Radnor girls set for lacrosse tourney

News of the death of University of Virginia women's player Yeardley Love rocked the lacrosse world. Her body was discovered in her apartment May 3, just weeks before the NCAA tournament and her college graduation.

The tragedy hit close to home for many of the players on Radnor High's girls' lacrosse team, who Friday won the District 1 tournament over Springfield (Delco). Six seniors on the Red Raiders squad are headed to play Division I lacrosse in the fall.

So the team went online and bought bright-orange socks with the Cavaliers emblem to wear during their games.

"Ms. [Phyllis] Kilgour said that we should think about doing something to support [Love], and we started wearing them for playoffs," senior Kelyn Freedman said, referring to their coach.

The girls will continue to wear the socks "to honor Love" during the PIAA's state tournament, senior Ali Kelly said.

The Red Raiders' (22-1) first-round game will be at West Chester East against North Penn at 3 p.m. Tuesday.

Emmaus wins again. For a while, the District 11 boys' title game between Emmaus and Allentown Central Catholic was close. At halftime, Emmaus was up by 6-3, and it seemed as if the game could go down to the wire.

Then the Hornets broke the game wide open, scoring four goals to start off the third quarter and go ahead by 10-3. Emmaus ended up winning the title game by 11-6.

"These guys don't panic, they just go about their business," Emmaus coach Jeff Hewlings said.

"They work well together, work hard. It's the same old things that make any team successful."

Junior Dan Kinek had three goals and one assist for the Hornets (15-7), while Tate Kildonas, Stephen Ward, and Will Scott had two goals apiece The win gives Emmaus a berth in the PIAA state tournament, which starts Tuesday.

"The District 11 title is a means to an end," Hewlings said, adding that every year, "our expectation is that we are playing in June."

The Hornets will face District 1 fifth-place finisher Lower Merion at 5 p.m. at Allentown's J. Birney Crum Stadium. Last year, Emmaus defeated Lower Merion in the same game, 7-5.

Conestoga avenges loss. The Conestoga boys' lacrosse team had a chip on its shoulder going into Friday's District 1 final against Springfield (Delco). Earlier in the season, the Pioneers lost to the Cougars, 4-3, in overtime.

"Our kids were definitely excited to play Springfield," coach Brian Samson said. "I think they felt collectively that it wasn't their best performance."

"Let's face it, for them, it was a revenge game."

Conestoga (20-2) avenged the loss, beating Springfield, 8-4, and winning its second consecutive District 1 title.

"For sure, it was a special win," Samson said. "Getting through District 1 and defending our title was really special. . . . Over Springfield, a little sweeter."

Seven players scored for the Pioneers. Such balanced scoring has benefited the team all season.

Conestoga will face the seventh-place finisher from District 1, Hatboro-Horsham, in the PIAA's first-round game. The game will be played at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday at Harriton.

Springfield (Delco) (19-2) will face Central Bucks East, the sixth-place finisher in District 1, on Tuesday. That game will be played at 3:15 p.m. at Harriton.

"They are playing inspired lacrosse," Samson said. "We've been waiting all season for this."