By Harry Chaykun
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 4/28/18
Katie Crager’s goal with 3:30 to play lifted Episcopal Academy to a 13-12 victory over Garnet Valley at the 18th Katie Samson Foundation Lacrosse Festival at Radnor High Saturday.
The win was the seventh in a row for EA (8-6), while the Jaguars – ranked No. 1 by Phillylacrosse.com – fell to 12-2 after having an eight-game win streak snapped.
After Episcopal Academy took a 12-7 lead with 18:23 left, Garnet Valley (11-2) scored the next five goals before Crager’s tally halted a 15-minute scoreless stretch for EA.
Junior Olivia Dirks (3G, 2A, 12 draws to help EA to a 20-7 advantage) won the draw to start the play.
“She always rises to the occasion when we need her,” said Crager, a Georgetown commit. “She just seems to keep coming up with draws. Early in the season, we played a lot of teams from other states who have girls who they just use on draws, and that was tough. Now Olivia is settling in and making it work for us.”
As the winning play developed, Crager set herself up while the Garnet Valley defense dug in, waiting for a play to develop.
“They had girls coming out there, but I got through,” Crager said. “We knew their goalie was good low, so I wasn’t about to take a low shot. When I fired high, the ball went in.”
Crager finished with four goals and one assist and Dirks had three goals and two assists in addition to her draw control work for the winners, who got four assists from Olivia Cunningham.
“Our motto has always been ‘get the draw, get the goal,’” said Dirks, who also plays soccer and basketball. “We try to work our plays well and be a two-way team. We know when we need it, we can always depend on Katie.”
Reagan Nealon scored three goals and Kamryn McNeal, Madi McKee (four draw controls), and Kathryn Toohey got two goals apiece for Garnet Valley.
“We had to make changes at halftime, and it took a little bit for things to settle in in the second half,” Garnet Valley head coach Jenny Purvis said.
“I was proud of the way we came back and happy that our defense could hold them scoreless for more than 15 minutes in the second half. Our biggest thing now is concentrating on winning the Central League and then getting ready for districts.”
Episcopal Academy also has its focus on a key league match at Agnes Irwin Tuesday. The Owls claimed a 12-11 overtime decision over EA in the Checking for Cancer game earlier this month.
“When you play at Katie Samson you know you’ll be playing in a big game,” Crager said. “We know beating Garnet Valley is a big win for us. Now we have to keep working hard as we complete our Inter-Ac season.
“You can almost see Agnes Irwin from here. I’m looking forward to coming back this way Tuesday for that game.”
Episcopal Academy 13, Garnet Valley 12
Garnet Valley 6 6 – 12
Episcopal Academy 9 4 – 13
Garnet Valley: Reagan Nealon 3G, Kamryn McNeal 2G, Madi McKee 2G, Kathryn Toohey 2G, Kara Nealon 1G 1A, Riley Delaney 1G, Camryn Faith 1G.
Episcopal Academy: Katie Crager 4G 1A, Olivia Dirks 3G 2A, Devon Whitaker 2G 1A, Allyson Marino 2G 1A, Olivia Cunningham 1G 4A, Olivia Tuma 1G.
Goalies – Sam Hamalak (GV) 4 saves; Tess McMullin (EA) 6 saves.
