Mercury-area team-by-team season preview
Boyertown
Head Coach
Pam Wernersbach, 11th season.
Last year’s record
13-0 PAC-10, 18-4 overall. Fell to Radnor 19-9 in the second round of the District 1-AAAA playoffs.
Bears to watch
Karli Gilbert, Sr., midfield; Hannah Jaskuta, Sr., attack; Hannah Schell, Sr., defense; Tiffany Diachynsky, So., defense; Grace McFadyen, So., attack; Rachel Rigg, So., midfield; Hannah Wentzel, So., attack.
Outlook
The Bears have won 152 straight games against PAC-10 opponents and will look to win their 12th straight PAC-10 title this season. Boyertown must replace last year’s Mercury All-Area Player of the Year Haley Wentzel (Lehigh), who scored 240 goals in her career (110 as a senior), and 11 other seniors, but Boyertown seems to always find a way to never miss a beat. “We will be looking to improve everyday both at practices and at games, to be able to come together and play solid team-based lacrosse,’ said Wernersbach. “Being able to do that should allow us to continue to be successful as a program.’
Daniel Boone
Head Coach
Jen Armstrong, 1st season.
Last year’s record
First varsity season
Blazers to watch
Mimi Keys, Sr.; Caroline Kostlan, Sr.; Sarah Hoag, Jr.; Danielle Landis, Jr.
Outlook
In its first season playing a full Berks Conference schedule, Daniel Boone will look to compete this upcoming season. Last year, the team played as a varsity club through the school, but was not yet accepted into the Berks Conference or PIAA. With a lineup consisting of five seniors along with mostly juniors and sophomores, this season will be valuable as the Blazers gain experience toward building their future. “We are a young team that is new to lacrosse,’ Armstrong said. “Our goals are to master the basic skills and concepts of the game and develop our skills to be competitive in the Berks Conference.’
Hill School
Head Coach
Shannon Summers, 2nd season.
Last year’s record
2-3 MAPL, 4-11 overall.
Blues to watch
Kathleen Carmichael, Sr., attack; Chrissy Meder, Sr., attack; Lilly Pollak, Jr., defense; Annie Carroll, So., GK; Amanda Dupell, So., midfield; Bree Gorman, So., attack.
Outlook
Although they are quite young, the Blues will look build off the success they had last season. With the departure of Elizabeth Sitko (All-Area First Team) to graduation, the Hill will turn to numerous key additions including Janet Chen, Eileen Carmichael, Giavanna Tabarrini and Makena Hanson down the stretch. With sophomore Annie Carroll returning in goal, the Blues will also rely on their strong defense. “The Hill looks to continue building off the technical success (it) had last year,’ said Summers. “The team continues to set its eye on the MAPL championship and defeating rival Lawrenceville (defeated the Hill 13-10 last season) this spring.’
Methacton
Head Coach
Laurie Markle, 9th season.
Last year’s record
7-6 PAC-10, 10-9 overall. Fell to Conestoga 18-7 in the opening round of the District 1-AAAA playoffs.
Warriors to watch
Morgan Herber, Sr., midfield/defense; Casey Reid, Sr., attack; Sam Rothman, Sr. GK; Sara Hughes, Jr., attack; Jackie Cerchio, So., midfield; Daria Lucchessi, So., midfield.
Outlook
The Warriors graduated midfielder Kelly Glatthorn (Virginia Tech) and forward Ellie Schmidt (Florida Southern), but return Hughes (All-Area Second Team) from last season and will look for senior leadership from Herber, Reid and Rothman. “This year we have an experienced defense that works well together,’ said Markle. “We have players that want to score, so I am hoping we surprise some people with the way we play. I feel we can be very competitive.’
Owen J. Roberts
Head Coach
Joe Tornetta, 1st season.
Last year’s record
9-4 PAC-10, 12-5 overall. Lost to Boyertown 21-14 in the opening round of the District 1-AAA playoffs.
Wildcats to watch
Devon Hennessey, Sr., GK; Morgan Stone, Sr., attack; Maddie Gebert, Jr., midfield; Courtney Gerber, Jr., defense; Kerry Huzzard, Jr., midfield; Anna Dempsey, So., attack.
