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GIRLS LAX: Teams’ Remain Competitive as the Regular Season Comes to an End & A Champion Possibly Crowned in This Week’s Inter-Ac Notebook

By Marc Narducci, 05/12/23, 5:15PM EDT

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INTER-AC GIRLS LAX NOTEBOOK SPONSORED BY DYNASTY ELITE LACROSSE CLUB

Photos/Videos: Lennie Malmgren, James Quinn, Marc Narducci & Angelise Stuhl

By: Marc Narducci

Another banner for Episcopal Academy

For the second year in a row, Episcopal Academy’s girls’ lacrosse team has earned a championship banner.

The Churchwomen won their second straight title, clinching at least a tie with Monday’s 18-10 win over Springside Chestnut Hill Academy.

That gave EA an 8-0 league mark with two games to play. A win over Agnes Irwin or Germantown Academy in the remaining two games would give EA the outright championship.

Last year, when there was an extra team, EA went 11-1 in league play to capture the title.

The 18 goals against SCH were the second highest total this season for EA, with the highest coming in a 20-7 win over Germantown Academy.

To score 18 goals against an improving SCH team is quite a feat.

Was it the best offensive performance of the season?

“I wouldn’t say that Springside was our best offensive game of the season even though we did score 18 goals,” EA coach Josie Tomaino said. “We connected well in the second half and had a strong ride which allowed us a lot of second chances on attack.”

EA led 8-3 at the half. Seven different players scored in the win.

“What has made us effective this season is how balanced we are,” Tomaino said. “Everyone is a threat and ultimately, we really don’t care who scores. We’re just looking for the highest percentage shot and best opportunity for an EA goal.”

Sophomore Maura Irish led the way with five goals and two assists while senior Northwestern signee Lex Ventresca added four goals, two assists and three ground balls.

Junior Sydney Richter, a Georgetown commit, had nine draw controls, while sophomore Quinn Whitaker added three goals, two assists, five draw controls, six ground balls and one caused turnover.

Also scoring two goals each were sophomores Avery Le and Kate Dente. Junior Lainey McGonagle (Pitt) and freshman Teagan Cook also scored goals, while sophomore Grace Holland made four saves.

Inter-Ac standings (Through Thursday, May 11)

Episcopal Academy 8-0, 14-3

Agnes Irwin 6-2. 12-2

Penn Charter 4-4, 12-8

Springside Chestnut Hill Academy 5-5, 9-8-1

Germantown Academy 3-5, 12-6

Notre Dame 0-10, 2-14

Notre Dame showing plenty of competitive fire

Her team has not won a game in the Inter-Ac, but Academy of Notre Dame first-year coach Madelon Wood certainly has liked the fight in the Fighting Irish.

In Tuesday’s 13-7 loss at Germantown Academy, the players were cheering each other on and hustling to the very end.

Even down 8-1 at halftime, the players competed with spirit and heart and were encouraging each other against a talented Patriots team.

“We have been trying to instill to the girls that regardless of the score or how the game is going, there is no reason they should be giving up during the game,” Wood said. “The game is only 50 minutes, so why not play your heart out for 50 minutes.”

And that is what the Irish have done despite the youthful nature of the team.

The lone senior is UMass commit Katie Onderdonk and she suffered a season-ending ACL injury several weeks ago.


Academy of Notre Dame senior Katie Onderdonk #19 - PSD Photo by Lennie Malmgren

“Katie is an incredible player and was a huge player for us both defensively and offensively,” Wood said. “She was our draw girl, and everybody really looked up to her on the field and it has been a change in how we played but I think a lot of the girls have stepped up and filled the void.”

Even while being sidelined, Onderdonk has made an impact.

“She’s amazing, she still conti9nuously comes to everything,” Wood said. “I know she wants more than anything to play with her teammates in her senior year.”

The Irish have a good young group to build around.


Academy of Notre Dame freshman, Keira McHugh #1 - PSD Photo by Lennie Malmgren

In the game against GA, junior Maeve Seeger had two goals, three ground balls and three draw controls. Freshman Sienna Lavelle had two goals. Freshman Keira McHugh had one goal, one assist, three ground balls and three draw controls. Junior Moira Donahue had three ground balls and two caused turnovers. Sophomore Anya Dunn contributed one goal, one assist, three ground balls and two draw controls. Junior Kylie O’Brien, a Delaware commit, had one draw control. Junior Erin Sweeney made nine saves.

So things bode well for the future with a team that has earned valuable experience and never stopped competing, regardless of the score.

Marvin winding down a fine career at GA

Germantown Academy senior attack Sarah Marvin has played a major role in the resurgence for the Patriots. Wednesday’s 19-10 win over Mercersburg Academy improved the Patriots record to 12-6 under first-year coach Diana Schumar. That doubled the win total from last year when the Patriots were 6-12.

Schumar is the third coach in three seasons, so the seniors, who didn’t have a freshman season due to COVID, have had to go through plenty of change.


