Ridley delivered a quick knockout punch in the first quarter of last night's Keystone Cup state championship lacrosse game against Sewickley Academy. The Green Raiders (19-3) routed Sewickley Academy, 12-4, at Peters Township Stadium.
Ridley scored on its first five possessions and led, 6-0, at the end of the first quarter.
Ridley midfielder Matt Ryan and attackman Paul Middleton scored two goals apiece in the game's first eight minutes. Middletown scored the first goal 51 seconds into the game, faking a move to his left before shooting with accuracy while going to his right. Two minutes later, Ryan got off a clean long-distance shot that hit the center of the net for a 2-0 lead, and the rout was on.
Sewickley Academy (18-6) was unable to get off a good shot in the first half and trailed, 8-0, at intermission. During the first half, Panthers attackman Jim Henry appeared to be set up at close range to score but lost the ball after receiving forceful body checks near the Raiders' goal.
Panthers midfielder Mac Brysonhad little impact in the game. Bryson set a school record with 71 goals this season but was held to one goal, scoring midway through the third quarter. Henry, Sewickley's second-leading scorer, led the Panthers with two goals. He scored his team's first goal with 6:10 remaining in the third quarter from close range to make the score 9-1.
"We knew Ridley was strong, athletic and fundamentally sound, but we just didn't come out ready to play," Bryson said. "We settled down defensively after the first quarter but we never seemed to get going offensively. We just couldn't get the ball upfield and we just couldn't seem to hold on to it. We just had too many unforced turnovers."
Middleton led Ridley with four goals. Ridley attackman Steve Hill, attackman Rory Friel and Ryan scored two goals each. Sewickley midfielder Art Innamorato scored the Panthers' fourth goal midway through the fourth quarter.
This is the second year of the Keystone Cup, and the eastern Pennsylvania champion holds a 2-0 lead in the series. Mt. Lebanon lost to Haverford in last season's state final.
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