Friends’ Central captures Friends’ Schools League girls lacrosse championship
Friends’ Central won its second straight Friends Schools League Girls’ Lacrosse Championship and sixth in seven years with a 8-6 victory over Shipley in the FSL championship final May 17.
The Phoenix, who finished with an undefeated (9-0) record in the Friends’ Schools League, received outstanding play by the entire defensive unit in the FSL championship final, which kept Shipley’s attack off balance for most of the game and completely off the scoreboard for the final 21 minutes of the second half.
Hannah Posencheg and Emily Lorry spent the entire game marking out Shipley’s top scorers, holding them to one goal and two goals respectively. Posencheg also forced two turnovers and picked up three ground balls. The cohesive defensive play of Hannah Anderson, Morgan Crowley, Avital Schweitzer, Hayden Posencheg and Lorna MacFarlane combined for nine ground balls and 11 caused turnovers.
The Phoenix jumped out early on three goals by Jesse Rubin and two by freshman Benna Berger. Shipley added a pair of goals before Lorna MacFarlane connected on a feed from Rubin to make it 6-2. A costly yellow card penalty on FCS with 18 seconds left in the first half translated into three quick goals for Shipley.
The Gators tallied one last goal at the 21 minute mark of the 2nd half, evening the score 6-6, before FCS locked down and took control of the game.
FCS’ Sophie Berger added the seventh goal on a free position, and one minute later, Lorna MacFarlane, on another feed from Rubin, scored the insurance goal making it 8-6. Phoenix goalie Anne Pizzini made five key saves in the second half to preserve the lead and collected eight saves on the day. Senior Lily Snider made several fine plays to maintain possession as the Phoenix held the ball for the final four minutes to run out the clock.
The Phoenix were playing without senior captain Miranda Matrocola, who was out with a recent ACL injury. With her in mind, the rest of the senior class – Avital Schweitzer, Jesse Rubin, Lily Snider, Hannah Anderson and Anne Pizzini – set the tone for the day, all five seniors turning in outstanding performances in their final Friends’ Schools League contest.
The Friends’ Central seniors will graduate having won three Friends School League Championships (2013, 2015, 2016), while compiling a 34-3 FSL career record and winning the PAISAA state championship in 2014.
