Seven-goal start propels Bishop Shanahan past West Chester Rustin

WESTTOWN >> The Bishop Shanahan girls lacrosse team has had a difficult early season nonleague schedule, but with the concentration now on the Ches-Mont League, they seem ready to put it in high gear.
That’s what they did Monday night at West Chester Rustin, scoring the game’s first seven goals, then surviving an offensive lull en route to a 12-8 victory.
The Eagles improved to 4-2 and 2-0 in the National Division, while the Golden Knights fell to 4-3 and 2-1 in the American.
“We’ve played a very tough schedule so far, some top-ranked teams in the state, so today we just wanted to focus on a good start and we got that,” said Shanahan coach Kacy Small.

Anabelle Wiedel sent them on their way as she made a move to lose her defender and fired a shot past goalie Ava Panetta to put Shanahan on the board.
The Eagles made it 2-0 as junior Silvia Baptista notched the first of her three tallies. Shanahan took advantage of Rustin turnovers and made it 4-0 in short order on a pair of goals by Caitlyn Hubiak.
The onslaught continued as an Alania Baptista goal, sandwiched in between a pair from midfielder Ellie Udo, pushed the advantage to 7-0 with 14:43 left.
“It was a tough start,” said Rustin coach Sarah Knopp. “A couple of times this year we have gone down 5-0. But, hey, we took a time out, talked to the girls and they hustled. We turned it around after the first 10 minutes and from there on out it was a good team effort. I’m proud of their effort.”
The Golden Knights got on the board from a goal by Elizabeth McGurk with 12:12 left. They trailed, 8-1, with 8:07 to play when the Rustin defense did its part. The Eagles were held off the board for the rest of the half. After two goals from Alexys McLain, the Golden Knights were trailing, 8-3, at halftime.
“Our defense played huge tonight,” added Knopp. “We have a couple of girls traveling, so a couple of younger girls stepped up, and I was proud of their effort. We shut down some of their big players. We were all over them, just couldn’t take care of the ball in the offensive end.”
The Shanahan drought continued after the break, McClain and McGurk scored and the deficit was suddenly cut to 8-5. Small called a time out and exhorted his team to refocus and regain control.

They did just that, Paris Masaracchia had one of seven draw controls and that turned into a goal from Sam D’Addezio to make it 10-5. Silivia Baptista completed her hat trick and the lead was back to 11-5.
“We were losing draws there for awhile, so once we kind of figured out the draw, we went back with a run offensively,” said Small.
Udo, who finished with four goals, was happy with the win.
“This is a big week for us in the Ches-Mont,” she said. “We’ve been waiting for this since the preseason. I just fed off my teammates energy and we got it done.”
Allie Hathaway recorded six saves in goal for the Eagles, who will face fellow unbeaten Downingtown West in a key National contest Wednesday.

McClain paced the Golden Knights with four goals and McGurk added a pair.
“We have a tough game Wednesday against Great Valley,” said Knopp. “But, honestly, this is great competition. I love playing them. A lot of the girls know them just from growing up with them. I love to see them later on in the season. For now, I think it was a good effort.”

Bishop Shanahan 12, West Chester Rustin 6
Bishop Shanahan 8 4 – 12
West Chester Rustin 3 3 – 6
Bishop Shanahan goals: Udo 4, S. Baptista 3, Hubiak 2, A. Baptista, D’Addezio, Wiedel.
West Chester Rustin goals: McClain 4, McGurk 2.
Goalie saves: Hathaway (BS) 6; Panetta (WCR) 6.