Germantown Academy senior Sarah Marvin #18 - PSD Photo by Marc Narducci

Yet Marvin and her classmates have done a good job helping turn things around.

“In the past two years we’ve really started to grow as a young team,” Marvin said. “And I think our junior class is really strong and I think our senior class, while diminished has been a really strong class.”

She also feels the sophomore class is growing in numbers to go along with a strong freshman class, so the future should be bright.

And if so, much credit will go to the seniors for persevering through the coaching changes.

“Playing lacrosse has been one of the best things that has happened to me here at GA, even between all the coaching changes and everything,” Marvin said.

Marvin will continue her education and lacrosse career at Division III Trinity College in Hartford Connecticut.

GA senior Sarah Marvin talks about the growth of the team this year - PSD Video by Marc Narducci

“I wanted to go to a good D-3 school and their league, the NESCAC (New England Small College Athletic Conference) is so competitive,” she said. “Every game is a battle, just like the Inter-Ac.”

Trinity just earned a berth in this year’s NCAA Division III playoffs. She wanted to attend a strong academic school.

“Trinity is a high academic school and that was my main priority,” said Marvin, who said she is looking to go into the computer science field.

As much as Marvin is looking forward to college, she will miss playing for Germantown Academy and against the top-flight competition of the Inter-Ac.

“In the Inter-Ac, every game is so competitive, and I play against some of my best friends from club teams and it is really fun to play against them,” she said.

As for her team?

“We’ve gotten a really strong connection this year,” she said. “I am really going to miss the team.”

More on GA

In the win over Notre Dame, senior Mia Raven (Amherst) had four goals, one assist, two draw controls and four ground balls. Juniors Emma Goodwin (Dartmouth) and Maggie Borek (U.S. Naval Academy) each had two goals and junior Cate Luviano added a goal, four draw controls and four ground balls. Sophomore Sydney Wanner had a goal and an assist and a team-high six draw controls while sophomore Sadie Hess made 11 saves.

Germantown Academy vs. Academy of Notre Dame - PSD Highlights by Marc Narducci

In the win over Mercersburg, Wanner and Goodwin each had four goals and two assists, while Luviano scored a hat trick and Marin added two goals, three assists and four ground balls. Raven, Borek and junior Lucia Smigiel (UConn) each had two goals.

Agnes Irwin continues to impress

In a non-league matchup between two strong programs, Agnes Irwin defeated Villa Maria, 12-11 on Wednesday.

Junior Ella Springer scored a hat trick. Sophomore Blair Fox added two goals, six draw controls and three ground balls. Classmate Catie Holmes had two goals and one assist. Sophomore Caroline Chisholm contributed one goal, one assist, seven ground balls and three draw controls. Other goal scorers were Kelsey Young, Katie Repp, Molly Chorin and Mairyn Dwyer, who had had three draw controls. Junior goalie Maggie Mullen (Richmond) made three saves.


Agnes Irwin junior Ella Springer #5 - PSD Photo by James Quinn

Penn Charter update

In consecutive days, Penn Charter played two challenging non-league games, losing 10-8 to Philadelphia Catholic League power Archbishop Carroll and beating Bishop Shanahan, 13-8.

Against Carroll, senior Bea Buckley had two goals, two assists, three ground balls and three caused turnovers, junior Aditi Foster added two goals, two assists, two ground balls and two draw controls.

Single goal scorers were Eva Walter, Molly Dougherty, Grace Walter (who also had two assists) and Gracie Shoup (Ohio State). Shoup also had seven draw controls. Kayla Joyce (Davidson) made eight saves.

Penn Charter vs. Archbishop Carroll - PSD highlights by Angelise Stuhl

In the win over Bishop Shanahan, Foster exploded for six goals and three draw controls. Grace Walter had four goals, while Shoup scored twice and had three draw controls. Alex Glomb also added three draw controls, while Joyce made 11 saves.

Tough recent schedule for SCH

Besides playing the always difficult Inter-Ac schedule, Springside Chestnut Hill Academy has also played a truly challenging non-league slate.

Just look at the last three games.

There was a 10-9 loss to Catholic League power Archbishop Carroll. Then came Inter-Ac play and the aforementioned 18-10 defeat to Inter-Ac champion Episcopal Academy.

Then on Thursday evening, SCH traveled to Summit, NJ and took a 14-10 loss. Summit is ranked No. 3 in the state by NJ.com.

In the Summit game senior goalie Shay Romero (Siena) made 12 saves.

Senior Emma Bradbury (Michigan) enjoyed an outstanding all-around game with four goals, four assists, eight draw controls, two caused turnovers and two ground balls.


Springside Chestnut Hill goalie Shay Romero #33 - PSD Photo by James Quinn

Junior Alex Reilly (Virginia) scored three goals and added two assists, three caused turnovers and two ground balls. Junior Madison Freeman contributed two goals, while classmate Sarah Scollin had two assists. Junior Cortney Neverosky had a goal and three draw controls while senior Caroline Foley had three ground balls and sophomore Maille Colin added two ground balls.