By Michael Rich
Spencer Cogan’s goal between the wickets of the goalie allowed host Dublin Scioto to slip past Olentangy Orange 6-5 in boys lacrosse action Wednesday night in Dublin.
The Irish used two fourth quarter penalties, Orange’s only two for the game, to hold possession for much of the final period and set up Cogan’s go-ahead goal, which came with 2:47 left.
“You can’t play the whole fourth quarter in the penalty box,” Pioneers coach William Mathes said. “They didn’t score off of it, but those are possessions that our offense isn’t going to get and (Scioto) is good enough and has enough great players that eventually, if they have the ball on offense, they’re going to put it in the back of the net.”
Scioto goalie Evan Hutras made the margin stand up with both of his fourth quarter saves coming in the final minute and 15 seconds. He had 10 saves for the game.
“I saw him on film — I knew he was great,” Mathes said. “He’s fantastic on low shots.”
Mathes, whose team has already improved its win total by seven games this season, said this is the kind of game the Pioneers have been winning this year.
“This team has a lot of heart,” he said. “We lost five games by two goals or less (last season). We were so young and inexperienced that when we had those situations when we could capitalize, we didn’t.
“With the maturity of our kids — our sophomores are playing like juniors, our juniors are playing like high-level seniors — we’ve won those games this year.”
The Pioneers battled from an early two-goal deficit, which came in the first three minutes of the game, and finally tied it 4-4 early in the third quarter when Danny Arcaro collected a rebound in front and put it back.
Orange goalie Michael Trombetti made two of his five third period saves to maintain the tie. He finished with nine saves.
“He’s got over 400 saves in his career, he’s a three-year letterwinner, two-time captain … he’s the core of our team,” Mathes said. “We rely on him a lot and we ride him a lot.
“We’ve had a great defensive unit — we were ranked second in the state in goals against — and he’s a part of that (with defenders Connor Ryan and Jake Fisher).”
Brino Cruz intercepted a pass and found Wills Hutras, who cleared the zone and found Nick Densel streaking on the right side to give Scioto (13-2) a 5-4 lead, which stood up through the end of the third.
Adam Rieger found Luke Schmelling to tie it 5-5 with 10:32 left.
Trombetti made two key saves for Orange (12-2), one with a man down, to keep it tied before the go-ahead goal.
Wills Hutras had two goals to lead the Irish and Reece Schuetz and Nate Mielke also provided first half goals that gave Scioto a 4-3 lead at the break.
Rieger, Ryan and Nick Brandt each had goals for the Pioneers in the first half.
Orange visits Westerville North Friday night at 7 p.m. in the second of four consecutive road games to close out the season.
Buckeye Valley 8, Wellington 3
The Barons used a big second half to seal the deal Wednesday, outscoring visiting Wellington 6-1 in the final two quarters to notch a convincing win.
Trent Slavik led Buckeye Valley with a hat trick while Nathan Heiser and Carson James finished with two goals apiece. Gabe Zimmerly also found the back of the net in the win.
Nick Gerald finished with 10 saves in the BV goal.
Also: Liberty 19, Hilliard Davidson 7.
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Follow Michael Rich on Twitter @mrichdelgazette.