Boys Lacrosse- Lucky 15: Rose dominates as Garnet Valley completes dream run

WEST GOSHEN >> Jason Rose ambled up and down the line of Garnet Valley boys lacrosse players in the twilight Thursday evening, offering water, offering handshakes, absorbing every second like the goalie had so many shots pelted at him. He cracked jokes, relived saves and coordinated cadres of players for photos.

For the last two weeks, the District 1 Class 3A boys lacrosse tournament has proceeded to the beat that Rose set for it. He’s made lacrosse shots bend to his will, exerting what looked at times Thursday like a Matrix-esque mastery of time and space. So why not let Rose orchestrate a trophy presentation, one that he, more than any other soul on the turf at West Chester East High School, willed into being?

Rose was outstanding yet again, stopping 15 shots as the No. 15 seed Garnet Valley completed the most unlikely of District 1 title runs with a 5-4 victory in the final over Central League rival Conestoga.

No. 4 seed Conestoga joined the titans in the wake of the Jaguars (15-8), who also knocked off seeds two, three and 10.

Rose yet again strained description with his brilliance. His Jags were outshot, 39-16, and barraged for long junctures, including 11 shots foisted upon Rose’s cage in the first six minutes of the third quarter. The post and crossbar, best friend of all goalies, intervened on four occasions, and the mere threat of Rose’s blanketing of all corners of the net altered countless shots before they left Conestoga sticks.

For the tournament, he allowed 24 goals on 87 shots, an astronomical save percentage of 72.4 that includes winning three one-goal games in the Jags’ dream run that places him as the tournament’s most outstanding player, beyond the shadow of a doubt.

“It’s been awesome,” defenseman Austin Patton said. “Jason’s been behind me for basically my whole lacrosse career. Always having him there to rely on if we mess up is just fantastic.”

“He gets us all fired up,” attackman Mitch Lachman added. “He makes a crazy save, and we’re all hyped up.”

The Garnet Valley defense warrants recognition, too, as Rose, the United States Air Force Academy commit who also excels in modesty, is quick to point out. Frank Urso’s team tossed all manner of gadget schemes at Conestoga, keeping the No. 4 Pioneers off balance all night. They’d lock two players off with defensive midfielders and go 4-on-4 zone. They’d snap back to man-to-man mid-possession. They’d press or sit back, but always adapt and confound.

They were beaten the first time they attempted it, just 67 seconds into the game. With two Conestoga attackmen shut off, one stepped over midfield for an unmarked long pole in Scott Smith to dash in and whip one home. But Garnet Valley wasn’t discouraged by that concession and kept talking through their progressions.

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Garnet Valley goalie Jason Rose, center, holds aloft the District 1 Class 3A championship trophy next to John Ricci, left, and Austin Patton Thursday after the Jaguars beat Conestoga, 5-4, in the final. (Digital First Media/Pete Bannan)