Amadio’s late tally helps Interboro top Academy Park

PROSPECT PARK >> Interboro senior Alecia Amadio didn’t hesitate once she was summoned into the game in the second half Wednesday against Academy Park.

She wanted to make the most of her time on the field.

Amadio scored the go-ahead goal with seven minutes to go. The lead held as the Bucs remained perfect in the Del Val League with a 13-10 victory over the visiting Knights.

Amadio was happy she could lend a hand off the bench.

“I had just gotten in the game at that point and I knew we needed (a spark),” she said. “I saw the opportunity and I thought, I’m just going to go and see what happens. “

Amadio and several Interboro players crashed the net, hoping to scoot one by Knights goalie Terae Mason (nine saves).

“I just went for it,” she said.

Amadio has lived in the Interboro School District her entire life, but spent her junior year at The Christian Academy. When she was a freshman and sophomore, Amadio played junior varsity lacrosse with the Bucs.

TCA doesn’t have a lacrosse program, so when Amadio returned to Interboro, she was excited to wear the black and gold again.

“It’s my favorite sport, I love it,” she said. “I was glad to play again. These girls are my sisters.”

The goal that lifted Interboro was Amadio’s second of the season and thwarted a furious rally by the Knights.  

“We are definitely determined and we have a strong sense of motivation,” Amadio said. “We have the drive and we have a lot of gumption. We really

want to give it our all this year, especially the seniors. “

Academy Park was poised to upset the longtime Del Val champs. For years, Interboro has dominated the competition in the league, but the tide seems to be changing. The Knights, under the guidance of coach Sue Reutter, gave the Bucs everything they had in the tank.

“Sue has done a wonderful job with them,” Faison said. “I’ve known Sue for years and she’s really turned things around over there. She’s done a really nice job. Now I understand they have a middle school program, so they’re going to get stronger. They really gave us a scare today.”

After Interboro raced out to a 4-0 lead, the Knights scored three in a row, including a pair by Zyah Newsome. AP trailed at halftime, 6-4.

Marissa Hews netted two of Interboro’s first four goals of the second half to give Interboro a 10-6 advantage, but the Knights responded. The speedy Dakota Street scored three consecutive goals before Newsome scored the equalizer with 7:26 to play.

The Bucs, though, showed perseverance.

“Our team has done really well at coming together and working through (the losses) of some really good players over the years since I’ve been here,” said Hews, who had a team-high four goals. “Our seniors, there’s a lot of us this year, so working with the younger kids on the team, we’re meshing now,  which is really good.”

After Amadio put her team back in front, the Bucs tacked on. Senior captain Stephanie McCool accounted for the final tally with 1:39 left.

The Bucs have remained at the top of the Del Val without Sami Barnett, a 300-goal scorer and one of the greatest lacrosse players to come from the school. Barnett is excelling as a freshman at West Chester University.

“Our goals are really spread out,” said Hews, who will continue her lacrosse career at Houghton (N.Y.) College next spring. “We’re passing more and looking for the assist. A lot of different girls are stepping up.”

It was nice to get back in the win column, too. Tuesday night, Interboro suffered its first loss of 2016, a 20-9 setback to Phoenixville.

“Marissa Hews did a really good job today. (Haley) Fisher played strong, Madison Hengey is a really nice player,” Faison said. “When I called a timeout (after AP tied it), I told them, ‘You have to step it up. You can’t poo-poo a team like them or they’ll come back and kick you.’ When I put Alecia in, I couldn’t believe she got that nice little goal there.  She was wide open.”

Junior goalie Moriah Marr (eight saves) made several big stops down the stretch to keep the Knights from pulling ahead.

“They’re a really fast team,” said Marr, a junior. “The way they take it from one end to the other, they’re really quick and you have to keep up with them. You have to move around and stay focused. … They did an amazing job, a lot better than I thought they would. They’re a really good team.

“We don’t take it for granted at all. We work our hardest and do what we can, because we’re still a team no matter what. We showed a lot of fight today.”

Newsome scored a team-high four goals for the Knights.

In a nonleague game:

Episcopal Academy 14, Merion Mercy 5 >> Julia Hondros registered four goals and eight draw controls to lead the Churchwomen. Katie Crager and Taylor Lucey each chipped in with three goals and three assists. Sydney Gagnon turned aside seven shots in goal.