NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA – Episcopal looks to claim their fourth PAISAA lacrosse title after defeating Penn Charter 17-8 yesterday afternoon.
Episcopal will face Inter-Ac rival, Agnes Irwin, tomorrow at Cabrini College for the 2016 PAISAA title. EA’s head coach, Josie Ferri, explained that her girls have been training all season with the goal of reaching the PAISAA championship game.
“This entire season has been preparation for the PAISAA tournament, I think we feel really really ready. At this point it’s about our mentality and how we are mentally preparing because we have all the tools we need to come away with the win,” said coach Ferri. “The girls are excited and I’m excited to get the opportunity to compete again at a really high level.”
EA's Katie Crager led her team with 6 goals
The Churchwomen spilt their series with the Irwin’s in two physical match-ups this season. EA senior, Julia Hondros, is looking forward to getting the opportunity to take back the title tomorrow afternoon.
EA vs. PC (72 Photos)
“I’m excited, I feel like we have a lot to prove and the championship is for the taking, it’s not given to either team. You have to go out there and get it because no team is entitled to it. So I’m really excited to show them what we can do on Thursday,” said Hondros, who is committed to Brown University.
For Penn Charter’s head coach Colleen Magarity, this game marked the end of her first season coaching the Quakers.
“The biggest thing for me was that I wanted to implement working hard and getting better every single day and focus on the small things. At first they weren’t totally getting it, but then they realized that little things like stick work and moving the goalie before you shoot really does matter,” said Magarity. “Ground balls and draw controls were a huge thing for me with this team because for our sport if you win the draw you can control the game. They definitely took huge strides and started to implement the same things I repeated over and over again. I couldn’t have asked for a better group of girls or better seniors to have for my first head coaching job here.
From left to right: PC's seniors Hannah Fox, Sarah Fleming, and Meredith Chernak pose for a picture on senior day - photo courtesy of C. Fox.
This year Penn Charter had three seniors, Hannah Fox, Sarah Fleming and Meredith Chernak. Although a small senior class, coach Magarity couldn’t help but praise the trio for their leadership on and off the field.
“I coached Hannah for basketball, so I knew how competitive she was. She would do anything it takes to win, so having her lead this team helped a lot. Sarah and Meredith were also awesome. It made my job a little bit easier to have three great seniors,” said Magarity.
PC’s Macaul Mellor offers well wishes for her teams’ three seniors.
PC’s Hannah Fox leaves advice for her underclassmen teammates
Going forward, coach Magarity is looking forward to competing again next season with her strong group of underclassmen.
“Macaul (Mellor) is awesome. She is the heart and sole of this team and works hard,” said Magarity. “Courtney Cubbin, Jamilah Buie, and Perri Keehfuss are my other juniors who are great. Greer Guyer has so much potential and I’m working with her to realize that she hasn’t even hit her utmost potential and to keep working for it.”
Looking Ahead: EA will take the field against AIS in the PAISAA Championship tomorrow afternoon at Cabrini College. Game time is set for 3:45PM.