Blackhawk girls lacrosse team's transformation includes playoff berth

Regardless of what happens in Tuesday's WPIAL Division 2 playoff game, the season has to be considered a huge success for the Blackhawk High girls lacrosse team.

Losers in all 13 games of its initial season a year ago, the Cougars showed that it wouldn't be business as usual with a historic 16-8 victory over Butler Area in the season opener back on March 26.

Now, the Cougars, 9-8 overall and 8-8 in WPIAL Division 2, Section 2, get a rematch with the Golden Tornadoes with a 7 p.m. play-in game on Tuesday at Blackhawk.

Should Blackhawk win that game, the Cougars get a tough draw at 7 p.m. Thursday in the quarterfinals at Chartiers Valley, which finished with an overall record of 16-1 and placed atop WPIAL Division 2, Section 1 in a first-place tie with Bethel Park. Chartiers Valley is ranked No. 8 regionally.

Blackhawk could provide some trouble for any opponent. Despite its break-even record in conference play, the Cougars gave unbeaten North Hills all it could handle before the Indians prevailed 14-11 on April 23. Blackhawk finished the regular season with a 10-6 victory at Vincentian Academy this past Wednesday.