Outlook
With Huzzard (two-time All-Area First Team) returning for her junior season, the Wildcats will look to compete for the league title and unseat Boyertown this season. Along with Huzzard’s 38 goals and 56 assists last season, the Wildcats also return Stone (first team) and Hennessey (second team) in goal. OJR lost six seniors to graduation as it advanced to the District 1-AAAA playoffs. “We are looking forward to the challenges that the PAC-10 brings,’ said Tornetta. “We are hoping to compete with the league powerhouses. Our goal right now is to compete every day.’
Perkiomen School
Head coach
Louisy Thompson
Last Year’s Record
7-0 Tri-County League, 12-2 overall. Won Tri-County League Championship with 17-12 win over Kimberton Waldorf last season.
Panthers to watch
Maddie Ferdock, Sr., GK; Carley Griesmer, Sr. defense; Gretchen Ray, Sr., midfield; Steph Falcone, Jr., attack; Hannah Chiesa, So., attack; Mikayla Matthews, So.; attack/midfield.
Outlook
Panthers outscored opponents 215-100 during their season en route to the TCL title. Ended season on nine-game winning streak including the semifinal and championship. Lost six senior starters to graduation, but returning All-Area honorable mentions Ferdock and Falcone in what could be a rebuilding year. “We have a lot of new and talented players who will grow immensely this season,’ said Thompson. “We will be looking to a lot of new and young players to fill in the roles of our seniors from last year. We’re excited to see how the season unfolds.’
Perkiomen Valley
Head Coach
Kathy Kelley, 4th season.
Last year’s record
3-9-1 PAC-10, 5-9-1 overall.
Vikings to watch
Harley Barrett, Sr., GK; Laura Dunne, Sr., attack; Nathalie Sell, Sr., defense; Christie Balestra, Jr., attack; Emma Britton, Jr., attack; Anna Koniencki, So., attack.
Outlook
Perkiomen Valley will look to for its upperclassmen leadership this season in hopes of bouncing back after a deflating 2014 season. Returning are Mercury All-Area First Team selection Christie Balestra (Lehigh), who scored 65 goals and had 11 assists last season and also caused 18 turnovers, All-Area Second Teamer Harley Barrett (Coastal Carolina) in goal to go along with Nathalie Sell. “Perkiomen Valley continues to rebuild behind the leadership of (our) seniors,’ said Kelley. “With young players coming up through the ranks and plenty of hard work in the offseason, PV is looking forward to a strong showing in 2015.’
Phoenixville
Head Coach
Aamina Thornton, 3rd season.
Last year’s record
9-6 PAC-10, 10-7 overall. Lost in the PAC-10 final to Boyertown, 17-6. Fell to Downingtown East 20-8 in the opening round of District 1-AAAA playoffs.
Phantoms to watch
Zoe Bullotta, Sr., attack (Two-time All-Area First Team); Megan Nemeth, Sr., GK (All-Area First Team); Kim Rutherford, Sr., midfield/defense.
Outlook
Phoenixville has nine slots to fill with inexperienced players coming up this season. Returning is Bullotta, who has been the team’s main scorer since her freshman season. Phantoms defeated heavily-favored Spring-Ford in the semifinals of the PAC-10 playoffs, 12-11 in double overtime, en route to becoming the first Frontier Division team to compete in the league final since 2006. “The girls are looking forward to playing and coming together this season,’ said Thornton. “We have slots that need to be filled this season, and the girls are working hard to fill those holes.’
Pope John Paul II
Head Coach
Maureen Burger, 3rd season.
Last year’s record
3-10 PAC-10, 5-11 overall.
Golden Panthers to watch
Kate Cressman, Sr., midfield; Angela McMonagle, Sr., attack; Bridget Rauh, Sr., defense; Meghan Haffey, Sr., defense.
