Delco’s lacrosse dominance on full district display Thursday

It’s long been beyond doubt, but in case the point needed reinforcing, this year’s District 1 tournaments have provided it. Eight teams will compete for championships Thursday evening at two sites in West Chester; five hail from Delco.

On the heels of last spring, when three Delco teams were crowned state champions, that level of success should come as no surprise. But the variety of this year’s class sets it apart.

The marquee matchup is in the girls Class 3A tournament, where top-seeded Garnet Valley and No. 2 Springfield meet. Springfield ousted the Jaguars, 12-8, in last year’s 3A semifinal on the way to a runner-up performance in both districts and states. Garnet Valley exacted revenge in the regular season with a 10-8 win, part of its march to the Central League title.

The two teams are immensely similar, with deep attacking contingents which usually resist being slowed by a defense bottling up one primary threat. Garnet Valley started slow in Tuesday’s semifinal but eventually overcame Perkiomen Valley, 10-8. It took a Belle Mastropietro goal in overtime for Springfield to dismiss No. 3 Unionville, 10-9.

“We’re excited,” Garnet midfielder Camryn McNeal said. “We need to play our game, focus on the basics and the little things.”

Then there are the repeat champions in the Class 2A finals, two programs that defy the idea that the smaller class is in any way the lesser one. The Springfield boys aim for their second straight District 1 crown and third consecutive state crown, with top-seeded Bishop Shanahan standing in the way.

The Cougars (16-2) navigated a game effort by Radnor in a 9-5 win Tuesday. For all the past success, Springfield is anything but sated.

“We’re still hungry,” midfielder Jack Spence said Tuesday. “Coach always preaches it. We have to keep on fighting. This group right here, we haven’t won anything yet. This is about our class’s legacy.”

Radnor’s girls team is likewise eager to continue its dynasty against top-seeded Villa Maria in the 2A final. The No. 2 Raiders (16-4) won the last unified district title in 2016, then romped past all comers in the field last year on the way to a 2A state title.

This team is much different than last year’s veteran-laden Raiders, which gives the younger generations a chance to prove themselves anew.

“Last season we had 10 seniors, so at the beginning of this season no one really had any expectations for us,” attackman Cate Cox said. “That’s why I think we’ve worked so hard trying to get this team to the next level. … We just tried to worry about each game as we were playing it, and the younger girls we have on this team have really stepped up to the plate. When districts started, it was all about getting to states. Now it’s about giving a good effort (Thursday) and going on for the next two weeks.”

Click HERE to read the full article.

Goalie Phoebe Proctor and Radnor are one win from a third straight District 1 championship, which the Raiders will chase Thursday against Villa Maria. (Digital First Media/Pete Bannan)