Nealons help Garnet Valley rally past Springfield

SPRINGFIELD — The mercury at Halderman Field Tuesday told you it wasn’t playoff time.

Then there was the look in Regan Nealon’s eye, and the blood gushing from a cut over Kathryn Toohey’s eye, indicative that the encounter between Springfield and Garnet Valley had plenty of postseason elements, early schedule and frigid temperatures notwithstanding.

The level of play between the perennial state title contenders didn’t disappoint, either.

Nealon helped orchestrate a second-half rally for the Jaguars, who scored seven unanswered goals after the Cougars had taken their first lead of the game on the way to a 13-7 Central League victory.

“We love playing Springfield and all the Central League teams like this,” Nealon said. “So this was a huge rivalry win, and for us seniors, since they’re not in our (district) playoffs any more, we’re not going to play Springfield ever again, so we really wanted to go out on a win against them because we love playing them and it’s always a fun game.”

Nealon and her sister, Kara, certainly played like it. Of that seven-goal run, only two didn’t have a Nealon’s fingerprints on it. Toohey tied it at five with 17:11 to play, and Kara Nealon gave Garnet the lead for good with a fast-break goal at 14:09.

That play was made on the other end of the field, though. Springfield’s Erin Gormley lost possession but picked up a vital groundball to extend the attacking spell, but Regan Nealon ended up poking away a loose pass in the arc, starting the counterattack that her sister buried.

Regan scored 12 seconds later, then Kara, Toohey and Regan scored in successive minutes from eight meters, in all a 6-0 run of 6 minutes, 28 seconds. Regan provided the capper from eight meters with 6:28 to play, putting Garnet Valley up 11-5.

That marker came on the heels of the latest star turn at the other end: A denial by goaltender Sierra McLaughlin of a free-position shot by Alyssa Long. It was save No. 10 of 12 on the day for the sophomore, who has stepped between the pipes and performed impressively.

Madi McKee scores as time expires. At the half, Garnet Valley 4, Springfield 3. pic.twitter.com/NDmSJpBzQ5

— Matthew De George (@sportsdoctormd) April 2, 2019

“Oh my god, she saved us so many times,” Regan Nealon said. “There’s so many one-on-ones and she saved us, had perfect saves and was amazing. She’s done so well this whole season. She’s stepping up because we lost Sam Hamalak, who’s amazing last year, so she’s just a sophomore coming in and she’s doing so good.”

“I know that I have my defense and I trust them so much,” McLaughlin said. “I know that the game is never over. Even though we were down at one point, we still came back, and I think our team does a great job of keeping our energy up.”

PHOTO GALLERY: Garnet Valley vs. Springfield

For the first half, McLaughlin and her opposite number, Dana Mirigliano, went save for save. Mirigliano turned aside six shots in the first half to McLaughlin’s five.

“It really gives confidence to our defense that we have a goalie that can make those big saves, especially in big games like this,” Springfield senior Belle Mastropietro said. “It’s more confidence to get those stops because she’s going to make those saves.”

But Mirigliano was unlucky not to go into the break with the teams on level terms. She turned aside a shot by Kaitlyn Henning on an eight-meter restart with 3.6 seconds left, but Madi McKee gobbled up the rebound and deposited it over Mirigliano as (or after, depending on which bench you were on) the horn sounded to give the Jags a 4-3 halftime edge.

Kara Nealon again. @GVAthletics up 8-5. 12:51 left. pic.twitter.com/tQxm7rrwEF

— Matthew De George (@sportsdoctormd) April 2, 2019

Springfield used that goal as motivation out of the half, with Meghan Cull tying the game and Olivia Pace putting the Cougars ahead within 2:27 of the break.

“We collectively, as a team, with the scoreboard and all that, whatever happened, it didn’t matter either way,” said Mastropietro, who tallied three goals and two assists. “If they were up one or tied, it didn’t matter. We’d just come out and score more.”

All that stopped Springfield from opening a bigger lead was McLaughlin, who turned aside thee shots in the stretch.

Eventually, the Jags’ advantages started to show. McKee, the 6-1 attacker, grabbed seven of her game-high 10 draw controls in the second half, finally getting the better of Mastropietro (seven DCs) there. Toohey, who scored four times, shifted the balance in midfield with her clearing speed, which allowed Kara and Regan Nealon to combine for six goals and three helpers.

The playoff feel didn’t summon the Nealons to take over the game, per se. But it did exhort the best out of the Jags as a team; on the offensive end, that meant it was time for the twins to raise their level.

“We just play. We never just put it on one person,” Regan said. “The whole team, everyone on attack can score at all times, and we know that. We don’t need to just put it on one of us because it just happens like that, so at any time it could be anyone that scores. It just happens sometimes that it’s both of us.”

Also in the Central League:

Penncrest 14, Lower Merion 6 >> Abby Pennoni scored five goals and added four assists, and Kenna Kaut and Sadie King each added hat tricks with an assist as the Lions rolled. Kaylee Woodhull made seven saves in goal.

Strath Haven 18, Upper Darby 1 >> Olivia Memeger lit up the scoreboard with four goals and seven assists. Gillian Brennan added four and three, and Danielle McNeely and Sophia Haase each paired three goals with two assists for the Panthers.

Conestoga 16, Marple Newtown 1 >> Kaely Cristello had the only goal for the Tigers, as Cam Evitts’ five markers led the way for Conestoga. Rachel Clark added a hat trick.