Raiders bow in lacrosse
JACKSON TWP — The Pine-Richland girls lacrosse team provided what Seneca Valley senior Mollie Gallagher described as an eye-opening experience.
The Rams controlled the draw and used a late run in the first half to beat the Raiders 13-8 in a Division I-Section 2 game Thursday night at NexTier Stadium.
“You realize you have to give 110 percent,” Gallagher said. “If you don't, you're going to lose. You have to fight for everything and every ground ball. That's what important.”
Seneca Valley will look to harness that energy for a tough stretch of games next week.
The Raiders will have a tough stretch of games ahead with undefeated Fox Chapel and Shaler next Thursday and Friday.
“Win or lose, we know we have to improve on things,” Seneca Valley coach Katie Smolter said. “That's what we take into every practice, focusing on the basics. Then moving forward to take it one game at a time.”
The Raiders' comeback effort was halted after Hannah Kendrick scored with 8 minutes, 35 seconds left in the first half to cut the lead to 6-5.
“Our defense got frustrated and they lost communication and that's where Pine-Richland got us,” Smolter said. “They are a fast team and quick on offense and our defense as soon as that communication broke down that was hard on us and we struggled to get back from that.”
Pine-Richland answered with four goals in the last 2:21 to take a 10-5 lead into the half.
Maddie Collins scored three times and Marina Miller added the last one with 26 seconds remaining for the Rams.
Collins and Miller each score five goals for the Rams (3-1, 1-1).
“We did a good job on the draw. As you could see, when they were winning the draws they put up four or five quick goals,” Pine-Richland coach Tori Trombetta said. “I was impressed with our draw control because the draw is 90 percent of it.”
The Rams opened the game on a 5-1 run and never trailed.
Seneca Valley cut the lead to 5-4 with 10:39 left before halftime after goals from Erin Brock, Maddie Potter and Emma Chieppor.
“We really tried to motivate the girls to fight for it,” Smolter said. “Our defense was struggling a little bit at the beginning.”
Seneca Valley (2-2, 2-2) cut the lead to one three times in the first half, but Pine-Richland's offense always rallied.
“We were trying to do more doubling and defense,” Gallagher said. “Boxing out on the draw to get the ball basically. We knew the main priority was the ball.”
Kendrick led Seneca Valley with two goals and five assists.
Lauren Podolec and Karina Latsko also contributed goals for the Raiders.
After halftime, the Raiders cut the lead to four twice after goals by Chieppor and Kendrick, but both goals were answered by Pine-Richland.
