Photos: Zamani Feelings, Geanine Jamison, Ryan Nix & James Quinn
By: Marc Narducci
Episcopal Academy’s Lex Ventresca always looking to reach a new level
When many recruits make their college decision, there is often a sense of relief. For Episcopal Academy senior attack Lex Ventresca, the decision she made in September to attend Northwestern, was more of a motivating factor.
“I didn’t really feel there was a lot of weight taken off my shoulders because last year I played with the mentality of always trying to get better to play at the next level and I still play with that mentality,” Ventresca said. “Once you reach a certain level you are not finished, you have to keep on getting better every day, the journey is never done.”
In other words, she feels there is plenty of room for improvement.
Defenders in the Inter-Ac League may beg to differ.
Ventresca is a player who always makes things happen. She was a key performer on last year’s Inter-Ac League championship team and again is among the team leaders on an Episcopal Academy team that has designs of repeating.
Not only is Ventresca a prolific goal scorer, but she provides so many intangibles.
Episcopal Academy senior Lex Ventresca #22 - PSD Photo by James Quinn
"Lex is really enthusiastic and she’s a really great leader for our program,” EA coach Josie Tomaino said. “She leads by example, but she’s also a great vocal, positive leader for the younger kids to look up to”
Ventresca will be joining one of the top college programs in the country. Northwestern is ranked No. 2 nationally in this week’s Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association Poll.
She had plenty of reasons to choose Northwestern, which last won a national championship in 2012.
Episcopal Academy senior Lex Ventresca #22 - PSD Photo by James Quinn
“The coaches are the best in the country, and I really wanted to play for a team with the competitive atmosphere at Northwestern,” she said. “The school has amazing facilities, it’s an amazing sports community and I’m just really excited to get better every day.”
Winning the Inter-Ac title last year was special, especially since there was no Inter-Ac champion named the previous two years due to COVID.
“It was my first time competing for it and it was an amazing season, especially with the amount of growth we had,” Ventresca said. “We had great leaders with our seniors that really helped me for this year, leading our team.”
Episcopal Academy is 8-2, 2-0 this season, but it’s a team with a good mix of youth and experience. Ventresca is among six seniors on the team. The others are Alexa Cohen, Anna Maloney, Franny Gallagher, Sabrina Burnetta and Molly Delaney.
Ventresca got an early start into playing lacrosse. She began in the first grade and was coached by her mother Nicole. Her mother, who played at Ridley High, coached Lex up until she reached high school.
This school year, Ventresca also competed this year in field hockey and winter track for Episcopal Academy. The track background surely shows because Ventresca has a motor that won’t stop.
While she is looking forward to competing in the Big 10 for Northwestern, she is just as excited as attempting to repeat as Inter-Ac champion.
For Ventresca, the past accomplishments are memories she will always cherish, but she is intent on making future memorable moments, in a sport she has an undying passion for.
Inter-Ac standings (Through games played April 13)
Agnes Irwin 7-0, 3-0
Episcopal Academy 8-2, 2-0
Springside Chestnut Hill Academy 5-1, 3-1
Penn Charter 4-5, 1-2
Germantown Academy 7-3, 1-2
Academy of Notre Dame 1-7, 0-4
Young Agnes Irwin team impressive in offensive shootout
In a game that didn’t lack offense, Agnes Irwin stayed unbeaten in Inter-Ac play with a 19-14 win over Germantown Academy.
Sophomore midfielders Caroline Chisholm and Mairyn Dwyer each scored six goals. Chisholm also added an assist, two ground balls and four draw controls. Yet another sophomore midfielder, Catie Holmes, had five goals and an assist. Junior attack Molly Chorin, a Harvard commit, had four assists. Sophomore Blair Fox contributed 15 draw controls. Junior goalie Maggie Mullen, who has committed to Richmond, had four saves.
Agnes Irwin then earned a 12-6 win over the Hill School on Thursday as senior Hunter Fleitas and junior Ella Springer each had three goals. Eighth grader Kelsey Young scored twice. Mullen made three saves as did sophomore Rowan Pauzano.
Agnes Irwin vs. Germantown Academy - PSD Gallery by Geanine Jamison
Foster leads Quakers
Junior Aditi Foster had a big offensive game to lead Penn Charter to a 17-11 win over Notre Dame. Foster led the Quakers with six goals. She also had three ground balls, and two draw controls.
