Knoch comes up just short against Shaler in season finale
JEFFERSON TWP — The effort was fitting for a conclusion, even if the result wasn’t.
Knoch’s girls lacrosse team closed out its season Wednesday evening at home with a battle against non-conference foe Shaler. Despite taking a lead with under a dozen minutes to go, the Knights bowed, 11-10, thanks to a comeback effort by the visitors.
Knoch finishes its campaign with a 5-8 record, the Titans 8-9.
Senior Paige Rodgers netted what tied a game-high five goals for the Knights. Sophomore Avery Adams had a hat trick and junior Alaina Fields added two more tallies.
Rodgers’ three unanswered scores over a 10-minute span in the second half gave the home team a 9-8 lead, and Adams opened the gap to two with 10:24 to go.
“Throughout the whole game, it’s just little wins,” Rodgers said. “A goal is nice, but you just have to keep the tempo going. So, it’s nice to set the tempo, but it takes the whole team to keep the tempo going.”
“Everybody brings their own special piece to the team,” Knoch coach Megan Crawford said. “The girls really worked well together.”
Rodgers endured a few bumps and bruises as she pulled her team back even, then ahead. She was knocked down before her free position marker that made it 8-7, then was hit in the head with a stick leveling the scoreboard just over two minutes after that.
“You get used to it,” Rodgers said with a laugh.
Shaler’s Aubrey Skerlong and Camryn Kwiatkowski got on the board with back-to-back goals, making it a 10-10 game with 7:15 to go. Talia Steuernagel deposited what wound up being the game-winner with 3:24 on the clock.
“I think just control and the team working well together in transition,” Titans coach Ali Nicholas said about the driving force her squad’s come-from-behind win. “We’re losing a lot of our seniors, so I think for the younger girls, it’s a really great lesson.”
Despite the loss, Rodgers feels that she and the team’s three other seniors — Grace Gilmore, Madison Hensch, and Halle Hassler — are leaving the program in better shape than they found it.
“It’s a bittersweet goodbye,” Rodgers said. “It’s nice to watch us build. It’s kind of like the end of the chapter and the start of another one.”
Crawford capped the go-round by talking about what the team meant to her.
“I’m really proud of the team this season,” she said. “The girls worked hard. A lot of teamwork ... They’ve all been helping each other and just creating a very positive atmosphere.
“We’re excited to see the program go and we’re really looking forward to seeing where we stand next year.”
