It was a great win for the Lady Panthers!
Wednesday’s victory for the Saucon Valley girls’ lax team may not have been the biggest win ever for the program, but it is likely pretty close. Considering Moravian Academy earned a 14-3 record last season and returned a couple of senior studs in Cecily Redfern and Meaghan McMullan, the Panthers faced a huge challenge. Together, Redfern and McMullan have over 300 career goals to their credit. 52 of those goals have come against the Panthers over the past four years. Individually, Redfern is heading to Lehigh and McMullan is reportedly going to Arcadia University. Both girls are evidently planning to continue their lacrosse careers.
Sophomore Megan Bredbenner of Saucon Valley playing tough defense against the Lions.
Even though the Vegas bookies would have undoubtedly tagged Saucon as the underdogs against the Lions, the gritty Panthers played with the poise and confidence of a veteran team. Saucon typically has only two seniors in their starting lineup.
Freshman Camryn Zavacky with a big effort in a big win.
The first half proved to be a tight game with both teams working hard and alternating scores. Sophomore Siobhan Coakley had the hot hand for the Panthers and accounted for three first half goals.
Sophomore Siobhan Coakley led the Panthers in the first half against Moravian Academy.
Coakley’s supporting cast in the opening period included goals from senior Maddie Stump, junior Helen Kreschollek and freshman Cam Zavacky. The Panthers six goals were countered by Moravian’s seven, including two by McMullan and one by Redfern.
Coakley getting ready to let it rip.
The second half started with two straight scores by the Panthers. Maddie Stump got net only :27 seconds into the half. Classmate Maddie Zyck followed with her score two minutes later to get Saucon the lead at 8-7. Moravian’s McMullan knotted the score 8-8, but Coakley flashed some slick stick work to score another goal and reclaim the Panther lead at 9-8 with 19:50 remaining in the game.
One Kat (Naiburg) getting the best of three Lions.
With just under 18 minutes to go, Maddie “Mad-Dog” Stump, who was Saucon Valley’s 2016 Homecoming Queen, scored perhaps the prettiest goal of the game. Stump took a little scoop pass from sophomore Brooke Riefenstahl behind the Moravian goal, raced around to the front of the net where she was walled off by a Lion defender. “Mad-Dog” alertly spun away from the pressure and cooly shoveled an underhanded shot past the Lion goal keeper. Stump’s goal gave the Panthers a 10-8 edge.
Queen Mad Dog of Saucon came up big for the Panthers.
Moravian’s Redfern scored one minute later followed by another goal by Coakley at 14:10. McMullan and Stump then each traded a pair of goals over the next five minutes of play to make the score 13-11 in favor of the Panthers. Redfern closed the Lion deficit to 13-12 at 7:22. But, Moravian Academy would score no more.
Sophomore goal keeper Audrey Holland shined bright against the Moravian Academy Lions.
For the next seven and a half minutes, the Lions could not find the net. Panther goal keeper, Audrey Holland, seemingly took the game over and denied the high-powered Lion offense time and time again. Holland was credited with eight saves on the day, but none were bigger than the three she made down the final stretch. In crunch time the Saucon goalie was able to calmly block or sweep aside the desperate Moravian efforts to cut into the narrow Panther lead.
Sophomore goalie Audrey Holland was outstanding against the Lions.
Saucon Valley sophomore Kiele Riefenstahl added a little security with her score at 4:48, but Holland was able to close out the game for her team and secure the 14-12 Panther victory.
Like Camryn Zavacky, the Panthers have proved that they are heading in the right direction.
Coakley and Stump were standouts each scoring five goals. Holland was brilliant with her late game heroics. But, Wednesday’s performance was, no doubt, a team achievement and a step forward for the entire program. A quality win over a quality team like Moravian Academy validates these Panthers as worthy opponents to all.
A BIG panther victory.
UP NEXT: From one test to another. Saucon Valley (2-1) is scheduled to travel to Southern Lehigh (1-1) and battle the Spartans in a 4 p.m. showdown on Friday. Going back as far as 2009 it appears as though the Lady Panthers have never beaten Southern Lehigh. Rest assured, this pack of Panthers will be looking to change that.
Good Luck Panthers, the Source is with you!
