For The Dialog
CLAYMONT – Archmere’s girls lacrosse team made a statement on March 23, hosting the fifth-ranked St. Mark’s Spartans and coming away with a 5-4 win. The Auks’ played strong defense and got a hat trick from senior Presley Conaty in the win.
St. Mark’s got off to the good start as McKenzie Schurman scored a minute in, and Kendra Schweizer added another goal three minutes later for the 2-0 advantage.
Archmere’s defense settled down, but the team’s offense was missing the mark as it tried to get on the board. Conaty finally found the net with 8:01 left in the half.
“I knew if we could get that first goal we could get momentum. I saw the crease opening, and I rolled off the defender and scored,” she said.
St. Mark’s restored the two-goal cushion a minute later when Sophia Mantzavinos tallied, but Conaty buried another goal 40 seconds later. Anna Baxter tied the game for the Auks with 2:45 left in the half.
Conaty completed the hat trick with her third goal, this one less than a minute into the second half, giving Archmere its first lead at 4-3. An offsides call wiped out an apparent Auks goal, and St. Mark’s tied the contest with 18:34 remaining. Kennedy Murphy provided the winning goal two minutes later, and the teams played the final 16:50 with no additional scoring.
Archmere goalie Meredith Wolak kept the Spartans off the board, making at least six outstanding saves.
Archmere coach Allison Kern said the team’s plan was to keep St. Mark’s big threats neutralized. “Our girls executed it perfectly, and I couldn’t be prouder.”
The Auks (1-0) have another tough game next time out as they travel to Friends next Thursday for a 4 p.m. start. St. Mark’s (0-1) hosts Middletown on April 2 at 1 p.m.
