SO. ABINGTON TWP. \u2013 Regardless of the sport, the rivalry between Scranton Prep and Abington Heights is fiercely intense.<\/p>\n
That is certainly the case in boys\u2019 lacrosse.<\/p>\n
This season, both teams are outstanding, with rosters filled with athletes who have grown up together battling since they started in club lacrosse. They know each other, and the competitive spirit they play with often results in exciting encounters.<\/p>\n
On Friday evening, in a much-anticipated showdown for first place in the Wyoming Valley Conference, Scranton Prep\u2019s Mackey Lynett fired a shot that reached the back of the cage for the game-winner in a thrilling 14-13 win over the host Comets at the Abington Heights Athletic Complex.<\/p>\n
Scranton Prep preserved its unblemished record and improved to 9-0 in the conference and 12-0 in the District 2 Class 2A power ratings.<\/p>\n
Abington Heights fell to 6-1 in the WVC and 10-3 overall.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe talked about it in the huddle before. Tato (Braedon McPartland) was playing awesome, and he was scoring well, and he told me that he was going to go down the alley, and if I had it, I was going to take it, and if I didn\u2019t, I was looking to me,\u201d Lynett said of his deciding goal with 1:24 remaining in the game. \u201cIt felt awesome.\u201d<\/p>\n
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This clash was filled with bone-jarring collisions, players\u2019 speed and agility, and relentless action.<\/p>\n
Scranton Prep seized the early momentum by scoring the first four goals of the game. Abington Heights valiantly responded with quick attacks and went on a run of its own, building an 11-7 lead at the half.<\/p>\n
Needing a rally, Scranton Prep, which scored 20 or more goals in three of its last four games, kept fighting. Braedon McPartland gave the Cavaliers a spark, and the defense, led by Henry Barrett and the goaltending of Packy James and James Stallman, slowed down the energized Abington Heights offense.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know it is a game of runs,\u201d Barrett said. \u201cAnything can happen at anytime. We had to play more aggressively up top. We had to stop by the backside. We couldn\u2019t lose our heads. We did that in the second quarter, and being able to bounce back from that was important.\u201d<\/p>\n
The teams were locked in a 12-12 tie when Braedon McPartland fired in his fifth goal of the game that gave the Cavaliers the lead.<\/p>\n
Abington Heights evened it up when Rodman Azar, who had four goals, had a shot dribble in for a goal to make it 13-13.<\/p>\n
As the clock ticked away, Braedon McPartland made a move toward the goal and passed it off to Lynett, who scored for the third time in the game.<\/p>\n
Abington Heights had one final possession, and Gavin Anders\u2019 wrist shot while falling got stopped by James, who launched the ball toward midfield. When the horn sounded, the Cavaliers stormed the field and sprinted to their fans, who packed the bleachers.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe lost our heads a little bit, but we came together as a family,\u201d Lynett said. \u201cThis showed how much grit this team really has and how tight we are as a team.\u201d<\/p>\n
In addition to Braedon McPartland\u2019s and Lynett\u2019s combined eight goals, Jack Rully had three goals and two assists; Owen McPartland, Will McPartland, and Will Kane each had a goal for the Cavaliers. Stallman (5) and James (11) had 16 saves.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe jumped up quickly, 4-0, and then it was 11-7, and we didn\u2019t really expect that after getting off to such a good start,\u201d Braedon McPartland said. \u201cWe collected ourselves and came out firing in the second half. We kept our heads. In the first half, we kind of got rattled. We stayed calm, communicated better, and just played well in the second half.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chris Bohn joined Azar with four goals to lead Abington Heights. Anders had two goals; Braghan Pallis, Logan Fedor, and Mike Arcure each had a goal; and Colton Naholnik had 13 saves.<\/p>\n
SP goals:\u00a0B. McPartland 5, Rully 3, Lynett 3, O. McPartland 1, W. McPartland 1, Kane 1;\u00a0Assists:\u00a0Rully 2, B. McPartland 2, O. McPartland 1, Lynett 1, W. McPartland 1;\u00a0Saves:\u00a0James 11, Stallman 5.<\/p>\n
AH goals:\u00a0Bohn 4, Azar 4, Anders 2, Pallis 1, Fedor 1, Arcure 1;\u00a0Assists:\u00a0Pallis 2, Bohn 1, Anders 1, Fedor 1;\u00a0Saves:\u00a0Naholnik 13.<\/p>\n
Delaware Valley 15, Tunkhannock 1: At Delaware Valley, Phillip Leslie scored five goals, and Adam Myers and Tyler Husejnovic each had three to lead the Warriors to a win in the WVC.<\/p>\n
Colin McGarvey and Jaden Argona had two goals each for Delaware Valley (7-1).<\/p>\n
TUN goal: Berkhimer;\u00a0Saves: Thompson 12;\u00a0DV goals:\u00a0Leslie 5, Myers 3, Husejnovic 3, McGarvey 2, Aragona 2, Yost 1;\u00a0Assists:\u00a0McGarvey 2, Devaney 2, Myers 1, D. Estevez 1, Smith 1.<\/p>\n
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