SOL American race about to take off
PW, Upper Dublin and Wissahickon aiming to take down Abington
With good reason, when the subject of District One lacrosse comes up, the usual names come up right along with it.
There are the teams of the Central League, the Pioneer Athletic Conference and even the Philadelphia Catholic League that take center stage.
Rarely, if ever, does the Suburban One League get mentioned among the lacrosse elite.
But things may be changing, at least this year.
In the Suburban One’s American Conference, there is a logjam at the top of the girls favorites list, with Abington, Plymouth Whitemarsh, Wissahickon, Souderton and even Upper Dublin receiving notoriety as the conference’s top teams.
Abington, with All-Americans Sam McGee and Casey McCallister leading the way, are the slight favorites, with PW and Upper Dublin not far behind.
The Ghosts would appear to have what it takes to run away with the league title, but PW surprised Abington a season ago to ultimately wear the SOL American crown, and the Colonials believe they can do it again.
“Abington is the favorite, I don’t think there’s any question about that,” said Colonials head coach Ellen Reilly. “But they were the favorites last year, too.
“Abington is the favorite, I don’t think there’s any question about that. But they were the favorites last year, too.” — Ellen Reilly, PW head coach
“What we have to do is kind of what we did last year. We have to try and limit McGee and take away her options, force her to give the ball up. But that’s easier said than done. She’s such a good player.”
McGee was a huge factor in last year’s game, won, 7-6, by PW with a late goal from Aurora Mills.
This year, PW’s star player of a season ago, Monica Dresnin, is gone, now playing at Rutgers.
But that doesn’t mean the Colonials can’t pull off what would be a mild upset.
The game is slated for Thursday of this week, at Abington, and will go a long ways toward determining the SOL American crown. *** On the boys side of things, Germantown Academy, winners of just six games all of last year, are off to a 3-1 start under rookie head coach Billy McKinney., including a near-miss, overtime loss to Spring-Ford.
McKinney, a product of Penn Charter, who has enjoyed collegiate coaching stints at Lafayette, Haverford and Saint Joseph’s, is enjoying his new gig, especially working with high school-aged athletes.
“The beauty of high school over college is that you’re playing so many more games,” McKinney said after a recent win over Plymouth Whitemarsh. “And it’s fun to watch a player progress over the course of a season.” *** Lacrosse has never quite caught on for the Norristown boys’ teams.
Including this year’s 0-3 start, the Eagles are 22-174 since the program’s inception in 2006.