By Harry Chaykun
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 4/30/17
The setting might not have been the same, and the ending was a little different.
The result – for the second year in a row – did turn out to be a tight Unionville victory over Harriton.
Emma Malone
This time it was on Radnor High’s Library Field at the 17th Katie Samson Lacrosse Festival Saturday afternoon. Unionville rallied from a five-goal halftime deficit and used a free-position shot by sophomore Emma Malone with 18 seconds to play to earn a 13-12 decision over Harriton.
Last year Unionville toppled Harriton, 11-10, in overtime in the District 1 second-round playoffs. Both teams came into this game tied for the No. 7 spot in the Phillylacrosse Rankings.
On Saturday the Indians (12-1) held the Rams (10-4) scoreless in the final 20 minutes and outscored them in the second half, 7-1.
“It’s a lot of motivation for us playing a team like them,” said Malone (two goals). “They’ve been so successful and even won a state championship. Actually I was a little nervous about this game.”
After Hannah Close (four goals, one assist) had pulled Unionville even with 7:28 to play, the once-frantic pace slowed down as the Unionville attack and Harriton defense settled in and waited for the next move.
Malone came up with the key play not long before she scored, picking up a groundball. When she was fouled going to goal and awarded an 8-meter shot, she didn’t have time to let the nerves take over.
“I was so nervous, but my teammates were doing what they could to help me,” she said. “I saw how the goalie set up and made up my mind to go to her weak side.”
That proved to be a strong decision when her shot was successful.
Junior Erin Garvey (three goals, one assist) started the Unionville run of six goals to close out the game and wipe out a five-goal deficit. Last year, Garvey scored in overtime to give her team a win over Harriton.
“We always play such close games with them,” Garvey said. “This team has been so close this year. We’re happy to win this game, and now we have big Ches-Mont League games with (West Chester) Rustin and Great Valley coming up.”
First-year Unionville head coach Suzanne Sheehan, who played at Penncrest High and Neumann University, was excited about her team’s comeback.
“It was an exciting game,” she said. “When we fell behind, I told them to keep their heads up. We settled in offensively then used the clock to our advantage.”
Junior Greta Stahl scored four goals and added five assists, and sophomore Katelin Williams got three goals for Harriton.
“It was a great game and every time we play a good team like that at Katie Samson it’s always going to be a good game,” said Harriton coach George Dick. “They came back at the end so give them the credit.”
Unionville 13, Harriton 12
Harriton 11 1 – 12
Unionville 6 7 – 13
Harriton: Greta Stahl 4G 5A, Katelin Williams 3G, Molly McDonough 2G, Allison Schwab 1G 1A, Emily Stewart 1G, Reilly Short 1G. Devin McClain 4 saves.
Unionville: Hannah Close 4G 1A, Erin Garvey 3G 1A, Emma Malone 2G, Veronica Hineman 2G, Mauria Blair 1G 1A, Jordan Hower 1G. Madisou Doucette 4 saves.