By Harry Chaykun
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 5/23/24
Episcopal Academy had something to prove.
After being swept by Agnes Irwin in the regular season and being forced to share the Inter-Ac League championships with the Owls, EA took advantage of its third opportunity to play its rival today at Villanova in the Pennsylvania Independent School Athletic Association (PAISAA) title game.
And this time, EA felt only elation.
Quinn Whitaker scored six goals and EA raced to a 6-2 halftime lead before defeating Agnes Irwin, 9-6, for its first PAISAA title since 2016.
“We changed some of our offensive looks and did some different things on defense today,” EA head coach Josie Tomaino said. “We didn’t want to leave the field disappointed again, and our seniors were awesome.”
Nine days earlier, EA (21-2) fell to Agnes Irwin, 9-8, as Whitaker was held to one assist. But for the first time in several years, EA played in the PAISAA tourney and Whitaker was ready.
“This game meant a lot to our seniors,” said Whitaker, a Boston College commit. “We had to get it for them.”
EA never trailed in the game. After EA junior Katherine Dente and AI junior Blair Fox traded goals in the first three minutes, Whitaker (assisted by Dente) put her team ahead to stay.
Dente made it 3-1 before Elle Brady pulled Agnes Irwin within 3-2. Whitaker made it 4-2 and then EA dominated the second period, getting goals from Whitaker and sophomore Sophia Gagliardi – who scored on a quick-stick move off a pass from senior Lainey McGonagle.
Sydney Richter, Grace McHugh, McGonagle, who also were keys defensively, Paige McMeekin, and defender Jenna Morley played their final games in an Episcopal Academy uniform. Juniors Abigail Schwartz and Brynn Kehl and sophomore Caitlin McCarthy also were among the defenders who anchored the defense in front of junior goalkeeper Grace Holland (also a BC commit).
“I’ve never had a feeling like this before,” Holland said of the championship.
“I knew I had to keep my focus in case they ended coming back my way. But our defense played so much better today (than last week), and the biggest thing was the way we fought so hard for every 50/50 ball. We got off to a much better start in this game, and everyone made up their mind that they were playing for the person beside them and we had such a great team effort.”
Junior Catie Holmes scored the first goal of the second half for Agnes Irwin, but before the period came to an end, Whitaker converted an 8-meter shot in a 1-up situation and scored again two minutes later.
Agnes Irwin made the most of its 1-up advantage early in the fourth quarter, getting goals from Mairyn Dwyer and Olivia Daniels. When junior Caroline Chisholm, who join Whitaker and Holland as BC commits, converted an 8-meter shot with 3:2 to play, EA’s lead was down to two goals.
Whitaker (four draw controls) quickly gained possession as play resumed, and just under two minutes later she closed out the scoring.
“My teammates made some perfect feeds and I got the shots that went in,” Whitaker said. “We worked on looking for people who were in the right spots out there.”
Tomaino was proud of her team’s accomplishments in 2024, but felt bittersweet about the season’s end.
“We started strong and had some big wins early,” she said. “We had a couple of rough spots when we couldn’t finish against (Agnes Irwin) in overtime at our place and when we had some troubles and lost at their place.
“Today we were well-prepared and executed our game plan. I just thought about looking up as everything was going on, and now it seems like it has come to an end so suddenly.”
Episcopal Academy 9, Agnes Irwin 6
Agnes Irwin 2 0 1 3 – 6
Episcopal Academy 4 2 2 1 – 9
Agnes Irwin: Caroline Chisholm 1G 1A, Mairyn Dwyer 1G 1A, Blair Fox 1G, Elle Brady 1G, Catie Holmes 1G, Ella Springer 1G, Lucy Page 1A, Olivia Daniels 1A.
Episcopal Academy: Quinn Whitaker 6G, Katherine Dente 2G 1A, Sophia Gagliardi 1G, Sydney Richter 1A, Lainey McGonagle 1A.
Goalies: Maggie Mullen (AI) 6 saves; Grace Holland (EA) 3 saves.
