The Reporter (Lansdale, PA)

Taking the next step

Methacton, UD try to build off making playoffs

- By Ed Morlock emorlock@21st-centurymed­ia.com @emor09 on Twitter

The 2017 season was a great one for Times Herald/Reporter/ Montgomery Media area girls lacrosse.

Archbishop Carroll won its 17th straight Philadelph­ia Catholic League championsh­ip and first ever state title.

Abington and Central Bucks West won Suburban One League titles with undefeated conference records, as did Jenkintown in the Bicentenni­al Athletic League.

Gwynedd Mercy Academy finished third in the Catholic Academies League and won games in both the district and state playoffs.

The area teams will be looking to do even more this year.

Abington and Jenkintown both have high expectatio­ns. Spring-

Ford, Perk Valley and Upper Merion return plenty of talent. Methacton and Upper Dublin look to build upon playoff berths.

Abington

Head Coach: Mary Elizabeth Klepper (1st year) Last year’s record: 15-7 last year, SOL American Conference Champions Key players lost last year: Sam McGee, Casey Mcallister, Jules Greco, Lindsay Baer, Cathy Staerk, Maddie Sjoholm, Jordan Campbell, Kiki Brasher Key returnees: Becca Gable, 11, defense, Kaley Enhow, 11, Midfield Others to watch: Sam Simon, 11, Midfield; Abby Thomas, 11, Attack; Taheera Rodgers, 12, attack Season outlook: “With a large junior class, and key senior leaders, the Ghosts are ready to surprise a lot of people this year. With returning key players, as well as relentless underclass­man, the Abington girls lacrosse team is here to do one thing... win. Our underclass­man are solid, and follow the same high expectatio­ns as our upperclass­man. Each member of our team understand­s that excellence must be a habit both on and off the field. We are ready to play our game, and have a successful season.”

Central Bucks West

Head Coach: Tara Schmucker (10th year) Last year’s record: 17-2, League: 8-0 Key losses: Bryn Boylan, UNC field hockey, Meghan Darcy, Rachel Shaw, Slippery Rock, Lauren Devlin, Scranton Key players: Dani Dundas, SR Mid/Attack, Maddie Maio, SR, Mid, Finley Ueland, SR, Attack, Casey Reichwein, JR, Defense/ Mid, Lucy Varner, SR, Defense, Abby Natoli, JR, Defense Season outlook: “We are younger this year but also have a strong group of veterans. We hope to be competitiv­e, but as always we will continue to work hard and find a new successful dynamic.”

Jenkintown

Head Coach: Ken Rodoff (3rd year) Last year’s record: 10-7, 6-0 Bicentenni­al Athletic League, PIAA District 1 AA Qualifier Notable losses: Claire Griffin, Cassidy Robbins Key returners: Grace McCafferty, 12th, Attack, Amelia Mulvaney, 12th, Midfield Caroline Arena, 11th, Defense Isabella Byler, 11th, Midfield Georgia Griffin, 11th, Defense Sabrina Griffin, 11th, Defense Mia Kolb, 11th, Midfield Mattie McNamara, 11th, Defense Rory Strohm, 11th, Attack Season outlook: “We have nine returning varsity starters along with an aggressive, fast group of student-athletes, all looking to continue a tradition of success in the BAL with eyes on qualifying for the District 1 AA tournament.”

Hatboro-Horsham

Head Coach: Marie Schmucker (36th year) Last year’s record: 11-7, 5-4 SOL American Season outlook: “We are a very young team, with many leaders on and off the field. The girls have great stick skills and work at a high intensity level. The girls work together to challenge each other. We are very excited for this up coming season.”

Methacton

Head Coach: Laurie Markle (12th year) Last year’s record: 11-8, 7-6

PAC, reached second round of districts Key losses to graduation: Jackie Cerchio (center) Temple Daria Lucchesi Midfield (JMU) alana Cardaci (Shippensbu­rg) Key returners: Julie Byrne (Midfield/ UC Davis), Sydney Tornetta, Mia Tornetta Season outlook: “We will have a young team on the attacking end as we lost a number of key scorers so will be looking for some players to step up and replace the leadership and scoring that was done by a trio of attack players last year. We have some experience on the defense and will be looking to Sophomore Rachel O’Toole (Goalie) to quarterbac­k the defense.”

Mount St. Joseph

Head Coach: James Sheedy (2nd season) Last Year: 9-7. District Playoffs First Round Notable lost players: Katerie Krause (all league), Ashley Pine (all League), Adriann Mancinni (all league), Gwen Manchester Key Returning Players: Cara Anne Sheedy, Meredith Rickers, Liz Meister, Erica Brocato Season outlook: “With very little time outside, due to the weather, we are trying to work some things out. We have a promising group of young players, who may make an impact. Adifficult league, and non-league schedule will be a test. If we can gradually improve throughout the season, we will be very competitiv­e.”

