After injury, DiCamillo happy to be playing lacrosse again at Garnet Valley

CONCORD — The COVID-19 pandemic cost her teammates the entire 2020 season, but Kendall DiCamillo had been aware of her fate several weeks before that spring sports season was canceled.

The Garnet Valley senior suffered a significant knee injury during basketball season. She worried about surgery and the grueling rehabilitation ahead.

COVID-19 restrictions forced DiCamillo to delay surgery until June.

“I was due March 19 but I wasn’t able to go until June 1,” she said. “So, I’m not even a year out.”

A defensive-minded player who acts as another coach on the field, DiCamillo returned to athletic competition late in the basketball season. Competing on the hardwood allowed her the opportunity to test out the knee and get in the right frame of mind before lacrosse season. It’s held up well.

DiCamillo chipped in two assists and four ground balls in Garnet Valley’s 13-9 win over Strath Haven Thursday.

“I was finally about to get cleared and be out on the lacrosse field again. I was really excited about that,” she said. “That was my goal, to play one or two basketball games, which I was able to do and then be ready for the start of lacrosse season. It’s been a lot of work but it’s great to be out here.”

GV coach Jenny Purvis spoke highly of DiCamillo’s character and what she brings to the team.

“She has been such a pleasant surprise for us. We know that she’s a good lacrosse player, but her ability to be on the field is fantastic,” Purvis said. “She says the things that I’m right about to say during games. She’s an intelligent player and she is a passionate player, so her ability to get out there and help control the attack and make good decisions, it’s such a blessing that she’s out there and playing. I love it. Every time she moves a little, I can’t help it, I say ‘Oh watch the knee.’ But I think if you were to go back to June 2020 and say to her, ‘Kendall, you’ll be out here starting and a big part of this Garnet Valley team in April 2021,’ that’s such a win for her. She’s done a great job and she deserves it.”

Garnet (11-1) jumped out to a 6-2 lead Thursday Sophie Kingsborough scored twice and Maddie Kalish, Kate Stankavage, Sydney Pyon and Kait Henning all had a goal in the first half. Strath Haven (10-3) hung around thanks to excellent attack play from Danielle McNeely (three goals) and Laura Connor (two goals, one assist).

McNeely found the back of the net with 12 seconds left before intermission, then scored the tying goal less than a minute into the second half.

The Jags made some adjustments to their defense and scored four straight goals to take a 10-6 lead. Stankavage had four of her five goals in the second half. Henning fired one home on a nice pass from Maya Langin.

“As a sophomore I played attack and now I’m playing midfield, so it’s definitely completely different,” Henning said. “We have a completely new team. We miss a lot of good players, but I also love this team and I think we’re ready to step up this year.”

Kalish recorded a hat trick and one assist for the Jaguars. Stankavage had six draw controls and Pyon came away with three caused turnovers. Goalie Sierra McLaughlin finished with eight saves.

The Jags’ only loss came in a head-to-head meeting with Central League frontrunner Conestoga (10-0-1) last week. Next week brings a one-loss Radnor squad.

“Small mistakes really cost us against Conestoga, like shot selection and some unlucky passes,” DiCamillo said. “If we just clean up those mistakes, we’ll be good in the long run.”

Devon Mallet registered two goals for the Panthers, who received excellent goalkeeping from Erin Spaulding (nine saves).