Behind freshman Szipszky, Sacred Heart finds a way

Sacred Heart’s Natasha Szipszky will remember the first win of her varsity tennis career for a long time.

The freshman pulled out a 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Abigail Coachi at third singles to help Sacred Heart to a 3-2 triumph over Gwynedd Mercy Academy in girls Catholic Academies League tennis action Friday.

Caroline Lewers also needed three sets to win at second singles for the Lions. Lindsey Dowd and Mary Dooner won, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3, at third doubles to seal the victory.

In the Central League: STRATH HAVEN 4, LOWER MERION 3 » Megan Kidd and Emma Lee scored straight-set wins at first and second singles to power the Panthers.

Elsewhere in the Central League: MARPLE NEWTOWN 6, SPRINGFIELD 1 » Eva Fay, Emily Soe and Alicia Kim swept the singles in straight sets to pace the Tigers. Kelly Remy and Marissa Pena scored a 6-4, 7-5 victory at third doubles for Springfield. RIDLEY 4, PENNCREST 3 » Alexandra Billborough and Emily La, Chrissy McCool and Sam Baldino, and Jen Ropski and Marissa Kennedy swept the final three doubles matches to lead the Green Raiders. HARRITON 7, GARNET VALLEY 0 » The defending state champion Rams won all but one game in singles and six in doubles.

In the Catholic League: CARDINAL O’HARA 5, ST. HUBERT 0 » Anna Marie Degnan, Caroline Lynch and Jessica Dougherty swept the singles without losing a game to keep the Lions (5-0, 2-0) undefeated. UPPER DARBY 4, HAVERFORD 3 » First and second singles were the matches of the day. Leah Robben pulled out a 7-6 (8-6), 6-0 win over Braya Page at first singles for the Fords. Emily Gian of Upper Darby topped Chloe Arias, 7-5, 7-6 (7-6), at second singles.

In the Del Val League: PENN WOOD 4, CHICHESTER 1 » Txchele Ortiz bounced back from a loss in the first set for a 1-6, 6-1, 6-1 victory at first singles for the Patriots. Montunrayo Agbeye and Kasani Amore also pulled out a tough win with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 triumph at first doubles.

Girls

Balance was the key blanked Upper Darby in League, 6-0.

Carolyn Eckstein led the way with two goals. Keara Seasholtz, Audrey Rosenblum, Cara Camposano and Sophia Muetterties chipped in with one each. Anna Gurian and Katie Bell split time in goal.

Alyssa Hanrahan for the Royals.

In the Bicentennial League: DELCO CHRISTIAN 6, PHIL-MONT CHRISTIAN 3 » Sophomore Lily Tucker, junior Monica Lebaudy and senior Victoria McManus tallied the first three goals and the Knights never looked back. Tucker finished with two goals.

In nonleague action: HARRITON 1, ARCHBISHOP CARROLL 0 » Morgan Rees put home a pass from Grace Honeyman off a corner at the end of the first half. Lexy Calhoun made eight saves in the shutout.

Grace Gallagher (six saves), Gina Hoenig (two saves) and Clair Boylan (four saves) shared the goalkeeping duties for the Patriots. Isabel Grube, Julia Crawford and Kelli Ann Matey paced the defense. BONNER & PRENDERGAST 2, CHICHESTER0» Abby Healey’s goal 6:32 into the second half, off an assist from Cat Horiel, got the scoring started. An own goal by the Eagles made it 2-0. Kayla McLaughlin turned back eight shots for the shutout.

Mackenzie Sendek stopped in goal for Chi. LOWER MERION 5, CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 2 » Sophie Riverso paced the Aces with two goals. Grace Gormley had a goal and an assist for TCA (1-1). Lindsay Haseltine also scored for the Crusaders. MARPLE NEWTOWN 6, COATESVILLE 2 » Shannon McCarthy and Becca Ritchie tallied two goals each to pace the Tigers (2-1). Goalie Mackenzie Holden came up big with five saves.

Boys Soccer Soccer

made at the Radnor Central seven 16 saves shots

Goalie Amadou Fofana made nine saves but Academy Park dropped a 3-0 noleague decision to Harriton.