Outlook
After posting the most wins in program history last season en route to finishing fourth in the Frontier Division, the Golden Panthers will only look to improve this year. Lost Lillia Walls, Jordan Kengor and Jackie Bowes to graduation, but will return Rauh (All-Area Second Team) along with Cressman (Honorable Mention), who has committed to Seton Hill. “We continue to improve each year and we are looking forward to a competitive season,’ said Burger.
Pottsgrove
Head Coach
Kirstin Mayberry, 4th season.
Last year’s record
0-13 PAC-10, 4-13 overall.
Falcons to watch
Hailey Jacobs, Sr., GK; Caitlin Gillette, Sr., attack; Brianna West, Sr., midfield; Arayna Hedgepeth, Sr., attack; Cheyenne Owens, Jr., attack; Courtney Petrucelli, Jr., midfield; Alyssa O’Neill, Jr., defense; Rachel Levengood, Jr., defense.
Outlook
The Falcons roster is flocked with 13 upperclassmen who gained experience and will look to improve from last season after graduating just two seniors. Returning Mercury All-Area Honorable Mentions Alyssa O’Neill and Caitlin Gillette. Also returning GK Jacobs (Seton Hill), who finished with 164 saves last season. Went 4-0 outside of PAC-10 last season. “We are returning all of our starters from last season while adding in a few new strong players,’ said Mayberry. “After struggling in the PAC-10 last season, the team has come back more determined than ever. There is a tremendous amount of improvement in both individual skills and team concepts.’
Pottstown
Head Coach
Andrew Bachman, 21st season.
Last year’s record
4-8-1 PAC-10, 5-11-1 overall.
Trojans to watch
Brigid Benfield, Sr., GK; Jenna Endy, Sr., defense; Julia Pearson, Sr., attack.
Outlook
It’s very much a rebuilding year according to Bachman. Despite fielding a talented team, the Trojans have a limited amount of varsity experience returning this season as the team consists of just three seniors on a roster of 16 players from freshman to seniors. Lost Mercury All-Area honorable mentions Tyisha Reddick and Sidney Sanford to graduation last season. Finished third in the PAC-10 Frontier Division. “We will see how the sophomore and freshmen evolve,’ said Bachman. “A lot depends on the work ethic and dedication of the underclassmen.’
Spring-Ford
Head Coach
Amy Short, 5th season.
Last year’s record
11-2 PAC-10, 14-5 overall. Fell 11-9 in the opening round of the District 1-AAAA playoffs to Bishop Shanahan.
Rams to watch
Katherine Connelly, Sr., midfield; Emily Coyne, Sr., midfield/defense; Kali Gill, Sr., attack; Samantha Walters, Sr., GK; Brianna Cirino, Jr., midfield; Alyssa Conway, So. defense; Lauren Mensch, So., defense.
Outlook
The Rams boasted the second-best record in the Pioneer Athletic Conference last season before suffering a 12-11 double-overtime upset loss to Phoenixville in the PAC-10 semifinals. Rams return Coyne (All-Area First Team), who totaled six goals and 14 assists last season. Although last season ended on a couple low notes, Short says the team will look to bounce back this season. “Spring-Ford has a totally different dynamic this year and it should be exciting to see the younger players step up to help the returning varsity members. The players are looking forward to working together to become a unified, strong team.’
Upper Perkiomen
Head Coach
Susan Flack, 2nd season.
Last year’s record
6-7 PAC-10, 8-11 overall. Fell in PAC-10 semifinals to eventual champion Boyertown, 18-7.
Indians to watch
Samantha Dingler, Sr., defense; Aubrey Wilcox, Sr., attack; Regan McComb Jr., GK; Morgan Rynn, Jr., midfield; Jenna Wismer, Jr., defense.
Outlook
Finished second in the PAC-10 Frontier Division last season behind only Phoenixville. McComb finished with 8 saves in goal in their PAC-10 semifinal versus Boyertown. Graduated Mercury All-Area Second Team selections Kayla Smith and Madelyn Fox. Despite their youth, the Tribe will turn to upperclassmen for leadership, including returning Second Team selection Samantha Dingler and Honorable Mentions Morgan Rynn and Aubrey Wilcox.
Compiled by Thomas Nash, tnash@pottsmerc.com
