West Chester Rustin takes control in District 1-3A first round win over Wissahickon
LOWER GWYNEDD >> West Chester Rustin scored nine straight goals in a 7:07 span to break a three-all tie against Wissahickon Tuesday afternoon.
The 17th ranked Golden Knights advantage never dropped below eight goals the rest of the way as they cruised to a 19-8 win in the first round of the District 1-3A playoffs at Wissahickon High School.
After the 16th ranked Trojans tied the game at three, Rustin rattled off seven goals in 3:26 to take a commanding 10-3 lead. They added two more goals to make it nine straight and 12-3 with 13:33 left in the first half.
“We were really careful with our shot selection on the top,” Rustin junior Elizabeth McGurk said, “taking good shots and looking for different looks, taking our time and not just trying to drive 1-v-1. Even when we started to get our lead, we realized we could hold it, work it and look for different things. It worked on attack.”
The Knights added three more goals in the first half, including one in the final 20 seconds, to take a 15-5 lead into halftime.
Christine Ditizio and McGurk each had four goals in the first half. Jordan Krafchik added three, Alexis McClain two and Mya Pierce and Skylar Baur each had one. Baur scored all four Rustin goals in the second half for a team-high five goals.
A big reason why Rustin was able to score so frequently in the first half was their success on the draw. Neither team made a defensive stop over the first 13 possessions and Rustin winning 10 draws allowed them to build a 10-3 lead.
“That was one of our main focuses going in,” McGurk said. “Winning all the draws and getting possession. Our person taking the draws – Alexys McClain – did a good job putting it where she wanted it on the circle which really helped us. It was also 50/50 balls, which we dominated on around the circle.”
“(McClain) did a great job placing and knowing where her draw controls were going to go,” Wiss coach Nicole Fisher said. “That’s something that we’ll work on and continue to build with our freshman.”
Rustin made plenty of stops the rest of the game and Lola Flynn was a big reason why. When an opponent has one player who’s the clear offensive threat – it’s her job to shut her down. She took on Wiss senior Emma Baker and held her to one assist and only a couple touches in the first 25 minutes of play.
“I had to faceguard her,” Flynn said. “I couldn’t see where the ball was. I just had to have the other defenders yell, ‘Ball left, ball low.’ I basically just had to stare at her stomach the whole time and shuffle and just move wherever she moved and have my stick cover her stick so she couldn’t get the ball.
“It’s a huge compliment that my coaches ask me to do it. I like the responsibility.”
Baker and Alexa McCabe led Wiss with three goals apiece while Nora Ryan added two.
Wissahickon was playing short-handed without senior captain Alexis Hobson. Hobson sprained her ankle last week and tried to play on it, but wasn’t herself. The coaching staff made the decision for her safety to sit.
Rustin advances to a second round matchup with No. 1 Conestoga Thursday. Conestoga won a March 25 meeting, 11-6.
“It was a pretty close game,” McGurk said. “I think we’re going to get ready (Wednesday) and I think it’s going to be a good game on Thursday.”
Wissahickon’s season is over with the loss. The Trojans went 13-5 and won the Suburban One League American Conference championship.
“It still was an awesome season,” Fisher said. “They went through a lot of adversity, bringing on a new coach is not an easy task. They had a lot not going their way but they continued to rise up and had a wonderful season and a lot to be proud of. We also just mentioned – our six seniors really paved the way and set such an example.”
West Chester Rustin 19, Wissahickon 8
West Chester Rustin 15 4 – 19
Wissahickon 5 3 – 8
Goals: WCR: Christine Ditizio 4, Elizabeth McGurk 4, Mya Pierce, Jordyn Krafchick 3, Alexys McClain 2, Skylar Baur 5. WISS: Emma Baker 3, Alexa McCabe 3, Nora Ryan 2.
