Check out the Black Bear Lacrosse Club recaps for SOL girls’ lacrosse teams in action in the PIAA Tournament. Upper Moreland/Cardinal O’Hara photos provided courtesy of Greg Lindsay. Check back for a gallery of photos.
PIAA 2A opening round
#1-3 UPPER MORELAND 7, #12-1 CARDINAL O’HARA 6 (2 OT)
It was another day and another one-goal game for the Golden Bears, who played their fourth straight one-goal game in Tuesday’s opening round of the PIAA Tournament. It might be great for the fans but not so much for the players.
“It’s terrible, it really is,” UM senior Annalise Messina said. “The really tight games are fun, but they’re very stressful. Just ending it off with a good victory is so much fun. Everyone gets hyped, the sideline’s excited, but it’s definitely stressful.
“I feel like in the playoffs, that’s kind of what you’re there for – the really tight, intense games. I think every playoff game we’ve had has been a one-goal game.”
Actually, the Golden Bears won their first district game over Pope John Paul II 10-4. Since then, it’s been nothing but one-goal games.
Tuesday’s state opener went into double overtime where Messina connected on the game-winner with 1:38 remaining in the second OT.
“I took the drive right, hit the pipe, and one of our attackers, Charlie (Clement) got the ball,” Messina said. “She was on the left side, so I cut lefty and got it.
“Their goalie was a lefty, and we were struggling all day with her being lefty. It was the first lefty goalie we’d seen all year, so I decided to take my time. I rolled back righty, and I took my time on the shot, and it went it. I was not making my shots the whole game, and for that one to go in, I was like – ‘Thank God.’”
Messina’s five goals, one assist and four draw controls led UM. Senior goalie Addi Hurley anchored the defense with eight saves, including a big save in the first OT.
“First off, it’s just trusting my team,” Hurley said. “I have so much trust in my team, and then it’s just staying patient because it’s easy to get jumpy when you’re so stressed out. Staying in the spot that I know I’m supposed to be in is really helpful to be able to track the ball.”
While some goalies might say they love those big moments, Hurley is not in the number.
“Not at all,” she said.
The Goden Bears celebrated the win on a day when, according to coach Kim Frantz, it wasn’t their best performance.
“We had an off game today,” the UM coach said. “We got lucky that we were still able to pull out the win. It was rough timing to have a rough game. We’re not used to the heat. It was hot for both teams, but our best games have been in the rain. We’ve played phenomenal in the rain. We came in today. It was 84, so the turf was like 94. I definitely think the heat was a factor.
“We just looked a little bit disjointed, a little bit not connected. Whether that was we really had an off game – I have to give Cardinal O’Hara credit. They were able to get us out of our rhythm. It was just one of those days.”
“I think today we were just a little sloppy with our ball handling,” Hurley said. “A big role in that was definitely the heat. We have had a lot of cold, rainy games, so we weren’t really prepared for 90-degree weather today.”
The Golden Bears, who trailed 3-2 at halftime, took a 5-4 lead in the third quarter only to see O’Hara connect on a pair of goals to go up 6-5 with six minutes remaining in regulation. Messina scored the equalizer with three minutes remaining, setting the stage for overtime.
The Golden Bears have saved their best for last, and after a third place finish in districts, they advanced to Saturday’s state quarterfinal round.
“It definitely feels great, especially because we keep extending our season,” Hurley said. “So every game is – at this point – win or go home, and going into it, it’s always like – ‘Wow, this could be my last time playing with my best friends.”
“It’s super fun,” Messina said. “It’s super fun just to make playoffs and rally behind your team. It’s different being a senior just because any game could be your last game ever playing in your high school’s jersey. “
By the numbers: Upper Moreland: Annalise Messina (5 goals,1 assist, 4 draw controls), Bridget Hess (1 goal), Keiley Hawk (1 goal, 2 draw controls), Keira Hess (1 assist, 3 draw controls), Addi Hurley (8 saves)
Upper Moreland coach Kim Frantz: “It was ugly – this was not a pretty win. Cardinal O’Hara did a great job getting us out of our game and causing us to not play the way we have been. Their goalie had some
phenomenal saves! We struggled to connect today as a unit on defense, and unfortunately, posts in goal were our friend on attack, but we pulled it out and a win is a win especially in States.”
