Boys' Lacrosse News

In a rematch of last year’s WPIAL Class AAA championship, the Shady Side Academy Bulldogs earned a measure of revenge against North Allegheny with an 11-7 victory in the WPIAL semifinals on Monday night at Shaler Middle School.

Playing without three starters, including Seton Hill commit Cole Bordo and faceoff man Ryan Barry due to injury, the Tigers hung tough in the first quarter and trailed by only one goal after one period of play. Senior Will Badeer scored a man-up goal for the Bulldogs for the only marker of the period.

SSA opened up a 4-0 lead with 7:42 to play in the second quarter on goals by Dylan Nauhaus, Mac Mohn and J.P. Henry. North Allegheny answered back on back-to-back goals from Marc Bartolomucci and Gavin Banyas to cut the score to 4-2 with 2:11 left before halftime. However, two late goals by Seamus Riordan and Henry increased the SSA lead to four goals once again at the half, 6-2.

The Tigers edged closer in the third quarter on back-to-back markers by Banyas and Christian Tedder, trimming the deficit to 6-4 with 4:07 remaining in the period.

While it appeared North Allegheny was on the comeback trail, Shady Side Academy took command of the game with four consecutive goals, including a natural hat trick by Ethan Savlia to start the fourth quarter, for a 10-4 lead. The Tigers were dealt an additional blow when Bartolomucci left the game with an injury in the second half.

Undaunted, North Allegheny didn’t go down without a fight and scored three of the final four goals on the night, bringing the final score to 11-7, SSA. Tedder, Evan Lyon and Marco Pascarella scored goals down the stretch for the Tigers. Pascarella earned six face off wins, three ground balls and two caused turnovers.

Other statistical leaders for NA included junior Matt Miller with four ground balls and senior goalie Marc Melanson with 10 saves.

The North Allegheny seniors of Bordo, Banyas, Barry, Melanson, Trey Griswold, Owen Bishop, Nolan Collery, Marko Kosanovich, Aidan Soriano, Philip Khoury, Nicholas Mouganis, Nicholas Simons and Eric Ghilani were named the Wright Automotive Players of the Game in recognition for a memorable career with the Tigers.

With the win, Shady Side Academy advances to the WPIAL Class AAA championship game to face the Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils on Wednesday at Robert Morris University. The loss ends North Allegheny’s season with a 12-7 record and ends the Tigers quest for a second straight WPIAL title. Congratulations to head coach John Rullan and the entire NA boys’ lacrosse team for another outstanding season.

Boys Lacrosse Summary vs. Shady Side Academy, 5-23-22

GAME SUMMARY
SCORE BY QUARTERS	1	2	3	4	FINAL
Shady Side Academy	1	5	1	4	11
North Allegheny	0	2	2	3	7