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HAVERFORD >> With 20 seconds left on the clock in the third quarter Thursday, Pat Smyth convened a regular meeting around the Springfield crease after a goal. This one, though, was particularly comprehensive. Haverford’s Bobby McClure had liberated himself from two defenders after a pick, the product of the attackman’s slipperiness and miscommunication by the Cougars, to tie the teams’ District One boys lacrosse second-round game. “I was just taking responsibility because it was my fault, that goal,” senior All-Delco defender Smyth said. “I just wanted to let them know that it wasn’t going to happen again.”
Smyth made sure it wouldn’t, spearheading a fourth-quarter goose egg that sent the No. 10 seed Cougars to a 7-5 win over the No. 7 Fords Thursday night. Springfield’s late stinginess stemmed in part from that cage conclave. Smyth gathered the six defensive players around goalie James Spence and offered a refresher, as much for himself as anyone, on switching picks behind the net and calling out assignments.
The St. John’s commit didn’t pass along any novel info. But Springfield’s adjustments in that moment epitomized how they adapted to Haverford’s attack all game.
The Fords went ahead just 34 seconds in when no one hampered Nick DiIorio from taking a pass near midfield, getting a 30-yard running start to his split-dodge and bouncing home a shot past Spence. When DiIorio tried the same move a possession later, midfielder Matt Ries, who scored in the second quarter, made sure it was no sale. Smyth was primarily tasked with shadowing McClure, who had beaten him for three goals and two assists in the last meeting May 5. But Smyth tweaked his approach, as did Zac Methlie in marking faceoff man Luke McCallion (four goals last time). The result was just one goal and one assist for the 100-point man McClure, while Haverford (15-5) was limited to a mere three shots in the fourth quarter.
“Bobby’s a great player, obviously,” Smyth said. “He’s a tough cover. Last time, I was a little bit too hyped up for the game, trying to do more than I really should’ve. This time, I just needed to relax. The coaches told me to relax, kind of sit back and don’t try to do too much. It worked.”
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Springfield’s Kyle Long, right, and Joe DeBernardi celebrate a goal Thursday in the Cougars’ 7-5 win over Haverford in the second round of the District One boys lacrosse tournament. (Digital First Media/Robert J. Gurecki)
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