Downingtown West scores late for dramatic victory
DOWNINGTOWN >> The game didn’t even start yet and the Downingtown West girls lacrosse team already had to face down adversity. Their super sophomore Autumn Blair missed the game after injuring herself during warmup, but undeterred, the Whippets went out and perservered to win a vital game.
Sydney O’Donnell’s shot dribbled across the goal line with 1.7 seconds left for the winning goal as West shaded crosstown rival Downingtown East, 12-11, in a Ches-Mont League National Division clash at DiSerafino Stadium on Thursday.
The win was the Whippets’ first over the Cougars in nine years and also knocked East from the ranks of the unbeaten. West stayed on East’s heels in the National, moving to 7-2 and 10-4 overall. The Cougars dropped to 8-1 and 10-1-1.
“I’m over the moon. I think this team deserves this win so much,” said O’Donnell. “We all put so much effort into this season and it was a such a team effort, it’s great.”
“Finally,” added West coach Brittney Conzentino. “Just finally for them. We’ve been in so many one-goal games this season. Not that I think our team lacked confidence, but I don’t know if they really, truly believed they could win a game like this.”
West fell behind, 10-9, with 8:49 left before freshman Brinn Findora, who collected five goals on the evening, struck twice from free positions in two minutes to put them up, 11-10, with 6:07 left.
“I was happy to be there and do it for my team,” said Findora.
East tied it up at 10-10 with a minute left as Cameron Yard’s first attempt was stopped by goalie Katie Goodby, but she collected the rebound and fired it into the net.
“The girls are definitely disappointed. It was a battle,” said East coach Kathryn Kropp. “They have some really strong players and it was a good matchup. The draw was a challenge for us and that affected us, but I told the girls to keep their chins up.”
West won the biggest draw of the night and worked the ball around to hold for the last shot. O’Donnell attacked and her shot was originally stopped by Addy Mulhern, but the ball trickled across the line to send fans and players into hysterics.
“We were calling last 10 and I was getting the adrenaline going,” said O’Donnell. “I was just trying to get it on goal and it fell in.”
West jumped out quickly, building a 5-1 lead as Findora scored three times in the first eight minutes. East recovered and scored four straight — two from Yard — to knot the score at 5-5. Elizabeth Mahmud scored to give the Whippets a 6-5 advantage at halftime.
“Honestly, I think our underclassmen have no fear,” said Conzentino. “In years past if we have as somebody as important as Autumn go down, I don’t think we recover. The underclassmen just bring so much positivity, so much energy, it had a lot to do with them. I just think this team is special.”
Downingtown West 12, Downingtown East 11
Downingtown East 5 6 — 11
Downingtown West 6 6 — 12
Downingtown East goals: Yard 4, Conte 3, Hewitt 2, Michaels 2.
Downingtown West goals: B. Findora 5, O’Donnell 2, Mamhmud 2, Slate, A, Findora, Plzak.
Goalie saves: Mulhern (DE) 8; Goodby (DW) 3.
