Once again, Conestoga’s Kate Galica is Daily Local News Girls Lacrosse Player of the Year

By Bryan Davis

bdavis@dailylocal.com

Repeating in sports is never an easy proposition, reserved for the truly gifted and special. Well, those words aptly describe Conestoga midfielder Kate Galica.
But, for Galica, it was as natural as breathing. Although it didn’t end up with a state championship as it did in her junior season, she celebrates the end of this year by being named the Daily Local News Girls Lacrosse All-Area Player of the Year.
And while to most observers, the pick would be a no-brainer causing a casual shrug of the shoulders, it caught Galica by surprise as she expressed her feelings about the award.
“I’m super excited,” she said. “I was a little bit surprised, this state and area is so competitive, there’s a lot of talent around. A lot of players worthy of the award, To tell you the truth, I didn’t think about winning it again.”
Galica put together another terrific season, her 69 goals put her in the top 20 in the state. Name an all-star team and you will find her name on it. She was on the All-Central League team and was named to the Southeastern Pa. All-America squad.
The season ended differently this season for Galica and her ‘Stoga teammates in their attempts to defend their PIAA 3A championship. They fell to Owen J. Roberts for the third time this year in the semifinals. The Wildcats went on to win the title.
“It was not the same ending it was my junior season,” she said. “We had some tough losses, but you learn more from your losses. We have a lot coming back, so hopefully, they have something to build on for next year.”
Despite not capturing a state crown, there was still some rewarding victories this season for Galica and the Pioneers.
“We had a couple of good wins,” she said. “We beat Radnor (13-6 in state quarterfinals) and that felt really good. Beating Espiscopal early in the season, that was our best game all year. Whenever we lost, we’d say let’s get back to playing the way we did in that game. Our team had a special bond.”
She straddled the line between improving her game and playing to help the team win, doing whatever it takes all over the field.
“It was a little bit of both,” she said. “We had a lot of talent returning and we were playing to win. But, I was also trying to improve my vision and anticipating better on defense. And, I was working on my shooting and dodging. I can always get better at that.”
She is not just a one-way player either, she could just as easily turn the game around on the defensive end as she could on the offensive end. One play illustrated this fact as well as any. Against Garnet Valley in the districts, Galica caused a turnover deep in her own end, took off the other way, speeding past the opposition. She went on about a 50-yard sprint, before feeding Ellie Wisch for a goal.
“I’m just lucky to have that gene,” she said while chuckling. “I felt I was the strongest between the 30s and using my speed. Hopefully, in college, I can work on it and become even faster.”
Galica came to the sport at a young age. She had a brother who played in Rec leagues, but she really took to it on a trip down south.
“When I went to Florida, I had an uncle who played and he introduced me to the sport and it took hold,” she said.
She eventually became a two-sport star as she also became pretty adept at field hockey. As she heads off to college, she will concentrate on just lacrosse.
“I loved the competition playing two sports,” she said. “I love field hockey and I’m definitely going to miss field hockey.”
Galica is headed to the University of Virginia to play for a team that finished 11-7 this past season and 6-3 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
“Kate is great. She is a top-rated midfielder in high school and she is fast, tough, dynamic and competitive in every setting on the field,” said veteran coach Julie Myers. “She is a goal scorer, she even scored 100-plus goals in her field hockey career, and a team player. She will help at both ends and on the draw. Kate will be a great addition to the team.”
As she transitions into college life, she reflected on the things she will miss and cherish leving Conestoga.
“The connections I built among the teams and the coaches I will take with me forever,” she said. “The bonds that I made with teammates will follow me. I’m going to miss playing at Teamer Field. I played a lot of games there.”