking loss in the District 1 Championship, senior attacker Brendan Harman knew his Avon Grove team would face Conestoga in a rematch for the PIAA Class 3A championship.
Following a heartbreaking loss in the District 1 Championship, senior attacker Brendan Harman knew his Avon Grove team would face Conestoga in a rematch for the PIAA Class 3A championship.
And despite a challenging road to Saturday's state final, the Red Devils were right where they expected to be - competing for the elusive goal of the PIAA crown.
In double overtime, Harman delivered the clutch assist to sophomore Zach Augustine that defeated Conestoga, 5-4, and crowned Avon Grove as state champions for the first time.
"We've battled through adversity all year," said Harman, who scored two goals Saturday. "And once we lost to them in the District 1 championship, we said we were going to see them in the state championship. We knew we wanted to win the big one."
Augustine's game-winner followed a stunning comeback by the Pioneers to end regulation. Trailing, 4-2, with 2 minutes, 20 seconds remaining, senior attackman Tommy Sopko struck to bring Conestoga to within one score.
Both teams traded possessions within the final minutes, but Conestoga senior Henry Berg held the ball with five seconds remaining behind the goal. Berg swung around the right side of the net and dropped a shot over the head of Avon Grove goalkeeper Kevin Malone to send the game into overtime.
"The message was that it's a new game," Harman said. "We still can win this thing. They didn't beat us there. They tied it and sent it to overtime. In the new game, we possessed the ball in both overtimes, and that helped us win."
The final possession of Saturday's game, however, belonged to Avon Grove. Harman, a natural goal scorer, had an easier task than anticipated. The James Madison signee found a wide-open Augustine to seal it.
"I was about to turn the corner, and the defender slid to me," Harman said. "I saw Zach backdoor with his stick up, and I just fed it across the crease. He caught it and put it in."
Avon Grove had been on the verge before, falling to Penncrest in 2014's state championship and claiming District 1's crown in 2013 and 2014.
"That 2014 season was a heartbreaker," senior Doug Jones said. "I remember as a freshman saying to myself that I wanted to get back here. We knew we had one goal, to win this. It means the absolute world to us."
After numerous seasons of heartbreak, injury and failure - for the first time - the Red Devils are on the right end of avenging their nightmare.
"Revenge tastes great" Harman said with a laugh. "They're a great team. It's great to beat them."
Avon Grove 2 2 0 1 - 5
Conestoga 1 3 0 0 - 4
AG: Brendan Harman 2, Zach Augustine, Doug Jones, Scooter Whiteside.
C: Tommy Sopko 2, Henry Berg, Drew Mullen.
Saves: AG-Kevin Malone 5; C-Scott MacMillian: 5 saves