Lady Lax: Upper Dublin Loses Heartbreaker to Harriton in Closing Seconds

Dating back to the days of Amanda Gregg and company, Upper Dublin has had a rich girls' lacrosse tradition—long before Harriton even had a varsity program.

On Tuesday afternoon, the new kids on the block and the Flying Cardinals got to mix it up at Victory Fields, with a guaranteed berth in the PIAA State tournament at stake in a District One play back battle.

In a game that featured seven lead changes, five ties and three yellow cards, it was a goal by Harriton 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.

“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 Flying Cardinals, who will play the loser of the Boyertown versus Council Rock on Thursday for the final state tournament spot, 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 playing time.

“My girls came out and didn’t get intimidated by who they were playing,” said UD head coach Dee Cross in her fifth season as head coach. “It would be easy to say, 'They play in the central division; 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 of which were scored by Caleigh Foust, who had five goals 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, UD net minder Anna Lauer stoned Sukonik and Betsy Hurtado at point blank range to keep the Cardinals within striking 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.

“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 needed 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."

After controlling play for a good portion of the first half, the field had tilted in the Cardinals' direction for the first 10 minutes following the break. Harriton was down by two at 8-6, but countered UD’s sensational cycling of the ball around the net by becoming more physical against the Cardinal and Gray advance.

“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 nine with 13:00 left to play, the game became a roller coaster, as 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. The Cardinal attack was bolstered by the absence of Foust, who sat for three minutes after she had been whistled for a yellow card following a slashing call.

“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.”

With the tilt deadlocked at 11 a piece, and overtime looking like a certainty, the Rams, led by Foust and Sukonik, carried the ball the length of the field. The game winner came shortly after, when Sukoinik put over the shoulder of Lauer, to kick off the ensuing celebration on the Harriton sideline.

“I told our girls that we have nothing to hang our heads about,” said coach Cross. “A play here and there is what makes games like this so fantastic. We will get back to work tomorrow and get ready for Thursday, which will be an all-or-nothing game.”

“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 coach 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.”

Next up for Upper Dublin is a must-win game against the loser of the Boyertown and Council Rock game for seventh place overall in District One. Harriton will play the winner of Boyertown versus Council Rock for fifth place overall and state playoff seeding.

Upper Dublin                3            8            -11
Harriton                        6            6            -12

First Half scoring

23:43   H             Schwab  from Foust

23:22   UD            Cross from D’Vincent

20:51   UD            D’Vincent

19:35   H            Foust  (8 meter shot)

13:59   H            Schwab from Hurtado

13:11   H            Foust

10:29   H            Foust from Rubenstein

10:05   H            Foust from Schwab

  5:27   UD            Cross (8 meter shot)

Second Half scoring

22:42   UD            Cross from D’Ginto

22:17   UD            Weinstein from  D’Ginto

21:01   UD            Callahan (8 meter shot)

20:04   UD            Cross from Weinstein

18:42   UD            Callahan from Cross

15:47   H            Sukonik

15:22   H            Sukonik from Schwab

14:19   UD            Weinstein from Cross

13:00   H            Schwab from Foust

11:14   H            Foust

11:09   UD            Weinstein from Cross

  7:07   UD            Callahan  (advantage)

  6:16   H            Melvin from Rubenstein

    :04   H            Sukonik from Foust

Goaltenders   UD- Lauer- 11 saves

                        H- Marohall- 10 saves