Heartbreaker ends Garnet Valley’s run toward history
MIDDLETOWN >> Red eyes and tear-streaked cheeks were common as Garnet Valley walked off Penncrest’s Louis Scott Field following Tuesday’s heart-breaking 10-9 loss to Radnor in the PIAA girls lacrosse semifinals.
This was not the way the Jaguars wanted to go out.
They wanted to make a run at a third straight PIAA title, something no team has done in the nine years since the tournament became a state-sponsored event. Yet it was not meant to be.
Garnet Valley’s two-year reign as PIAA champions was over, but it took a miraculous comeback by the Raiders to end it. Radnor scored eight of the last nine goals to earn a spot in Saturday’s state final against Conestoga, a 20-5 winner over Mt. Lebanon in the other semifinal game.
“We knew this was going to be a tough game,” said sophomore Kamryn McNeal, who led the Jaguars with three goals. “We put all of our positive energy together because we knew this would be the last time we played together if we didn’t play as one. Our saying is play together, win together and in the first half we were playing together to win together. In the second half, Radnor pulled something from within.”
It takes something special to knock out the defending champ and Radnor did it twice in the span of two weeks. The Raiders knocked off the Jaguars, 7-6, to earn a spot in the District One championship game and overcame an 8-2 deficit to reach the state final.
“Radnor had a fantastic second half,” Garnet Valley coach Jenny Purvis said. “We only had one goal in the second half and it’s tough to win any game when you only score one goal in the second half, but we knew it was going to be a battle. Our last loss was by one goal to Radnor (in the district semifinals). It’s always tough when you play Radnor.”
Madi O’Brien on an FPS. 3-2 @GarnetGLax leads. pic.twitter.com/9KqgHuUmXN
— Matthew De George (@sportsdoctormd) June 7, 2016
While the loss was disappointing, it could not erase what the Jaguars have done over the last few seasons. They won back-to-back state titles without winning the District One crown. They won the PIAA title last season as the fifth seed in District One and claimed the state crown the year before that as the No. 4 seed out of District One.
“These seniors have done more than anyone in school history,” Purvis said. “Two years ago they had the best record ever. I’m so proud of them. They’re devastated because they want to be here. They want to keep going. I’m just incredibly proud of what they’ve done for the last four years.”
