Radnor waltzes to win, with a (Colin) French flair

Step 1 in Radnor’s defense of district and state titles went about as expected Thursday night.

Three first-quarter goals from Colin French sent the top-seeded Central League champions past No. 16 Council Rock North, 17-4, in the second round of the District 1 Class 3A tournament.

French scored all three in the game’s first 10:50, after which the Raptors (17-2) led by a 9-0 score. Starters played sparingly from there on out, though CR North won the second quarter and forced some back into the game in the third.

Long-stick midfielder Pablo Strid scored twice in the first. Mason Montrella scored a goal to go with two third-quarter assists. Owen Knight scored in the third, off a feed from French, to go with three assists in the opening quarter. Evan Hornbaker added two fourth-quarter goals as Radnor flexed its depth. The Raptors’ defense did the job from there, haranguing CR North players all over the field and turning them over by the bucketful. Nick DeCain made four saves in goal.

Still, the Indians battled. They scored with six seconds left in the first quarter and one tick left in the first half. Sam Lewis had a goal and an assist, the goal to end the half on a full-field heave from pole Tyler Radowicz. Goalie Zach Borden was outstanding, with 23 saves, some of the spectacular variety. He was under constant assault, though he kept the game from getting out of hand while benefitting from Radnor hitting the iron three times.

PETE BANNAN - MEDIANEWS GROUP
Radnor's Colin French, left here in a game against Springfield earlier this season, scored three quick goals as the Raptors advanced to the second round of the District 1 Class 3A boys lacrosse playoffs Thursday.

PETE BANNAN – MEDIANEWS GROUP Radnor’s Colin French, left here in a game against Springfield earlier this season, scored three quick goals as the Raptors advanced to the second round of the District 1 Class 3A boys lacrosse playoffs Thursday.