Last-Second Goal Delivers First State Playoff Berth for Harriton Girls Lacrosse

In a Tuesday afternoon game that featured seven lead changes, five ties and three yellow cards, it was a goal by Harriton girls' lacrosse attacker Carli Sukonik with four seconds left in regulation that snared the Rams their first ever state tourney bid with a 12-11 win over Upper Dublin.

With the game deadlocked at 11 apiece and overtime looking like a certainty, the Rams carried the ball the length of the field before Sukonik put one over the goalie's shoulder to kick off a celebration on the Harriton sideline.

“Wow, I have had late goals before but never one that important,” said Sukonik. “When they came back on us and took that lead, we knew it was time to get going, we have had a couple of lulls in games lately and they really took advantage of that one.”

The game was a District 1 tournament playback game at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School, after both squads had lost in the quarterfinals. With seven state berths available for the district, only the team that loses both consolation games won't make the tournament.

The Rams are in. Their final playback game will determine only whether they will be the No. 5 or No. 6 seed out of the district.

“I am extremely excited to be going to states,” said Harriton head coach George Dick. “It’s our first time ever, which is very cool.  We really need a great effort today, we could have been up by more at half, but did not take advantage of scoring chances and their goalie played outstanding. Going forward we have to finish games.”

Upper Dublin responded to an opening goal by Harriton with two tallies of their own from the sticks of Kelly Cross (four goals, three assists) and Michelle D’Vincent to take a 2-1 lead after five minutes of game time.

“My girls came out and didn’t get intimidated by who they were playing,” said Dee Cross, Upper Dublin's fifth-season head coach . “It would be easy to say, 'They play in the Central (League), we have no shot,' especially after they got that lead on us, but we have fought all year and today was no different.”

The Upper Dublin lead was short-lived as Harriton scored the next five goals—four by Caleigh Foust, who had five in all and two assists—to shift the momentum their way.

As strange as it seems in a contest that was decided in the closing seconds, the turning point in the game actually happened with four minutes to go in the first half.

With her squad trailing 6-2, Upper Dublin netminder Anna Lauer stoned Sukonik and Betsy Hurtado at point-blank range to keep the Cardinals within wings distance of the Rams.

“Anna has made saves like that all year,” said Kelly Cross. “When you see her make a save like that, it really gives you a kick and you have to go out and get a goal for her, she really got us going.”

Fueled by the highlight reel performance by their keeper, The Flying Cardinals ran off a scoring string of their own, posting a half dozen unanswered goals, jump started by Cross scoring on an eight meter shot to close out the scoring heading into the intermission.

After Harriton controlled play for a good portion of the first half, the field had been tilted in the Cardinals' direction for the first 10 minutes following the break, and suddenly Harriton found themselves down 8-6. The Rams countered Upper Dublin's sensational cycling of the ball around the net by cranking up the physical aspect of the game to combat the attack.

“That’s more our game,” said Foust. “We are a physical team and we have been very successful at using our speed as well to put pressure on the defenses, forcing them into mistakes. “

Following back-to-back goals by Sukonik and a tally by Jessica Schwab (three goals, two assists) to knot the game at 9 with 13 minutes to play, the last dozen minutes saw the lead change four times.

Upper Dublin went back ahead 11-10 with seven minutes left as Brooke Callahan completed her hat trick, depositing the ball into the back of the net after the Rams lost Foust for three minutes to a yellow card for slashing.

“It was hard to stand on the sideline and watch that,” said Foust. “After that, I just wanted to make sure it didn’t hurt us, and it really motivates you to get it going and go after that goal.”

“I couldn’t be prouder of our girls,” said Sukonik. “We have taken a couple games lightly and maybe that’s what happened the other day. Today they made us fight for everything. What a game. It’s great to play Thursday knowing we are in states.”

“Give Upper Dublin credit,” added Dick. ‘That was just a great game and they fought for every ball. That is a very good team and we may see them again very soon.”