INTER-AC NOTEBOOK (4/22)
GA’s Wanner a true leader; Episcopal Academy continues to roll against quality opponents, Agnes Irwin’s Lawrence talks Denver; Penn Charter continues to progress with a young team and Notre Dame’s Davis continues to score big
Photos/Videos: Zamani Feelings, Lennie Malmgren, Marc Narducci, Mike Szcepkowski
By: Marc Narducci
After Missing Last Year Due To Injury, Germantown Academy’s Sydney Wanner has made quite a comeback.
PHILADELPHIA -- It’s been quite a comeback season for Germantown Academy senior Sydney Wanner, who missed all of last season while rehabbing a torn ACL. Now she has become the true leader of a young Germantown Academy program that has 24 freshmen.
Despite facing tight defenses every game, Wanner has been the leader of the Patriots’ attack.
More than anything, she has come back strong after missing last season. The encouragement she received a year ago provided a major boost.
Germantown Academy senior Sydney Wanner #11 - PSD Photo by Mike Szcepkowski
“It’s been difficult, but I think the girls around me just really propelled me to another level, like feeling I was included (last year),” she said after a recent game with Penn Charter. “I was part of the team, plus they always were just encouraging me to keep me focused and working.”
The injury even had an impact on her future academic plans.
“I always wanted to work as a doctor since I was young, so that was a dream of mine,” she said. “Last year with the injury, having worked closely with my surgeon, I think I’m just so drawn to orthopedics and my surgery and all that good stuff, so I’m just following that path.”
Wanner says she will not decide on major right away.
‘I am going in undecided, but I am definitely looking something biochemistry, pre-med, anything in that range.”
First-year Germantown Academy coach Colleen Dawson says that Wanner’s presence has been invaluable for such a young team. Wanner has played both attack and midfield for the Patriots.
“She is an awesome player,” Dawson said. “Sydney is helping lead on both ends of the field, she is somebody who has such a great lax IQ and she helps in every area with the young kids.”
Dawson says that Wanner has set a positive tone.
“She is super confident in herself, she is confident in her teammates, and she has been doing a great job,” Dawson said.
Wanner has become a key mentor to the many young players on the team.
“I would like to say I try to be a good role mode for them,” she said. “I definitely base a lot of my decisions on the field and off the field at school around how I want the girls to grow and become good players and athletes.”
GA senior Sydney Wanner talks about her decision to attend Georgetown - PSD Video by Marc Narducci
Wanner will continue her education and lacrosse career at Georgetown.
“I went to camp (at Georgetown) my sophomore year and immediately fell in love with it,” she said. “And then I just kept talking to them through the beginning of my junior year.”
When she took her visit to the campus, it made a major impression.
“I took a visit down there and I just fell in love with the people,” she said. “I like the style they pay, the culture and then obviously Georgetown is a high academic school, so it was the perfect balance for me.”
Even though the wins have been difficult to come by this year, Wanner is one of the players helping to set the tone for the future, one she feels will be bright for the Patriots.
“I think our younger girls especially will definitely get a lot out of it this year, a lot of learning, how to work together,” she said. “They will work together for four years, and it will be incredible.”
EA makes a statement
It was billed the game of the year, but it turned out to be another major statement made by Episcopal Academy.
In a game featuring last year’s Inter-Ac co-champions, Episcopal Academy defeated Agnes Irwin last week, 10-3.
Episcopal Academy improved to 12-0 overall and 5-0 in the Inter-Ac. The Churchwomen have played one of the most ambitious schedules, with one nationally ranked opponent after another.
Episcopal Academy remained ranked No. 2 nationally in last week’s USA Lacrosse Magazine Top 25.
Agnes Irwin was No. 9 and Episcopal just beat the No. 9 team by seven goals.
There was a 12-4 win over McDonough (MD), which is ranked third.
Add in another 8-goal win over No. 16 Good Counsel of Maryland. Plus there was a 17-8 win over No. 15 Stone Ridge (MD).
You get the picture. EA is winning convincingly over nationally ranked teams.
There are still plenty of challenges, and the last thing coach Josie Tomaino wants to hear about is how great her team is. She is only concerned about the next game. Any talk about greatness for Tomaino and her team must wait until the season is over.
As for the win over Agnes Irwin, the Churchwomen certainly didn’t enter the contest having read any press clippings.
“Our games with AIS are always heated and intense,” Tomaino said. “Our programs have a really awesome rivalry.”
So Episcopal went into the game with a certain focused mindset.
“We new that maintaining our composure and remaining focused on our game plan would be critical to our success,” she said. “The girls did an incredible job staying present and poised throughout the entire contest.”
