By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 10/28/10

Three of region’s top juniors will be participating Nov. 21 in the first girls’ event at the 2nd Philly Lacrosse Showcase at Episcopal Academy.

Conestoga’s Emily Pillion (close defender) and Britta Hjelm (attack) and Haverford High’s Katrina Geiger head a group that will play in one of the fall’s top recruiting showcases.

The weekend kicks off Friday, Nov. 19 at Cabrini College when the nationally-ranked Duke’s Lacrosse Club, Rebel Elite and the Inter-Ac All-Stars play a series of round robin exhibitions. The following day the boys’ event of the Philly Lacrosse Showcase will be held.

The boys’ event – being held for the second year – is sold out, but registration remains open for the girls’ event, which is open to all freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors in and outside of Philadelphia. More than 100 college coaches are expected for the boys’ event; and do zens of coaches already have committed to the girls’ event.

Conestoga's Emily Pillion

Pillion and Hjelm helped Conestoga reach the quarterfinals of the District 1 tournament last year and place fourth in the rugged Central League.

Pillion played for Philly 1 in the National tournament in May and plays for the Phantastix. She is undecided on a college.

“I am really looking forward to seeing all the Philly girls come together to show the coaches what Philly girls have to offer,” said Pillion. “I think the Philly Showcase is a great way to end the fall season and for the team to get ready for the season.

“I also like that it’s close to home.”

Hjelm had 66 goals and 13 assists as a sophomore and earned First Team Central League honors.  Hjelm also has not committed and plays club lacrosse for the Phantastix.

Hjelm said she was happy to see the creation of the girls’ event. Philly also hold a boys’ showcase in the spring, run by the Eastern Pennsylvania Scholastic Lacrosse Association.

Conestoga's Britta Hjelm

“I think it will be a really good experience to play with a bunch of different girls that I have been playing against,” Hjelm said. “I think it’s great how girls are getting the kind of opportunities that the guys are getting. Girls’ lacrosse is getting bigger and bigger.”

Hjelm also likes the collection of top Philly scholastic coaches picked to head the teams. Each player will be placed on a team that will play three games. The top players are then selected for the Gait Lacrosse Fab Forty all-star teams in the afternoon.

Haverford High's Katrina Geiger

“If I am not on a team coached by my coach, Amy Orcutt, it will be a great experience to be coached by any of the other coaches that we normally play against,” said Hjelm.

Geiger tallied 77 goals and 25 assists last year for the Fords, earning First Team All Central League honors. Geiger played for the Philly team at the Under Armour Underclassmen Games and on the Philly 1 squad. She has not committed and plays club lacrosse for SEPA.

“I just want the opportunity to play with players I don’t get to play with through the season and in the club season,” she said. “And I just want to play as best I can.”

Tags: Conestoga, Haverford High