Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 6/9/12
Phillylacrosse.com Editor Chris Goldberg is here at HersheyPark Stadium for the 2012 Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) girls’ lacrosse championship game between defending champion Garnet Valley and Strath Haven.
The weather is mostly sunny, humid and hot as the Jaguars (23-3), the team many expected would be back here, and the Panthers (17-9), a team few expected would be here, prepare to square off for the third time this year. Garnet Valley won the previous games, 12-6 and 16-6 and is clearly the favorite, but the Panthers have been most resilient in the second half of the year and have gotten here with strong defense and clutch play – so watch out!.
The starting lineups are now being introduced. Garnet Valley is coached by Kate Henwood (third year); Strath Haven by rachel Busza (second year).
First Half
Garnet Valley wins first draw control and has possession first
GV: Haley Warden unassisted, 21:36, GV takes 1-0 lead
Jags win the next draw, but lose it to Panthers
SH: Laura Rowan on an 8-meter shot, 19:54, ties game, 1-1
SH: Lexi Mazur on another 8-meter, 17:51, SH leads 2-1
GV: AnnaElise Morello from Ashley Pyle, 17:26, ties game, 2-2
GV: Dana Davis on an 8-meter, 11:26 – 3-2 GV, after three excellent saves by Hallie Yancey had kept it even
SH: Morgan Glassford on a perfect feed from Sara Labrum, 5:54, Game tied, 3-3
GV timeout
Analysis: Strath Haven is doing an excellent job keeping the pace down to its level; Panthers are patient on attack and Yancey has been a standout in goal
SH: Kirsten Wilhelmsen, coast to coast, unassisted, 2:22 – Panthers take 4-3 lead
Heavens hits the crossbar on an 8-meter, 1:33 – Yancey is in the right place
SH: Laura Rowan scores on a wraparound as the buzzer sounds – Strath Haven takes 5-3 lead at the half!
Panthers are controlling possessions and playing very patiently on attack
First half saves; Hallie Yancey (SH) 5; Kate Stroup (GV) 3
Draws – GV 5, SH 3
2nd half
SH wins the opening draw
Strathy Haven patient, holds ball and then goes behind the cage
SH: Kristen Hansen from Glassford, 22:33 – SH takes 6-3 lead
SH: Harte Clements from Mazur, 21:21, Now 7-3!
GV calls time out
GV wins draw, Yancey makes 3 more great saves, excellent defense by SH, 19:00
HS: Kirsten Wilhelmsen unassisted, now 8-3, 18:07 – Panthers totally dominating all aspects of the game
GV wins draw, but Mazur makes key defensive play and SH regains possession. 17:06
Yancey stops Pyle, 13:26
Strath Haven defense again is perfect
GV threat is thwarted again by great Panther defense, 11:18
SH possession – GV coach Kate Henwood is given red card – tossed from game!
GV: Heavens scores off 8-meter, 9:43, Now 8-4, first goal for Jags in 26:43!
SH timeout
Big draw – GV wins it
GV: Heavens on a tough shot, 8:56, now 8-5
GV wins draw but another key defensive stop by SH gives Panthers ball back
SH turnover, 7:40
GV: warden from Heavens, 6:24 – Jags back in the game!, 8-6
SH wins draw, has possession, 5:25
GV: Halley Barnes from Morello, off transition, 4:41, 8-7 Panthers, what a game!
SH: Hansen gets draw and goes all the way to stop the streak, 9-7, with 4:26 left
Yancey makes key saves, 3:40
SH has possession
Panthers can take clock; being very patient
2:00 to play – SH possession
SH playing keep away – they have 1:00 TO GO!
gv – hALEY WARDEN MAKES IT 9-8 WITH :46 TO PLAY
kEY DRAW!!!
GV gets draw! Free position for Heavens
GV – Heavens scores on 8-meter with :26 to play – now 9-9 – what a dramatic comeback!
SH wins draw, fails to get a shot
OVERTIME
GV’s Barnes wins draw
GV – Barnes scores unassisted 23 seconds into OT to win it, 10-9 – stick is checked, Garnet Valley repeats in dramatic style
