Disappointment turns into resolve for Pine-Richland girls lacrosse team
When the Pine-Richland High girls lacrosse team played top-ranked Peters Township in a regular-season game, the Rams saw a first-half lead evaporate en route to a 13-10 home-field loss.
The setback, however, did not define the Rams, ranked No. 2 in Laxpower.com's regional rankings for girls lacrosse teams, as they went on a six-game winning streak and a rematch with the Indians in the WPIAL Division 1 girls lacrosse championship on Thursday night at North Hills High.
The game started out well enough for Pine-Richland in a 21-18 setback as the Rams raced to a 2-0 lead on goals by Brittany Byerly and Monica Ewansik. But Peters Township tied the game at 2-2 on goals by Hannah Wilcox and Rachel Berquist.
Pine-Richland later took a 7-5 lead on goals by Byerly and Drew Hayden. But the Indians retied the game at 7-7 on late first-half goals by Sarah Bootman and Allison Hurley.
The two teams combined to score 25 goals in the second half with the Indians scoring seven of the first eight goals in the second half to take a 14-6 lead. But the Rams, who enter the playoffs with a 16-3 record, had a run of their own.
Pine-Richland went on a 6-1 run to get back in the game. A goal by Tess Drotar closed the deficit to 15-12. Later, five successive Rams' goals closed the deficit to 20-18, but a goal by Torrey Schwartz gave the Indians a three-goal advantage.
Hayden and Byerly scored 13 of the Rams' 18 goals.
Still, Pine-Richland could see the Indians in the not-too-distant future. In last year's PIAA playoffs, the WPIAL champion and runner-up were scheduled to meet in the quarterfinals. Runner-up Sewickley Academy was able to vanquish its first-round opponent, but WPIAL champion Seneca Valley fell to Penn Manor in a first-round game.
The setback, however, did not define the Rams, ranked No. 2 in Laxpower.com's regional rankings for girls lacrosse teams, as they went on a six-game winning streak and a rematch with the Indians in the WPIAL Division 1 girls lacrosse championship on Thursday night at North Hills High.
The game started out well enough for Pine-Richland in a 21-18 setback as the Rams raced to a 2-0 lead on goals by Brittany Byerly and Monica Ewansik. But Peters Township tied the game at 2-2 on goals by Hannah Wilcox and Rachel Berquist.
Pine-Richland later took a 7-5 lead on goals by Byerly and Drew Hayden. But the Indians retied the game at 7-7 on late first-half goals by Sarah Bootman and Allison Hurley.
The two teams combined to score 25 goals in the second half with the Indians scoring seven of the first eight goals in the second half to take a 14-6 lead. But the Rams, who enter the playoffs with a 16-3 record, had a run of their own.
Pine-Richland went on a 6-1 run to get back in the game. A goal by Tess Drotar closed the deficit to 15-12. Later, five successive Rams' goals closed the deficit to 20-18, but a goal by Torrey Schwartz gave the Indians a three-goal advantage.
Hayden and Byerly scored 13 of the Rams' 18 goals.
Still, Pine-Richland could see the Indians in the not-too-distant future. In last year's PIAA playoffs, the WPIAL champion and runner-up were scheduled to meet in the quarterfinals. Runner-up Sewickley Academy was able to vanquish its first-round opponent, but WPIAL champion Seneca Valley fell to Penn Manor in a first-round game.
lacrosse