Leszczynski scores 6 goals, Plymouth Whitemarsh tops Hatboro-Horsham
HORSHAM >> Mackenzie Leszczynski was a tad underprepared for the burst of cold weather Wednesday night.
“I’m wearing Under Armor but my dad told me to wear leggings and of course I didn’t listen,” the Plymouth Whitemarsh senior midfielder said. “But I’m fine playing – you know, knee brace to keep me warm.”
The chilly conditions at Steinly Stadium, however, did little to affect the Duquesne commit’s scoring touch.
Leszczynski found the back of the net four times in the first half to help the Colonials girls lacrosse team lead host Hatboro-Horsham by four at halftime. She added two more after the break for a game-high six goals as PW held off the Hatters and claimed a 13-8 SOL American Conference victory.
“My teammates are doing a great job of feeding and moving,” Leszczynski said. “We definitely have figured our dynamic a lot better on offense and just making sure we’re passing to the open girl so I doesn’t always have to be me. Last game on Monday Meghan Wendler had an outstanding performance scoring a lot of goals so tonight was just my night to scores some goals.”
The matchup was the season-opener for Hatboro-Horsham, COVID-19 pushing its debut back into late April. The Hatters played even with PW (4-5, 4-1 conference) early – back-to-back Abby Roesing goals tying things 2-2 at 16:24 in the first half before the Colonials scored five of the next six.
Hatboro-Horsham pulled within three twice, the last at 8-5 on a Lydia Nolan tally at 1:22 but in the half’s final moments PW pushed down the field and Wendler struck with 3.7 seconds for a four-goal edge.
“We haven’t practiced much so despite not practicing and with being quarantined twice with COVID and other teams, I didn’t think it was a bad start,” HH coach Marie Schmucker said. “We did a lot of nice things, the intensity was there, they didn’t let up and we’re a very young team, so I think there’s a lot of good things that are going to come out of this.”
Roesing recorded a hat trick in the first half and finished with four goals while Nolan scored both of her two goals before halftime for the Hatters (0-1, 0-1).
“If we could have capitalized on our shots we probably would of won by one goal,” Schmucker said. “But we have to work on shooting, 8-meters shots, things like that – basic fundamentals.”
Freshman Wendler, senior Raya Gauntlett and junior Fiona Gooneratne each had two goals for Plymouth Whitemarsh, who was won two straight and three of its last fourth since beginning the year 1-4.
“Our team is all different ages, a bunch of different people and I finally feel like we’re finally meshing as a group, “It’s a great group of girls and I think when it’s a great group of girls it’s easy to translate that onto the lacrosse field.”
While Leszczynski, who scored her 100th career goal in the win over William Tennent April 7, paced the PW offense Wednesday, her spot in the midfield along with taking draws gives the senior the ability to have a continuous impact throughout the game.
“I love taking the draw, it’s my favorite part,” said Leszczynski, who spent last spring and summer during the pandemic rehabbing a torn ACL suffered in the fall of 2019. “I think it’s the most important part of the game and so Brianna Reynolds did a great job getting balls in the circle today. I just love the draw. Defense isn’t always my favorite, but you know I love getting a good stop on defense just as much as I love scoring a goal.”
The Colonials cap their week with a home SOL nondivision game with Souderton 3:30 p.m. Friday. Hatboro-Horsham stays in SOL American play Thursday hosting unbeaten Wissahickon at 3:30 p.m.
“We didn’t play one game last year so think about it most of these girls haven’t played since seventh grade,” Schmucker said. “And last year we lost my whole team, two kids went Division I so that would have been spectacular. But it’s all good.”
Goals from Leszczynski and Gauntlett had Plymouth Whitemarsh up 2-0 at 18:45 in the first half. Roesing scored the next two to get the Hatters even but Leszczynski put PW up for good as he dashed in for a goal to make it 3-2 at 15:09.
After a Gauntlett tally at 11:19, Wendler connected with a cutting Leszczynski for a 5-2 PW lead at 10:43. Nolan stopped the 3-0 run at 9:14 but Wendler answered 14 seconds later while Leszczynski netted her fourth of the half at 6:53 for a 7-3 lead.
“We do a really good job of firing each other up,” Leszczynski said. “We like to just keep going and try and get our lead as quick as possible so then we can spread it out and keep moving. So we definitely did a good job spreading the goals around, making sure we’re passing to girls that were open. We’re really improving and I’m proud of our offensive performance.”
Nolan scored off a drive at 1:22 to make it 8-5. The Hatters had a possession in the final minute to get even closer but Leszczynski collected a ground ball and pushed up the field, sending a pass that one-hopped to Wendler, who then raced to put in a goal with just 3.7 seconds remaining.
“The wind was against us, the ball definitely bounced,” Leszczynski said. “ I’m just happy that Meghan Wendler, she’s a freshman, she was able to pick it up and just go for it. We’re all like screaming at her to run and she did a great job of finishing it.”
Gooneratne gave the Colonials a 10-5 lead at 24:12 in the second half before Sophia Liott scored on a low shot at 20:57 to get HH back within four. PW, however, posted the next two goals – a Leszczynski strike making it 12-6 at 15:44.
Roesing spun away of a defender to put in her fourth goal at 10:40, cutting PW’s lead to five. The Colonials had a goal wiped off due to an illegal stick at 9:20 but went back up five at 4:46 when Ella Clark on an eight-meter restart found Leszczynski cutting through the middle – the senior collecting her sixth goal with an overhand shot.
