Boys Lacrosse: Long answers coach’s plea with game-winner for Springfield

LOWER MERION >> Kyle Long ended the first quarter Saturday at Harriton High School sitting dejectedly on the bench, water bottle in hand and an animated tirade from coach Tom Lemieux ringing in his ears. Three quarters later, with the game on his stick, Long made sure the mood on the bench was decidedly more jubilant.Long supplied a goal and two helpers, including the game-winner with 41 seconds left, to stem the tide of a feverish Avon Grove comeback and help the Cougars knock off the District One runner-up, 7-6, in the PIAA quarterfinals.

Springfield (18-7), the third seed from District One, advances to Tuesday’s semifinal to meet Central League rival Strath Haven in a repeat of the district third-place game. Long rode a roller coaster of emotions Saturday, with one too many forced passes leading to turnovers and a vehement lecture from Lemieux late in the first quarter.

“Me and coach Lemieux, sometimes we get after it a little bit,” the sophomore said. “I think it’s good for both of us at times. I wish I came out and played a little better at the start, but he knows that he’s trusting me to get it done in the end, and that’s what we do usually.”

The reprimand helped Long shake the cobwebs from a sluggish start, though the Cougars fared fine without him. They led 3-1 after a quarter when Nick Martin caused a turnover and fed Joe DeBernardi for a rip with nine seconds left on a possession where Long was confined to spectator. Springfield held a 4-2 edge at half without Long finding the score sheet, thanks to a hat trick by Mike Gerzabek, who picked up the slack one lightning quick shot at a time.

“It’s not a sense of stepping up,” the senior attackman said. “It’s that everyone has to play hard throughout the game, every single second. If one person is slacking, you’ve got to pick him back up. We picked Kyle back up, and he came up big for us at the end.”

When Long roused from his slumber, Avon Grove (19-3) was in trouble. He fed Mike Vent twice in the third quarter, once man-up, to stretch the cushion to 6-2. The suffocating Springfield defense appeared to have Avon Grove subdued, until Beau Kush showed up. Muted for three quarters, the senior scored three goals in two minutes in the fourth, all on the same move, taking a behind-the-cage screen, sneaking to goalie James Spence’s right and rifling a shot under the bar.

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Avon Grove’s Doug Jones walks off the field as Springfield celebrates a 7-6 win in the PIAA quarterfinals Saturday at Harriton High School. (Digital First Media/Anne Neborak)