Boys Lacrosse: Younger Spence leads Springfield to upset

LOWER MERION >> If someone predicted at Saturday’s quarterfinal at Harriton that a Spence would determine Springfield’s fate, you probably would’ve guessed James, the junior All-Delco goalie. And you’d be right, but not completely.

That’s because the baby of the Spence family picked a fine time to put his stamp on the family lacrosse lineage. Jack Spence, a freshman midfielder, scored a career-high four goals and added an assist as the No. 10 seed Cougars booked another ticket to the PIAA tournament by tipping No. 2 Spring-Ford, 10-7.

Springfield (15-6) advances to Tuesday’s quarterfinal to meet No. 3 Upper Dublin. Spring-Ford (20-2) follows the same trajectory as last year, losing to Springfield in the quarters then getting Garnet Valley, this time at home, in the playback semis Tuesday.

Both Spences started quickly and never let up. Jack scored twice in the Cougars’ five-goal, first-quarter barrage to go with the helper on Zach Venit’s tally.

After the Rams rallied with five in the second stanza, Jack grabbed what proved to be the game-winner at 2:20 of the third, taking a feed from Joe DeBernardi and rifling it home. He put the icing on the cake 65 ticks into the fourth quarter, squirming out of a double team and absorbing a flaggable hit to extend the defending District One champs’ lead to 9-6.

“After (three-time All-Delco and Lehigh player) Lucas last year, Jack comes right in, and he’s filling his shoes as much as he possibly can as a freshman,” James Spence said. “He’s doing unbelievable things. He’s splitting double teams. He’s doing what freshmen never do. This game, he just stepped it up. He did everything he’s supposed to do and more.”

Springfield’s big guns — Kyle Long (goal, three assists) and Mike Gerzabek (two goals) — were kept relatively in check, but the Cougars didn’t miss a beat. They scored 10 goals on just 17 shots, Spring-Ford goalie Chris Morgan a spectator on all but one in a clinical display of finishing.

“It feels good that our whole offense played well and our defense played outstanding today,” Jack said.

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Springfield players swarm goalie James Spence, center, after the final whistle of the Cougars’ 10-7 win over Spring-Ford Saturday in the District One quarterfinals. (Digital First Media/Pete Bannan)