Senior Bea Buckley, who is headed to Drexel, had three goals as did Ohio State commit Gracie Shoup. In addition to the hat trick, Shoup had five assists, three ground balls and three draw controls. Another multiple goal scorer was senior Alex Glomb, a Penn commit, who had two goals, five ground balls and six draw controls.
Senior goalie Kayla Joyce, who is headed to Davidson, had 10 saves while classmate Toni Plunkett added five saves.
Penn Charter followed that up with a 12-11 double overtime victory over Georgetown Visitation on Thursday. Junior Grace Walter scored the game-winner. Besides scoring a goal, she also added three assists. Foster had four goals, three assists, four ground balls and three draw controls.
Penn Charter junior Aditi Foster #6 - Photo by Zamani Feelings
Buckley contributed three goals and one assist, while Shoup had one goal, two assists, three ground balls and eight draw controls. Other goal scorers were Harbor Campbell, Glomb (who also had seven ground balls) and Ava Diaz. Joyce made nine saves.
Another SCH milestone
This has been a season of milestones for players for Springside Chestnut Hill Academy. Last week we wrote about junior Alex Reilly recording her 100th career goal.
Another big milestone was achieved by senior Emma Bradbury, who earned her 200th draw control in a 16-8 win over Hill. Bradbury is a University of Michigan commit. While Bradbury has been adept at draws, she is also a big-time scorer for the Blue Devils.
During two wins this past week she scored a total of nine goals.
In a 12-4 Inter-Ac win over Germantown Academy, Bradbury had five goals, but also five draw controls. She added four goals and four draw controls in a 12-4 win over IMG Academy.
SCHA senior Emma Bradbury #11, earned her 200th draw control in 16-8 win vs. Hill School - PSD Photo by Zamani Feelings
Reilly, who has committed to Virginia, also had nine goals in the two wins. She had four goals, three assists, and four draw controls in the win over GA and five goals and seven draw controls in the victory over IMG.
Other standouts included junior Madison Freeman, who totaled five goals in the two wins. Junior Sarah Scollin, a Gettysburg commit, had two goals in the win over GA. Senior goalie Shay Romero, a Siena commit, totaled 19 saves in the two games. Junior midfielder Kerry O’Donnell totaled seven ground balls in the two wins.
All-Around game for GA’s Wanner
During the 14-9 loss to Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, Germantown Academy sophomore Sydney Wanner had a terrific all-around game. She contributed two goals, two assists, seven draw controls and six ground balls.
Two other multiple-goal scorers were senior Mia Raven, an Amherst commit, and junior Cate Luviano who each had two goals. Single goals were scored by senior Sarah Marvin (a Trinity College commit), junior Maggie Borek and junior UConn commit Lucia Smigiel. Sophomore goalie Sadie Hess totaled 16 saves.
This was an interesting game with both teams awarded a total of 13 yellow cards.
GA rebounded with a 12-11 win over Notre Dame.
Germantown Academy vs. Springside Chestnut Hill - PSD Highlights by Ryan Nix
Emma Goodwin had three goals, five assists, four draw controls and three ground balls. Wanner added three goals, three draw controls and a ground ball.
Raven had a goal and six draw controls and six ground balls, while Smigiel added two goals and Hess contributed six saves.
For Wanner, this has been a strong sophomore season.
She has been playing awesome, is a very strong attacker and very good one-on-one and also good seeing her teammates and finding others,” Germantown Academy coach Diana Shumar said. “She is a selfless player and makes really good team decisions while she is on the field.”
ND strong in defeat
The Academy of Notre Dame had a strong effort in a 12-11 loss on Thursday to Germantown Academy. Goalie Morgan Kelly made 15 saves, while Maeve Seeger contributed three goals, three assists and five ground balls. Cate Fox also had a hat trick. Alayna O’Donnell and Anya Dunn each had two goals. Kiera McHugh had eight ground balls, while Tessa Crossed had three.
Mark Your Calendar
On Tuesday (April 18) the teams with unbeaten Inter-Ac records (as of Thursday) will meet when Agnes Irwin plays host to Episcopal Academy. Agnes Irwin won its first three Inter-Ac games, beating Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, Academy of Notre Dame and Germantown Academy. Episcopal Academy’s league wins are over Academy of Notre Dame and Penn Charter.