Check out the Black Bear Lacrosse Club recaps. Upper Moreland earned the final berth in the PIAA 2A State Tournament with Wednesday’s win while UD fell to Conestoga in its third place game and will enter the PIAA 3A State Tournament as the fourth place team from District 1.
District 1 2A third place game
#2 UPPER MORELAND 8, #4 MOUNT SAINT JOSEPH 7
It was quite a day for the Upper Moreland girls’ lacrosse team, and not even a dreary, rainy day could dampen their spirits.
The Golden Bears punched their ticket to the state tournament with Wednesday’s win, and in the game, senior Annalise Messina put her name in the program record books, reaching a remarkable milestone when she scored the 400th goal of her stellar career.
“Annalise is so talented and is just an amazing athlete with a great work ethic, and she is a big part of our success each game,” UM coach Kim Frantz said.
One fact is becoming abundantly clear – the Golden Bears have the corner of the market in one-goal games, playing their third in as many games in the District 1 2A Tournament.
Wednesday’s win in the third place game avenged a 7-3 regular season loss to the Mount.
“We knew we had a tough game coming into today,” Frantz said. “We played Mount earlier in the season and lost, but we had a better game plan today and we have been playing more as a unit than previously.
“Katie Westmoreland and Gabby Claire are great players, and we knew we had to focus on limiting them on attack. Our defense was able to do just that. Our defense really made each player work for each goal, sometimes taking many minutes off the clock. Our defense was once again super connected.”
Comprising UM’s tenacious defense are Avery Adamski, Gianna Brown, Leah King, and Maggie Brophy as well as Addi Hurley in goal.
“Addi again had some very key saves especially towards the end of the game,” Frantz said.
“All of my trust is in her,” Adamski said of Hurley. “I know if there’s an eight meter, she will be able to deflect it.”
Adamski, according to Frantz, is the backbone of the defense.
“We’re just constantly talking through everything,” Adamski said. “The cutters – I can always hear everything – they’re talking about who’s in their area and being able to hear everybody always gets us to stop ball.
“This is a huge accomplishment for our organization that we’ve been able to go to states the last three years, so just being able to do it again is really good. I think everyone just really wanted it. We kept looking forward to the next games, planning ahead. We always look to the next game.
“We have connected so well, just going through this season. Now, I think it’s all coming together.”
There was plenty of praise to go around after Thursday’s win.
“Our middies, the workhorse of the team, include Annalise Messina, Madeline Cox, Keiley Hawk, and Eva Gorrell,” Frantz said. “They were amazing today fighting for every ball on the draw and in transition.
“On attack, Witzmarvia Clement, Bridget Hess, Keira Hess, Mackenzie Reilly, Ella Gould, and Tierney Hogan moved the ball and played attack together as a unit.
“I can’t finish talking about the game today without mentioning our amazing sideline. We talk about the importance of energy both on and off the field, and we always have the most supportive sideline. It’s the little teamwork things give us an edge in motivation, we celebrate everything.”
Messina led the Golden Bears with four goals, four draw controls and six caused turnovers. Keira Hess added three goals and two assists. Madeline Cox had one goal, Maggie Brophy was credited with two caused turnovers, and Adamski had three draw controls.
“It’s not a typical thing I do, but I used to take draws a while back for club,” Adamski said of winning draws. ”So I just figure out what the other team is doing and work against it and try to get it to Annalise.”
By the numbers: Upper Moreland: Annalise Messina (4 goals, 4 DC, 6 CTO), Keira Hess (3 goals, 2 assists), Madeline Cox (1 goal), Avery Adamski (3 DC), Maggie Brophy (2 CTO),Addi Hurley (6 Saves)
Upper Moreland coach Kim Frantz on the game: “We were behind 2-1 after the first quarter and then we went ahead in the second quarter. In the past, our third quarter is often not our best quarter, so we really had a great third quarter and we were actually ahead by four.
“But with a team like Mount, that’s never enough. The momentum switched – we made a really bad mistake where we tried to pass it backwards, the girl missed it, and then they had a one versus our goalie. That changed the momentum a little bit for them to come back. What saved us was getting the lead in the second and third quarters that we got.
“The Mount scored their seventh goal when there were seven minutes left, so there was no score the last seven minutes. It was very sloppy at both ends, and honestly, it was back and forth for the last five-six minutes. I think the pressure, I think the nerves – there were dropped balls, there were turnovers for both teams. They would get it, take it down and have time on attack, and then we’d get a turnover and bring it back. It was just back and forth.
“We ended up with the ball with 2:30 left. I told them to take their time, and we ended up turning the ball over again – a throw that was not a very good throw. Then we got the ball with a minute and 30 seconds, and we stalled, although they got it back, and we got it back the last minute, so it was down to the last minute where we just held the ball.”
–Messina is a special talent: “She’s just a very special player. Teams faceguard her. The Mount was successful faceguarding her the last time we played them when we lost to them in the regular season, but she’s grown a lot with the faceguard. She’s had most teams faceguard her this year, and still, she has 112 goals this season to this point. It’s fun to watch her. I don’t know if I’ll ever have the privilege of to coach a player like her again.
“She’s a huge part of our success, and she’s an amazing kid. She’s also fifth in her senior class, which is insane, and Addi Hurley, my goalie, is third in her class. Annalise is a hard worker. She’s just a great kid. She really is. She’ll do very well in college.”
–A winning combination: “I have Annalise in the midfield, I have Avery Adamski on defense, I have Addi (Hurley) in the goal, and the combination of them on the field just really moves everybody. And then all these sophomores I have really stepping it up.
“We’re a very different team than we were a month ago, and our theme all season about our third game was – all we have to do is peak at the right time. I’ve said that to them from the first month in. I said, ‘Don’t get frustrated, don’t get upset. We just have to peak at the right time,’ and that’s exactly what we’re doing. I am so proud of how this team has come together.”
Up next: Upper Moreland (14-8, 7-4 SOL) will face Cardinal O’Hara, the number one seed from District 12 in the opening round of the PIAA 2A Tournament.
Mount Saint Joseph 2-2-1-2 7
Upper Moreland 1-4-3-0 8
District 1 3A playback
#12 CONESTOGA 10, #2 UPPER DUBLIN 6
The Cardinals fell behind early, trailing 4-1 after one quarter, but they pulled to within one by halftime (5-4). The second half, however, belonged to the visiting Pioneers.
“This was a tough game to lose today because I didn’t feel like we played like we know how,” UD coach Dee Cross said. “We were out of sync and once again got behind early. It is disappointing because this team has played so well all season, and we have not been able to find that level of play in the last two games.
“Fortunately, we get to play another game. We need to fix a couple of things to get back on track for States. The team’s chemistry and leadership is what got us here and we are looking for that again to be successful to continue our season.
“I know this group is not done. ‘Find A Way’ is their motto and they never give up.”
Anna DiMartile’s four-goal effort led the attack. She also had two draw controls. Bridget DiMartile added goals, one assists, five draw controls and one caused turnover.
By the numbers: Upper Dublin: Anna DiMartile (4 goals, 2 DC), Bridget DiMartole (2 goals, 1 assist, 5 DC, 1 CTO), Ava Shohen (2 assists, 1 DC, 1 CTO), Maeve Hogan (2 DC, 1 CTO), Olivia Broome (2 CTO), Anna Biermaas (4 saves)
Up next: Upper Dublin (19-3, 11-0 SOL) will face District 2-1 or 11-1 in Tuesday’s opening round of the PIAA 3A state tournament.
Conestoga 4-1-3-2 10
Upper Dublin 1-3-1-1 6
About the Author
