George, Ridley hope to spring first-round surprise at Harriton
RIDLEY TWP. >> Ridley senior captain Desi George has many ways to make her teammates laugh.
If it’s not her pregame pep talks, it’s her singing and rapping skills on the bus during road trips that do the trick.
“Those are pretty funny,” junior Emily Johnston said.
For one more day at least, George, who will play lacrosse next spring at West Chester University, is able to provide a little levity before a big game. The 28th-seeded Green Raiders are set for their first playoff game in eight years when they begin the District One tournament Tuesday at No. 5 Harriton (14-4). Opening draw is 4 p.m.
“We’ve come a long way since my freshman year. It’s just so different now,” George said. “I feel like our team is united and the energy is so high.”
First-year head coach Jill Davis calls George “one of the the best leaders I’ve seen.”
“If for some reason we can’t get a practice together, she’ll organize a captain’s practice with the team,” Davis said. “She goes hard through everything and I couldn’t think of a better leader for us.”
Johnston is the team’s driving force on attack and team leader in goals. She’s been an impact player since her freshman year.
“Emily is absolutely a leader. She’s a leader without the title, through her actions and how she supports her team,” Davis. “If someone on the team drops a ball, she’s going to be the one that goes and gets it. She’s all over the field.”
Ridley posted a 9-9 record in the regular season. That’s an impressive leap from last year’s 6-11 finish, and the Green Raiders can be proud of how far they’ve come since Davis took the helm in February. An All-Delco at Ridley, Davis spent the previous several years as a JV coach and an assistant on varsity. As a player, Davis was part of the last great teams in program history. When she was a sophomore in 2004, Ridley lost to Conestoga in the state final.
Davis’ success at Ridley in her heyday resonates with her players. Davis holds the record for most goals in Ridley girls history with 211, though Johnston is on pace to break her mark next season. Johnston is committed to continuing her lacrosse career at La Salle, where Davis played from 2007-10 and scored 100 goals.
Ridley gave Harriton all it could handle in the regular season. While the Green Raiders fell, 9-7, the close call gives them the motivation to get the job done this time.
Hey … why not?
“We were right there, we were winning at one point, and having that sort of close loss makes you want it even more,” Johnston said.
“We have a chip on our shoulder,” George said.
For Davis, she trusts her players are ready for the opportunity. They’ve taken the next step as a program, but aren’t near satisfied.
“The main thing was trying to get these girls to believe,” Davis said. “When we show up, we can be a great team. I definitely think that playing them closely the first time gives us the confidence that we can compete against anybody.”
In other District One first-round playoff games Tuesday:
No. 17 Methacton at No. 16 Haverford, 6 p.m.
The Fords (9-9) have carried their weight against the Central League’s best. Earlier in the season, they edged Radnor, 9-8, lost a pair of one-goal decisions to Springfield (No. 2) and Strath Haven (No. 22), and nipped Ridley (No. 28). Haverford is led by 100-goal scorer Hanna Breslin, Tess Horan and Jess Mellon.
The Warriors (11-8) fell to Owen J. Roberts in the Pioneer Athletic Conference championship game last week. Jackie Cerchio and Daria Lucchesi are among Methacton’s top playmakers.
No. 24 Mt. St. Joseph at No. 9 Radnor, 4 p.m.
After falling to Springfield by a goal last month, the Raiders (12-6) ended the regular season with four straight wins; however, of those opponents, only Unionville had a winning mark.
The Raiders will look for big performances from Emily Games and Fallon Quinn. The Magic (11-6) took first place in the Catholic Academies League.
The Radnor-MSJ winner takes on either No. 25 Boyertown or No. 8 C.B. South in the next round.
No. 29 Kennett at No. 4 Garnet Valley, 5 p.m.
Don’t get fooled by the Jaguars’ (13-4-1) somewhat inconsistent showing against top programs this year. They endured a similar up-and-down path in 2015, but heated up into the playoffs and captured their second consecutive state title. It would be unwise to underestimate All-Delco Emily Mathewson, Kam McNeal, Kara Nakrasius and the Jags, who have the experience to make a deep run in districts and states.
The Blue Devils are a heavy underdog after finishing the season below the .500 threshold.
No. 31 Gwynedd Mercy at No. 2 Springfield, 4 p.m.
The Cougars (16-2) suffered a tough defeat to Harriton (No. 9) in the teams’ Central League finale last week, but they enter tournament play as one of the favorites to reach the championship round.
Prior to the loss to Harriton, Springfield dispatched juggernaut Archbishop Carroll in overtime. They’ll lean heavily on the exploits of Cailyn Gormley and Bridget Whitaker.
Maddie Meagher’s strong all-around performance last week helped the Monarchs (11-6) down Villa Maria and secure the second spot in the district bracket.
No. 22 Strath Haven at No. 11 Abington, 7 p.m.
Jen Rowan and Maddie Ruffini have the Panthers (8-8-1) back in the playoffs. Haven battled Garnet Valley to two-overtime tie last week.
The Galloping Ghosts (15-3) ended the season with a big win over Garnet Valley, 9-7, their fourth in a row.
Of Abington’s three losses, two were at the hands of teams seeded below them in the district tournament. The Ghosts dropped overtime decisions to Villa Maria (No. 21) and Plymouth Whitemarsh (No. 13).