–OT: “Once we reached overtime, I reminded them we had been here not long ago. We know how to play in overtime. Annalise got the ball in the second OT and had a great shot on goal, it hit the post and was a rocket rebound where Witzmarvia Clement’s quick reflexes scooped it up quickly, and she found Annalise in the middle for her to finish the game with the winning goal. Witzmarvia had a great game today also causing a turnover in OT to get us back the ball.”
–Props: “Madeline Cox had a phenomenal game today leading the team in ground balls and had three caused turnovers. Keiley Hawk also played amazing, especially on the draw coming up with the draws when we really needed them.
“Annalise Messina, with a faceguard, played amazing and really led the team in transition and on attack. Keira Hess was a huge part of our success in transition, catching some amazing passes and bringing it down to attack to then help guide our attack as a whole.
“Our defense battled and while it wasn’t our best game they never stopped and truly made Cardinal O’Hara work for every goal they scored. Addi Hurley had another great game in goal and some huge saves exactly when we needed them.
“Overall, we really worked hard to not get frustrated, when things just weren’t working. We are beyond excited to be moving into the quarterfinals on Saturday.”
Up next: Upper Moreland (15-8, 7-4 SOL) will face District 2 champion Abington Heights in Saturday’s state quarterfinal.
“I know they’re probably going to be out for their revenge game because we beat them in the first round of the state playoffs last year,” said Frantz of UM’s 11-9 win. “I know they were young last year, so I imagine they have a lot of the same kids back this year. We graduated our whole attack. They’re 21-0, so it’s definitely going to be a tough game. I think if we play like we did against Villa and Rustin and those teams – it should be a very competitive great game between the two teams. “
Cardinal O’Hara 2-1-1-2-0-0 6
Upper Moreland 1-1-3-1-0-1 7
PIAA 3A opening round
#11-1 PLEASANT VALLEY 12, #1-4 UPPER DUBLIN 6
Upper Dublin ran into a familiar opponent in Tuesday’s opening round of the PIAA 3A Tournament. For the second time in as many years, the Cardinals traveled to Pleasant Valley, and for the second time in as many years, they saw their season come to an end.
On Tuesday, the Cards trailed 3-1 after one quarter and 6-2 at halftime and never could cut into PV’s lead.
Sophomore Bridget DiMartile’s four goals led the Cardinals. Devon Bush – who had nine goals and two assists in last year’s contest – led PV with five goals.
By the numbers: Upper Dublin: Bridget DiMartile (4 goals), Emily Buckius (1 goal),
Ava Shohen (1 goal), Caroline Stoffel (2 saves)
Upper Dublin coach Dee Cross on the game: “A tough way to end a season. We knew going to Pleasant Valley was going to be hard, since we experienced it last year also in the first round of states. I really thought we would have a different outcome this time around, but it was not meant to be. I told the girls that this game should not define this season and what they have accomplished. We won the Suburban One championship, and no one can take that away. We played in the District semifinal game for the first time ever, and we earned the four seed in the state.
–Special seniors: “Anna DiMartile, Anna Biermaas, Abby O’Meara, Olivia Broome, Sophia Sirianni, Angie Coccia and Isabella Nardello will leave Upper Dublin with a legacy that will inspire the underclassmen. This senior class has taught the younger girls how to work hard, set goals high and play as a team. They will truly be missed.”
Upper Dublin closed out its successful season with a 19-4 record. The Cardinals were 11-0 on their way to the SOL American Conference championship.
Upper Dublin 1-1-0-4 6
Pleasant Valley 3-3-3-3 12
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