Check out the recaps for SOL girls’ lacrosse teams in action Friday. (North Penn team photos provided courtesy of Mike Cabrey/PaPrep Live)
SOL National Conference
NORTH PENN 15, SOUDERTON 9
They couldn’t have written a much better script.
The Knights capped a perfect SOL season with a win over their neighboring rival, and for a senior class that bore the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was especially sweet.
“Our goals at the beginning of the season were to win the SOL and to go undefeated, so this is the greatest thing,” senior captain Heather Mallitz said. “I think losing a year because of COVID – having all this back is just so much fun.”
Ask Mallitz the key to the team’s success, and she has an immediate answer.
“I think the key is the togetherness we have as a team,” she said. “We have such a close bond that we can rely on anybody anywhere on the field. It’s such a tight-knit group of girls.”
The SOL National Conference title is the program’s first since 2011.
“I don’t even know what to say – this is real exciting,” said NP coach Heather Mellow, who is in her eighth year at the helm. “We’ve never been in this position since I’ve been here. To have a team that was able to finish – this is the first year we’ve had a team that’s really finished, and they completed their goal.
“It’s a balanced team, and they all really get along. They’re all really nice girls. It’s a fairly selfless team too. You see the ball get passed around quite a bit. They’re all looking to dish it off to the next person to get a goal. It’s a great group of kids, and they deserve it.”
Nobody was finishing better in Friday’s win than Kerry O’Donnell, who scored five of her game-high six goals in a second half that saw the Knights seize control of the game. She also had seven draw controls.
“She’s been struggling the last couple of games to try and find the net, but she came through,” Mellow said. “We had a little extra practice (before the game), and I think it helped her immensely because we haven’t been able to practice. We had one practice in the last week and four games.
“She came up huge. Both the O’Donnells – they usually show up when you need them to.”
Emily Varilla was once again a catalyst all over the field, contributing four goals, three assists and five draw controls.
“She’s been consistent all year long, whether on the draw, whether it’s defensively,” Mellow said.
For the second time in as many games, the Knights found themselves in an early hole, trailing 4-1 after a goal by Yasmin Khatri eight minutes into the game. Included in the Indians’ four goals were a pair by Lauren Hallman and a single goal by Reiley Knize while Kayla Stressman accounted for the Knights’ goal.
One minute after Khatri’s goal, Emily Varilla scored for the Knights, sparking a 7-1 tear that put the Knights on top 8-5 with three minutes remaining in the half after a goal by Stressman.
“We’ve been slow to start, but I think that once we start to pick it up – our team just automatically comes back together, and it’s just the greatest thing,” Mallitz said. “I believe in all of our girls. Everybody works hard.”
A goal by Khatri 30 seconds later pulled the Indians to within two, and after a Knights’ turnover with time winding down, the Indians were awarded a free position, and Angela Borisow found the net with .5 seconds remaining in the half to make it an 8-7 game at the intermission.
“They’re giving me ulcers,” Mellow said with a laugh. “We’ve been preaching composure. Ever since our game against Strath Haven where we kind of fell apart, it’s been – keep yourself composed. Even if you’re down four or five goals, it doesn’t matter. This is a game where things can turn on a dime, and five goals can go in in two minutes.”
The second half belonged to the Knights – or more specifically Kerry O’Donnell – who scored five goals while Varilla added a pair, including the game’s final goal to wrap up the perfect SOL season.
“Beating a crosstown rival is the best thing ever,” Mallitz said. “We wanted this game. It all came down to wanting it more, and we did.”
In addition to Kerry O’Donnell and Varilla, Stressman had two goals and three draw controls while Riley O’Donnell had a goal and an assist. Lauren Blanch and Danielle Preston each had one goal. Mallitz had two caused turnovers while Haley Decker had three caused turnovers.
For the Indians, Hallman led the way with four goals while Reiley Knize and Khatri both had two. Borisow had one goal and Jess Burns had four assists.
Kiera Holt had five saves in goal for the Knights.
