By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 9/16/11
Kevin Goforth, who helped build a struggling Bishop Shanahan girls’ lacrosse program into a two-time playoff team, has resigned after four seasons.
Goforth guided Shanahan to an overall record of 31-37 in his tenure, leading the Eagles to the District 1 tournament ion 2010 and 2011. His squad was named the Most Improved Team in the region by PASLA in 2010 and had its best finish ever (fourth place) in the Ches-Mont this spring.
Goforth also has coached nine girls that have gone on to play or commit to play at the Division I level and was named a Phillylacrosse.com Honorable Mention Coach of the Year in 2010. Goforth, a boys’ youth and club coach, will be an assistant for the Shanahan boys’ team this year.
He answered these questions about his four seasons at the helm.
Question: What do you feel were the biggest strides taken for the program in your four seasons?
Goforth: “The Bishop Shanahan lacrosse team was 2-16 in 2007, the year before I joined the program. By 2011, we were 9-7 and had made huge strides in the program. We beat teams that we have never beaten in the history of the program: Henderson, Bayard Rustin, Downingtown West, Unionville and West Chester East.
“We made the playoffs the last two seasons and with higher seeding in each season. We finished fourth in (2011) the Ches-Mont, which is the highest we have ever finished. I am very proud of these girls over the past four years because they just kept getting better.”
Question: What are your best memories of the tenure?
Goforth: “Coaching these team has given so many great memories. I have been exposed to so many good people involved with the women’s game. Other top memories were winning games against teams we had never beaten and winning those close games with seconds on the clock! Also, I enjoyed helping support the girls to move to the next level. I would also have to say coaching my daughter (Hannah, Class of 2011, playing at Villanova) through her high school years has to be the most rewarding. Sharing all those moments both up and down has made us much closer.”
Question: How do you see the future of the program?
Goforth: “There is a great group of girls still there and the program has some great momentum. It is never easy to replace seven starters and three of them being four year starters, but they should still be very competitive. There is a group of freshman coming in as well.”
Question: Any last comments?
Goforth: Having been involved in the boys game for so many years and having to learn the girls’ game has been very rewarding. To watch the girls’ game continue to grow and develop has been a lot of fun!”
