By Tom Robinson, NEPASportsNation.com
LEHMAN TWP. – Xavier Beaulac scored five of his career-high seven goals in the first 15 minutes Tuesday night, sending Wyoming Seminary on its way to the first Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association boys lacrosse state tournament victory in school history with a 20-8 romp over Lewisburg.
District 4 champion Lewisburg came into the game with a 16-1 record and an established dominance of District 2 competition during the regular season. Its four wins over District 2 teams included a 14-1 rout of Crestwood, a Wyoming Valley Conference tri-champion and district finalist.
But the Green Dragons, who were short two starters, ran into a Wyoming Seminary team that has gotten stronger as the season progressed.
The Blue Knights (17-2) have outscored opponents, 193-41, in an 11-game winning streak that includes nine victories by double-figures margins and a closest game of 9-5 in the regular-season meeting with Crestwood.
“Our attack unit, they look for each other, they’re recognizing the slides,” Wyoming Seminary coach Terry Herron said. “Our midfield, guys are running the offense really well and they’re setting other guys up.
“They’re very unselfish guys. They’re happy for each other and they do a good job sharing the ball.”
Beaulac, a junior offensive midfielder, scored in the game’s first minute, then had four goals during a streak of six to open a 9-2 lead. He started that streak with the last three goals of the first quarter and ended it with a goal 2:24 into the second.
“He’s a great left-handed type player,” Herron said. “He’s a good dodger and he can go to the goal.”
“What happens is teams will concentrate on other players on our attack line and it gives him the opportunity to dodge.”
Jack Herron and Matt Swartz were two players who again proved worthy of the other team’s attention. For the second straight game, they each scored five goals.
Beaulac, Herron and Swartz each had an assist.
Lucas Bartron scored a goal and assisted on two others. Jack Higgins and Richie DeLuna had the other goals.
Quinn Kelly made 12 saves.
Lewisburg was led by Matt Spaulding with five goals and an assist.
Wyoming Seminary advances to Saturday’s quarterfinals where it will play Lampeter-Strasburg, a 10-9 overtime winner over Lansdale Catholic.
The Blue Knights are the last District 2 lacrosse team still in action.
Crestwood lost at Marple Newtown, 22-2.
The win was the ninth straight for the District 1 champions.
