DANVILLE — Any time a team as team as talented and poised as the Crestwood girls’ lacrosse team reaches the PIAA playoffs, anything can happen.
The Lady Comets’ decisive 20-5 win over host Danville in a Class AA first-round game on Tuesday spoke volumes about their readiness to make a state tournament run and the competitiveness of District 2.
Crestwood may have finished runnerup to Abington Heights for the district titles, but never count them out, not with its collection of state-caliber, battled-tested athletes.
Having that kind of experience was exactly what kept Lady Comets’ senior Jordan Andrews calm and ready for battle. She has competed on the big stage in soccer, basketball and lacrosse.
“With the experiences of the previous years and also playing with each other and trusting each other, we came in with confidence like we always do,’ aid Andrews, who scored four goals and assisted on four others. “It’s just another game really. We just have to play our game and that’s what we did today.”
Teammate Jackie Gallagher, who matched Andrews’ stat line with four goals and four assists, also is used to pressure, win-or-go-home situations.
“I feel like I always have a little bit of nerves coming to a game, but especially with Jordan, not only is the chemistry there, but the trust is there as well, so that kind of makes me feel better,” Gallagher said.
The Lady Comets were without one of their leading scorers against Danville. Gia Caporuscio, who was nursing an injury that occurred in practice. She is expected to return to the lineup on Saturday when the Lady Comets face Villa Maria Academy in the quarterfinals.
But like any team that reaches this point in the season, Crestwood has a lot of scorers that can step up at any time.
Freshman Nyla Knorr recorded a team-high five goals and had an assist while reaching the career 100-point mark in the victory over the District 4 champions.
“We had to make some tactical changes and formations and shifts on the field (without Caporuscio), and the kids really stepped up today. If they can continue to play that way and adapt to the game like they did today, we should be okay,” head coach Russ Kile said.
Gabby Carlin (two goals, one assist) got the Lady Comets on the scoreboard first, shortly after the opening draw. Andrews followed with her first goal, making it 2-0 just 48 seconds later. It also didn’t take Gallagher long to find the range. By the 6:35 mark, Crestwood was well on its way to the win.
Danville tried to change things up on the quick-moving Lady Comets with a slow-paced offense. The Ironmen made that strategy pay off, cutting their deficit to 3-2 with three minutes left in the first quarter and then tying the game 15 seconds later.
Unfazed, Crestwood capitalized on the leadership and relentless efforts of Andrews to regain control. Andrews took the ball the distance and set up Knorr who struck from three yards away. A short time later. Andrews once again had control of the ball in front of the net and orchestrated another score with 10 seconds remaining in the first period, putting the Lady Comets on top, 5–3.
Knorr started the second-period scoring with a charge and blast into the net.
“Nyla is fantastic,” Kile gushed. “She is one of the best freshmen to come through the program. She plays a lot like Isabella Caproruscio, who was also an outstanding freshman. She plays a lot like her with a very aggressive style and she has a very promising future, especially after games like today. She has matured so much as the season has progressed.”
The Lady Comets continued to play their style of game as Knorr made it three straight goals to cushion the advantage to 8-3 as the clock wound down 10 minutes.
Danville narrowed the margin to 8-5, before Crestwood found another gear.
After Knorr’s penalty shot was blocked, there was a flurry of activity, mostly by the Lady Comets. Maddie Boop (two goals) scored for the Comets. Knorr then attacked with a vengeance; her goal on the next play stretching her team’s lead to 10-5 and forcing a Danville timeout.
“Everyone is so supportive, especially Jackie and Jordan,” Knorr said. “For my first state (playoff) game, it was a little nerve-wracking, but we all played as a team and we put it all out in the field today.”
Andrews and Carlin teamed up to make it 11-5 heading into halftime.
A goal by Gallagher and two more by Andrews gave the Lady Comets a 10-goal lead by the three-minute mark of the third quarter.
Gallagher connected again and Boop added her second tally to open the fourth-quarter scoring, allowing Kile to get some of his reserves state playoff action.
Soon after Morgan Colo and Addison Knorr knocked in their first goals of the afternoon, the Lady Comets were officially quarterfinal-bound.
On the other end of the field, Crestwood goalie Lexi Zabroski was solid. She was credited with eight saves.
“If we continue to adapt to the game and play like we did today, we should be OK,” he said. “Of course, once you get to District 1 and District 12, (it) gets tough. But if twe keep playing consistently with the skill and tactics they have, we should be fine.”