Big three lifts Germantown Academy

Germantown Academy coach Darci Richards doesn't even want to think about it.

Envisioning a season without forward Jen Hoy, defender Taylor Houck, and midfielder Kate Henrich would be too painful.

"For me personally, it's hard to think about not having them," Richards said. "We have grown to definitely count on them all four years."

The three senior starters have played key roles on the team since Richards took over the program in 2005.

Hoy, a Princeton recruit, is the only one of the three that didn't start as a freshman. But you wouldn't know it by her estimated 90 career goals.

Houck, a Nebraska recruit, has played every minute of every game since her freshman season. Like Houck, Henrich is a four-year starter. However, the two-sport standout, who will play lacrosse at the University of Denver, was briefly sidelined last season with a broken arm.

"All three are big-time players," Richards said.

The trio's worth to the team has been obvious this season.

Despite starting six underclassmen, the Patriots (4-2-2) are ranked fifth in Southeastern Pennsylvania by The Inquirer.

Whenever the Patriots need a clutch goal, Hoy comes up with one. Whenever they need a big play in the midfield, Henrich provides it. Whenever they need a huge stop, Houck does just that.

As a result, the perennial Inter-Ac League power has gone 60-7-1 since their freshman campaigns.

Methacton thoroughly enjoys being a first-year member of the Pioneer Athletic Conference. And being able to face traditional league powers such as Owen J. Roberts and Boyertown isn't the only reason.

"It's a lot better than the spring," Warriors coach Bret Smith said.

Before becoming a PAC-10 member this summer, Methacton competed in the Suburban One American Conference. The SOL schools play girls' soccer in the spring.

"There are always a lot of distractions [in the spring] with the prom and the end-of-the-year kind of stuff," Smith said.

Able to focus now solely on soccer, the area's 10th-ranked Warriors have become a force in the conference. Methacton took 10-3 overall and 7-3 PAC-10 records into yesterday's game with Boyertown.

Jeannine Mason, a senior forward, had a team-leading nine goals as of Monday. Nicole Battista, a junior midfielder, had six goals and 11 assists.

Methacton entertains Owen J. Roberts in tomorrow's 4 p.m. Pioneer Athletic Conference matchup. The Warriors gained a 3-2 double-overtime victory when the teams met Sept. 11 at the Wildcats' field.