Serhat Sakarcana and Evan Tracy scored for the Rams. The third goal was an own goal.

Field Hockey

Bridget Boyle stood tall in goal with five saves as Episcopal Academy blanked Cardinal O’Hara, 3-0, in nonleague action. Melanie Lim, Maddie Rehak and Oliva Tuma scored a goal apiece. STRATH HAVEN 9, INTERBORO 3 » Katie Capalbo had a big game for the Panthers (2-1-1) with two goals and three assists. Olivia Fender scored twice, and Emily Raech added one goal and two assists.

Bri Mathis tallied twice and Murphy handed out two assists the Bucs.

AGNES IRWIN 1, BISHOP SHANAHAN 0 >> Alex Conway converted a pass from Emma Macaione with 15 seconds left. The defense, led by Julie Justi and Ciaran Scott and goalie Paige DiLullo (five saves), took care of the rest. RUSTIN 3, GARNET VALLEY 0 » Shannon Drakeley tallied twice for the Golden Knights. Caroline Carruthers and Lauren Weaver were strong on defense for the Jaguars. PENNCREST 2, ACADEMY PARK 0 » Cailee Bates and Sadie King took care of the offense with one goal each. Audrey Bassett stopped three shots for the shutout. Taylor Zane made nine saves in goal for the Knights.

In the Bicentennial League: LOWER MORELAND 7, DELCO CHRISTIAN 0 » Goalie Rachel Yeung had 20 saves for the Knights. Jamie Mayer paced the Lions with three goals and one assist.

Volleyball

Ro for

Thyligah Lockman, Taylor Eiserman and Sarai Threadgill powered Academy Park to a 3-0 Del Val League victory over Chichester.

Lockman had nine kills and eight blocks in the tight 25-20, 25-23, 2624 win. Eiserman added five kills and two aces, while Threadgill finished with four kills and three blocks. RIDLEY 3, AGNES IRWIN 0 » Angela April collected nine kills, 19 digs and two blocks in a 25-20, 25-22, 25-8 victory for the Green Raiders. Jackie Kelly (27 assists, three digs), Melanin June (18 digs) and Maria Brown (nine kills) also came up big for Ridley. W SUN VALLEY Vickers 3, SPRINGFIELD 0 » Hannah collected 14 kills and 21 assists to power the Vanguards (3-1). Kristine Guenther had 22 assists and seven service aces, while Rachel DiCarlo recorded 13 digs.

STRATH HAVEN 3, BISHOP SHANAHAN 0 » Emma Golato collected 10 assists and four digs as the Panthers topped the Eagles, 25-10, 25-16, 25-16. Gabby McGinn (six kills, 11 digs), Mayowa Songonuga (four kills), Gretchen Clauss (one kill, three blocks) and Hailey Blum (three aces) also were instrumental in the victory.

In nonleague action: EPISCOPAL ACADEMY 6, FRIENDS CENTRAL 1 » Ashley Kennedy and Bella Calastri set the tone with 6-0, 6-2 and 6-0, 6-0 wins at first and second singles, respectively. The Churchwomen swept the doubles in straight sets.

Golf

David Merz and Ben Newlon turned in their best rounds of the season to lead Strath Haven to a 206-222 nonleague victory over Octorara at Moccasin Run Golf Course.

Merz carded one birdie and six pars to take medal honors with a 2-over par 37. Newlon parred six of the nine holes for a 38. Kevin Smith also shot 38 thanks to one birdie and five pars.

Cross

Three-time All-Delco Emma Seifried and Chiara O’Keefe took the first two spots for Sacred Heart, but Notre Dame used its depth to beat the Lions, 33-38 and Merion Mercy, 15-60. Sacred Heart defeated Merion Mercy, 19-37.

Seifried crossed the finish line in 21:57, 46 seconds ahead of O’Keefe. Katie Lennon, Lindsey Smith, Farran Dougherty and Penelope Riley swept the next five places for Notre Dame.

Boys Country Water Polo

Senior John Nelligan collected seven goals, one assist and one drawn ejection to pace the Haverford School to a 15-7 triumph over the Hill School. T.J. Brooks and Matt LaRocca chipped in with two goals each.