Learning to play as favorites, Penncrest handle challenge from Strath Haven

MIDDLETOWN — With 10 players, all college commits, returning from the squad that reached the PIAA Class 3A state championship game last spring, Penncrest is getting accustomed to wearing the bullseye.

Add up-and-coming goaltender Reese Wickman, the sister of Andrew Wickman, the second team All-Delco goalie for the District 1 Class 2A boys champion Lions in 2021 and it gets a little more interesting.

So, there are going to be nights like Thursday when the Lions were forced to weather an early challenge from Strath Haven, which tallied the first three goals of the game before the still undefeated Lions bounced back to secure a 13-7 Central League victory at The Louis Scott Field.

Lions senior Mira Kuttymartin chalked up the sluggish start to Panthers goalkeeper Ava Yancey, who recorded seven of her 19 saves in the first quarter, and to general over-aggressiveness.

“Their goalie was really good,” Kuttymartin said. “I think she made a big difference in the game. We needed to respond to that. After the first quarter we kind of like knew what was happening. We were like, ‘OK, how do we adjust? How do we move on?’ I think at first, we were just super eager to play tonight. We had a big crowd tonight. It was our Optimist (club) night and I think we just wanted to make our mark right away. We didn’t make the best decisions. I think by the end we just really went home with it.”

Like last year, the Lions can hurt you in several ways. Addy Bernhardt and Kaitlyn Roth scored three goals apiece. Lylah Pompetti contributed two goals and three assists for the Lions (7-0, 4-0).

Despite falling behind in the first seven minutes on goals by Strath Haven’s Maryella Gill, Annie Dignazio and Grace Kelly, the Lions answered with goals by Kate Stanton, Cara Childs, Bernhardt and Harding to carry a 4-3 lead into the second quarter.

Dignazio, who had three goals, tied it for the Panthers, but Stanton found the net again on a feed from Pompetti.

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Penncrest's Mira Kuttymartin is defended by Owen J. Roberts' Alexa Vogelman during last season's PIAA Class 3A championship game at Penn State's Panzer Stadium. (Austin Hertzog - MediaNews Group)

Penncrest’s Mira Kuttymartin is defended by Owen J. Roberts’ Alexa Vogelman during last season’s PIAA Class 3A championship game at Penn State’s Panzer Stadium. (Austin Hertzog – MediaNews Group)