FRANCONIA – It became certain quickly Wednesday afternoon the Pennridge girls lacrosse team’s winning streak would be continuing.
The Rams registered nine goals in the opening quarter – two each from Jordan Feder, Leah Verespy and Taylor Burkett – and extended their lead to 14-0 before host Souderton scored in their SOL National Conference contest.
“It was so much fun being able just to pass around and hit the cutters and we had time to run our plays,” Feder said. “And our goal was get the open girl and hit the open girl and I feel like we definitely did that and had multiple goalscorers with that.”
Eight Pennridge players ended up finding the back of the net and the Rams cruised past the Indians 20-1 to claim their seventh consecutive victory.
“I think we’re really clicking,” Verespy said. “Everyone’s super-good friends, it’s super easy, everyone, we see each other and everything, it’s easy for us.”
Pennridge, which reached the District 1-3A second round in 2023, began this season 0-2, losing to Emmaus 14-11 on March 15 then four days later falling 13-1 to Upper Dublin, but have not dropped a game since – its 7-2 (3-0 conference) record putting them fifth in the current districts power rankings.
“I feel like after Upper Dublin we really realized how much we need to play as a team and put the team goal first instead of personal,” said Feder, a senior who has signed to play at Longwood University. “And I think we’ve done that throughout now and you can see it when we have seven different goalscorers on the field.”
The Rams started SOL National play last Wednesday with a 9-7 road win over Central Bucks West. After a 15-12 non-league win over Boyertown last Thursday, Pennridge started this week by beating Bensalem 16-2 Monday. The victory over Souderton has the Rams keeping pace at the top of the conference standings with Central Bucks East and Pennsbury, who are also 3-0.
“I feel like all of us having been playing together since we were in third and fourth grade and I think that chemistry is really showing this year,” Feder said. “And that we all trust each other and want to see the other girls succeed. We’re not very selfish players – we want the other girl to have that goal.”
Pennridge hosts Radnor in a non-league game 10:30 a.m. Saturday. The Raptors, who made last year’s PIAA quarterfinals, sit third in the district 3A rankings.
“I want us to make sure we stay working together and not try to just be the one girl to score,” Feder said. “Cause when it’s a tough team like this and it’s going to be a strong defense that’s what we need to work on and the one-v-ones aren’t going to be there and we need to make sure and support our teammates and look for the open girl.”
Burkett, Feder, Ava Fantaskey, Madigan Posey and Cayla Wurz all collected a hat trick for the Rams Wednesday. Verespy and Kendall Posey both scored twice while Colbie Landherr also added a goal.
“We really worked on hitting the cutter and I feel like we work really well together,” Verespy said. “It’s less individual play and everyone’s playing together and hitting cutters.”
Verespy paced Pennridge with five assists. Burkett and Wurz each dished out three assists with Kendall Posey and Madigan Posey both collected two assists.
“l think everyone’s a threat so it’s really easy, I can pass to anyone and I know they’re going to catch it and score every time,” Verespy said.
Tatum Andrews had the lone goal for Souderton (4-6, 0-5), which has lost its last five. The Indians visit Council Rock South 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Fantaskey, a senior Temple University commit, scored 58 seconds into the game with Feder making it 2-0 Rams at 10:45. After a Verespy tally, Burkett – a junior verbally committed to Robert Morris University – posted back-to-back goals for a 5-0 lead at 5:51.
Verespy struck for her second with 40 seconds left in the quarter with a Madigan Posey goal at 11.7 seconds making it 9-0.
In the second quarter, Fantaskey drove down the middle to find the back of the net, putting the Rams up 10 and beginning the running clock.
Feder scored her third of the half for a 14-0 lead before Andrews struck for Souderton. Burkett, however, completed her first-half hat trick to have Pennridge up 15-1 at the break.
Pennridge 20, Souderton 1
Pennridge 9 6 2 3 – 20
Souderton 0 1 0 0 – 1
Pennridge Goals: Taylor Burkett 3; Ava Fantaskey 3; Jordan Feder 3; Madigan Posey 3; Cayla Wurz 3; Kendall Posey 2; Leah Verespy 2; Colbie Landherr.
Souderton Goals: Tatum Andrews.
