FORT WASHINGTON, PA –The Agnes Irwin Owls (1-0, 1-0), defending Inter-Ac and PAISAA Champions, took the field on the road Tuesday against the Germantown Academy Patriots (0-1, 0-1). With a final score of 19-4, the Owls showed that they are still the girls’ lacrosse Inter-Ac team to beat.
“We take every game seriously,” said head coach Jenny Duckenfield. “GA is a great team and coach Watson has done a fantastic job with her girls…there’s tremendous lacrosse in this area.”
In the first half, AIS took control on both sides of the field leading GA to an almost scoreless half with a score of 12-1. The Patriots found themselves in a half-time deficit that few would be able to escape from due to the Owls nearly flawless performance.
AIS vs. GA (50 Photos)
GA continued to battle in the second half and managed to score three more goals on AIS freshman goalie, Camilla Gowen. But it was not enough to halt the Irwin’s momentum. The Owls scored seven more goals, leading to the 19-4 finish.
GA’s four goals are attributed to captain Betsy Prezioso, with two, and freshmen Olivia Doody and Cammie Korman each contributing one.
As for Agnes Irwin, it was an all out team effort having nine different goal scorers: Lila Barker (5), Kristin Burnetta (3), Laura Pansini (3), Alex Hark (2), Emily Wills (2), Olivia Carey (1), Maria Pansini (1), Natalie Pansini (1), and Emily Coyne (1).
This season, Agnes Irwin is playing without senior attack and Harvard commit, Hannah Keating. Keating, National Player of the Year, suffered a torn ACL while playing soccer in the fall. The team is also without junior goalie, Hailey Andress, who is recovering from a concussion. Without Keating making plays on the field and Andress’s confidence in goal, coach Duckenfield is relying on a few other roster standouts to guide her team on the field.
“Lilia Barker has done a fabulous job being a playmaker and scorer and Kristin Burnetta has just torched the mid-field with her speed and Laura Pansini has done a great job keeping the attack,” said Duckenfield. “Camilla (goalie) has really stepped in and owns that cage and she has done a really good job for us.”
AIS Soph. Maria Pansini discusses their first team victory
AIS Jr. Lila Barker talks about her team's chemistry
All in all, coach Duckenfield is proud of her entire team on the way both upper and under classmen have displayed their leadership. The Owls encourage each other to excel both in practice and during games and establish an “un-selfish” attitude both on and off the field.
“Our seniors are wonderful leaders but I also have wonderful leaders in each grade. Lilia, a junior, and Maria Pansini is only a sophomore and she really has been doing a strong job on the defensive end. They have taken responsibility when they are out there on the field,” said Duckenfield. “We have been together for four years, so my team knows what to do and what’s expected and they have become almost an extension of me on the field. You know as a coach that you’re doing good job when your players are telling the younger players what to do and the younger players are executing.”
While it’s nice for the Owls to start their season off with a league victory, coach Duckenfield explains that her team’s challenging season is only just beginning.
“We have a very strong schedule in the beginning of the season. We already saw the McDonogh School in a scrimmage and we have to play Bishop Ireton and St. Agnes, so it’s crazy how strong our schedule is that it’s so exciting for us,” said Duckenfield.
Jr. Olivia Carey scores for AIS
Sr. Kristin Burnetta scores 1 of 3 goals
Looking ahead, the Owls will not have another league game until they play away at Episcopal on April 5th. The Patriots are also heading on the road before facing Baldwin at home on April 8th.