Striking gold
It wasn’t just about winning, it was about making history.
The Allegheny lacrosse team competed in the Junior Division at the Keystone Games in York in late July and became the first squad from Western Pennsylvania to earn a gold medal at the event.
Three of the team’s 22 players are from the Seneca Valley School District — Brandon Carryer (defender), Noah Vandewater (attack) and Pierce Khoury (longstick midfielder).
The western side of the state has had teams entered into the Keystone Games for over a decade.
“Overall, the eastern side of the state, in particular the Philadelphia area, is much stronger in lacrosse than is the Pittsburgh area,” said Allegheny coach Matt Giglotti. “For years, we’ve been trying to close the gap and I think we finally started to do that.”
Allegheny went 6-0-1 at the two-day event, defeating York County 6-3 in the championship game. The Junior Division consisted of teams made up of players entering eighth and ninth grade.
Immediately after the title game was over, Carryer tried to put in perspective what he and his teammates had accomplished.
“Most of the other players erupted, but I just sat down in shock,” said Carryer, 14. “This was the first medal I had ever won in lacrosse.”
One hundred players were nominated to take part in tryouts for the team, which were held in May.
Giglotti was impressed with SV’s trio.
“The evaluations were based on position drills and scrimmages,” he said. “All three Seneca players who made the team, they excelled in what we were looking for. They displayed good all-around lacrosse play, were athletic and smart players.”
A total of nine schools were represented on the team, including North Allegheny, Pine-Richland, Mount Lebanon, Peters Township, Canon-McMillan, Shady Side Academy, Fox Chapel and Moon.
After Allegheny’s roster was set, the team held a series of practices.
“I’ve played travel lacrosse for four years and this was the most talent I had seen come together on one team from Western Pennsylvania,” said Carryer. “I came away from the practices very confident.”
“I thought we jelled well as a team before the tournament,” said Khoury, 13. “We worked really hard and things went our way.”
For Vandewater, 14, most of his experience at the Keystone Games was spent on the sideline after breaking his right wrist in a 10-0 opening-round win over Lehigh Valley.
“It was really difficult watching because I saw the other guys having a lot of fun,” he said. “I wanted to be out there, but still enjoyed supporting the team.”
Allegheny’s other games included a 4-4 tie with Chester County and wins over York (11-0), Bucks County (6-2) and Blue Mountain (6-3) in the semifinals.
“My lasting memory is that we were able to bring a gold medal home for the West and that had never been done before,” said Vandewater. “It was amazing and awesome to be part of it.”
