By Matt Chandik
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 6/6/17
For the first time in PIAA lacrosse history, a team from District 12 will play for a state championship.
After falling in the first round of states the past five years and suffering several heartbreaking state tourney exits, Archbishop Carroll took the next step and advanced to the PIAA Class AAA finals today by downing Garnet Valley, 13-11, at West Chester Henderson.
Carroll’s Katie Detwiler
Carroll (23-1), the No. 1-ranked team by Phillylacrosse.com, will face Springfield-Delco for the title at West Chester East at noon. Springfield toppled Downingtown East, 12-11.
As usual, Sam Swart and Katie Detwiler were the headliners for Carroll. Swart continued her record-breaking pace in the state tournament with seven goals and an assist, giving her an amazing 18 goals and two assists in three state tournament games. Detwiler fired home five goals as the duo combined for 12 of the Patriots’ 13 goals.
“I don’t know how it works for other teams, but I know she always has my back and I always have hers,” Detwiler said. “I feel like sometimes, we just read each other’s minds and I know where she’s going to be. I love playing with her and I’m going to miss her next year.”
Sure, but there’s still one more game to go before that happens. Carroll will have to beat a fourth consecutive District 1 opponent in the championship game after also handling Strath Haven and Owen J. Roberts.
Against the Jaguars, the Patriots raced out to a 7-4 halftime lead and never looked back, consistently stopping Garnet Valley’s momentum and preventing the Jaguars from piecing together the necessary runs for a comeback.
“They just had the draw every single time. They always had the momentum and they were so fast as a team,” Garnet Valley’s Riley Delaney said. “Off the draw, we couldn’t stop them as much we should have.”
Delaney more than did her share as she snapped home a career-high seven goals for the Jaguars. Cam Faith had a pair of goals, Kam McNeal had a goal and an assist, Madi O’Brien added two assists and Lauren Kinnee stopped seven shots. Ultimately, though, it was no match for the Swart-Detwiler Show.
Carroll’s Sam Swart
“These games, we know they’re big games and we know we have to win,” Swart said. “In these games, our heads are high and we’re all hyped. Once the game gets going, it just goes and we don’t stop.
“I think having this target on our back is really good and I think more people should come to Carroll and experience what I’ve experienced because so far, it’s been amazing.”
It’d be even more amazing if she and her teammates can be the ones celebrating at West Chester East on Saturday.
Archbishop Carroll 7 6 – 13
Sam Swart 7g, 1a
Katie Detwiler 5g
Anna Murphy 1g
Grace Gallagher 1a
Maddey Ferraioli 2 saves
Garnet Valley 4 7 – 11
Riley Delaney 7g
Cam Faith 2g
Kam McNeal 1g, 1a
Regan Nealon 1g
Madi O’Brien 2a
Kara Nealon 1a
Lauren Kinnee 7 saves