2016 PAISAA Girls' Lacrosse Tournament Championship
EA Team Introductions
AIS Team Introductions
RADNOR, PA – On Tuesday afternoon after earning a trip to the PAISAA final, Episcopal Academy senior Julia Hondros stated, “The Championship is for the taking.”
EA senior Julia Hondros is all smilies holding the 2016 PAISAA Trophy - PSD Photo
Little did Hondros know that approximately 48-hours later, her and the rest of the Churchwomen would actually raise the coveted PAISAA plaque.
During the regular season, Episcopal and Agnes Irwin spilt their series in two very physical games. The first game ended with an overtime score of 11-10 in the Churchwomens’ favor. The second game resulted in a score of 7-6 with the Irwin’s coming away victorious. Yesterday afternoon at Cabrini College, the past remained in the past as both teams focused on the present game at hand and battled for the PAISAA Title.
Recap:
Episcopal sophomore, Katie Crager, and junior, Taylor Lucey, propelled the Churchwomen on the offensive attack. Crager and Lucey each added two goals to their name, sending the Irwins into the half trailing 4-0.
EA vs. AIS PAISAA Highlight Video
After the brief intermission, Brown University commit, Julia Hondros, scored EA’s fifth goal with 22:39 remaining on the game clock. AIS Harvard commit, Kristin Burnetta, scored her teams’ first goal at the 18-minute mark in the second half, which was quickly followed by another EA goal scored by Corinne Zanolli.
AIS senior and Dartmouth commit Kate White, scored her teams’ second goal, which quickly resulted in an EA timeout. Grace Norley answered with her first goal to enhance the Churchwomen’s lead 7-2.
Final seconds of the PAISAA Championship
2016 PAISAA Award Ceremony
Just when it seemed like EA was smoothly sailing into the final minutes, the Irwins got their second wind. Seniors Laura Pansini, Lila Barker and Kristen Burnetta scored three back to back goals to cut their deficit to only two goals, making the score 7-5 with 1:38 remaining. In the end, Lauren Brenner scored EA’s final goal, which resulted in an on-field blue and white celebration. Final Score: EA 8, AIS 5.
This win marked the fourth PAISAA Championship for Episcopal Academy. Head coach Josie Ferri explained that the game-plan coming in consisted of taking control of their own destiny.
“The girls did an excellent job of executing our game plan today. We controlled the tempo and really took advantage of the opportunities that we needed,” said Ferri, who was christened with a bucket of water after the victory. “Our slogan for today was, ‘Take It- take every opportunity you see and if you think you don’t have one, make one’ so it was take it or make it.”
Ferri also noted that each game her team played this season prepared them for claiming the PAISAA Title, as the Churchwomen faced some of the highest nationally ranked teams on the East coast.
“Throughout the season, we have been playing some of the most competitive teams in the country. Our schedule was loaded with in and out of state powerhouses, both public and private. I believe those challenges really prepared us for the intensity of the Inter-Ac league and ultimately for this Championship game,” said Ferri.
EA sophomore Katie Crager talks about what attributed to their victory & commends her senior class
EA seniors Colby Gallagher & Julia Hondros can’t contain their excitement while discussing their season and winning the PAISAA Title
The Irwins also had a strong regular season schedule, playing teams such as Bishop Ireton, St. Stephens and Moorestown, all of which are ranked as the Top 25 girls’ lacrosse teams in the country. Agnes Irwin’s head coach, Jenny Duckenfield, commended EA on a toughly fought match and praised her “Sensational Six” seniors on the success they had during their time as Owls.
“First off, I want to say congratulations to the EA lacrosse team. They played a great game,” said Duckenfield. “I am extremely proud of my team’s success and their accomplishments over the past four years. The adversity our team overcame this season to get to the final game shows the commitment and depth of our program. I want to thank my seniors Hannah Keating and Kristin Burnetta (Harvard), Emily Fryer (Brown University), Kate White (Dartmouth), Sarah Platt (University of Virginia) and Laura Pansini (Princeton). Their legacy has forever changed the culture of AIS lacrosse to a winning program.”
**The first photo gallery consists of EA team photos with the PAISAA trophy, the second gallery contains photos from the game**
