District 1 playoffs: Great Valley gains revenge over Unionville

By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 5/31/08

Great Valley had no trouble getting prepared for today’s District One Class AA semifinal game against Unionville.

The Patriots were still smarting over the 15-14 overtime loss to the Indians May 14, a defeat that cost them a share of the Ches-Mont League American Conference title.

Then, after Unionville defeated Villa Maria Academy in the quarterfinals, Indians coach Wendy Landry told the media, “Bring it on,” as a reference to the challenge of a third meeting between the squads.

Great Valley came to West Chester East bearing freshly printed t-shirts that said, “Bring it on.” And that’s what the Pats did in a 13-6 victory that vaulted them into Tuesday’s title game (6 p.m.) against Springfield-Delco at Marple Newtown.

“We got these shirts made and came to bring it,” said Great Valley senior tri-captain Kim Wenger, who led the attack with five goals. “We played the whole game like we were down one and we were not going to let them back in.”

In the last game, Unionville rallied from an 11-5 halftime deficit. This time, the Indians did come back from a 5-1 hole and trailed only 6-4 at halftime, but the Pats tallied six straight goals in the second half to take control.

Emily Ellisen added four goals for Great Valley and Keelin Hood scored twice. Stephanie Berger also made 10 saves in goal.

“There was definitely a revenge factor,” GV coach Joe Tornetta said. “We lost a bad game, we felt, to them last time. Wendy erally gets these kids to fight to the end. But the senior captains – Emily, Keelin and Kim – had these kids ready to play today and I’m proud of the job they did behind them.”

Kalyn McDonough led Unionville (12-8) with two goals and an assist and goaie Melissa Lloyd made 11 stops.

“We just seemed to be a step behind them the whole game,” said Landry. “You can’t be a step behind a team as good as Great Valley. I give credit to Great Valley, but I don’t know what we were waiting for.”

Springfield-Delco 10, Strath Haven 7
Madison Poplawski, Rebecca Hartrum and Valerie Paolucci each scored three goals and the second-seeded Cougars (18-3) led form start to finish as they toppled the third-seeded Panthers (18-4).