RIDLEY — After a couple of canceled games this week, the Garnet Valley girls’ lacrosse team was excited to start playing again.
On a rare day without heavy rain, strong winds or lightning, the Jaguars played really well. Jenny Green and Taylor Halloran each scored four goals, and Sammy Wood scored three in a 15-7 win over Ridley in Central League action on Thursday at Phil Marion Field.
“This past week has been kind of crazy,” Green said. “We were supposed to play Springfield Tuesday and then it was moved to Wednesday. We went there, warmed up and then it got postponed. We were all very frustrated about the whole week, so we just came prepared for whatever the weather was. We’ve practiced in the rain, and we’ve played in the rain. We just came ready to play today.”
The Jaguars got the early lead with a goal by Wood in the first minute of play, but the Raiders responded with goals by Gabby DiGiacamo and Abby Axe to take a 2-1 lead under dark skies.
Green tied the game on a pass from Wood and less than a minute later, Wood scored to put the Jaguars ahead for good. Wood was a persistent attacker as she assisted on three goals.
Overall, it was a good win for Garnet Valley (4-2), a team with many young players, similar to the Raiders.
“I think everybody really came out and played their game very well,” said Green, who also had an assist. “We worked as a team moving the ball in transition and our defense really stood out to me. Our goalie Mara Mink made good saves, huge saves, and I think we trusted each other a lot on the field which led to a lot of goals.”
The Jaguars were ahead 9-3 by halftime, with the skies threatening to rain again. But after Green scored the first goal in the third quarter, Maura Raucci found her with a pass, Callie Bryan scored for the Raiders, who started to find their rhythm. Bryan, a sophomore, contributed three goals and one assist.
“I think we were more effective in the second half,” Bryan said. “We came out sharp and we started to come back. I feel like our effort was there and our goalie started to step up. And I just feel like we came together even though we were losing. We still felt like we could come back.”
The Raiders were behind 13-5 at the start of the final quarter but matched two goals by the Jaguars in the final frame.
“We came out a little flat in the first half and our energy was low,” Bryan said. “But we started to get it back in the second quarter and the third quarter and we started picking it up in the fourth quarter. I felt by the end of the game for us, being a team full of mostly sophomores we were solid. This is big for us to come out here and play against really good teams that made it far in the playoffs last year like Garnet Valley.”
Goalie Merrin Mink saved seven shots for the Jaguars, who improved on the defensive end as the game went on. Wood won five draw controls, including the first one of the game. The junior midfielder quickly moved down the field to score that goal.
Raucci scored one goal and had one assist and won three draws for the Jaguars while Samia Frati added two goals, and Ryann Razzano scored a goal.
"We have girls who are very assertive and strong physically," Green said. "And I think in reality, we are united as a team which is beneficial no matter what."
Goalkeeper Olive Kertis saved eight shots for the Raiders while Gabby DiGiacomo scored two goals, Nadia Henkel and Abby Axe one each. Axe also contributed an assist.
Also in the Central League:
Springfield 12, Upper Darby 1 >> Devin Buggy combined two goals with three assists as the Cougars scored all twelve of their goals before halftime.
Jaclyn Guille scored twice. Kylee O’Donnell combined a goal with three assists. Maddie Kane and Claire Lynch provided a goal and two assists each.
Darla McCarthy got Upper Darby’s goal.
Conestoga 16, Strath Haven 10 >> Ellie Wisch scored five goals and obtained 12 draw controls, and Kiki Liebezeit added four goals in a game the Pioneers led 16-4.
Kate Fox led Haven with four goals. Annie Dignazio scored a hat trick and provided an assist.
In the Inter-Ac League:
Episcopal Academy 18, Notre Dame 3 >> Maura Irish scored seven goals and achieved four draw controls and six caused turnovers as the Churchwomen led 14-0 at half and never looked back.
Quinn Whitaker added six goals and an assist. Avery Le scored twice. Tegan Cook supplemented her two goals with two assists.
