LEHMAN TWP. – Much of the defensive work that allowed Wyoming Area to win a Wyoming Valley Conference Division 2 boys lacrosse championship was on display Thursday night in the boys game that completed the WVC Senior All-Star doubleheader.

Dallas goalie Corey McAndrew, the WVC’s Defensive Player of the Year according to conference coaches, did his part by making nine of his 15 saves as the West allowed just three second-half goals to hold on for a 10-8 victory over the East.

Wyoming Area’s Shaun Rohland shared coaching duties on the winning West team with Lake-Lehman’s Chris Hampel. Warriors Dylan Kostak and Andrew Bartoli were part of the defensive unit, which got a boost from the play of teammate Dante DeLuca as a long stick midfielder.

“We’re going to be missing all three of those guys on defense next year and we’ll especially miss their leadership,” said Rohland, named Coach of the Year by his WVC counterparts.

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The players joined the defense at different times in their careers, helping Wyoming Area evolve into a championship team in just the third season as the program.

At Rohland’s request, DeLuca handled the LSM position, containing opposing teams as they began their attacks, right from the start as a sophomore.

“I asked him how he’d like to play LSM and he said, ‘absolutely, coach’,” Rohland said. “He really excelled at it the last three years.”

Kostak joined the team later in his sophomore year and became a defensive starter and team captain for his last two seasons.

“He’s a very good leader on the field, a quiet leader,” Rohland said.

Bartoli played goalie as a sophomore. He requested a position change last season and learned defense by taking a step back to the JV squad for most of his time.

“This year, Andrew stepped in and was a defensive starter,” Rohland said. “He was a very good defensive player for us.”

The West held the East scoreless for a stretch of 12:03 in the first half to overcome an early two-goal deficit and move ahead to stay.

Wyoming Area’s Dante DeLuca, playing in his final high school lacrosse game, steals the ball from Crestwood’s Lance Blass.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/web1_WAlacrosse1.jpg.optimal.jpgWyoming Area’s Dante DeLuca, playing in his final high school lacrosse game, steals the ball from Crestwood’s Lance Blass. Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch

By TOM ROBINSON

For Sunday Dispatch

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