Boys' Lacrosse Game Summaries

Appearing in the PIAA Class 3A quarterfinals for the third time in program history, the North Allegheny boys’ lacrosse team traveled to Mechanicsburg to face off against three-time reigning state champion Radnor. Entering the contest with a streak of 13 consecutive PIAA playoff victories, the second longest in state history, the Raptors won their 14th in a row by a 13-4 decision over the Tigers at John H. Frederick Field.

North Allegheny wanted to start the game fast against the No. 2-ranked team in the state and did just that when senior All-American Evan Lyon scored with 5:22 left in the first quarter for a 1-0 lead. Just over a minute later, Radnor responded with a goal by Villanova University commit Kessy Cox to knot the score at 1-1. Senior Nate Lucchesi, a University of Pennsylvania commit, scored with only 1:22 remaining in the opening stanza to give the Raptors a 2-1 advantage.

The Tigers hung tough with the Raptors in the first period and did so with a patient offensive approach and stellar goaltending from junior Logan Lyle. The St. John’s University recruit made 17 saves to keep the Tigers within striking distance. Junior defenseman Colman Craft totaled three ground balls and three takeaways to help spark the Tigers.

Despite a strong start, costly turnovers and short possessions allowed Radnor to control the clock for most of the second quarter. The Raptors outscored the Tigers, 3-1, in the second period to take a 5-2 lead into halftime. NA’s lone goal of the period was scored by sophomore Nick Sichak.

Starting the third quarter with a man-up, Radnor senior Owen Knight scored six seconds into the half and senior Tucker Graham tickled the twine just 52 seconds later for a 7-2 lead. The quick-strike back-to-back goals gave the Raptors decided momentum for the remainder of the game. Radnor outscored NA, 6-1, in the third period for an 11-3 advantage.

Radnor slowed the pace in the fourth period and scored two more times for a 13-3 lead with 4:27 remaining. Knight led the way for the Raptors with a game-high four goals, followed by Lucchesi with a hat trick. Graham and Cox finished with two goals each. Senior Harrison Holmes and junior Tyler Vitale chipped in with one goal apiece.

North Allegheny ended the season on a high note with a goal by Sichak with 1:07 remaining to bring the final score to 13-4, Radnor. Lyon and Sichak each finished with two goals each. Lyon, an RIT commit, closed out the season with a team-leading 66 goals. Sichak ends the campaign with 59 goals, the second most on the squad.

The North Allegheny senior class was named the Wright Automotive Players of the Game for a terrific four years as members of the boys’ lacrosse team.

Following the loss, North Allegheny ends the year with a 15-8 record, while Radnor improves to 19-5 and advances to the PIAA Class 3A semifinals. It was another impressive year for North Allegheny, who started the season 0-5 and won 15 of their next 17 games to reach the WPIAL finals and PIAA quarterfinals. Congratulations to head coach John Rullan and the entire North Allegheny boys’ lacrosse team for a memorable 2024 season.

BOYS LACROSSE SUMMARY VS. RADNOR, 6-8-24

By: Jared Barton

The North Allegheny boys’ lacrosse team needed overtime to take down the Wilson Bulldogs 9-8 in the first round of the PIAA playoffs from George Mack Stadium in West Lawn.

The Tigers had the major edge in the first half, as NA took an early three-goal lead in the first quarter. Sophomore Jonathan Castillo opened the scoring with a wrap-around tally in the first three minutes. Fellow sophomore Nick Sichak found the back of the net, assisted by junior Travis Lamark. On a man-up, Lamark then connected from the doorstep courtesy of a cross-field pass from senior Evan Lyon. Wilson senior Ben Rada scored to open the second quarter, but goals from junior Sam Porter and Lyon gave North Allegheny a 5-1 lead at halftime.

