This year’s Northwestern boys lacrosse senior class was part of the program’s first season back in 2019. They’ve been through a lot of firsts over the past four years. Those players are now also part of the program’s first District 11 playoff win.

The Tigers beat Moravian Academy in Tuesday’s Class 2A semifinal, 8-7 in overtime. The program’s first playoff win will move Northwestern into Thursday’s district title game against defending district champ Central Catholic.

“I’m overwhelmed,” said Northwestern senior defender Taylor Wikert. “I’m speechless right now. I’ve been playing since I was a freshmen. When I came off the field I told the alumni that this is for you because you guys pushed us when I was a freshman, sophomore and junior.”

The district semifinal was close the entire game, with neither team every holding a lead larger than one goal.

Drew Sabo scored the game-winner with 16.5 seconds left in the first overtime period to send the Tigers to the title game and end the Lions’ season.

“We came out of the time out with a play in mind,” said Sabo. “It didn’t go through the way we thought it was going to. I saw the opening down the middle of the field and cut. Andrew Collins found me for the game-winning shot.”

Northwestern (12-7) had the lead three times in the second half, but each time Moravian (10-8) came back to tie the score.

The Tigers opened the scoring when Blaine Snyder found the back of the net off a Sabo assist for a 1-0 lead less than five minutes into the first quarter.

Moravian answered with a pair of goals from Chris Fanning and Syracuse University-recruit Gavin Gibbs to take a 2-1 lead, but goals from Sabo and Austin Sosnovik put the Tigers back in front 3-2 after one quarter.

Moravian went back in front with another pair of goals in the middle of the second quarter, but Sabo tied the game with just over two minutes left before halftime and Northwestern never trailed the rest of the game.

Tiger goals from Andrew Collins and Sosnovik and another Gibbs goal for Moravian made it 6-5 Northwestern after three quarters.

Gibbs tied the game with 10:38 left in the fourth quarter and it remained that way until Collins found the back of the net with 3:44 left to put his team ahead 7-6.

Gibbs answered with 3:07 left and the Lions had possession for much of the remainder of regulation. Tiger goal keeper Bailen Smargiassi, along with Wikert and the rest of Northwestern’s defense kept the Lions from notching the game-winner before the horn sounded, then held them off early in overtime until Northwestern could retain possession and set up for the game-winning shot.

“Taylor Wikert would be a star player on any team,” said Janda. “I don’t care if you’re 2A or 3A. He is the anchor of our program. He deserves way more recognition than he gets.

“Bailon Smargiassi in net. He’s a heck of a ball-stopper. He’s only a sophomore. He’s made so many plays for us and he doesn’t get enough recognition.”

Smargiassi made nine saves, many of them coming late in the game when his team needed them most.

While the Lions and Gibbs dominated the face off circle, winning 17 of 19 draws in the game, the Tigers seemed to have the advantage in coming up with loose balls during the game.

“I’ve been saying since day one when I started this program, we are a blue collar team from a blue collar town,” said Janda, who played high school lacrosse at Parkland. “That’s our MO. When the ball’s on the ground, it’s not about skill. It’s about effort. It’s about desire. We’re a team that has a ton of that. We’re always willing to scrap. It’s a testament to our program’s DNA.”

Moravian’s St. Bonaventure University-bound goal keeper Cristofero Cucciuffo made 16 saves in the game, many from close range.

Sosnovik (2 goals, 3 assists) and Sabo (3 goals, 2 assists) led the Tiger offense. Collins (2 goals, assist), Snyder (goal, assist) and Cade Christopher (assist) also chipped in. Gibbs led the Lions with five goals, followed by AJ Lorenzo (4 assists), Luke Grindrod (goal, 2 assists) and Chris Fanning (goal).

The No. 2 seed Tigers will take on No. 1 seed Central Catholic in Thursday’s district final at 5 p.m. at Lehigh University. The defending district champ Vikings beat No. 4 Southern Lehigh 15-7 in Tuesday’s other semifinal match up. The Vikings beat Northwestern 13-6 in their one meeting this season on April 28 in New Tripoli.