Perkiomen Valley

Head Coach: Lisa Clark (2nd year) Last year’s record: 6-4 PAC Liberty, 13-8 overall, lost to eventual three-time champion Owen J. Roberts 11-10 in PAC semifinals; Topped Spring-Ford 8-7 in District 1-3A opener before suffering an 11-7 quarterfin­al loss to Springfiel­d (Montco) Key losses: Devon Fleischman­n (GK), Abby Bergman (M), Anna Koniencki (A) Key returners: Caitlin Leap, senior, Attack, Paige Tyson, junior, Attack, Kat Kelley, junior, Mid, Maggie Sell, junior, Defense

Plymouth Whitemarsh

Head Coach: Ellen Reilly (26th year) Last year’s record: 7-10 overall, 5-4 SOL Notable losses: Cate Golden, defense, American University, Sam Ward, defense Key returnees: Victoria Betterly, Ali Diamond, Meghan Ely, Sophie Kolkka, Sarah Putsch, Lilly Hanlon, Lexi Petrakis, Kennedy Reardon, Jess Marqulies, Haley Zygmunt, Raquel Baskin, Amanda Fineman, Callie Kolkka, Lucy Sullivan

Pope John Paul II

Head Coach: Maureen Burger (6th year) Last year’s record: 10-0 PAC Frontier, 13-6 overall, lost to Spring-Ford 16-9 in PAC semifinals; After topping Chichester 18-3 in District 1-2A opener, suffered season-ending 16-4 loss to Radnor Key losses: Lauren Bello - Attack, Kyle Cherneskie - Attack, Annie Colletta - Defense Key returners: Monica Rapchinski - attack, Grace Cobaugh - midfield, Charlotte Williamson, goalkeeper, Julia Latoff, mid/defense.

Souderton

Head Coach: Nancy Offner (2nd year) Last year’s record: 12-6, 6-3 SOL American Key losses: Kate Mardi, Katie Wittig, Maddy Knight Key returning players: Carlie Doughty, Riley McGowan, Sarah Goodwin, Kayla Moyer, Julianna Borisow, Lauren Scott Season outlook: “We are looking to have a strong season, relying on the strength and experience of returning players to provide leadership on and off the field. We are working towards a cohesive, well prepared team offense and defense to allow us to be competitiv­e in the top percentage of our league and district.”

Spring-Ford

Head Coach: Amy Short (8th year) Last year’s record: 13-5, 9-4 PAC

Players to watch: Natalie Wechter SR Mid; Mikayla Lynch SR, Def; Mac Doyle SR, Att; Olivia Yeagle JR, Mid; Cassie Marte JR, Mid; Jill Quigley JR, Att; Michaela Haney JR, Att Key losses: Lauren Mensch, Molly McMahon, Camryn Jones, Alyssa Conway, Kamille Ward Season outlook: “Spring-Ford is excited to play this year. We have a lot of returning talent, plus new players to add to the competitiv­eness of each practice. The girls are working hard to compete at high levels and we are taking every day as a new challenge.”

Upper Merion

Head Coach: Angie Yanocha (13th year) Last year’s record: Overall- 119, 8-2 PAC, lost in second round of districts Key losses: Francesca Lindelow, Attack, Gabrielle Struckus, Defense, Allison Shuster, Attack Key returners: Molly WeygandJun­ior, Midfield, First Team Frontier All-Division, Riley O’Malley- Junior, Midfield, First Team Frontier All-Division, Quinn O’Malley- Senior, Second Team Frontier All-Division, Karli FriendSeni­or, Defense, Andrea DavisSenio­r, Defense, Rella StaleySeni­or, Attack Players to Watch: Catherine Merritt, Freshman, Attack Season outlook: “We’re coming off a season where we finished 2nd in the PAC Frontier Division and went to the 2nd round of 2A Districts. We lost 3 key seniors from last year’s team, but are returning some very talented and strong players, and we also have some quality freshman to help fill the roster. We’ve been stuck indoors for most of the pre-season due to the weather, so we still have much to work on, but I’m very optimistic about the outlook of our season and how we’ll come together. It’s a great group of players who work hard and love to win.”

 ?? GENE WALSH — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA ?? Plymouth Whitemarsh’s Victoria Betterly passes the ball as Hatboro Horsham’s Emma Roesing defends.
GENE WALSH — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Plymouth Whitemarsh’s Victoria Betterly passes the ball as Hatboro Horsham’s Emma Roesing defends.
 ?? NATE HECKENBERG­ER — FOR DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA ?? Methacton’s Sydney Tornetta fires out an outlet pass with West Chester Rustin’s Shannon Drakely putting on the pressure.
NATE HECKENBERG­ER — FOR DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Methacton’s Sydney Tornetta fires out an outlet pass with West Chester Rustin’s Shannon Drakely putting on the pressure.

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