Edinger powers fast start, Pennridge rolls past Council Rock South

EAST ROCKHILL >> The way the Pennridge girls lacrosse team was playing at times Monday night, Rams coach Karen Feher was fine just appreciating the performance.

“I really have to give credit to the girls, this is their season and they are just playing beautifully together,” she said. “Some of their transitions, their connections to each other – it brings a tear to my eye. I know that it’s so cliché to say but it is honestly something beautiful to watch.”

Maddy Edinger powered a fast start for Pennridge, the West Chester University commit scoring twice and handing out four assists as the host Rams jumped out to a 7-0 lead less than eight minutes into their matchup with undefeated Council Rock South.

“I feel like winning off the draw really kept us going and our fast transition, connecting on the passes,” Edinger said. “And just basically seeing the open cutter on time.”

The Rams’ attack slowed down for a bit but their defense never let the Golden Hawks back into the SOL National Conference contest as Pennridge pulled away in the second half for a 15-3 victory at Helman Field.

“Just coming off with a lot of fire under them,” Feher said. “Last year it was a very, very close game against Council Rock South and so I think we had unfinished business from last year against them and so they used that to fuel them today.”

Pennridge lost 11-10 on the road to CR South last April but took control of this year’s contest with its early seven-goal run capped by a Natalie Yilanjian tally off an Edinger assist at 17:05 in the first half.

“It’s definitely relaxing and a lot less stressful but we still play with all the effort that we have but we really love watching the attack,” Rams freshman goalkeeper Anjali Verma said. “Because they work so well together and it’s so beautiful to watch.”

The Golden Hawks cut the deficit to 8-2 at halftime and again were down six at 17:25 in the second half after Amanda Smith scored on an eight-meter shot to make it 9-3.

But that ended up being South’s final goal of the night with the Rams finding the back of the net six more times – three of those from Kate Unzicker.

“Our biggest thing is to take every time they come down on the offensive side that we’re playing like it is tied up and we’re going to give it our 110% effort every single time,” Verma said.

Unzicker and Yilanjian both had four goals to pace Pennridge (7-3, 4-1 conference), which has won four straight and five of its last six. Edinger finished with three goals and four assists.

“I feel like it was a good start, we were all hyped in the locker room and stuff after last year’s game and we all wanted to win,” Edinger said.

Amelia Loughery had two goals and an assist, Kendall Posey collected a goal and two assists while Verma made eight saves for the Rams.

“Just this group of girls I think is clicking,” Feher said. “For my eight seasons now I’ve been trying to build that team atmosphere and they really have it. They want the girl next to them to score.”

Smith, Cailey Hiscox and Elizabeth Hearn each had a goal for Council Rock South (7-1, 3-1).

Both teams have SOL National games Wednesday – the Golden Hawks host North Penn at 3:30 p.m. while Pennridge visits Council Rock North at 5 p.m.

Edinger gave Pennridge a 1-0 lead at 22:06 in the first half off a Loughery assist. Edinger collected the draw control then found Yilanjian found a goal just eight seconds later. Grace Rosica’s tally assisted by Edinger made it 3-0 at 20:34.

“She’s so fast, she’s so versatile with her left and right hand,” said Feher of Edinger. “And she’s able to see two plays happening in front of her and hit those assists, not only get the goal but hit the assists.”

The Rams went up 4-0 as Yilanjian converted on an eight-meter shot at 19:00. Edinger proceeded to have a hand in the next three goals – assisting as Unzicker found the back of the net at 18:45, scoring 25 second later than picking up the helper on Yilanjian’s third tally at 17:05.

Hiscox posted CR South’s first goal at 12:16 before Edinger scored on an eight-meter shot at 11:13. The Rams’ attack, however, was quiet until shortly after the break – Loughery striking on an eight-meter at 24:27.

“We always seem to have this little bit of a lull as I call it,” Feher said. “It usually happens after halftime this little bit of a lull. I think just mentally staying in the game, which is hard to do but mentally having all of them staying in the game and stay focused on the little goals at hand.”

Council Rock South was within six again at 9-3 with 17:25 left but Posey assisted on an Unzicker goal at 15:42 then scored off an Ava Fanstakey helper to push the Rams’ lead to eight at 15:16.

Loughery made it 12-3 before back-to-back goals from Unzicker. Yilanjian collected the Rams’ final tally.

Pennridge 15, Council Rock South 3

Council Rock South 2 1 – 3

Pennridge 8 7 – 15

Council Rock South Goals: Elizabeth Hearn 1; Cailey Hiscox 1; Amanda Smith 1.

Pennridge Goals: Natalie Yilanjian 4; Kate Unzicker 4; Maddy Edinger 3; Amelia Loughery 2; Kendall Posey 1; Grace Rosica 1.