Red-hot Springfield can’t stop Stahl, Harriton
SPRINGFIELD >> Harriton coach George Dick couldn’t say for sure how many draw control wins that sophomore Greta Stahl averages per game.
He’s lost count.
“I don’t even know the exact number anymore,” Dick said after piloting his Rams to an 8-5 Central League win over Springfield at Halderman Field. “It’s 12, 14 or 15, something like that.”
Stahl again reached double digits in the statistical category Tuesday. Her dominance in the center circle was a big factor in helping Harriton close out
the Central League portion of its regular season with a big win over the Cougars, who entered the day winners of 10 in a row.
“The bottom line is when you control the ball, you control the tempo of the game,” said Dick, who played lacrosse and basketball at Haverford College. “She’s been doing a great job of that all year.”
Stahl’s performance at the draw is pivotal, but her 6-foot frame makes her particularly difficult to cover when the Rams have possession and attack the opposition.
Stahl had two goals and two assists, senior Alex Lada had two goals and an assist and Claudia Conrad found the back of the net twice.
“Especially this year, I’ve gotten a lot better at (draw controls),’ said Stahl, whose parents, Dave and Janit, were athletes at Villanova. Dave was an offensive lineman for the football team and Janit was a rower. “I see what Lada does a lot of the time. If she goes one way, I’m going to try and get it that way. If Laura (Lasprogata) is one way, I’m going to try and get it that way. I just try to base it on where they are, and if I can get (the ball) to myself, that’s even better because then I just pass it right out. I’ve been working pretty hard on it, trying to perfect that.”
The Rams (13-4) needed a quality victory over a Central League opponent that is seeded higher than they are in the District One/Laxpower.com rankings. So, they went out and defeated arguably the hottest team in Pennsylvania not named Conestoga, which finished the regular season undefeated (16-0).
“We were still trying to get our defense and our attack together (prior to Tuesday),” Lada said. “All of our slides were together today, our passing (was good) and we played great overall. It’s a huge win for our confidence.”
“Also, this team was ranked higher than us, so we really needed this win,” Stahl said. “Since we got it, hopefully we’ll be able to move up the rankings a little bit, which is really exciting.”
Harriton’s star of the game was sophomore goalie Devin McClain, who stopped 14 of Springfield’s shots. The Rams defense stymied the Cougars, but when the hosts had open looks at the net, McClain denied them more often than not.
“Every game we say. ‘That was Devin’s best game,’” Lada said.
Added Stahl: “She made some key saves today.”
Maggie O’Connell sparked Springfield with two goals. She tied the game 1-1 early in the first half and netted the Cougars’ first goal of the second half after Harriton had led by as many as six (8-2).
Springfield pulled within three goals in the second half thanks to goals by O’Connell, Cailyn Gormley and Olivia Little, but they never found a way to gain momentum against the Rams.
“We have to learn from our mistakes,” said O’Connell, a junior. “We started out slow and we all didn’t really go to the goal as much as we usually do. That was a setback from the beginning, but we’re going to learn from it. We’ll probably see them again.”
In other Central League action:
Garnet Valley 10, Strath Haven 10 >> The Jags and Panthers played to a two-overtime tie at King Field. Strath Haven forced OT when Nicole McNeely scored off a pass from Carly Glassford with 10 seconds to go in regulation.
Penncrest 14, Marple Newtown 9 >> Grace Harding fueled the Lions with three goals and four assists. Logan O’Donnell led all players with four goals to go with one assist, and Kaya Allen had a hat trick for Penncrest.
Haverford 12, Ridley 11 >> Laura Winter had two goals and three assists, Jess Mellon posted a hat trick and Hanna Breslin added two goals and an assist for the Fords.
Brooke Nasella scored her 100th career goal for Ridley and teammate Emily Johnston had four goals and three assists.
Conestoga 18, Upper Darby 1 >> The Pioneers (16-0) wrapped up the Central League title and a perfect regular season. Grace Eaton, Ilana Zipkin, Paige Loose and Elize Hacke all registered two goals.
In the Inter-Ac League:
Agnes Irwin 11, Notre Dame 6 >> Laura Pansini powered the first-place Owls (14-4, 11-1) with four goals and four assists. Goalie Hailey Andress made 12 saves, recorded three interceptions and scooped up three ground balls. Olivia Carey chipped in with a goal and a career-high five draw controls.
Claire Nappi and Makenzie Irvine paced the Irish with a hat trick apiece.
Episcopal Academy 17, Germantown Academy 5 >> Katie Crager led the way for the Churchwomen with five goals and two assists, Grace Norley added a hat trick and Olivia Cunningham contributed two goals and an assist.
In the Bicentennial League:
Lower Moreland 7, Delco Christian 6 >> Breanna Richards netted two goals and Jillian Freeman and Jessica Freeman both added a goal and an assist for the Knights. Jillian Orlandini made 10 saves in the cage.
