DOWNINGTOWN — Ridley fought its way back into the lacrosse spotlight Thursday only to run out of moves in an 8-6 loss to favored Downingtown East in the second round of the girls PIAA District 1 Class 3A playoffs.
The Green Raiders, seeded 17th, held a 6-2 lead five minutes into the third quarter thanks to five goals from Callie Bryan and another from Nadia Henkel. But Downingtown East, the fifth seed, scored the next six goals to advance to the quarterfinals against Conestoga, which rolled to a 17-5 win over West Chester Henderson Thursday.
“This was a tough one,” said Ridley’s Abby Axe, one of just two seniors in a starting lineup with 10 sophomores. “It was gritty. All four quarters we were fighting for every 50-50 ball. We were getting tough shots off. The defense was stepping up. On both ends of the field, everyone was fighting today. This one burns. I know our underclassmen are going to remember this one in the offseason and they’re going to come back stronger next year.”
Axe dished three assists for the Green Raiders, who, after losing the momentum were unable to stop Collyn Kropp down the homestretch. Kropp, the daughter of Vikings coach Kathryn Kropp, scored what proved to be the game-winner with 6:46 remaining.
“We had a game plan and we just kind of stuck with it,” Coach Kropp said. “We were able to spread out a little more on offense and find those open steps a little bit better in the second half. It was just a pure team effort.”
The Green Raiders acquitted themselves well on a chaotic day with rain, sun, and a combination of elements turning the area into a sauna. Additionally, a boys Class 3A game between Downingtown East and Avon Grove was being played right next to this game. Each time a boys’ team scored it was a massive distraction for the girls. Also, a backstop running the length of the endline almost directly behind one of the goal cages launched errant shots back toward the field of play.
To their credit, the girls kept themselves focused on their game, and it was full of back-and-forth action.
Bryan gave the Green Raiders a 1-0 lead. Ally Flynn tied it and then sent the Vikings ahead with two of her three goals before Bryan knotted it. The Vikings had a decided edge in possession in the first quarter.
Bryan tallied twice in the second quarter, the second time on a feed from Axe behind the next in a version of the Raiders’ “Temple” play.
When Bryan deposited another Temple play goal in the third quarter and Henkel added a goal, the Green Raiders were in control.
Just when the Vikings looked like toast, Riley Marks stepped up with a goal and just 13 seconds later, with 4:11 left in the third period Flynn cashed in to cut the deficit to 6-4. The Vikings were bursting with energy after Karyn Michaels scored with 2:02 left in the frame.
Maddy Marsich, the other senior starter for Ridley, wasn’t about to count this as another big win in a season of big wins for the Green Raiders, who defeated Pennsbury and Marple Newtown.
“We haven’t made it to the second round of the playoffs in a long time,” Marsich said. “I feel like the third quarter we always have like a little bit of a letdown. I feel like after they came back they were almost like in our heads. We just tried to play like a team.”
Kropp’s daughter, only a freshman, was a one-woman wrecking crew in the fourth quarter as she tied the game on a big girl run through a pile of defenders and five minutes later, put the Vikings ahead.
“Down there, she was just looking to score,” Axe said.
The Green Raiders had a shot at tying the game inside of three minutes but goalie Addy Mulhern robbed Henkel on a bouncing shot off a free position, deflecting it over the net. Jayne Michaels iced it for the Vikings with 58.4 seconds left.
“They’re a gritty team, they’re a tough team and they’re good,” Ridley coach Meagan DiCave said. “They have a lot of upper classmen. We are younger but we battled. I think their experience and the fact that they’ve been here before and this is our first time here in a while helped them a little bit. But I’m super proud of what we’ve done. Nobody expected us to be here in the second round, let alone be in the playoffs. To be in the second round and to be led by such a young group, I appreciate our senior leadership. Those are big shoes to fill. I’m going to miss them immensely. They built our program back.”
When Axe continues her education at Iona University, where she will play lacrosse, memories of the long road back for Ridley girls lacrosse will hit her. While modesty almost prevented her from admitting being named Ridley’s outstanding senior female athlete, her thoughts were with her teammates. And always will be.
“I’m just going to remember our grit,” Axe said. “We knew we were going to play into May. That wasn’t even a question in our minds. What I’m going to take away is just that incredible sense of taking it to the next level and putting respect back on our name and hanging with the top teams in the Central League and the state.”
• • •
Downingtown East 8, Ridley 6
Ridley 2 2 2 0 – 6
Downingtown East 2 0 3 3 – 8
Ridley goals: Bryan 5, Henkel.
Downingtown East goals: Flynn 3, Kropp 2, Riley, K. Michaels, J. Michaels.
Ridley assists: Axe 3.
Downingtown assists: Fanelli 2, J. Michaels 2.
Goalie saves: Ridley – Viola 9, Kertis 2; Downingtown East – Downey 4, Mulhern 4.
