Lampeter-Strasburg wins heavyweight L-L League boys lacrosse matchup against Cocalico

With any heavyweight bout, there is a volley of punches thrown and blows taken.

Both sides refuse to throw in the towel and the victor always finds some small gap to take advantage of.

Thursday afternoon’s meeting between Cocalico and Lampeter-Strasburg, the top two teams in Lancaster-Lebanon League Section Two boys lacrosse, proved that the team that comes out on top wins by the thinnest of margins.

It was a match-up of two eerily similar programs.

Both teams are coached well. They’re skillful. They have experienced leaders. They’re disciplined. They’ve tasted victory and have made deep playoff runs in recent seasons.

“I think we’ve established this as, in my opinion, one of the best rivalries in central Pennsylvania,” said Cocalico coach Matt Oberly.

“These games are always really tight,” said Lampeter-Strasburg coach Mike McConomy. “We love playing these kinds of games.”

The stage was set for the season’s second matchup between the rivals, just 21 days after the first, which ended in a two-goal Pioneers victory.

“They’ve pushed us,” said Oberly. “We’ve pushed them.”

The sequel lived up to the hype.

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Cocalico vs. Lampeter-Strasburg - L-L League boys lacrosse [photos]

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Lampeter-Strasburg’s Cole Lopez (36) takes a reverse shot against Cocalico during first-half action of an L-L League section two boys lacrosse game at Cocalico High School’s Talon Field in Denver on Thursday April 24, 2025.

CHRIS KNIGHT | Staff Photographer

Lampeter-Strasburg wasn’t nearly as sharp as has been, and finding the back of the net was a tall task on the road.

But the Pioneers won 5-4 at Talon Field to take a commanding lead in the section.

Lampeter-Strasburg (8-0 L-L, 10-1) was stymied on offensive by Cocalico (6-2, 8-4) most of the afternoon, scoring just three goals through the first three quarters.

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Cocalico’s Rocco Rigney, who battled cramping issues for the majority of the second half, was stellar in goal.

Tate Renaud was the biggest offensive threat for the Eagles, scoring two goals.

But when the Pioneers needed them the most, their two leading goal scorers answered the call.

Juniors Grant Filius and Cole Lopez scored two goals each, and both found the back of the net at a crucial junction in the fourth quarter.

Lopez scored with eight minutes left to give L-S a 4-3 lead. Then Filius put the Pioneers ahead 5-4 with 4:30 left.

“The whole mentality is next man up,” McConomy said. “They’re stepping up and they’re taking that role.”

These are two players who have seen the success of previous Lampeter-Strasburg teams and understand what it takes to win.

“We set that standard from day one,” McConomy said. “We continue to keep growing and getting stronger and keep fighting to the end.”

McConomy pointed to the previous teams and to the players that Filius and Lopez have played with and the standard that has been passed down.

“Leave the jersey better than you found it,” McConomy said.

While the sun has set on one of the league’s best matchups for the regular season, there is a shot at a third installment in this series in the league or District Three playoffs.