Episcopal Academy vs. Agnes Irwin - PSD Highlights by Lennie Malmgren
EA senior Kate Dente said that "Playing as a Family" and great preparation is what made the Churchwomen come away victoriously - PSD Video by Lennie Malmgren
EA senior goaltender Grace Holland credits her defense for an extremely impressive performance against an explosive AIS team - PSD Video by Lennie Malmgren
More on EA
Against Agnes Irwin, senior Kate Dente (Princeton) had three goals and three assists. Classmate Quinn Whitaker (Boston College) scored a hat trick. Senior Maura Irish (Notre Dame) had two goals and two draw controls, while junior Teagan Cook (Georgetown) scored twice. Senior Abby Schwartz contributed three ground balls and two caused turnovers, classmate Avery Le (Penn) had a goal and fellow senior Grace Holland (Boston College) made 10 saves.
More on Agnes Irwin
In the aforementioned loss to Episcopal Academy, Agnes Irwin senior Caroline Chisholm (Boston College) had one goal, one ground ball and nine draw controls. Senior Catie Holmes (Maryland) added a goal and draw control, while senior Mairyn Dwyer (North Carolina) had the other goal.
Also last week in an 18-6 Inter-Ac win over Germantown Academy, Chisholm and sophomore Kelsey Young each scored four goals and Dwyer had a hat trick.
Agnes Irwin vs. Episcopal Academy - PSD Gallery by Lennie Malmgren
Agnes Irwin vs. Germantown Academy - PSD Photos by Mike Szczepkowski
AI’s Lawrence talks about attending Denver
Agnes Irwin senior attack Rowan Lawrence will be attending Denver, which was ranked No. 24 in last week’s Inside Lacrosse national Top 25. As recently as 2023, Denver advanced to the NCAA Final Four.
This was a school that wasn’t originally on Lawrence’s radar.
"At first it wasn’t a school I was particularly looking at but when I went on my visit, I fell in love with the coaches, the school and the team and I knew that when I got to campus, that was going to be my place,” she said. “It was the only visit I went on and I committed on my visit there and was one of the best decisions I ever made and I am super excited.”
There will be a challenge playing at the altitude in Denver.
Agnes Irwin senior attack Rowan Lawrence #25 - PSD Photo by Lennie Malmgren
“I went out over the summer for the Prospect Day and it was definitely a hard adjustment and I will definitely have to train in the preseason a lot,” she said. “It honestly is an advantage for us once you get out there because teams that come from other areas, aren’t used to the altitude and will be a benefit for us.”
Penn Charter continues to progress
With only one senior starter, Penn Charter has made good progress this season. The Quakers began with a five-game winning streak since suffering a 7-6 loss to Agnes Irwin.
“We are very, very young, so it’s been exciting to see all the young freshmen,” Penn Charter coach Colleen Kelly said. “The young girls are stepping up every game, the freshmen and sophomores are making big plays.”
Penn Charter junior Ana Buckley #16 - Photo by Zamani Feelings
With all the young players, it has been veteran junior, Ana Buckley, who has been one of the leaders. Buckley will attend Dartmouth.
“She is fast, explosive and really having a breakout year,” Kelly said.
In last week’s 16-4 win over Germantown Academy, junior Molly Dougherty (Michigan) scored four goals, while Buckley and junior Harbor Campbell (Loyola) both had a hat trick.
Also last week in a 10-5 non-league win over Bishop Shanahan, junior goalie Maeve Magarity (Boston College) made six saves. Dougherty scored four goals, and Campbell added a hat trick.
Notre Dame Academy update
Notre Dame Academy sophomore Riley Davis continued her high scoring ways during last week’s 15-3 win over Springside Chestnut Hill Academy. She led the way with five goals, while also contributing three draw controls. Erin Conroy had a hat trick and one assist, while Emma Anthony (Rutgers) contributed two goals, four assists and one ground ball.
During a 17-9 non-league loss to Manheim, Anthony had four goals, Davis contributed three and Conroy scored twice.
SCH Round-up
Devon Donato scored twice in Springside Chestnut Hill Academy’s loss last week to Notre Dame Academy. Madigan Wallach added a goal while Kass Magarity had an assist.
SCH also played a difficult non-league opponent in Marple Newtown, losing 18-5.
Haley Hamsher scored two goals for the Blue Devils. Magarity, Donato and Riley Zlotkin each scored a goal, with Brae Powell contributing two assists and Maille Colin getting one. Goalie Jenna Seidman made three saves.