The Panthers faced off against the Northwestern Lehigh Tigers on Tuesday.
After Monday’s victory over the Pleasant Valley Bears, it was a quick turn around for the Lady Panther lacrosse team when they welcomed the Northwestern Lehigh Tigers to town. With only two weeks remaining in the regular season, these powerful Panthers were looking to polish their skills and prepare for the home stretch of their 2019 season.
Saucon sophomore Kerry Lannon (#16) has been outstanding for the Panthers.
It wasn’t the best of starts for the Panthers as they could not capitalize on a couple of early chances and secure a score. Northwestern Lehigh, however, was able to connect with the back of the net at the 21:50 mark and take a 1-0 lead. The Tiger score may have been a blessing in disguise as it may have served as a wake-up call to the Panthers. Saucon Valley answered Northwestern Lehigh’s opening score with a 9-goal barrage over the next fifteen minutes of play. Sophomore, Katie Marker got things kick-started for the Panthers with a pair of goals and created a little momentum. Kerry Lannon (2), Makenzie Shimko, Emerson Shauger, Ava Albano, Maisie Leidich and Camryn Zavacky all chipped in for Saucon Valley’s scores. With 5:48 left to play in the first half, the Panthers worked to build a 9-2 advantage.
‘Battle-Kat’ Naiburg scoops a ground ball for the Panthers on the way to a 21-2 victory over the Northwestern Lehigh Tigers.
The Tigers punched back at 4:27 with a goal, but Saucon immediately answered with four more unselfish scores. The Panthers racked up points from Makenzie Shimko (2), Kimmy Polefka and ‘Battle Kat’ Naiburg. Shimko’s first career hat-trick led the Panthers into the halftime break with a commanding 13-2 lead.
Tiger-tamer Makenzie Shimko, a sophomore, had her first high school hat-trick against Northwestern Lehigh.
With the mercy-rule clock already started to begin the 2nd half, any remote hopes of a Northwestern Lehigh comeback were quickly put to rest. The Panthers scored eight unanswered goals to close out the game. Saucon Valley spread the wealth and received scores from Maisie Ledich (2), Emerson Shauger, Katie Marker, Katherine Naiburg, Camryn Zavacky, Ava Albano and Seri Johnstone. The offensive bombardment of the Tigers allowed the Panthers to come away with a 21-2 triumph.
Freshman Ava Albano (#39) had a great day for the Panthers.
Panther Net-Flicks: Maisie Leidich, Katie Marker and Mackenzie Shimko led the Panthers with three-goals each. Ava Albano, Kerry Lannon, Kat Naiburg, Emerson Shauger and Camryn Zavacky each scored twice. Seri Johnstone and Kimmy Polefka added scores for Saucon.
Panther sophomore Katie Marker pushing the pace and on the attack.
UP NEXT: The Panthers (8-1) will reload and, for the third consecutive game, defend their home field on Thursday. The Panthers will battle the Moravian Academy Lady Lions (2-5) tomorrow at 4 p.m.
Good luck Panthers, the Source is with you!
About This Series: Andrew & Sonya Hughes of Hellertown are sponsoring girls sports coverage on Saucon Source to help recognize the achievements of female high school athletes in Saucon Valley, and in tribute to their own daughters, who were both stand-out student-athletes at their high school, where they played softball, soccer, basketball and field hockey. Between the two of them they earned 14 high school varsity letters. “Female athletics was a big part of our family life for many years, but that journey ended at the high school level six years ago,” Andrew Hughes says. “Through those amazing experiences we also noticed that females don’t seem to have the same level of exposure and support as their male counterparts. So we are very sensitive to situations where we perceive an imbalance of exposure of female student athlete participation in competitive high school sports. We also like to encourage greater involvement of young people in athletics. We would like to help the girls gain more exposure at your news source by adopting some girls high school teams.” Saucon Source thanks Andrew & Sonya Hughes for their generous support of local girls high school athletics.
