Agnes Irwin tops EA, claims first place in Inter-Ac

Hannah Keating was about 5 years old the last time Episcopal Academy didn't win at least a share of the Inter-Ac girls' lacrosse championship.

Undoubtedly, the kindergarten version of Keating, who comes from a lacrosse family, was playing the sport back then with her older siblings, some of whom went on to play collegiately.

"My brothers used to dress me in their football pads and take shots at me," Keating said. "They all played, so I pretty much came out of the womb with a lacrosse stick."

She added: "Now, I finally get to shoot the ball sometimes!"

Now a standout junior attacker for Agnes Irwin, Keating had four goals Friday afternoon to help the Owls hold off host Episcopal, 8-7, and secure sole possession of first place.

The victory also avenged an overtime loss to EA in which the Owls (15-1, 8-1) led 4-0 early.

Given that second-half letdown, Keating said the team came up with a motto: "Pedal to the metal for 50 minutes."

The girls wrote the "PTM50" on their wrists before the game.

"And whenever we got down, or missed a shot or missed a pass, we'd look down and remind ourselves that we have to keep fighting," Keating said.

Episcopal (14-4 7-2), which shared the title with Agnes Irwin last season, ensured a good fight.

The Owls took an early 5-1 lead, but EA tallied twice just before the half. Katie Crager's goal with 3 minutes, 6 seconds left in the second half cut the Owls' lead to just one.

An excellent defensive play by Sarah Platt (Vanderbilt), however, forced a turnover into the stick of Emily Fryer (Brown).

"I've played with the same group of girls since I was in middle school at Radnor," Keating said. "Emily Fryer, Kate White, Sarah Platt, Kristin Burnetta, Lila Barker, I've played with them my whole life. . . . It's unbelievable to play with them."

Keating's siblings: Danny (Duke), Michael (Duke), and Patrick played at Episcopal; Caroline also played at Duke after starring at Agnes Irwin; Connor (Haverford School) plays at Penn.

Keating's college days can wait, for now. She and Agnes Irwin still have work to do.

"It's pretty exciting," she said. "Agnes Irwin, we kind of brought ourselves up these last couple years. It was our goal to win the Inter-Ac, and last year we did. But it was a tie, so it's not really the same thing. If we win this year, it will be really exciting. It's a big change in the Inter-Ac if EA doesn't."

Agnes Irwin 5 3 - 8

Episcopal Academy 3 4 - 7

AI: Hannah Keating 4, Emily Fryer 1, Kristin Burnetta 1, Maria Pansini 1, Kate White 1.

EA: Taylor Lucey 2, Katie Crager 2, Jane Crager 1, Corrine Zanolli 2.

Saves: AI-Hailey Andress 5; EA-Sydney Gagnon 8.

@AceCarterINQ