By Harry Chaykun
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 5/24/16
A pair of one-goal games at Downingtown West High’s DiSerafino Stadium Tuesday night set the pairing for the girls’ district championship lacrosse game.
Radnor, the No. 9 seed, knocked off No 4 and defending state champ Garnet Valley, 7-6, in the opening game of the doubleheader, then No. 6 Owen J. Roberts rallied after falling behind late in the second half to earn an 8-7 decision over No. 10 Bishop Shanahan.
Radnor and Owen J. Roberts will meet for the district title at 7 p.m. at West Chester East High Thursday after Garnet Valley and Bishop Shanahan square off in the third place game, which will begin at 5:30. (The top five teams from District 1 advance to the PIAA tourney.)
Katie Quinn scored on an 8-meter free position shot with 3:42 to play to give Radnor (16-6) its win. The Raiders, who knocked off top seed Conestoga in the quarterfinal round after losing to the Pioneers in Central League play, also reversed a setback they suffered at Garnet Valley in the opening week of league play.
“We had had a tough loss in Vero Beach (Florida) right before we played them before,” Quinn said. “When we beat Conestoga (Saturday), that gave us (momentum) for this game.”
Quinn’s first goal in Tuesday’s game came on an 8-meter shot in the last minute of the first half.
“We always practice those kind of shots at practice,” Quinn said. “And I try to work on different things so the goalie won’t be expecting them. Today I remembered what I did on my first try, and I had the confidence I could do it again.”
Emily Games (three goals) and Hope Smith had given Radnor a two-goal lead 10 minutes into the second half before Michelle Koscinski and freshman Regan Nealon got Garnet Valley (16-5-1) even, the fourth tie of the game.
After Quinn’s score, the Raiders’ Kerry Hamill caused a Garnet turnover. Radnor goalie Alexa Solomon (five big saves in the second half) gave the ball right back to the Jaguars.
“I stepped out of the crease and rolled the ball back in but the refs made the call against me,” Solomon said. “I didn’t like it, but I had to give them the ball back.”
After she did, she had to step in and make stops on shots by Riley Delaney and Madi O’Brien to keep her team ahead.
“We’ve really improved as a team over the season,” Solomon said.
Abby Lord also turned in some big plays for the Radnor defense, while O’Brien led the way for Garnet Valley with two goals and one assist.
“We haven’t won districts since I have been on varsity,” Quinn said. “It would be a great way to finish up the season for those of us who are seniors.”
In the second game, Kenzie Staska got two of her three goals in the second half around a score by Mary Theresa Corcoran (two goals) to put Bishop Shanahan (17-5) ahead with six minutes to play.
Anna Lavelle pulled OJR (21-3) even a minute after Staska’s last goal, then 20 seconds later, Maddie Gebert (four goals) came up with the winner for the Wildcats.
Sophomore Kylie Cahill then came up with a big turnover for Roberts, which survived an 8-meter shot by Kaela Smith which clanged off the goal post with 12 seconds to play.
“Nothing’s been easy for us this year,” Owen J. Roberts coach Joe Tornetta said. “We called a timeout and the message was how their tying goal was because their girl got the ball on the draw and just wanted it more than we did.
“Bishop Shanahan (16 consecutive victories after starting the season 1-4) has a well-coached team and had that winning streak. We did a better job in the second half getting draw controls, and I’m proud that we’ve made it to the district final. Kylie (Cahill) has played well all year and is one of those unsung forces that have helped this team. We’ll be there Thursday and we’ll be ready.”
Radnor 7, Garnet Valley 6
Radnor 4 3 – 7
Garnet Valley 4 2 – 6
Radnor: Emily Games 3G, Katie Quinn 2G, Fallon Quinn 1G, Hope Smith 1G.
Garnet Valley: Madi O’Brien 2G 1A, Regan Nealon 1G, Riley Delaney 1G, Kara Nakrasdius 1G, Michelle Koscinski 1G, Emily Mathewson 1A.
Saves: Alexa Solomon (Radnor) 6, Lauren Kinnee (GV) 8.
Owen J. Roberts 8, Bishop Shanahan 7
Bishop Shanahan 3 4 – 7
Owen J. Roberts 4 4 – 8
Bishop Shanahan: Kenzie Staska 3G, Mary Theresa Corcoran 2G, Kaela Smith 1G, Alyssa Manley 1G, Tara Morrissey 1A, Erin O’Donnell 1A.
Owen J. Roberts: Maddie Gebert 4G, Frankie Carroll 1G, Anne Lavelle 1G, Anna Dempsey 1G, Eloise Gebert 1G.
Saves: Jessica Gorr (BS) 11, Claire Hampton (OJR) 5.