By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 7/26/11
The talent level of girls’ lacrosse in the Central Pennsylvania region has continued to rise.
It is confirmed that eight players from Lancaster County’s Club X-treme have committed to Division I colleges.
Also from Lancaster County, rising junior midfielder Molly Hendrick of Manheim Township, is the first Pennsylvania player in the Class of 2013 to commit to a D1 school (North Carolina). Hendrick, who previously played with X-treme , now plays for Towson Lacrosse Club (Md.).
Hendrick is one of five Manheim Township girls to commit to a Division I college. The others (all of X-treme) are rising seniors: midfielder Devon Schneider (the first PA recruit for Florida coach and former Spring-Ford and Temple great Amanda Moore), goalie Shannon Nee (UConn), and midfielders Megan Pinkerton (Temple) and Carolyn Westphal (Brown).
Manheim Township has emerged as a legitimate state power. The Blue Streaks went 23-1 last year and fell to Great Valley, 13-12, in overtime in the first round of the state playoffs after going 23-1 and reaching the state semifinals the year before.
Manheim’s reach has come to Philly in other ways. This year Nee, Schneider and Hendrick played key roles with Team Philly in the Under Armour Underclassmen Games. Schneider – who also played on the team last year – and Nee also were invited to the USA U-19 tryouts last year.
X-treme is directed by Manheim Township coach Mark Pinkerton, a 1980 Henderson grad who played at Gettysburg. The X-treme 2012 team has a Philly flavor as well. The head coaches are Joanne Caminiti (North Penn alum) and Mia Gambino Hall (Pottsgrove alum, Shippensburg head coach) and the assistant is Temple rising senior Lauren Caminiti, another North Penn grad.
Other X-treme players (rising seniors) that have committed to D1 colleges include Lampeter Strasburg attack/midfielder Bridget Hufnagel (Temple), Cumberland Valley attack Em Breakey (Ohio State), and Cocalico twin sisters Kari and Avery Longstaff (both Temple).