Bulldog sophomore Luke Azzanesi opened the scoring and a second-half comeback bid by Wilson. Castillo scored his second of the contest about a minute later, but Wilson tallied three straight markers from junior Carter Brensinger. NA held a 6-5 lead in the early stages of the fourth quarter. Junior Nolan Moyer tied the game with seven and a half minutes left in regulation, and less than a minute later Wilson senior Cohen Renninger gave the Bulldogs a lead for the first time. NA battled for possession in the final minutes and Sichak found the equalizer with 1:46 left. Porter scored his second of the game with 0:54 left to give the Tigers a late lead. The Bulldogs called a timeout after a faceoff win, and scored in a mass scramble for a loose ball in front of the NA net with just three seconds left in regulation.

Sophomore Luke Rohan won the OT faceoff and set up NA with the lone possession of the extra frame. Sichak scored the game-winner in another battle for a loose groundball in front of the Bulldog net just 48 seconds into overtime. The hat trick marker earned him Wright Automotive Player of the Game honors. Junior Logan Lyle had another strong game in net, making 12 saves in the contest. Midfield work from senior Aidan Rabenstein and juniors Jack Ferraro, Kaden Brown and Colman Craft was also important in the Tigers’ win.

NA heads the PIAA Quarterfinal on Saturday where they will take on Radnor, the third place team out of District 1 at a site and time to be determined. The North Allegheny Sports Network will provide live audio coverage of the contest.

BOYS LACROSSE SUMMARY VS. WILSON, 6-4-24

by Bob Orkwis

North Allegheny was looking to take down a higher seed for the second straight game in the playoffs. Second-seeded Mt. Lebanon was looking to win back-to-back titles for the first time in school history. It was that history that won out, as the Blue Devils defeated No. 4 North Allegheny 15-10 at Robert Morris University to capture the WPIAL Boys 3A Lacrosse Championship.

North Allegheny got off to a great start, as Nick Sichak (:22) and Travis Lamark (3:34) paced the Tigers to a 2-0 lead.

Mt. Lebanon would answer with the next four goals before Jonathan Castillo scored with 59 seconds left in the first quarter to make it 4-3.

When Sichak added his second goal of the game eight seconds into the second quarter, the game was tied at 4-4. The Blue Devils scored twice, but trailing by two, Colt Gibson took a great pass from Sichak to make it 6-5. Down by two again, Sam Porter scored early in the third quarter to bring the Tigers within a goal at 7-6.

But Mt. Lebanon scored four of the next five goals to take an 11-7 lead at the end of three. Evan Lyon, who was named All-American, netted his first goal of the game late in the period.

Lyon pulled the Tigers to within 11-8 early in the fourth quarter. Down 12-8, Sichak and Lyon netted hat trick goals to make the score 12-10 with over eight minutes remaining. But Mt. Lebanon scored the game’s last three goals to take home the title with a 15-10 win.

Loyola recruit Miles Halter paced the Blue Devils (17-4) with six goals and three assists. Sully Kish, Fred Lasota and Jack Estabrook each scored twice for Mt. Lebanon, while Lasota and Kish added helpers. Both Joey Hetz and Luke Prezioso had a goal and two assists in the win, while Brady Lockwich made 11 saves.

Lyon added an assist for North Allegheny, while Logan Lyle stopped ten shots in net for the Tigers (14-7).

With his 5-point performance (3/2), sophomore Nick Sichak was named the Wright Automotive Player of the Game.

Both teams head to the PIAA Playoffs as the only two representatives from the WPIAL in boys 3A. That tournament gets underway on Tuesday, June 4.

BOYS LACROSSE SUMMARY VS. MT. LEBANON, 5-23-24

by Jared Barton

The North Allegheny boys’ lacrosse team scored six unanswered goals in the fourth quarter to beat Shady Side Academy 9-6 in the WPIAL 3A semifinal from Hampton Monday night.

NA took the early advantage in the contest off of back-to-back markers from senior Evan Lyon and sophomore Jonathan Castillo. Shady Side responded with goals from Emmerich Braham and Seamus Riordan. Lyon tallied his second of the night with just 11 seconds left in the quarter on a push into the offensive zone and crease surrounded by three Bulldog defenders.

