Franklin Regional boys lacrosse continues to build with 2nd straight playoff berth

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, May 18, 2018 | 11:00 PM

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It wasn't the result the Franklin Regional boys lacrosse team wanted.

But it was another step in the right direction.

The Panthers (6-8) saw their season end with a 16-1 loss to North Allegheny in the opening round of the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs. But for second-year coach Justin Meenan, there were plenty of good things to look back on. Maybe most importantly, it was the first time Franklin Regional earned back-to-back playoff appearances since 2012-13.

“That is something to build on,” Meenan said. “These guys have put in a lot of work. This senior class has done a heck of a job. They have a come a long way from where we started.

“Next year, the goal is to just build on what this year's senior class built up.”

Franklin Regional's offense finished 16th in Class AAA during the regular season with 7.31 goals per game. The team leader in scoring was senior Bradley Brincic with 24 goals. Senior Adam Renda finished with 19, and senior Erik Fritz added 17. Sophomore Kevin Cakanac (eight) and junior Riley Bair (seven) also were key scorers.

Cakanac led the team in assists with nine. Fritz finished with six, and Renda added five.

The offense had a roller-coaster season. In the first six games — a stretch that saw the team go 4-2 — the team was averaging almost 10 goals.

But in the final eight games of the schedule, the team averaged 4.6 goals.

“We struggled with some consistency,” Meenan said. “We had a few guys injured. That was some of it. It came in spurts, that's for sure.”

The team's faceoff leader was junior Mitchell DeBiase, who won 76 — almost 45 percent of the draws he faced this season.

The Panthers defense finished 15th in Class AAA by holding teams to 8.38 goals per game. Senior long-stick midfielder Jake Trapanotto was a key contributor as he led the team in forced turnovers (21) and ground balls (40). Senior defender Noah Kukura finished with 14 turnovers and 27 ground balls. Sophomore defender Ben Wohlin forced 10 turnovers.

Junior Ethan Johnston was the team leader in front of the cage with 59 saves. Senior Shaun Pursley finished with 50 saves.

“Our defensive unit had a lot of seniors and guys with experience,” Meenan said. “I think they played really well. Our midfielders were led by one or two seniors, but we had some young guys who really started to get varsity time and got more experienced playing.”

The team will lose 13 seniors. Meenan was adamant they were a driving force for a successful run over his first two seasons as coach.

“They really bought in to what we were trying to do,” Meenan said. “They helped build it. This is the first class to be in the playoffs twice in six years. This class put in the effort.”

Nathan Smith is a freelance writer.

Tags: Franklin Regional