By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 8/7/18
They were both second-year coaches for teams making their first appearance in a state final. And each team emerged with a decisive championship win.
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Co-Coaches of the Year Suzanne Sheehan (left) and Allison Sweeney
Unionville’s Suzanne Sheehan and Villa Maria Academy’s Allison Sweeney have been named the Phillylacrosse.com Girls’ Team Co-Coaches of the Year for 2018.
Sheehan’s Indians capped a 24-2 season with an 11-6 triumph over Manheim Township in the PIAA Class AAA final. Sweeney’s Hurricanes closed a 22-2 campaign with a 17-5 rout of Kennard-Dale in the Class AA title game. Both teams had signature wins in the state semis as Unionville blitzed District 1 champion Garnet Valley, 14-4, and Villa Maria toppled defending state champion Radnor, 9-4.
Co-Coach of the Year Suzanne Sheehan (Unionville)
Unionville failed to win the Ches-Mont League title and fell short of reaching states in 2017 in Sheehan’s first season. But in 2018, a senior-laden team meshed.
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Unionville’s Suzanne Sheehan (third from right) is joined by assistants Kendall Yarosh (right) and Kelsey Jershky (left) and captains Madison Doucette (22), Veroniva Hineman (18) and Erin Garvey (8)
“We hadn’t won a league title in a couple of years and the coaching staff built this literally in two years,” said Unionville All-American goalie Madison Doucette. “It’s all credited to the coaching staff. They incorporated so many new plays and so many defensive systems. They gave us the confidence and the force behind us. We knew if we made a mistake or if we tried something new she would be there for us, cheering us on still.”
The Indians rolled to the Ches-Mont League title with an undefeated mark in 2018 and was riding a 19-game win streak as the No. 2 seed in the District 1 AAA semifinals when the Springfield-Delco game arrived. The Cougars shocked the Indians, 10-9, and caused some soul searching.
“Definitely losing to Springfield was a tough game and something we didn’t foresee happening,” said Sheehan. “It was a bit of a wake-up call. We played well, there were just a couple of tweaks that needed to be made in that practice after the game.
“It reflected in the way we played afterwards. We looked at the positive sand negatives and discussed how we could change the negatives and made some changes. Then we ran with it. After that loss we grew a little stronger and took that into states.”
After the loss to Springfield, Unionville won its final five games by an overall score of 81-27. The Indians toppled defending PIAA champion Archbishop Carroll, 14-9, and handled Garnet Valley – the only other team it lost to, 7-6, in the season opener, in the state semis.
“We lost to Garnet Valley by one goal and after that game we knew we were going to see them again,” said Sheehan. “Our growth and development helped us prepare for Garnet Valley again. I think our drive to be successful helped the team. Our strength and ability to work together and encourage everyone’s strengths while picking up everyone’s weaknesses helped us.
“I knew they had talent. I coached at West Chester East as an assistant (for 3 years) and I knew they had talent. Unfortunately, they were falling short. The chemistry developed and it was so strong. You couldn’t tell who was a freshman or a senior or who was old or who was new, they got along so well, and worked s well together. We wanted to make sure they were having fun and enjoying each other.”
Doucette said Sheehan’s ability to motivate the team and give the players confidence was key.
“This (a state championship) had been a goal for the senior class for four years, but until this year we hadn’t even made it to states,” Doucette said. “I think it came down to confidence – she gave to us.
“She knew what we were really capable of and willing to push us. She was good at reading the situation and knew when we needed to be forced to run or if we were stressed and needed a break. She is a teacher so she knows students. And she knows the game of lacrosse.”
Co-Coach of the Year Allison Sweeney (Villa Maria Academy)
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Villa Maria’s Allison Sweeney (middle) flanked by assistants Katy Manos and George Hopson
Villa Maria Academy won the Athletic Association of Catholic Academies title in 2017, but fell to Bishop Shanahan in the District 1 AA semifinals and then to eventual state champion Radnor, 20-8, in the PIAA quarterfinals. The success helped in 2018.
When the Hurricanes reached the District 1 final this year against Radnor, they were not intimidated by the Radnor mystique.
“That was a big hurdle,” said Sweeney, of the 9-4 District 1 title game win. “Last year we were star struck at the Radnor name. It’s a brand name. We pulled a Hoosiers, when they measured the basketball court.
“We told the girls they are just high school players, like us. We have played just as long as they have played.”
In the PIAA tourney, Villa Maria edged Penncrest, 9-8, in the state quarterfinals and drew Radnor again in the semifinals. The result was no different – a convincing 9-4 win.
“We knew we were talented,” said Sweeney. “We started the preseason knowing we were going to be a good team. They kept the positive mentality and focused the entire season. That’s due to the seniors. They didn’t care about graduation; they didn’t care that their friends were at the beach. They were here every day pushing their teammates.”
Villa Maria All-league senior midfielder Erin Finley said Sweeney was a mentor, a leader and a guiding presence.
“One of her strongest attributes as a coach was her approach-ability,” Finley said. “We were not scared in her presence and we knew if there was a problem on the field we could ask her and not be afraid we’d lose playing time or something.
“She knows the game so well. One of the biggest things is we run every single practice no matter what. Our conditioning was superior. We were never tired so we could focus on stick skills and defense.”
Finley said the foundation was built in Sweeney’s first season as coach.
“I think last year making it so far kind off helped us,” she said. “We were in a new division (Class AA) and we had never had much of a chance (at states) with the larger schools. Once we realized, ‘Hey we have a shot to make it’ it made us work so much harder. Starting last fall and all throughout the year we thought we could go far and once we got to states we said, ‘Let’s go further.'”
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