Both teams went back and forth in the second quarter, but the only goal came with 1:20 left before halftime. North Allegheny was unable to cash in on a one-minute, un-releasable man-up opportunity, and Braham tied the game 3-3.

The Tiger offense was working hard into the third quarter, but the scoring seemed to have dried up. The Bulldogs tallied the next three markers in the frame, two from Landon Mauser and one from John Poggi. NA’s back was against the wall heading into the final stanza.

Trailing by three with a quarter remaining, Lyon and the NA offense found new life, with a quick start in the offensive zone. Lyon scored his hat trick goal with 11:26 left. Eight seconds later, sophomore Luke Rohan won a faceoff and scored immediately to bring the game within one. The Tigers kept the offensive pressure going, as sophomore Nick Sichak received a pass on the doorstep and notched his lone goal of the night to tie the game with 7:43 remaining. Twelve seconds later, junior Jack Ferraro picked up a loose ball in the NA offensive zone as Shady Side attempted to clear and rifled a shot into the back of the net to regain the lead. Two minutes later, Lyon found junior Travis Lamark on a cross-field pass that set Lamark in perfect position for a spinning, rising shot catching the top left corner of the net. Lyon added his fourth of the night with 4:45 remaining. The RIT commit took home Wright Automotive Player of the Game honors for his performance.

Rohan had a dominating night at the “X” with 10 faceoff wins and four ground balls. Junior Colman Craft had three groundballs and three caused turnovers. Junior Logan Lyle made 10 saves in a stellar performance that kept NA in the game.

With the win, the Tigers improve to 14-6 overall and advance to the WPIAL Championship for the first time since 2021. North Allegheny will play second-seeded Mt. Lebanon for the title at Joe Walton Stadium later this week. The North Allegheny Sports Network will have live audio coverage of the contest.

BOYS LACROSSE SUMMARY VS. SHADY SIDE ACADEMY, 5-20-24

By: Jared Barton

The North Allegheny boys’ lacrosse team advanced to the WPIAL Semifinals with an 11-8 win over Pine-Richland from Newman Stadium Thursday night. The victory was also head coach John Rullan’s 300th career win with the program.

The Rams had control of the contest early, with an opening goal from senior JL Aiello. Roughly eight minutes later, sophomore Nick Sichak scored to tie the game. With 13 seconds left in the quarter, PR’s Clayton Speakman scored his first and the Rams led 2-1 after one quarter.

Pine-Richland tallied another score in the opening minutes of the second frame on a shot from Callan DeGrands. North Allegheny then went to work and never looked back. Sichak scored his second of the contest, followed by a goal from senior Evan Lyon. Junior Travis Lamark gave NA the first lead of the contest on a man-up opportunity, while Lyon added his second of the game with 10 seconds left in the half. PR’s Cooper Zancosky snuck a goal with less than a second left in the half, and the Tigers led 5-4 after two periods.

Travis Lamark celebrates one of his four goals in the WPIAL quarterfinals.

North Allegheny had hat-trick goals from both Lyon and Sichak to open the third quarter. Zancosky cut into the 7-4 NA lead with a man-up marker, but Lamark added three more goals before the frame ended. Speakman also tallied his second goal in the third.

Zancosky registered a hat trick to start the fourth stanza, as NA led 10-7. He would also score his 4th on a man-up chance with just over three minutes left in regulation. But Sichak provided the dagger a minute later to put the game out of reach. The sophomore earned Wright Automotive Player of the Game laurels for his four-goal performance. Lamark also tallied four, while Lyon registered a hat trick.

With the win, NA improves to 13-6 overall and advances to Monday’s WPIAL 3A Semifinal with site, time and opponent to be determined. Live coverage will be provided by the North Allegheny Sports Network.

BOYS LACROSSE SUMMARY VS. PINE-RICHLAND, 5-16-24