By Chris Goldberg
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 9/6/21
Rachel Clark admits the motto “Play every game like it’s your last” is an all-too-common cliché. But it fit well as she entered her senior year at Conestoga, wondering if the season would be held.
“As captains we wanted everyone to know how important this season was with what happened last year (canceled season),” said Clark. “We tried to get everyone excited, and one of our mottos was, ‘Play every game like it is your last.’ With COVID, you never knew if we’d have to stop playing.”
Fortunately, the 2021 season was held and Conestoga enjoyed a big year, with Clark leading the attack. The Pioneers won the Central League championship and reached the PIAA Class AAA semifinals and Clark’s offensive skills and leadership were a key ingtredient.
The Virginia signee scored 90 goals despite being face guarded and double-teamed all year. Clark also had 107 draw controls and was named Central League MVP, a USA Lacrosse All-American, and an Under Armour American.
For her efforts, she has been named a Phillylacrosse.com Co-Player of the Year for 2021 with Radnor’s Tori DiCarlo and Haddonfield’s McKenzie Blake.
“You learned you couldn’t take anything for granted,” Clark said. “With COVID, you had to stop doing so many things. I used to dread going to school, but when we lost it (end of 2020) I couldn’t be with my friends, we couldn’t play lacrosse or do anything.
“I remembered how lucky I was to have lacrosse, playing every day. Every time I stepped on the field I had to take full advantage of it and give 100 percent.”
Clark said winning the Central League was the highlight of the year, as well as scoring the winning goal late in a key victory over Garnet Valley. She also noted the PIAA quarterfinal win over Unionville, which had knocked off Conestoga in the District 1 semis. The biggest disappointment was bowing to eventual state champion Radnor in the PIAA semis, but Clark said the season was a success.
“Obviously we didn’t make our ultimate goal of a state championship,” she said. “We fell short to Radnor, but we did still have an amazing season. It was so much fun.”
Conestoga coach Amy Orcutt said Clark embraced the role as the team’s key offensive weapon.
“Rachel had been an impact player for us for 4 years,” she said. “She made JV as a freshman and after 2 games I knew she needed to be moved up. From that moment on, she has been a key player and a go-to player for us.
“Rachel is a gamer and wants the ball in her stick to get the job done at key points in the game. She has won many games for us by doing what she does best. Her quick feet, quick hands and incredibly accurate shot is so hard to maintain.
“Rachel is a great player and person, I loved every minute of coaching her over her career at ‘Stoga.”
Clark wanted to credit her parents for their support, as well as her Ultimate Lacrosse coaches, shooting coach Bob Mongeluzzi and mostly her Conestoga coaches, especially Orcutt.
“If I didn’t have her as a coach, I would be a different player,” Clark said of Orcutt.
Clark said she relished the pressure of taking the big shot or being counted on to score the key goal.
“There’s always a little bit of pressure,” she said. “I am the captain and a leader and my job is having the role of producing on the field. I love being that person. That’s what I work so hard and play for.”
