How a goldfish mentality fueled West Chester Henderson to its first girls’ lacrosse state title
The Warriors also say their only loss of the season helped power their run to the PIAA 3A championship, which came a year after Henderson made its first appearance in the state playoffs.
West Chester Henderson girls’ lacrosse goalie Grace Rongaus tries to think like a goldfish in the net.
“Goldfish are supposed to be not the smartest animals, and they have no memory, so being a goalie, you’re supposed to just ignore all the bad things that happen and move on,” Rongaus said. “Fun fact: Goldfish actually are really incredibly smart, and they can remember faces. So I don’t know how true it is, but that’s what we all say.
On Saturday, Rongaus’ mantra paid off in the PIAA Class 3A girls’ lacrosse championship at Penn State’s Panzer Stadium. Forgetting any mistakes that could have plagued her psyche, the junior goalkeeper came away with nine saves — eight of which came in the second half — to will the Warriors to a 11-6 victory over Conestoga (21-3). All three of Conestoga’s losses were to the hands of Henderson.
The title marks the first in program history and comes a year after Henderson made the PIAA tournament for the first time. Last season, Henderson was eliminated by Springfield, 10-4, in the first round. This year, the Warriors played the Cougars in the semifinals. This time, they defeated the Cougars, 9-7.
Four days after that semifinal win, Rongaus walked off the field as a state champion. Unlike a goldfish, she plans to hold on to that memory.
“It still [does not feel] totally real, at the same time,” said Rongaus, who is committed to St. Joseph’s. “We work so hard as a team to get to this point. Every day, you go to practice with these girls, and then just one day after, you don’t see them at all anymore. We’re so astonished that we won.”
Added Henderson coach Robin Keevan: “I’m incredibly proud of my girls, what they’ve accomplished this year, and all the hard work they put in. It paid off, and I think that’s a huge reward for the girls. It was definitely their goal all season.”
Rongaus was far from the only star on Saturday. Along with the goalkeeper’s heroics, Henderson’s offense shined. The Warriors’ scoring effort was led by four goals from senior midfielder Mary Cate Killoran, who’s committed to Florida State. Seniors Bailey Schalleur (Notre Dame) and Rayne Harkins (James Madison) also logged two goals each.
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“This is just a huge historic moment for the girls’ lacrosse program,” Keevan said. “We’re going to keep on doing what we did the last couple years, and I know the younger girls are already raring to go.”
In the 2A championship, Twin Valley (25-2) beat Wyomissing Area (24-3) to win its first title. Senior Ellie Kaplan (Michigan) scored four goals and tallied two assists in the Raiders’ 11-5 win.
‘Screwed our heads on straight’
Henderson was a game shy of a perfect season, ending its championship campaign at 24-1. The players say their title run would not have been possible, however, without the Warriors’ 8-7 loss to Great Valley on April 21.
“We did not play as a team [against Great Valley]; we were arguing and bickering,” Rongaus said. “And that’s how it goes. Teams are going to fight. After losing that game, we were like, ‘OK, this is actually the real deal. Anybody can beat us. We are a beatable team.’”
After the loss, Keevan and assistant coach Mia Ciancio told the team that they had become complacent.
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“You could see it through our energy at practice, like we were getting cocky,” Schalleur said. “We weren’t 100% focused and we weren’t putting in all our efforts throughout every little drill.
“The one loss to Great Valley — that completely screwed our heads on straight. We would not have won [the title] if we did not have our loss. It was at the perfect part of the season, and we needed it.”
After falling to Great Valley, the Warriors won 12 straight games en route to the championship. However, it will be hard to replicate the team’s success next season.
The Warriors had 13 seniors, who received their diplomas about a week before competing the title game. Schalleur has already moved to South Bend, Ind., for Notre Dame’s summer sessions.
“We won the state championship, and then the next morning, I was on a flight,” Schalleur said, laughing.
Even though her location has changed, her Henderson family will always be a part of her.
“[After] the championship on Saturday, when the buzzer rang, we all just hugged each other,” Shaelleur said. “I think it’s just super sentimental the fact that I’ve been playing with those girls, a couple of them, for over a decade. Getting to experience that with them is so unreal.”