By Barry Sankey
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 5/12/17
With Anna Dempsey and Eloise Gebert leading the offense and goalkeeper Mia Tornetta and Kylie Cahill anchoring the defense, host Owen J. Roberts tucked away its third consecutive Pioneer Athletic Conference girls’ lacrosse championship Thursday evening at the friendly surrounding of Henry J. Bernat Field in Wildcat Stadium.
Three-time champion Owen J. Roberts
The host Wildcats broke open a tight game with a 6-0 spurt and toppled Spring-Ford, 11-4, in the title contest.
The Wildcats held a 4-2 led with less than three minutes left in the first half before the run. Dempsey scored five goals to headline the attack for coach Joe Tornetta.
Gebert added three goals and one assist from her midfield position. She also handled the draw controls.
It was the opposite type of game from OJR’s semifinal win over Perkiomen Valley. In that one, the Wildcats were forced to rally from five goals down to nip PVy, 11-10.
“You saw that,” said Tornetta. “The kids got refocused and came out and played better. They had a good practice yesterday.”
Mia Tornetta provided six saves in the win. She got a lot of help from her teammates on offense with a cushion and on defense.
Joe Tornetta cited Cahill for a “tremendous game” that included her defense and leadership ability. Dempsey directs charges on attack. Danika Swech chipped in with a pair of goals.
Joe Tornetta said Anna Lavelle has been another quiet leader on attack. Sophia Murray has been impressive as a sophomore on defense
“She made good decisions with the ball,” said Joe Tornetta.
“When we work together, we dominate,” said Mia Tornetta, who transferred in this year from Great Valley but played lacrosse with several Wildcats on her club team.
“We didn’t know what it would be like this year with our four (graduation) losses,” said Dempsey. “We were lucky with the goalie we had. We worked well together.”
Spring-Ford got early goals from Camryn Jones and Olivia Yeagle. Goalie Kamille Ward made six saves.
“It is tough to gt the game back under control,” said Spring-Ford coach Amy Short. “They just keep coming at you. We lost to them twice and they were on their field.”
Owen J. Roberts 11, Spring-Ford 4
Owen J Roberts: 7 4 11
Spring-Ford: 2 2 4
OJR
Anna Dempsey 5g
Eloise Gebert 3g 1a
Danika Swech 2g
Kelsey Kilgallon 1g
Mia Tornetta 6 saves
SF
Jill Quigley 1g
Cassie Marte 1g
Camy Jones 2g
Kamille Ward 6 saves
Pioneer Athletic Conference Girls champions since 2001
2001 – Owen J. Roberts
2002 – Great Valley
2003 – Pottstown
2004 – Boyertown
2005 – Boyertown
2006 – Boyertown
2007 – Boyertown 14, Spring-Ford 3
2008 – Boyertown 14, Spring-Ford 8
2009 – Boyertown 19, Methacton 5
2010 – Boyertown 17, Methacton 9
2011 – Boyertown 13, Methacton 7
2012 – Boyertown 11, Spring-Ford 7
2013 – Boyertown 19, Owen J. Roberts 12
2014 – Boyertown 17, Phoenixville 6
2015 – Owen J. Roberts 11, Methacton 10
2016 – Owen J. Roberts 9, Methacton 8
2017 – Owen J. Roberts 11, Spring-Ford 6