By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 6/10/17
It took just five and a half minutes for Radnor to score as many goals Saturday in the PIAA Class AA championship as the Raiders got in Tuesday’s 4-3 semifinal win over Bishop Shanahan.
And by halftime, with Radnor leading, 14-5, over District 3’s Kennard-Dale, there was little doubt that the highly-favored Raiders would claim the first small-school championship at West Chester East.
Led by a 9-goal eruption from Julianne Puckette, the Raiders rolled to an 20-8 win over the Rams for their third PIAA state championship.
The Raiders (18-7) won in 2009 over Strath Haven, 20-10, and in 2010 over Springfield-Delco, 14-7, when there was one classification. Last year they lost in the PIAA finals to Conestoga, 18-7.
Puckette’s outburst shattered the PIAA girls’ championship record of six set by Radnor’s Sam Ellis in the 2009 20-10 win over Strath Haven. Cate Cox added three goals and five assists for Radnor.
“I think we we all just wanted to win and I think when that happens and we’re all together nothing can stop us,” said Puckette. “I think we’re one of the best offensive units in the state and that showed today.”
“I think last year we were all defeated after that big loss,” she said. “We kept it in the back of our heads that we didn’t want to feel that way again so we came out harder.”
The Raiders knew they had not played their best game Tuesday in a 4-3 semifinal win over Bishop Shanahan. Massimino said Radnor coach Brooke Fritz had higher expectations.
“I think she (Fritz) knew we weren’t on our game and I think she felt a win’s a win at this time of the year, but we knew we had to come out a lot more focused than we did last time,” Massimino said.
Kennard-Dale (21-3-1), the District 3 runner-up got two goals each from seniors Calie Swegon and Emmie Dressel.
Fritz said the Raiders regained their focus for today’s game.
“The concern is all the distractions,” she said. “The girls bare being pulled in 18 different directions with graduation, graduation parties and senior week and it was difficult to focus on lacrosse.
“They realized this is real and we need to work hard to prevail. Our offense, when they are cooking, is second to none and they wanted it more and played lights out today. Our seniors knew what it felt like to lose and they didn’t want to come back and relive last year.”
Radnor 20, Kennard-Dale 8
Radnor 14-6 – 20
Kennard-Dale 5-3 – 8
Radnor
Julianne Puckette 9g, 1a
Cate Cox 3g, 5a
Ellie Mueller 2g
Riley Jacobs 1g
Hope Smith 1g
Cat Belveal 2g, 1a
Allison Lanzone 1g
Aliza Azzarano 1g
Alexa Solomon 3 saves
Kennard-Dale
Megan Halczuk 1g
Morgan Bowings 1g
Calie Swegon 2g
Emmie Dressel 2g
Maddie Day 1g
Eden Sterner 1g
Maria Schneider 4 saves
