No. 2 Top Philly Lacrosse Story of 2009: Radnor girls won first PIAA title

This is part of a continuing series counting down the top Philly lacrosse stories of 2009

Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 1/25/10

Maybe the best thing that could have happened to Radnor’s drive toward the first Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) championship was losing the District 1 final to Springfield-Delco.

The stinging 14-9 defeat to the Central League rival Cougars broke a 44-game win streak and showed the Red Raiders that they were indeed beatable after nearly two seasons of domination.

Once beaten, the Raiders went on a destruction course through the PIAA field, defeating North Penn, 22-14, Archbishop Carroll, 14-7, Manheim Township, 23-2, and then Strath Haven 20-10, in the PIAA title game at HersheyPark Stadium.

“It showed us it was OK to lose,” said Radnor senior co-captain Sam Ellis. “It happened, and it’s in the past and we learned from it.

“We had a really bad game and Springfield definitely played the better game. It was just so nice to come out here throughout the entire PIAA tournament and show we are the best team. We proved it.”

Radnor’s title-game performance was quite an impressive show. The Raiders (25-1) fell behind, 2-0, and then rattled off 11 straight goals. Strath Haven (21-5) did rally briefly at the end of the first half to pull within 12-6, but the Raiders tallied the first three goals of the second half and never looked back.

“This is such a dream come true,” said Ellis, who scored a game-high six goals and was named a US Lacrosse First-Team All-American to go with her selection to the Under Armour Senior All-American game. “You couldn’t ask for a better last game.”

Junior Kelyn Freedman added four goals and three assists, junior Allie Martin contributed four goals and two assists and junior Courtney Campbell added three goals for Radnor.

“It’s one of the most special days and I want to soak it all in,” said Campbell. “It doesn’t happen very often, it’s the greatest feeling ever.

“All of us are so close and we’re all loving it together and having the greatest time.”

Radnor, coached by veteran mentor Phyllis Kilgour, finished the year ranked No. 14 by Lacrosse Magazine. The Raiders head into 2010 having won 48 of 49 games the past two years.