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WEST CHESTER – Kailee Ashby had just connected on a goal to trim Abington’s deficit to five midway through the opening half of Saturday’s District One AAA quarterfinal contest against Springfield (Delco).
“Abington, if we win every draw, we win the game,” coach Julie Martinez exhorted her players from the sidelines.The Ghosts didn’t win every draw against a strong Cougar squad.
As a matter of fact, they won just six of 29, falling behind the third-seeded Cougars 12-4 by halftime and winding up on the short end of a 17-10 score in a quarterfinal game at West Chester East.
“It was the draws,” junior defender Liz Wilson said matter-of-factly. “We weren’t winning any of the draws. If you win the draws, you win the game.
“They were stepping up, and we weren’t.”
It took absolutely no time at all for Martinez to realize her squad could be in for a long day against a tall and talented Cougar squad
“Within the first 10 minutes, we had three yellow cards called against us – one for unnecessary roughness, another for an alleged kick,” the Abington coach said. “It’s just a shame when you can’t get the momentum because you’re just trying to play aggressive lacrosse.
“Clearly, I understand fouls occur, but I thought coming out we’d be allowed to still play the way we have been.”
Officiating aside, Martinez admitted that the Ghosts had no one but themselves to blame for the loss.
“We could have come out harder, we could have come out faster, we could have made some key saves early on in the game, but some days it’s not your day,” she said. “Today was not, but the good news is with the state playoffs, it’s not our last game. If it was, there would be a lot more tears.”The Ghosts will face SOL rival North Penn in a playback game on Tuesday. One win in either of their next two games will ensure Abington a spot in the upcoming state tournament.
“We lost, but we’re going to come out strong on Tuesday,” Wilson said.
Things didn’t go well for the Ghosts from the outset.
Maddy Evans turned a ground ball pick-up into a goal 32 seconds into the game to put the Ghosts on top 1-0, but that would be the Ghosts’ last hurrah, and before the game was 11 minutes old, the Ghosts found themselves on the short end of an 8-2 score.
The Ghosts showed signs of life when Ashby, who scored five goals, connected on back-to-back goals, the second with an assist from Kate Cooper, but the Cougars were just getting started.
“Any time we started to show signs of life, it was sucked back out of us,” Martinez said.
Courtney Kennedy scored a come-around goal, and then the Ghosts were dealt another blow when Evans was lost for the remainder of the game after receiving her second yellow card.
“That hurt a lot,” Martinez said. “Maddy is a spark on this team.
“Her aggressiveness is unmatched, and her raw athleticism is viewed as over-aggression or, in this case, unnecessary roughness. At the collegiate level, Duke and Penn are playing today, and that’s how every player plays.”
By halftime, the Cougars led 12-4“The first half we were obviously not playing our game and we got down 8-2,” Wilson said. “At that point, we needed to settle the ball and just play our game.
“We didn’t give up. We came back, scored goals and we kept playing strong.”
The Ghosts outscored the Cougars 6-5 in the second half, but by that time, the outcome had long since been decided.
“Springfield-Delco is a very good team,” Martinez said. ““They’re a well-coached team, they’re a disciplined team. They’re going to go far, not only in districts but in states as well.
“I know they (the players) are taking this hard because they wanted to win. They came in believing they could win, and then within 10 minutes the realized David would not slay Goliath today, but at least they fought to the very end.”
Samantha Tulskie scored six goals to lead the Cougars while Madison Poplawski added four. If there was a bright spot for the Ghosts, who also received a pair of goals from Kate Cooper as well as single goals from Evans, Molly Seefried and Courtney Cox, it was the fact that they converted on 10-of-18 shots.
That’s a far cry from their 10-of-47 and 10-of-37 shooting performances in wins over West Chester Henderson and Downingtown East respectively.
“That’s an improvement,” Martinez said. “Had we possessed the ball a little bit more, it could have been a different story.
“The good news is if we’re fortunate enough to move on, we could see them again.”
SPRINGFIELD (DELCO) 17, ABINGTON 10
Abington 4 6-10
Springfield 12 5-17
Goals/Assists: Abington – Kailee Ashby 5-0, Kate Cooper 2-2, Maddy Evans 1-0, Molly Seefried 1-0, Courtney Cox 1-0. Springfield – Samantha Tulskie 6-1, Madison Poplawski 4-0, Shannon Burns 2-2, Courtney Kennedy 2-0, Valerie Paolucci 1-1, Lindsey Mace 1-0, Maddy Lynch 1-0.
Shots: A-18, S-31.
Saves: Alisha Aquilino (A) 10, Janel Folkomer (S) 7.
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