BRYN MAWR, PA – In the standings, it only counted as one game.
To Baldwin School’s lacrosse team, it meant a whole lot more than that.
Led by Myla Barnett’s four goals, the Bears stunned visiting Penn Charter yesterday afternoon, 8-6, for their first Inter-Academic League victory of the season.
“We were definitely excited to show what we have,” said Barnett. “It was our first home game and it was just the fight and the grit that we put together. What we worked on in practice is definitely starting to pay off.”
Barnett played perhaps her best game in a Baldwin uniform. She scored four of her squad’s first six goals, helping the Bears to a 6-4 lead early in the second half.
The magnitude of the opportunity wasn’t lost on the University of Virginia-bound senior, and she was determined to make the most of it.
“I was super excited,” said Barnett. “This is my last year. I’m giving everything that I have and cherishing these last moments. I’m really happy with my shooting today and looking forward to continuing to work hard.”
Baldwin School seniors Myla Barnett & Marissa McGarrey and junior Natalie Sgro summarize Baldwin's 8-6 victory over Penn Charter - video by John Knebels
Barnett’s contribution was in danger of not being enough. A suddenly re-energized Penn Charter (3-2 in Inter-Ac) created a 6-6 tie on goals by sophomores Vanessa Ewing and Leah Sax, the latter occurring with 6:49 remaining in regulation. It marked the second goal of the game by both players.
Undaunted, the Bears (1-4) immediately responded with the eventual game-winner off the stick of senior Marissa McGarrey just 41 seconds later.
“Getting it off the draw, I just recognized that I had the space and I had the time,” said McGarrey, who next season will play at Franklin and Marshall College. “Today personally wasn’t my best shooting day, but I realized that we really needed the goal. I think it’s really important to acknowledge all of the goals that led up to that. Everyone on our team worked their butts off today to get the result.”
Only 44 seconds more seconds had elapsed before junior Natalie Sgro scored from in close to give Baldwin some insurance. The Bears then controlled most of the remainder of the contest in their end, denying the Quakers any last heroics.
When the final whistle sounded, the Bears sprinted to junior goalie Olivia Tornetta. For the first time this season, Baldwin could celebrate a league win. The Bears don’t expect it to be their last.
“It was really important for us,” said Sgro. “Baldwin has been known as the underdogs in lacrosse in the past. But our goal this year is to kind of change that and let everyone know that we actually are competitive.”
A recent team meeting seemed to pay immediate dividends.
“We went over what we wanted to get out of the rest of the season,” said assistant coach Jessie Beer. “We wanted to see what we could change and we all wrote down our team goals for the rest of the season.”
First-year head coach Megan Cameron was obviously pleased with the early dividends.
“We had a lot of preparation the past week really nailing down our plays, focusing on the little things,” said Cameron. “We still have a lot to focus on. Our shooting percentage was not very high today. We are putting the little things all together and it was a great team win all-around.
“I think the girls have been doubting themselves all season. I don’t think they realize how good they actually are. Again, it’s putting all of the little things together and believing in ourselves.”
Both coaches lauded the leadership of seniors Barnett and McGarrey and said it has had a carryover effect on the younger Bears.
Baldwin School head coach Megan Cameron and assistant Jessie Beer explain the Bears' new approach to lacrosse:
Baldwin vs. WPC - Photos by John Knebels
(L to R) Baldwin School's lax team has two new faces this year - Assistant coach Jessie Beer & head coach Megan Cameron (prior high school teammates on Conestoga's lax team) look to bring a new spark to the Bear's program - PSD photo John Knebels
“Our freshmen are getting a lot of playing time, so now that they’re on the field they can’t act like they’re freshmen,” said Beer. “Grade doesn’t matter once you step on that field. Our freshmen have done a really good job of having a voice and having some leadership on the attack and defense and it’s really showing and coming through in these big games.”
McGarrey concurs.
“This season is definitely a turnaround season,” said McGarrey. “We have the ability. We have the confidence. We have the motivation. Our coaches are really skilled and fresh out of college. They know the game, and they’re really willing to help us get better. That’s what Baldwin lacrosse really needs right now.”
Meanwhile, the Quakers received a dose of humility.
“I definitely think it’s a growing experience,” said Penn Charter freshman Kaylee Dyer. “We beat Notre Dame, we beat GA (Germantown Academy). We came into this thinking we were going to win. We didn’t come in as hard as we should have.
“They definitely played hard and we should have played harder. I give them respect. They earned that win.”
Penn Charter coach Colleen Magarity sensed her team was overlooking its foe. Despite repeated warnings, the Quakers had trouble forging momentum and finding its typical resolve. Magarity is hoping her players learned a valuable lesson.
“This team was a very, very good team,” said Magarity. “They have a couple of studs that took over and we couldn’t stop. Kudos to Baldwin for playing extremely well.”
A classy Penn Charter coach, Colleen Magarity, lauds her opposition and admits she had an uneasy feeling about her team's battle vs. Baldwin:
Looking Ahead: Baldwin will travel to face an undefeated Inter-Ac Agnes Irwin squad this Thursday (April 19) at 3:30 PM. Penn Charter will play two non-league games against Abington HS and Bryn Mawr School (MD) on Thursday and Saturday before resuming league play against the Irwins at home on Tuesday (April 24) at 3:45 PM.
(John Knebels can be reached at Jknebels@gmail.com or on Twitter @johnknebels.)