Pennridge locks down Methacton in District 1-3A opener

EAST ROCKHILL >> While Pennridge was defending in the first half of its District 1-3A opener against Methacton Tuesday night, the Rams coaching staff was reminding the team to stick to the game plan.

The Rams did what the coaches asked and it paid off. Pennridge held Methacton to just one goal from 12:24 remaining in the first half until 8:02 remaining in the game – a 29:22 stretch – while scoring seven times themselves to open up a six-goal lead and cruised to a 13-6 win at Pennridge High School.

The game plan was simple, but not an easy task, for the 15th-seeded Rams – stop Methacton seniors Megan Sanelli and Michelle Zhai. The two combined for seven goals – five from Sanelli and two from Zhai – when the Warriors beat Pennridge in districts last year, 11-6. Tuesday night Zhai scored two goals and had an assist while the Rams were able to keep Sanelli off the scoreboard.

“We had two girls locking down two of their best players, 16 and 22 (Zhai and Sanelli),” Pennridge midfielder Ava Fantaskey, who had the tough defensive assignment alongside midfielder Grace Rosica, said. “It really worked because we were on them and kind of took them out of the game. It helped our defense tremendously and I think that helped us all work as a team and we were all there the whole time for each other.”

“I think our shooting was off,” Methacton coach Laurie Markle said. “We’ve struggled a little offensively throughout the year. We’ve got two superstars. Trying to get everybody into the play has always been a struggle. I thought Elise DeWan on defense in the center played a great game. (Pennridge) played a good game.”

Zhai’s second goal of the game made it 3-3 midway through the first half. Fantaskey responded with a goal 14 seconds later to put the Rams (12-7) ahead for good and added another 45 seconds later to make it 5-3. Leah Versepy scored to put Pennridge ahead by three goals, but Methacton’s Renee Blake got one back to get the 18th-seeded Warriors within 6-4 with 7:19 remaining before halftime.

Rosica grabbed some momentum back for Pennridge with a goal and Kate Unzicker found the back of the net with less than a second remaining in the first half to send the Rams to the break with an 8-4 advantage.

Kendall Posey and Madigan Posey scored the first two goals of the second half to put Pennride ahead 10-4 and the Rams lead never dropped below five goals the rest of the way.

Unzicker and Fantaskey each had three goals for Pennridge while Versepy and Rosica each added two. Seven different Rams scored in the win.

“We worked as such a team tonight,” Fantaskey said. “We lifted each other up and it was really just a team win. Everyone contributed. It was a great job by everyone.”

Molly Hawkins played a big game in net for Pennridge. Usually the JV goal making just her third varsity start, Hawkins stopped 11 shots in the win.

“She really came out and was ready like the rest of us,” Fantaskey said. “You couldn’t even tell she was the JV goalie. She turned it up.”

Pennridge will face No. 2 Owen J. Roberts in the District 1-3A second round Thursday at 7 p.m. at OJR.

Methacton’s season ends with the loss. The Warriors, who went 12-8 after losing a strong senior class of 16 players from their 2022 squad, made the Pioneer Athletic Conference semifinals and qualified for districts.

“It was tough to rebuild that whole aura that we had and we had it for three years,” Markle said, “but we had a successful season. You get to the PAC (final four), you get to districts – I would’ve loved to have another shot at OJR. They may well be the district champ or the state champ because they’re good. It’s sad to see some of these really good players go. Next year will be a rebuilding year and we’ll see what we get.”

Pennridge 13, Methacton 6

Goals: M: Lily DeWan, Michelle Zhai 2, Renee Blake 2, Giada Catoia. PR: Kate Unzicker 3, Leah Versepy 2, Grace Rosica 2, Ava Fantaskey 3, Kendall Posey, Madigan Posey, Jordan Feder.

Assists: M: Michelle Zhai, Brayden Williams. PR: Kendall Posey, Ava Fantaskey 2, Grace Rosica 2, Kate Unzicker, Madigan Posey, Taylor Burkett, Alexa Bailey.

Saves: M: Emily Drake 1, Natalie Drake 3. PR: Molly Hawkins 11.