Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 5/17/16
Staff Report
Jesse Rubin collected three goals and three assists and the Friends’ Central defense held Shipley School scoreless for the game’s final 21 minutes today as the host Phoenix claimed an 8-6 win for its second straight Friends Schools League title and sixth in seven years.
Friends’ Central (11-8) broke a 6-6 tie when Sophie Berger scored with 13 minutes to play after Lily Snider made a key hustle play to save possession. Lorna Macfarlane scored off the ensuing draw and the Phoenix defense then held Shipley (9-7) scoreless the rest of the way.
Friends’ Central had taken 6-3 lead until the Gators capitalized on a yellow card with two goals early in the second half. Shipley tied the game, 6-6, on a goal by Ashleigh Gundy with 21 minutes left.
Friends’ Central coach Lauren Rubin credited the team’s defense and singled out Hannah Posencheg (three caused turnovers, two groundballs) for her work on Gundy and Emily Lorry for her defense on Jenna Litner (two goals). Also, Hannah Anderson stood out on defense and Azital Schweitzer (three groundballs, two draw controls) was a key contributor.
“I knew Shipley was getting better and we were anticipating this matchup and strategizing for this game for weeks,” said coach Rubin. “We put Hannah and Emily on their top scorers and I can’t say enough about thow they contributed to the win. The entire defense played as a cohesive unit. They really stepped up and set the tone.”
Jesse Rubin also praised the defense and said her team made winning the draw a priority.
“We knew the draw would be really crucial,” she said. “We worked hard on that the last week, using different strategies. Also, we scouted them we knew who some of their key players were. Hannah and Emily face-guarded their top scorers and did such a good job. They limited their touches and took it to another level.”
Coach Rubin said her team jelled slowly, but has peaked at the right time. The Phoenix opened 0-5 and was 4-8 before winning its final seven games. It enters the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association playoffs as the No. 6 seed.
“We really had rough start this year,” she said. “We had a lot of injuries and we had a really slow build. It was not a typical season. We lost some games over spring break and it took a long time to come together.
“It is satisfying to see where we were and and to see how across the board we have gotten better. The girls have taken on bigger roles and everyone on the field is making plays.”
Coach Rubin said she was as close to the six seniors on this team as any club she has coached.
“I have known this senior class since they were 5 since many are friends with my daughter,” she said. “To go through the entire process with them, it’s as if they are family. I couldn’t see a different ending with all we have gone through. I feel so close to this group of seniors.”
Said Jesse Rubin: “I think from the very beginning we wanted to reach another level and we worked very hard to get there. People got more confident in their roles and the senior class as a whole worked really hard to connect younger teammates. The coaches were great about encouraging us to reach our potential and we were motivated and hungry to get back to where we were (in the finals) the past years.”
Shipley first-year coach Molly Fernandez was proud of her team, which reached the Friends Schools finals for the first time.
“These girls should be so proud of the way they played tonight and what they accomplished this season,” she said. “They played to win but the game just didn’t end in our favor. A special thank you to our senior class and captains for all they have done and given to this program.”
Friends Central 8, Shipley School 6
Friends’ Central 6-2-8
Shipley School 3-3- 6
Friends’ Central
Jesse Rubin: 3 goals, 3 assists, 4GB, 2CT
Sophie Berger: 1 goal ( game winner), 2 assists, 3 DC, 1 CT, 1GB
Lorna Macfarlane: 2 goals, 2 GB
Benna Berger: 2 goals, 1 assist,
Lily Snider: 2 GB
Hayden Posencheg: 3 CT, 4GB
Avital Schweitzer: 1 DC, CT, 2 GB
Hannah Posencheg: 2GB, 3CT
Hannah Anderson: 2 GB
Morgan Crowley: 3 CT
Emily Lorry: GB, CT
Anne Pizzini: 8 saves, 1 GB
Shipley School
Jenna Litner 2g, 1 CT
Ashleigh Gundy 1g, 9 DC
Elizaheth Talluto 2g
Emily Talluto 1g, 2 CT
Tina Piasecki 2 DC
Grace Donnel;ly 10 saves
Leave a Reply