Butler gaining confidence despite 22-6 loss to P-R
BUTLER TWP — Butler spotted visiting Pine-Richland seven goals in the first 10 minutes of what wound up being a 22-6 girls lacrosse loss Monday night, but Carrie Gemper, the Golden Tornado’s first-year coach, doesn’t believe that the showing was indicative of things to come for her crew.
“I think we were in our own heads a little in that game,” she said. “I think the potential of this team is incredible. I think the hard work and work ethic of these girls this season is not reflected in that score.
“We can do better.”
The Rams’ Caroline Gentile, Taylor Wilkinson, Kendyll Jerry, and Cate Gentile all deposited markers and set a quick pace.
“I think the biggest thing on offense was just moving the ball and keeping the speed of the game intense,” Pine-Richland coach Shannen Drennon said. “Working off each other, I think, was the biggest thing.”
Gemper called a timeout, knowing that a lopsided loss to the Rams (5-0) a season ago was on her girls’ minds.
“We knew they had some big guns and I think that a lot of the girls were thinking about last year,” she said. “That was in their heads.”
She stressed a return to basics and focusing on strengths, which led to consecutive scores by Butler (3-2) senior Mackenzie Gilliland over the minute of play that followed. Caroline Gentile got on the board with a free position shot about five and a half minutes later, putting an end to a seven-and-a-half-minute visitors dry spell.
Gemper credited defenders Lindsay Gavula and Carmen Skal for buckling down during that span.
“When they’re able to center themselves and have confidence, they can control the pace of play,” Gemper said. “That comes down to those two kids being able to be good leaders on the field.”
A deep senior class will also be key going forward. That bunch includes Skal, Rylee Werner, Bella Panichelle, Carlie Baker, Khloe Huba, Gilliland, and Becca Allison.
“They’re great leaders,” Gemper said. “Their work ethic is fantastic and they’re setting such a precedent for this program.”
She also spoke highly of freshman midfielder Taryn Hilovsky, sophomore Rylee Hurley — who scored when Butler had an advantage just about five minutes into the second half — and Elliette Smith.
“The pieces are coming, the growth is coming,” Gemper forecasted. “But, it’s not quite there yet.”
Tori Stevenson, Hilovsky, and Allison also notched goals in the defeat. Stevenson’s came just two ticks before halftime, cutting the deficit to 10-4 at the intermission.
Caroline and Cate Gentile combined to score the first three strikes of the second half.
The Golden Tornado will visit North Hills next Tuesday.
