Fox OT game-winner sends Boyertown girls lacrosse past West Chester Rustin in District 1-3A first round

BOYERTOWN >> Delaney Fox had already pulled No. 16 Boyertown out of trouble early. But during overtime against No. 17 West Chester Rustin on Tuesday, Fox once again responded to the bat signal.

Tied 13-13 through regulation in the opening round of the District 1 Class 3A girls lacrosse tournament, Fox scored her sixth goal of the game on the Bears’ first possession of the extra period to edge the Golden Knights, 14-13.

Corinne Bieber hit the senior attack with a pass from behind the cage, the latter burying it into the top left of the net to survive and advance. Fox also played the hero with the game-saving goal to tie it with 1:43 on the clock, forcing overtime.

FINAL — No. 16 Boyertown 14, No. 17 West Chester Rustin 13

Delaney Fox’s sixth goal of the day is the game winner.

Boyertown advance to the second round of the District 1-3A tournament and will face top-ranked Springfield-Delco on Thursday at 5 p.m. pic.twitter.com/seE1sT3lu1

— Evan Wheaton (@EvanWheaton) May 16, 2023

With the win, Boyertown (15-6) advances to the second round of the District 1-3A tournament and will travel to top-ranked Springfield-Delco on Thursday with a 5 p.m. start.

“It was honestly really nerve wracking. I think we just took our time and we were all really focused on supporting each other,” Fox said on the Bears’ final possession. “We waited for the exact moment to make the cuts and the feed was really well done by Corinne. It was a very thought-out possession.”

Before Fox could close out the game, she had to get her squad back in it. Down 5-1 to start, Fox poured on four first-half goals to ignite a 6-0 run.

Once Hannah Adamski hit the equalizer 5-5, Fox gave Boyertown its first lead of the day, 6-5 on an eight-meter with 7:16 to go in the first half.

“We had a timeout and we talked about what we needed to improve on and the attitude, what needed to change and our overall energy,” Fox said on the early adjustments and response. “I think we really did make that change.”

Peyton Shellaway (three assists), Bailey Leatherman and Adamski all scored two goals each for the Bears. Alina Friz (two assists) and Kamryn Pier added a goal each.

Both teams traded blows throughout the second half, neither squad leading by more than three goals. Down 13-10 with six minutes left, Friz, Leatherman and Fox came up with enough to level things out for the third time of the day.

“I think it’s just the maturity this group has gained throughout the season and the fact they know things will go up and down,” Boyertown coach Pam Wernersbach said. “They know as long as they stay consistent and keep chipping away at stuff, things will eventually go their way as far as control of tempo, taking shots or getting ground balls.

“They don’t get real high, they don’t get real low. They’re really good at maintaining their focus and staying objective.”

After trailing 7-6 at halftime, the Golden Knights (10-9) found their footing again early in the second half. Down 10-9 with 11:58 left in regulation, sophomore midfielder Jordyn Krafchick scored her 100th career goal to knot the contest for the second time of the day.

The All-Ches-Mont second teamer then tacked on another two straight goals, ballooning West Chester Rustin 12-10 with eight minutes left in the second half.

Make that 101 now.

Golden Knights retake an 11-10 lead off another from Krafchick. https://t.co/j5khgSE5ch pic.twitter.com/Y3XsRKaZtH

— Evan Wheaton (@EvanWheaton) May 16, 2023

Krafchick finished with a team-high five goals on the day and sits on 102 in her varsity career as the Golden Knights season comes to a close.

“We look to her a lot. We probably put the whole team on her back a lot of times this season and she always steps up,” West Chester Rustin coach Sarah Kropp said on Krafchick. “She does all the little things and all the big things, one who I’m glad will be coming back next year.”

Samantha McLaughlin piled on four goals for the Golden Knights and Lola Flynn — another All-Ches-Mont second team selection — found the back of the net twice with one assist. Elizabeth McGurk added a goal and tallied two assists.

McLaughlin and Flynn sparked a 3-0 run for West Chester Rustin out of the gate before Fox put the Bears on the board with her first goal of the day at the 18:59 mark. Flynn gave the Golden Knights a four-goal cushion — the most for either squad — with a goal to create the 5-1 hole for the Bears just under nine minutes into the game.

“We do a good job of sharing the ball. We did a good job of exploiting their defense as well with different girls,” Kropp said on West Chester Rustin’s early momentum. “I think it just came down to (Boyertown’s) offense. They’re a very good offense, I give them all the props in the world.

“I think it comes down to those 50/50 balls. Obviously it was a tight game and whoever comes up with that last 50/50 ball is the winner.”

Adamski registered a game-high seven draw controls for the Bears, but West Chester Rustin maintained a slight 15-12 advantage with McGurk (six draw controls), Flynn (five) and Krafchick.

The Bears have gone a step beyond last season in terms of playing in May. Boyertown was knocked out in the Pioneer Athletic Conference semifinals last year and made a first-round exit in the district tournament to follow.

But being the PAC runner-up to Owen J. Roberts and advancing to the second round of the District 1-3A bracket, the Bears have done just enough to remain composed and extend their season.

“I think we’ll just take tomorrow’s practice really seriously and probably watch a lot of film,” Fox said on keeping Boyertown’s campaign going. “We’ll just work through all the small things to be ready by Thursday.”

Boyertown 14, West Chester Rustin 13 (OT)

SCORING
Boyertown: Fox 6 goals; Shellaway 2 goals, 3 assists; Adamski 2 goals; Leatherman 2 goals; Friz 1 goal, 2 assists; Pier 1 goal; Gruber 1 assist; Moyer 1 assist.
Rustin: Krafchick 5 goals; McLaughlin 4 goals; Flynn 2 goals, 1 assist; McGurk 1 goal, 2 assists.