Kennett looks to avenge another loss, and capture a state crown

KENNETT SQUARE >> Despite authoring District 1’s lone undefeated regular season in 2021, it is still a little jarring for some to see Kennett competing and beating the best boys’ lacrosse squads in the state.

That’s because the Blue Demons entered the campaign without much in the way of lacrosse tradition. In fact, the program had never registered a postseason victory … until this spring.

But the recent success has actually been four years in the making, when the bulk of Kennett’s current group of seniors came out of nowhere to win the under-15 championship of the Chester County Lacrosse Association.

“I was just 14 at the time,” recalled Demons’ goaltender Jason Astle recalled. “It was pretty big, but nothing like this.”

‘This’ will culminate on Saturday as Kennett will tangle with Radnor in the PIAA 3A State Final. It is scheduled for a 4:30 p.m. start at West Chester East.

“I’m just proud of this team, but I am proud of the whole program,” said head coach Bob Allvord. “It’s been around for 20 years and for this to happen with this group, and am just really happy.”

The Demons (22-2 overall) have already knocked off Central League powerhouses Conestoga and Garnet Valley in the playoffs, and up next is a Radnor squad that went unbeaten in league play and is 22-2 overall.

Less than two weeks ago, Kennett fell to Radnor 11-3 in the District 1 3A third-place game. But that doesn’t necessarily mean anything for the rematch. The Demons proved that by edging Garnet Valley 11-10 in double overtime in the state semifinals just 14 days after falling to the Jaguars in a district quarterfinal.

“I think the losses to Garnet Valley and Radnor was adversity we need to experience,” said senior midfield star Sam Forte. “We didn’t know what it felt like to lose. Once we did, it took some time to come out of it, but we did.”

In 2019, Kennett went 13-6 and set the program’s single season mark for wins. The 2020 campaign was wiped out due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but in ’21 the Demons equaled the mark with a win over Downingtown West on May 6 and broke it two days later against a Penncrest team that would go on to win the District 2A crown.

“Even if we went 13-3 and lost in the first round of the districts, we still would have been the most successful (lacrosse) team Kennett’s ever had,” Astle pointed out. “So to do what we are doing, it is so great to be paving this path for every kid.

“I’ve coached a lot of youth lacrosse, and it is so cool for them to see that you don’t have to pay $30,000 to go to Malvern Prep or Salisianum. You can stay home, get a great free education and be on one of the best teams in Pennsylvania.”

The grueling 2 OT triumph over Garnet Valley on Tuesday also included a two-hour-plus weather delay. But Kennett wound up getting an extra 20 hours of recovery time when the other semifinal was postponed at the half. Radnor went on to knock off ’Stoga 13-5 the following day.

It may not sound like much, but it could help the Blue Demons, who have just 24 players at the varsity level. As a comparison, Radnor’s roster is 35-plus.

“We are a small squad,” Allvord admitted. “So for these kids to gut it out not just (Tuesday) but also on Saturday shows how determined they are.

“In (an 11-8 quarterfinal) win against Wissahickon, we battled back twice. And they are doing it with so much at stake. For a team that’s never been to this level before, to pull through in double overtime is just remarkable.”

Along the way, however, Kennett has been making strides in the area of depth. yes tormato cdOn Saturday, for example, backup freshman Bo Freebery had two goals and an assist to help the Demons get off to a 7-1 start against Garnet Valley.

“I think we are deeper than people say we are. I think our whole team is underrated,” Astle said.

The 2021 season’s been unforgettable, and it will all end – win or lose – on Saturday. But the entire Kennett roster has enjoyed the ride.

“This is so much fun,” said the team’s leading goal scorer, sophomore Zach Hulme. “This is the most fun I’ve had in lacrosse ever.”