Boys Lacrosse: Unlikely hero Palermo sparks Strath Haven’s upset of Springfield

WEST CHESTER >> With a little self-deprecation, Nicky Palermo absorbs the question in stride.

The junior will admit that he isn’t the most likely member of Strath Haven’s midfield to ignite his squad in a PIAA quarterfinal via three first-quarter goals. He isn’t the one you might peg to have a hand in more goals in the first half of a game against Central League rival Springfield than senior blue-chipper Jeff Conner.

“Usually it’s a good time when I finish, because I don’t usually finish that well,” Palermo said. “Everyone gets pretty excited, and it’s just a good day.”

Palermo was the first wave of Panthers ensuring Saturday was a good day, his early spurt and a late defensive stand helping Strath Haven upend two-time reigning state champ Springfield, 12-9, in the quarterfinals of the PIAA Class 2A tournament.

Palermo provided the answer that has dogged District 1 third seed Strath Haven (18-5) all season. Conner, the University of Virginia-bound midfielder, would lead the way; indeed he provided three goals and an assist against Springfield to nudge his season points tally into the rarefied air of the upper-140s. But how the others would respond when defenses keyed on Conner has been a sticking point.

Not so with a season on the line. Palermo got Haven going out of the gates with three goals in the first 5:05. Ethan Belville scored three times in the first half.

Conner still punctuated the Panthers’ runs — two unassisted goals in the second quarter to build a 10-3 edge at the break that proved insurmountable, then the capper with 1:21 to play to ice the victory. But from an attacking perspective, it was very much a team effort, one that sends them into Tuesday’s semifinals against District 7 champ Mars Area, a 13-6 winner over District 3 runnerup Palmyra, at a site and time to be determined.

“Coming into this season, there were many players — Ethan Belville, Nicky — we have a couple of midfielders that didn’t really play at all last year or score any goals,” Conner said. “Coming into this season, we just had to get their confidence level up, and later in the season, they’re producing and doing exactly what we need them to do.”

“When all our other guys can step up and put it in the back of the net, we know that the other team could be in for a long game,” senior defender Ryan Morris said. “If just everyone does their part, we’ll be fine.”

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Strath Haven’s Ethan Belville, left, and Nicky Palermo celebrate Belville’s goal in the second quarter of Saturday’s PIAA Class 2A quarterfinal victory over Springfield. Palermo provided the spark with three early goals as the Panthers brought Springfield’s two-year reign as state champs to an end. (Pete Bannan/For Digital First Media)