Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 5/29/13
Staff Report
WEST CHESTER, Pa. – Despite playing with heavy hearts one day after the death of Haverford School senior and close friend Kip Taviano, Garnet Valley defeated Great Valley, 9-5, Wednesday in the first round of the PIAA boys’ tournament at Henderson.
The Jaguars (18-6) advance to the state quarterfinals Saturday vs. La Salle, a 6-4 winner over Radnor, at a time and site to be determined.
Senior Jonathan Vandenberg, who would have been teammates with Taviano at Furman University, led the Jaguars (18-6) with three goals. Mitch Rose was a standout in the Garnet Valley net with 10 saves, while Brandon Dowd and Robert Raucci each added a pair of goals.
“It means the world to me and my teammates,” Rose said. “We wanted it more than you could believe. It was devastating, especially for the seniors. We had that trip (to Hershey) all day and we came back and we had to hear such terrible news, it’s just not something you want to hear, but we rallied back for Kip and we got this win for him.”
Taviano had played club lacrosse at the Brandywine Youth Club with many of the Jaguars and was still friends with a lot of them to this day. Garnet Valley coach Frank Urso had coached him, too, at the BYC, and the two had formed a lasting relationship.
“It could have went a lot of different ways,” Urso said. “They were up all night, they didn’t sleep. My son (Vail, out with a torn ACL) didn’t play, but he didn’t sleep. I didn’t sleep all night.
“People (were) crying all day long, even on the bus ride over. They got their energy from Kip. It wasn’t about lacrosse, it wasn’t about a state playoff game, and it wasn’t about any of that today. It was about getting a win for Kip and the guys pulled it out.”
Clad with No. 10 decals on their helmets and purple and yellow shoulder patches with the No. 10, the Jaguars (18-6) came out with a purpose right away. Robert Raucci snapped home a low shot while falling only 28 seconds in, and once he got up, he pointed at the sky. That should have been a pretty good sign that Garnet Valley wouldn’t allow itself to lose.
The Jaguars’ lead got to as big as 7-2 before Great Valley (18-6) put together a quick 3-0 run, but goals from Kyle Roberts and Vandenberg (his third of the game) put away the Patriots’ upset bid.
Timmy Lamb’s two goals led Great Valley (18-6). Dillan Buettner and Noah Joseph each chipped in a goal and an assist, while Peter Hayes stopped 15 shots.
Garnet Valley 9, Great Valley 5
Great Valley 0 1 1 3 – 5
Garnet Valley 2 2 3 2 – 9
Great Valley
Tim Lamb 2g
Dillan Buettner 1g, 1a
Noah Joseph 1g, 1a
Greg Merrill 1g
Tyler Haines 1a
Peter Hayes 15 saves
Garnet Valley
Jonathan Vandenberg 3g
Robert Raucci 2g
Brandon Dowd 2g
Connor Faith 1g
Kyle Roberts 1g
Matt Taulane 1a
Zach Nelson 1a
Will Schreiner 9 saves
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