LEHMAN TWP. — The Dallas defense stopped yielding shots when the Mountaineers offense began controlling the ball.
Dallas held Lake-Lehman without a shot for a stretch of 19 minutes – including the first 16 of the second half – while rallying to turn back an upset bid and post a 9-3 victory in the Wyoming Valley Conference boys lacrosse opener.
“We had a real rough first half,” Dallas coach Jared Hunt, a four-year starter at Misericordia University, said after picking up first coaching win. “We didn’t come out of the gates real well.
“ … The second half our guys really dug deep. We played as a team, especially moreso on the offensive zone.”
Both teams were up and down the field in the first half, which ended with Lake-Lehman in front, 3-2.
A year ago, Dallas swept three games from Lake-Lehman, including 17-5, in the district playoffs.
“I think we came out real cocky,” said senior attack Connor Motley, who had three goals and three assists. “We thought we were going to win.
“They wanted it more than we did in the first half.”
The Mountaineers led, 18-12, in shots, but often shot quickly and wildly, allowing the Black Knights a chance to go the other way.
Lake-Lehman stopped getting shots when Dallas began holding the ball longer, connecting on more passes and producing higher-quality shots.
“We really put things together on the offensive side, completing passes, running the plays we were supposed to be running,” Hunt said. “We believe in the strength of our defense that if our offense can possess the ball, we’ll be good to go.”
After making seven first-half saves, Dallas’ Corey McAndrew was called on to make sure one in the second half, that coming with 2:40 left after the Mountaineers had scored seven straight goals for a 9-3 lead.
Motley assisted Ryan Tramm for the tying goal 3:11 into the second half, then took a hit to deliver a pass to Joshua Kalna for Dallas’ game-winning goal with 5:00 left.
Dallas’ Cory Metz and Motley scored before the quarter was over for a 6-3 lead. Motley added two more goals, then Metz closed out the seven-goal second half.
Charlie Kuschke scored a pair of second-quarter goals for Lake-Lehman. He gave the Black Knights their halftime lead by running through the middle and firing a shot into the top right corner.
Crestwood 14, Wyoming Area 4
Ryan Magin scored six goals and Zach Anderson finished with four goals and an assist as the Comets cruised past Wyoming Area.
Kyle Lisicki added three assists in Crestwood’s victory. Liam Stone and Quinn Roberts each stopped six shots in net for the victory.
Jake Urban scored twice for the Warriors.
Dallas 9, Lake-Lehman 3
Dallas 1 1 4 3 – 9
Lake-Lehman 1 2 0 0 – 3
SCORING – DAL, Connor Motley (3 goals, 3 assists), Cory Metz (2 goals, 1 assist), Josh Kalna (goal, assist), Stone Mannello (goal), Jack Ziemba (goal), Ryan Tramm (goal), Hunter Landon (assist). LL, Charlie Kuschke (2 goals), Owen Morgan (goal).
Shots – DAL 37, LL 17. Saves – DAL 8 (Corey McAndrew), LL 11 (John Neary).