Purvis, Garnet Valley apply lesson from ‘Nova win
CONCORD >> Villanova men’s basketball coach Jay Wright earned plaudits for his calm demeanor during the pandemonium that was all around him at the end of the NCAA championship game Monday night.
Garnet Valley girls lacrosse coach Jenny Purvis has been known to get emotional before, during and even after her team’s games.
Before the two-time defending PIAA champion Jaguars opened the Central League portion of their 2016 schedule against Radnor at Moe DeFrank Field Tuesday afternoon, Purvis, a Penn State product, channeled her inner ’Nova Nation as she talked to her players.
“We used Kris Jenkins’ quote from Monday night about believing the ball is going in every time you shoot,” Purvis said, after her team made the most of its 16 shots on goal to claim an 8-5 decision over Radnor.
The Jags (4-0) got only eight shots in each half, but they scored four times before halftime and four times after the break while relying on a strong defensive effort, backed by eight saves from goalie Lauren Kinnee.
Kinnee, who suffered a knee injury near the end of last season, had to watch from the sideline as her teammates went on another playoff championship run.
“It’s great how they all play so hard in front of me,” said Kinnee, a recent Bucknell University commit, said. “They were with me all through what
happened last season and when I was trying to get ready to play again.
“I’m just glad to be back out there.”
She gave up three goals to Radnor junior Hope Smith, including one when the Jags were a player down because of a yellow card. Junior Ashley Bufano, who stepped in on defense when Kylie Young suffered a broken thumb, drew praise from Purvis for her efforts in helping shut down the visiting Red Raiders (2-3, 0-1).
Beth Hofmann, Rachel Warden, Emily Mathewson, Michelle Koscinski and Kara Nakrasius were among the others who worked hard on the defensive end of the field.
“That was as good a defensive game as we’ve played,” Purvis said. “They all did a nice job pressuring (the Radnor attack) in our end of the field. There were times that it seemed like they went five minutes or more before they got off a shot. And (Kinnee) was there when we needed her.”
Smith’s hat-trick goal came in the sixth minute of the second half with Mathewson sidelined because of a yellow card and pulled Radnor even at 4-4. After Nakrasius put GV back on top, Mathewson set up Madi O’Brien and then added the Jaguars’ final two scores.
“We were amped up about playing Radnor all day at school,” Mathewson said. “While I was standing there for those two minutes (after being carded), I was thinking about getting back out there and getting us going again.
“Kinnee was really something today. It’s great to have her back out there with us again. And our defense had to keep up with them with all the running back and forth we had to do with all the cutting they were doing. It might have been cold, but we’re happy to playing lacrosse.”
In other Central League action:
Ridley 22, Upper Darby 3 >> Emily Johnston dominated with five goals and two assists for the Green Raiders.
Desi George (four assists), Brookie Nasella (three assists), Nicole Lyman and Rachel Smith each had three tallies.
Haley Hill had two goals and two assists.
In the Catholic League:
Cardinal O’Hara 17, Conwell-Egan 6 >> Anna DiRita and Meghan Shallow paced the Lions (2-0, 2-1) with four goals apiece, and Molly Grady registered a hat trick. Liz Tosto dished out two assists.
In the Del Val League:
Interboro 16, Chichester 12 >> Hailey Fisher lit up the scoreboard with six goals and two assists as the Bucs downed the Eagles. Steph McCool contributed three goals and Shannon Quinlan and Marissa Hews each added two. Maura Murray posted six goals and two assists for the Eagles.
Academy Park 11, Penn Wood 0 >> Dakota Street found the back of the net three times and Chantal Farmer, Emily DeLuca and Shayna Flory each scored twice for the Knights. Goalie Terae Mason recorded the shutout with three saves.
In the Inter-Ac League:
Episcopal Academy 11, Agnes Irwin 10 >> Katie Crager and Julia Hondros eached netted three goals as the Churchwomen nipped the reigning Inter-Ac champs. Corinne Zanolli chipped in with two goals, while goalie Sydney Gagnon stopped five shots.
Notre Dame 11, Germantown Academy 9 >> Caroline Allen notched career goal No. 100 for the Irish. She finished with two goals, an assist and two draw controls. Kelly Coyle led all players with four goals and Mackenzie Irvine scored three times. Jackie Lanzalotto made eight saves in the cage.
In the Catholic Academies:
Sacred Heart 16, St. Basil 6 >> Sophomore Hannah Seifried netted seven goals and freshman Daniella Santora scored five times to lead the Lions in their season opener.
In nonleague action:
George School 14, Delco Christian 10 >> Emma Ellsworth’s seven-goal performance wasn’t enough for the Knights. Brenna Richards added two goals.
