Inter-Ac Notebook (4/16)
A great rivalry between nationally ranked Agnes Irwin and Episcopal Academy; the continued success of a Penn Charter freshman and a Notre Dame sophomore; Episcopal Academy keeps dominating; Agnes Irwin following suit.
Photos: Lennie Malmgren, Kathy Leister & Grayson Rupp
By: Marc Narducci
Last year and in many seasons, it is must-see lacrosse, and the same will occur this week when Episcopal Academy visits Agnes Irwin in Thursday’s 3:30 p.m. matchup.
These are not only two of the best teams in the area, but nationwide. In last week’s USA Lacrosse Magazine’s National Top 25, Episcopal Academy was No. 2 and Agnes Irwin No. 14.
In what could be a fitting conclusion to the regular season, the rematch will be May 13 at Episcopal Academy.
Last year the teams tied for the Inter-Ac title, but in a most unconventional way. Agnes Irwin won both regular season meetings by the slightest of margins, 11-10 in triple overtime, and 9-8.
Agnes Irwin bested Episcopal Academy in both regular season meetings last season, with one game going into triple overtime - PSD Photo by Lennie Malmgren
Since Agnes Irwin had suffered league losses to Penn Charter and Notre Dame, the teams were Inter-Ac co-champions. Episcopal Academy then enacted revenge with a 9-6 victory in the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association (PAISAA) state championship game.
This year Episcopal Academy coach Josie Tomaino said her team won’t compete in the PAISAA tournament, so the regular season meetings will take on an even greater meaning, if that is somehow possible.
Episcopal Academy began the week 10-0 overall and 4-0 in the Inter-AC, while Agnes Irwin was 8-1, 3-0.
Both teams have a high mutual respect for each other, while also realizing this is yet another major measuring stick.
Episcopal Academy head coach Josie Tomaino - PSD Photo by Lennie Malmgren
“We definitely have something to prove,” Tomaino said. “We lost to them twice last year to them, then won the PAISAA championship, but we are definitely looking to kind of keep the momentum that we’ve had from the beginning of this season and continue to grow so that we can win the Inter-Ac outright.”
Agnes Irwin has a similar outlook.
Agnes Irwin head coach Lauren Wray - PSD Photo by Lennie Malmgren
“I think at this point of the season we are both undefeated in the league and we both have really strong senior classes, so these girls have known each other a long time and played against and with each other a long time,” Agnes Irwin coach Lauren Wray said. “We are both really athletic, talented team and it is always a great emotional matchup when we play them, and I don’t expect Thursday to be any different.”
In Wray’s opinion, it doesn’t get any better than what this year’s matchup offers.
“To be honest, I think it is some of the best lacrosse in the country,” she said. “I don’t think you will get better talent on the field with (nearly) every kid playing Division I and it is a great environment.”
Episcopal Academy, which has had standout seniors Maura Irish and Avery Le sidelined, saw both return last week. Irish is a Notre Dame commit while Le will attend Penn.
Adding those two quality veterans back to the lineup, makes a great team even stronger.
There may not be enough space to name all the Division I talent in the game. Episcopal Academy is led by midfielder Quinn Whitaker (Boston College) who last year scored six goals in Episcopal Academy’s 9-6 PAISAA championship win over Agnes Irwin.
Whitaker is one of those players who does anything it takes to win. If you need two hat tricks, she will do that, but she also can help control the flow of the game. She has multiple ways to beat opposing defenses.
Agnes Irwin has its own group of high-profile players, led by senior Caroline Chisholm, who ironically will be a teammate of Whitaker next season at Boston College.
Good luck to future ACC defenses that have to try to contain this duo.
Chisholm is such a dangerous player because she can beat teams with both power and finesse.
Highlights from the 2024 PAISAA Championship - the last time Episcopal Academy and Agnes Irwin met, which saw EA win 9-6 - PSD Video by Marc Narducci
There are so many players on both teams who are capable of producing big plays.
One suggestion – spectators preparing to attend should get there early for the 3:30 p.m. game.
“Last year’s games were close, and we expect it to be a great battle,” Wray said. “We are hoping we get a lot of fans at the game, and we are hoping for good energy and weather.”
More on Episcopal Academy
Episcopal Academy has won its four Inter-Ac games by a 61-10 margin. Last week the Churchwomen earned wins over Germantown Academy and Springside Chestnut Hill Academy.
Twelve different players scored in the win over SCH, with junior Nora Bailer (Gettysburg) scoring twice and contributing five draw controls.
In the win over Germantown Academy, senior Kate Dente (Princeton) scored four goals and Maura Irish and junior Teagan Cook (Georgetown) each scored a hat trick.
Episcopal Academy vs. Germantown Academy - PSD Photos by Kathy Leister
Quinn Whitaker scores for EA in a 16-2 win vs. Germantown Academy - PSD Video by Marc Narducci
Two convincing wins for Agnes Irwin
Agnes Irwin had two convincing wins, over the Hun School and then a 17-6 Inter-Ac victory over Notre Dame.
In the Notre Dame win, sophomore Kelsey Young had five goals and seniors Mairyn Dwyer (North Carolina) and Catie Holmes (Maryland) each scored four goals. During the win over Hun School, 13 different players scored, led by Rowan Lawrence (Denver) who had three goals along with two assists.
Penn Charter with another strong week
After a 7-6 loss to Agnes Irwin on April 4, Penn Charter had two convincing wins this past week, defeating Springside Chestnut Hill Academy and the Hill School by a combined 36-3 score.
Against the Hill School, junior Molly Dougherty (Michigan), senior Kenighan Mattice (Harvard) and sophomore Cate Wall each had four goals while freshman Makenna Myers added 17 draw controls. Juniors Harbor Campbell (Loyola) and Ana Buckley (Dartmouth) each had hat tricks.
Penn Charter freshman Makenna Myers #24 - PSD Photo by Lennie Malmgren
Dougherty had eight goals in the win over SCH, while Myers contributed 12 draw controls.
Myers has been an impressive contributor for what is a young Penn Charter team.
“She is crushing it,” Penn Charter coach Colleen Kelly said. “Her size, with the way she moves makes her special.”
The Quakers ended the week with a 10-5 win over Downingtown East. Dougherty led the way with five goals while junior Buckley added a hat trick.
Single goals were scored by Campbell and Mattice, who also both had assists. Myers contributed 12 draw controls, while junior Maeve Magarity (Boston College) had three saves and two caused turnovers.
Big performance for Notre Dame’s Davis
Sophomore Riley Davis has continued her high-scoring ways for Notre Dame.
In a 21-14 non-league win over Lawrenceville Davis had eight goals, one assist and six draw controls. Teammate Erin Conroy contributed five goals, while Emma Anthony (Rutgers) provided two goals and seven assists.
Returning back to Inter-Ac action, Notre Dame fell to Agnes Irwin, 17-6. Anthony had a strong game with three goals, one assist and two draw controls. Davis contributed two goals, three assists and five draw controls. The other goal scorer was Lila McGrath, who also had a draw control.
Academy of Notre Dame sophomore Riley Davis #31 - PSD Photo by Grayson Rupp