Coatesville senior Rachel McDonald reaches a milestone in style with a Hat Trick By Dave Conard Sports Editor, CoatesvilleTimes.com
COATESVILLE—When Perkiomen Valley head coach Kathy Kelley signed on to take over the girl’s lacrosse program, which has struggled to find their way to the Pac-10 over the past four seasons, she knew there was bound to be challenges, a lot of hard work required and probably some surprises along the way.
Coatesville's Jamie Wright scores her goal against the Vikings
The Vikings, despite having some very talented players over the past few seasons including the likes of Alex Webb, Cat Schmeykal, Brittany Nyce, have for one reason or another, fallen short of their goal of making the Pac-10 playoffs and advancing to the PIAA district tournament.
As the season progresses it appears that they have found the missing piece to the playoff puzzle as Kelley has Perk Valley playing at the highest skill and energy level in recent memory and even Kelley, has encountered a bonus, something she did not anticipate, she is having fun and a lot of it.
“I knew it would be work, and there would be good time and down times, but I had no idea just how much I would have,” said Kelley. “I have an amazing group of girls that really love to play for each other and give it absolutely everything they have when they are on the field. I am having more fun than I ever imagined possible.”
On a dismal dreary Monday afternoon, when Kelley and her Vikings visited Coatesville and first year varsity coach Chelsea Sandon, it was fitting that a freshman stole the show, at least in the early going.
The visitors were able to get of town with a 9-4 win, which was made possible by the sensational efforts of Perk Valley net minder Harley Barrett in the first half as she made eight saves but more importantly reeked havoc on the Red Raiders plan of attack by picking off passes and disrupting the flow of the Coatesville offense.
Perkiomen Valley freshman goalie Harley Barrett was a force to be reckoned with
“Their goalie was very good, she made some huge plays for them early and it really set the tone,” said Red raiders coach Chelsea Sandon. “I think we did a better job in the second half, we just didn’t come out with that spark at the beginning of the game.”
Perkiomen Valley (9-4-0) took a 6-1 lead into the intermission thanks to four first half goals by senior Becky Gilligan (five goals overall) as she was set up by Emily Hodsen and fellow senior Liz McShane to post the Vikings to a five goal edge with the lone Coatesville score put home by senior Rachel McDonald (3 goals, assist).
It was McDonald that had her moment as the second half played out, when she battled her way through several Viking defenders in the zone, beating Barrett with a low shot to score her 100th career goal with 13:45 left in the game.
“Their goalie was really good, we weren’t ready for that when the game started,” said McDonald, who had put scoring her 100th goal on her list of goals to reach a senior. “We played much better in the second half, I learned early on playing in my varsity career that I have to attack the net, so by now it is just second nature, I am pretty excite to have reached my goal.”
Red Raiders first year head coach Chelsea Sandon offers encouragement
It was McDonald’s third goal of the game (career goal number 101), which cut the lead to 8-4, forcing coach Kelley and Perk Valley to expend a time out and regroup with 5:30 left in regulation.
The Vikings held on to secure the win with an insurance goal by Liz McShane with 1:30 left and several more outstanding saves by Barrett on McDonald and Jamie Wright, who posted the other Coatesville goal mid way through the second half, at point blank range.
Perkiomen Valley 6 3 -9
Coatesville 1 3 -4
Perkiomen Valley scoring
McGettigen- goal, assist
McShane- goal, assist
Hodsen- goal
Connors- goal
Gilligan- 5 goals
Goaltender saves- Barrett 17 saves
Coatesville scoring
Wright- goal, assist
McDonald- 3 goals, assist
Goaltender saves-Groff 16 saves
Coatesville senior Rachel McDonald scores her 100th career goal
