Peters Township girls lacrosse team wins key showdown
If there was any doubt about which girls lacrosse team would be on top of the heap heading into the final two weeks of the regular season, the Peters Township High School Indians eliminated that question with a crucial 14-13 overtime victory last Thursday over No. 2 Shady Side Academy.
It was the second time in a week the two teams had met, and it was the second time the 10-0 Indians had defeated the school that shares the same nickname with Peters Township.
One week earlier, Peters Township earned a 17-10 victory at Shady Side Academy.
Peters Township has won games both by close shaves and comfortable margins. Thursday's win, though, was the closest of the season. The only losses for the 7-2 Indians this season have come against Peters Township.
"Caitlin Carey scored the winning goal with less than a minute left in overtime," said Peters Township coach Kristin Caponi. "This season, all of my girls have done a great job. Everyone has stepped up in their roles on the team."
Caponi said the recent history with Shady Side has fostered a rivalry that is growing.
"Over the years, we've had close games with them, and we look forward to playing them. We know the games with them will be competitive."
Carey's goal was the 28th of the season for the junior midfielder. Two other junior midfielders also have been top scorers this season for the Indians. Hannah Wilcox leads the team with 32 goals, while Sarah Bootman has contributed 25 goals.
Following Saturday's out-of-region game with visiting Cleveland Heights, Shady Side Academy visits No. 2 Pine-Richland on Monday and hosts No. 4 Mt. Lebanon on Thursday.
The season wraps up with games at unranked Oakland Catholic, Seton-LaSalle and Sewickley Academy on Friday, May 8 and May 11, respectively.
Caponi, a native of the Philadelphia area, said teams from Western Pennsylvania still have to make up some distance to catch up with their counterparts from Eastern Pennsylvania.
"The sport is growing in Western Pennsylvania, but it's going to take a decent amount of time before a team from Western Pennsylvania is playing for a state championship," Caponi said. "This year, we set a goal to be the team that goes the farthest in the state playoffs from Western Pennsylvania. Right now, we're at a disadvantage (as a region) because all of the teams out there are playing a highly competitive opponent."
Add to the fact that the sport is wildly popular for both boys and girls in that part of the state, and that presents another issue for Western Pennsylvania teams.
"Our numbers put us at a disadvantage," she said.
It was the second time in a week the two teams had met, and it was the second time the 10-0 Indians had defeated the school that shares the same nickname with Peters Township.
One week earlier, Peters Township earned a 17-10 victory at Shady Side Academy.
Peters Township has won games both by close shaves and comfortable margins. Thursday's win, though, was the closest of the season. The only losses for the 7-2 Indians this season have come against Peters Township.
"Caitlin Carey scored the winning goal with less than a minute left in overtime," said Peters Township coach Kristin Caponi. "This season, all of my girls have done a great job. Everyone has stepped up in their roles on the team."
Caponi said the recent history with Shady Side has fostered a rivalry that is growing.
"Over the years, we've had close games with them, and we look forward to playing them. We know the games with them will be competitive."
Carey's goal was the 28th of the season for the junior midfielder. Two other junior midfielders also have been top scorers this season for the Indians. Hannah Wilcox leads the team with 32 goals, while Sarah Bootman has contributed 25 goals.
Following Saturday's out-of-region game with visiting Cleveland Heights, Shady Side Academy visits No. 2 Pine-Richland on Monday and hosts No. 4 Mt. Lebanon on Thursday.
The season wraps up with games at unranked Oakland Catholic, Seton-LaSalle and Sewickley Academy on Friday, May 8 and May 11, respectively.
Caponi, a native of the Philadelphia area, said teams from Western Pennsylvania still have to make up some distance to catch up with their counterparts from Eastern Pennsylvania.
"The sport is growing in Western Pennsylvania, but it's going to take a decent amount of time before a team from Western Pennsylvania is playing for a state championship," Caponi said. "This year, we set a goal to be the team that goes the farthest in the state playoffs from Western Pennsylvania. Right now, we're at a disadvantage (as a region) because all of the teams out there are playing a highly competitive opponent."
Add to the fact that the sport is wildly popular for both boys and girls in that part of the state, and that presents another issue for Western Pennsylvania teams.
"Our numbers put us at a disadvantage," she said.
lacrosse