By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, posted 6/1/13
Harriton coach George Dick says his Rams are still “adjusting to life without (injured) Sabrina Tabasso.”
“She is our drawer, makes our clears, leads our fast break,” he said. “She is a tough girl to not have.”
Today at Exeter High, the Rams managed well without their star junior (out with a broken foot) for the second game, as senior Caleigh Foust (seven goals, two assists, eight draw controls) led a second-half charge in a 20-9 victory over Kennard-Dale in a PIAA quarterfinal.
The District 1 champion Rams (23-2) will play Manheim Township in the semifinals at a neutral site, probably Exeter. Manheim, the District 3 champion, defeated Wyoming Seminary, 18-5, also at Exeter.
Kennard-Dale, the District 3 runner-up, had closed within 8-7 early in the second half with a 5-1 run that included five man-up goals.
But Foust, Harriton’s other big gun along with Tabasso, followed up a goal by Maura Henderson (four tallies) with three consecutive goals in less than three minutes to spark a 10-0 run for the rams. Each of her three goals came after she won the draw and the first two were off fastbreak opportunities.
“I think everyone needs to step it up,” said Foust who sat out the last 15 minutes of the game after suffering some heat cramps following a fall. “Obviously, we lost Sabrina and you never now what can happen in a game.”
Harriton continued on its run as Baily Ebby (two goals) scored, Jane Henderson (four goals) had three goals and sister Maura added two more.
Foust said she had to begin taking draws after Tabasso went down against Radnor in the District 1 title game.
“I hadn’t been taking the draws, but today I got some openings there and went to the goal,” she said.
Dick had to go without another top junior, Katie Melvin (heat exhaustion), for most of the game, and Jane Henderson sat out half the game with a knee injury.
Harriton also got a boost from junior goalie Melina Avery, who had nine saves; and defender Hilary Lemonick, who had seven draw controls.
“Melina is our ace in the hole,” said Dick, who won his 100th career game at Harriton and is 100-33 in his six years. “If we make a mistake, she is there to save us.”
Kennard-Dale (23-4) got four goals from Morgan Day and two goals and four assists from senior Nicole Black (signed with La Salle).
“That’s a good team,” said Dick. “They won 23 games and I don’t care what league you play in, that’s good. They had five or six girls that could score and they played very well.”
Harriton 20, Kennard-Dale 9
Harriton 8-12- 20
Kennard-Dale 5-4- 9
Harriton
Caleigh Foist 7g, 2a, 8 DCs
Jane Henderson 5g
Julia Marks 3a
Maura Henderson 4g
Alex Ladda 1g
Bailey Ebby 2g
Katie Melvin 1g
Hilary Lemonick 7 DCs
Melina Avery 9 saves
Kennard-Dale
Haley Romoser 1g
Nicole Black 2g, 4a
Taylor Davis 1g
Morgan Day 4g
Maggie Biederman 1g
Alana Pietra 4 saves
