Radnor girls win state lacrosse title as Julianne Puckette scores record nine goals
Following losses in its last two state championship game appearances, the Radnor girls' lacrosse team seemed destined to sit atop the throne in 2017.
Following losses in its last two state championship game appearances, the Radnor girls' lacrosse team seemed destined to sit atop the throne in 2017.
Courtesy of six first-half goals from senior attacker Julianne Puckette, the Raiders buried their opposition early Saturday. Puckette delivered nine goals overall to lead Radnor past District 3's Kennard-Dale, 20-8, in the PIAA Class 2A championship game at West Chester East High School.
Puckette's nine goals broke the PIAA record for the championship game. Radnor's Sam Ellis held the previous record of six, in 2009.
"I woke up this morning and set goals for myself, and I said I wanted to achieve them," said Puckette, who scored 37 goals in Radnor's eight playoff games. "It just kind of clicked for me today."
The Raiders had been defeated by Central League rivals Harriton and Conestoga in the 2013 and 2016 state championship games. Puckette was unable to play in last year's 17-6 loss to Conestoga after suffering her second knee injury.
"I didn't play in it last year," Puckette said. "But the loss against Conestoga hit us really hard because they crushed us. We needed to come back from last year and finish this game strong and get the state championship."
In the inaugural 2A state championship game after PIAA reclassifications, Puckette and sophomore attacker Cate Cox went to work early. Cox assisted on Puckette's first two goals to help spark Radnor to a 4-1 lead in the first five minutes.
"We work off each other," Puckette said. "She feeds lefty, and I cut righthanded. That just happened to work today multiple times."
Kennard-Dale's Calie Swegon and Emmie Dressel both scored to cut Radnor's lead to 8-4 halfway through the first half, but the Raiders only distanced themselves from there.
Puckette and Cox led a 6-1 run as the Raiders finished the first half with a commanding 14-5 lead that only grew. Cox finished with three goals and five assists to help Radnor claim its first state title since back-to-back crowns in 2009 and 2010.
"We have the signs on our fence with our state and district champions," senior midfielder Allison Lanzone said. "Our goal was to get 2017 on there, our year on there. And we did just that with districts and states."
Radnor 14 6 - 20
Kennard-Dale 5 3 - 8
R: Julianne Puckette 9, Cate Cox 3, Ellie Mueller 2, Cat Belveal 2, Hope Smith, Reilly Jacobs, Allison Lanzone, Eliza Azzarano.
K: Emmie Dressel 2, Calie Swegon 2, Eden Sterner, Morgan Bowings, Megan Halczuk, Maddie Day.
Saves: R-Alexa Solomon 6; K-Maria Schneider 6.
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