High School Sports |

Girls Lacrosse: Jenny Green and Taylor Halloran keep Garnet Valley high and dry

RIDLEY — After a couple of rainouts this week the Garnet Valley girls’ lacrosse team couldn’t wait to get back into action.

On a rare day without pouring rain, high winds or lightning, the Jaguars made it thunder. Jenny Green and Taylor Halloran scored four goals apiece, Sammy Wood three in a 15-7 win over Ridley in Central League action Thursday at Phil Marion Field.

“This past week has been kind of crazy,” Green said. “We were supposed to play Springfield Tuesday and then it was moved to Wednesday. We went there, warmed up and then it got postponed. We were all very frustrated about the whole week, so we just came prepared for whatever the weather was. We’ve practiced in the rain, and we’ve played in the rain. We just came ready to play today.”

The Jaguars got the early lead on a goal by Wood in the first minute of play, but the Raiders responded with goals by Gabby DiGiacamo and Abby Axe to grab a 2-1 advantage under dark skies.

Green knotted the contest on a feed from Wood and less than a minute later, Wood buried a free position to put the Jaguars ahead for good. Wood was a relentless attacker as she assisted on three goals.

All in all it was a quality win for Garnet Valley (4-2), a squad reloading with youngsters, much like the Raiders.

“I think everybody really came out and played their game very well,” said Green, who also registered an assist. “We worked as a team moving the ball in transition and our defense really stood out to me. Our goalie Mara Mink made good saves, huge saves, and I think we trusted each other a lot on the field which led to a lot of goals.”

The Jaguars led 9-3 by the intermission, the skies threatening to explode again. But after Green opened the scoring in the third quarter, Maura Raucci finding her with a pass, Callie Bryan answered for the Raiders (4-2), who began finding their way. Bryan, a sophomore, contributed three goals and one assist.

“I think we were more effective in the second half,” Bryan said. “We came out sharp and we started to come back. I feel like our effort was there and our goalie started to step up. And I just feel like we came together even though we were losing. We still felt like we could come back.”

The Raiders trailed, 13-5, entering the final frame but matched two goals by the Jaguars in the final frame.

“We came out a little flat in the first half and our energy was low,” Bryan said. “But we started to get it back in the second quarter and the third quarter and we started picking it up in the fourth quarter. I felt by the end of the game for us, being a team full of mostly sophomores we were solid. This is big for us to come out here and play against really good teams that made it far in the playoffs last year like Garnet Valley.”

Goalie Merrin Mink stopped seven shots for the Jaguars, who improved on the defensive end as the game wore on. Wood won five draw controls, including the first one of the game. The junior midfielder flew down the boulevard to deposit that into the goal.

Raucci registered one goal and one assist and won three draws for the Jaguars while Samia Frati added two goals, Ryann Razzano a goal.

“We have girls who are really aggressive and athletic,” Green said. “And I think really, we’re close as a team which helps no matter what.”

Goalie Olive Kertis stopped eight shots for the Raiders while Gabby DiGiacomo scored two goals, Nadia Henkel and Abby Axe one each. Axe added an assist.

Also in the Central League:

Springfield 12, Upper Darby 1 >> Devin Buggy paired two goals with three assists as the Cougars scored all dozen of their goals before halftime.

Jaclyn Guille scored twice. Kylee O’Donnell paired a goal with three assists. Maddie Kane and Claire Lynch supplied a goal and two assists each.

Darla McCarthy had Upper Darby’s goal.

Conestoga 16, Strath Haven 10 >> Ellie Wisch scored five goals to go with 12 draw controls, and Kiki Liebezeit added four goals in a game the Pioneers led 16-4.

Kate Fox led Haven with four goals. Annie Dignazio tallied a hat trick and dished an assist.

Marple Newtown 17, Lower Merion 6 >> Olivia Gicking and Amelia DiValerio scored four goals each as Marple used a 12-2 margin in the first half to put the game away early.

Emily Frescoln notched a hat trick. Arianna Coghlan and Brynn Basterby scored twice each. Lily Ebersole dished five assists.

In the Inter-Ac League:

Episcopal Academy 18, Notre Dame 3 >> Maura Irish poured in seven goals to go with four draw controls and six caused turnovers as the Churchwomen led 14-0 at half and never looked back.

Quinn Whitaker added six goals and an assist. Avery Le scored twice. Tegan Cook augmented her two goals with two assists.