By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 2/20/18
Jen Duckenfield, who built Agnes Irwin into a national power, has been named head girls’ lacrosse coach at Cardinal O’Hara.
Duckenfield takes over a Lions squad that wen 11-7 last year and reached the Catholic League finals where they fell to eventual PIAA Class AAA champion Archbishop Carroll, 20-3.
“It is an honor to join a community like Cardinal O’Hara,” said Duckenfield. “The school has a long-standing legacy of community and hard work, on and off the field, and I am looking forward to helping these student athletes achieve their potential.”
Duckenfield had built Agnes Irwin into a Top 20 power in her five years there, posting a 98-23 record despite taking over a team that was 2-16 the year before she arrived. She was named Phillylacrosse.com Coach of the Year in 2015 when she guided the Owls to a 23-1 record, the Inter-Ac crown, the PAISAA crown and a No. 3 ranking in the final STEPS Lacrosse North America Rankings.
The past four years, the Duckenfield’s Owls went 85-4 and won two Pennsylvania Independent School state titles (PAISAA) while winning three Inter-Ac crowns (two outright).
In Duckenfield’s final game of 2017, Agnes Irwin downed Episcopal, 14-7, to win the PAISAA title and cap a 21-5 season that ended with eight victories. She was not retained by Agnes Irwin, which did not give a reason.
Before coming to Agnes Irwin, Duckenfield guided Mount St. Joseph to a 13-6 record and a berth in the District 1 tournament in 2012, her only season there. Duckenfield also led Strath Haven to a share of its first Central League championship and a state playoff berth in 2010 when she was named a Phillylacrosse.com Honorable Mention Coach of the Year.
Duckenfield – an Interboro grad – was the head coach of the Philly team at the Under Armour Underclassmen from 2012-15. She also runs fall and winter leagues and coaches for Ultimate Goal Lacrosse and runs lacrosse skill clinics and a spring youth club, Dynasty Lacrosse.