Role reversal
BUTLER TWP — Art Bernardi Stadium was the scene of a role reversal Friday night.
Butler's boys lacrosse team hosted a 12-win Canon-McMillan squad, but it was the Golden Tornado who played like a team headed to the playoffs.
Gavin Terwilliger, Connor Bachman and Nico Cicco each scored twice as Butler downed the Big Macs 9-6.
While the score did not reflect the extent of Butler's dominance, the flow of play in the second quarter did.
In that 12-minute span, the Golden Tornado outshot the Big Macs 19-1. Canon-McMillan turned the ball over eight times in the period against just one miscue for Butler.
“They (Big Macs) came out in a zone defense. We knew we needed to possess and we did that well,” said Butler coach Mike Courteau. “We attacked on the back side and defensively, we played well as a unit.”
Butler (7-9) trailed 2-1 at the start of the second period, but Justin Jablonski scored the equalizer less than two minutes in. Tallies by Nick Balestrino, Bachman and Andrew Monks followed for a 5-2 lead.
The turnovers, 10 of which came in the offensive zone, hampered the Big Macs all evening.
“We had 20 of them tonight and they kill you in this game,” said Canon-McMillan coach Craig Schliefstein. “We made a lot of mistakes tonight and just weren't up for this. But hats off to Butler.
Canon-McMillan's only shot of the second quarter was a goal scored by Colin Torpey with 1:01 remaining. It cut Butler's lead to 5-3, but another problem awaited the Big Macs — penalties.
Canon-McMillan (12-4) was whistled for 11 of them in the game, five coming in the third quarter. Terwilliger scored twice and Bachman once as Butler led 8-5 after three quarters.
“We kept our heads,” said Cicco of the Tornado response to Canon-McMillan's penalties, several of which appeared to be cheap shots. “We didn't want to have any dumb penalties and stoop to their level.”
The lead would have been much greater if not for the play of Big Mac sophomore goalie Mike Davis, who made seven of his 16 saves in the third period.
“He's been great for us all year,” said Schliefstein. “He'll be playing in college somewhere.”
Cicco closed the scoring for Butler with a goal a minute into the final quarter. Canon-McMillan's Logan Gebhart scored in the final minute of the game.
Brandon Martin made nine saves for Butler.
Canon-McMillan is a Division II team, while Butler has been in Division I for four seasons.
“The top three or four Division II teams can hang with D-I teams and they have done that this year,” said Corteau, “but I do think this (result) shows some of the difference between the two divisions. Although, we were more composed tonight and that helped.”
Butler failed to qualify for the WPIAL playoffs and will close the season at home Monday against Moon. A win would double the program's win total from last year.
“That would mean the world to the team,” said Cicco, “especially the seniors. I know they're sad to have the season end.”
