Experienced Springfield rolls over Pottsgrove

SPRINGFIELD —Springfield High has been a key player in the girls lacrosse District 1 playoffs for a long time.

Pottsgrove is making its way into the late stages of the tournament for the first time.

The host Cougars continued their solid post-season play with a 15-2 semifinal round rout of the Falcons at Halderman Field Tuesday afternoon. With the win, No. 2-seeded Springfield (16-5) will face No. 1 Villa Maria (20-1), the defending state champion, for the Class 2A title Thursday.

Pottsgrove (16-5) will take on Bishop Shanahan, which fell to Villa Maria Tuesday, 17-10, in the third-place matchup Thursday. Each of the teams that qualified for the district semifinals will take part in the PIAA tournament, which begins Tuesday, May 28.

Springfield’s 16-2 advantage in draw controls was the difference. Junior Alyssa Long had eight draw controls – all in the first half – and Temple-bound senior Julie Schickling chipped in with six – four in the second half.

“We know what a big difference it makes having the ball that much,” Long said. “It gives our offense a chance to work on things, and it’s good for our defense.”

Pottsgrove coach Kirstin Urie knew the challenges her team faced trying to stay with a team that has so much playoff experience, including a number of players who took part in the state championship match two years ago.

“There are so many things we can take out of this,” Urie said. “That was such a solid team, and playing someone like that at this stage of the playoffs was something new for our kids.

“We just haven’t seen competition like that this year, and we made mistakes that hurt us. We’ve accomplished so much this year, and now we have to work on putting things together and prove to these other teams that we belong here.”

Springfield had a 6-0 lead, with Julie Schickling getting two of her four goals, before Alyssa Petrucelli connected for Pottsgrove 8:34 before halftime.

Sophomore Casey O’Connor contributed three goals and Long, Olivia Pace, and Erin Gormley got two goals apiece for the Cougars.

Jordyn Mays found the back of the net six minutes before the final whistle to close out Pottsgrove’s scoring.

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Springfield’s Alyssa Long, left, in action against Garnet Valley earlier this season, had eight draw controls and two goals to pace the Cougars to a 15-2 victory over Pottsgrove in the semifinals of the girls District 1 Class 2A lacrosse playoffs Tuesday.