By Harry Chaykun
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 6/3/18
The weather delay lasted longer than the actual time it took to play the two 25-minute halves today in the PIAA quarterfinals at Methacton.
“That wasn’t good for us,” said Radnor coach Brooke Fritz said, after she and her team survived more than 90 minutes of inaction to knock off Gwynedd Mercy Academy, 12-8, in a Class AA contest that began at 4:45 Saturday afternoon and ended at 8:30.
The defending state champion Raiders (19-5) will have a rematch with District 1 champion Villa Maria in the semifinals Tuesday as they attempt to qualify to play for a state championship for a third consecutive season. Villa – which defeated Radnor, 9-4, in the District 1 final – advanced with a 9-8 win over Penncrest
Radnor led, 4-3, on Saturday when the game was halted by the officials and the field was cleared because the sounds of thunder were signaling the approach of a storm.
While everyone waited, not much rain arrived. The delay continued while the thunder went on. The athletic directors met, the officials contacted a PIAA representative, and the rumors flew that play might be continued or that the game might not be resumed until Sunday morning.
When the teams were told to warm up and prepare to play, the rains did not get the message that it was time to stop. Near the end of the second half, there was a halt to the raindrops, but before the players and coaches could exit the stadium, it was pouring again.
“We had players who had a lot on their minds, like where they should have been,” Fritz said. “I have a sophomore whose family and friends are at her Sweet 16 party and she’s here. Two of my seniors were supposed to be at their friend’s graduation party, but they were here.
“At least this game is over, and we can wait to be told where we will be playing Tuesday.”
Radnor got four first-half goals from sophomore Molly May in putting together a 6-5 lead. After the very brief halftime break, Gwynedd Mercy got goals from seniors Courtney Narkoff and Kendall Seifert – her third – to reclaim the lead for the first time in almost 20 minutes.
The Raiders answered with scores by sophomores Ellie Mueller and Annie Burton and freshman Tori DiCarlo, the last two while they were down a player because of a yellow card violation. Seifert set up Peyton Palazzo for a goal as GMA cut into its deficit before the final three goals went to Radnor’s Cate Cox, Cat Belveal, and DiCarlo, who like Cox, finished with two goals and an assist.
“Our team is very young,” DiCarlo said. “It’s been great the way the upperclassmen have helped make sure we fit in.
“We all try to help each other out, and the goal – obviously – always is to try to win. While we were (inside the school building), we were strategizing and hoping it wouldn’t be a long wait. We talked about how we needed to get people open, get them the ball, and have them score.”
Sarah Beth Lanzone, Missy Massimino, Belveal, Sophie Proctor, and Margaret Mooney were among the defenders who helped Radnor goalie Phoebe Proctor (seven saves) hold off the Gwynedd Mercy attack.
DiCarlo was not among those in the stands when Radnor defeated Kennard-Dale in the 2017 PIAA Class AA final.
“I’m sorry I missed that game,” she said. “But playing in the playoffs is a lot more exciting.”
strong>Radnor 12, Gwynedd Mercy Academy 8
Radnor 6-6-12
Gwynedd 5-3-8
Radnor
Molly May 4G
Cate Cox 2G
Tori DiCarlo 2G, 1A
Cat Belveal 1G, 1A
Carleigh Goldstein 1G
Ellie Mueller 1G
Annie Burton 1G
Kate Hartnett 1A
Phoebe Proctor 7 saves
Gwynedd
Kendall Seifert 3G, 1A
Courtney Narkoff 1G, 1A
Caroline Johnston 1G, 1A
Peyton Palazzo 1G, 1A
Lizzy Ferguson 1G
Nicole Conwell 1G
Sarah Holland 11 saves