Extra shots: Souderton’s Tegan Farina was recognized for reaching an impressive milestone. The senior goalie – who entered the game with 196 saves – picked up the 200th save of her outstanding career after a stop with 7:38 remaining in the opening
half. “She missed her sophomore season (to the pandemic), and that’s a pivotal year in a high school lacrosse program, but Tegan’s a really hard worker, and she’s going to do whatever she can to not only make herself successful in goal, but she also wants to do whatever she can to make our team successful,” Souderton coach Claudia LaMarca said of Farina, who was credited with seven saves. “She works really hard in practice, she comes up with huge saves in games, and I think that’s just a testament to how hard she works and how hard she pushes herself to be the best that she can be. We’re so proud of her. She got her 100th early in the season, and the 200th came quick, but we’re not surprised. This is an awesome accolade for an awesome player that we’ll miss a ton.” To honor of her younger sister and teammate, Avery, who is out after tearing her ACL, Farina wore her sibling’s jersey under her own… North Penn (9-0 SOL) closed out its regular season with an overall record of 15-3. Souderton (5-4) is 9-8 overall. The Knights are the 3rd seed in the latest District One 3A power rankings. Mallitz acknowledged that the Knights can ill afford a slow start when districts begin next week. “Because we won this game, we’ll start off with a bye, so the three days before our game on Thursday we’re going to go hard and we’re going to win. That’s what we’re going to do. I’m so excited. I can’t for next week. I want to play so bad again.”
North Penn 8-7 15
Souderton 7-2 9
Non-league
PENNRIDGE 16, HATBORO-HORSHAM 9
The Rams, who opened up a 9-4 halftime lead, used a balanced scoring attack to defeat the visiting Hatters.
“After giving up the game’s first goal, our sophomore trio of Kendall Posey (3 g, 3a), Kate Unzicker (4 g, 1 a), and Ava Fantaskey (3 g, 9 DCs) and senior Maddy Edinger (4 g) helped us jump out to a 8-1 lead,” Pennridge coach William Rodzewich said. “Senior Amelia Loughery (1 g, 1 a) and freshman Leah Verespy (1 g) also contributed to a solid win. It started raining during warmups and continued for most of the game, but our girls were able to stay focused.”
Abby Roesing’s seven-goal effort led the Hatters, who also received single goals from Sophia Liott and Tara Orloski.
Pennridge (8-2 SOL) closed out its regular season with a 12-4 record. The Rams are 13th in the latest District One 6A power rankings. Hatboro-Horsham (8-3 SOL) closed out its season with a 10-8 record.
Pennridge 9-7 16
Hatboro-Horsham 4-5 9
STRATH HAVEN 15, WISSAHICKON 8
Emma Baker reached an impressive milestone, scoring her 200th career goal in the Trojans’ final regular season game. She led the Trojans, who trailed 6-3 at halftime, with four goals and four draw controls.
Emma Greenberg had six draw controls and Nora Ryan had four. Alexa McCabe added three goals and Maddy Radell had one.
“We had a few too many caused turnovers and lack of momentum that cost us today,” Wissahickon coach Nicole Fisher said. “We are excited to keep working as a team and learn from the highs and lows and make the most of our time together.”
Camille Hubbs was credited with seven saves in goal for the Trojans.
Wissahickon (13-4, 10-1 SOL) – 16th in the latest District One 6A power rankings – will await its final district seed.
Strath Haven 6-9 15
Wissahickon 3-5 8
JENKINTOWN 10, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 8
Thursday, May 12
SOL American Conference
WISSAHICKON 22, CHELTENHAM 1
It was a day to celebrate for the Wissahickon lacrosse team.
Not only were there 12 different goal scorers with 20 of the Trojans’ 22 goals assisted, but the win also clinched sole possession of the SOL American Conference title.
Emma Baker had a career high 13 assists, and Emma Greenberg had one goal and seven draw controls. Defender Amanda Brecher had two goals and two draw controls, and Alexa McCabe had seven goals, one assist, one interception, one caused turnover and four draw controls. Defender Emma Reilly had three goals, and Emmi Gordon had one goal and two assists. Olivia Bellinzoni, Maddy Radell, Thalia Tsiobikas, Ellie Stein, Laura Kane and Anika Rastogi each added one goal. Camille Hubbs had two saves in goal for the Trojans.
Wissahickon (13-3, 12-1 SOL) will host Strath Haven in a non-league game at 5 p.m.
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