District 1 lacrosse: Strath Haven’s dynamic duo keeps it 100 as Panthers rout Marple Newtown
NETHER PROVIDENCE — Danielle McNeely stormed down the field, with 99 career goals to her name and her defender beaten. And she passed the ball.
Time, the Strath Haven midfielder knew, was on her side. And there was a bigger goal in mind Tuesday night.
“It wasn’t a rushed thing,” the senior said. “I knew my team was supporting me, so I knew it would eventually go.”
History would come for both McNeely and Devon Maillet, both notching their 100th career goals in a 23-5 win over Marple Newtown, the second-seeded Panthers romping to the second round of the District 1 Class 2A tournament.
Both halves of Haven’s dynamic duo – “D & D,” they call themselves – entered on 95 goals. Maillet was quicker to the milestone, scoring three times in the game’s first three minutes and burying her 100th at 18:37 of the first half.
“I don’t really think of myself as a selfish player, but I think I was really motivated to get to 100 this game and kind of get it over with so that I had less to worry about in the next few games,” Maillet, a Colgate signee, said. “I think the team played a big part, too. It wasn’t just me.”
Devon Maillet with her 5th tonight, 100th career. She’s on pace for 38 tonight.
7-1 Haven pic.twitter.com/9NJzGFkLNs— Matthew De George (@sportsdoctormd) May 18, 2021
McNeely’s goals were almost the least of what she contributed. She had nine draw controls in the first half and five assists, including setting up goals 99, 100 and 101 for Maillet. Her time came at 12:28, McNeely dishing to Laura Conner behind the net, then getting the feed back to hit triple digits and making the score 14-2.
The Monmouth signee joins her sister, Nicole, not just in getting to 100 goals but in doing so against Marple Newtown, which Danielle said was a motivator.
McNeely would add another late score to send Haven into halftime with a 17-3 edge. Neither player saw the field much after the break.
Katilin Neiczpiel added four goals for Haven, which had beaten Marple by a 25-12 margin last Tuesday. This game wasn’t as close, thanks to the fast start Maillet and company provided.
Conner added three goals and two assists. Mackenzie Murray supplied two goals and two helpers. Grace Kelly had a goal and three assists. Erin Spaulding and Ava Yancey evenly split eight shots.
The 15th-seeded Tigers couldn’t climb out of the early hole. Kylie Gioia scored three times to go with four draw controls, but it wasn’t enough.
Instead, the night belonged to Haven, to two teammates who’ve been playing together since they were young, in lacrosse and soccer, to players who share not just initials but a spot in program history.
“I think it’s just nice to share it with each other,” McNeely said. “We both know how we’re feeling. It feels like a relief once you get it over with, but once you get it, it’s, ‘OK, refocus on the game.’”
In other Class 2A action:
Jenkintown 11, Interboro 2 >> The Drakes jumped out to an 8-1 halftime lead and never looked back to advance to Thursday’s quarterfinals against the winner of the game between No. 3 Mount St Joseph and No. 14 Villa Joseph Marie. Sam Pizer and Lauren Brockwell led the way with three goals each.
Kylie Mea had both goals for the Bucs.
