They just can’t be beat. For the 10th consecutive season, the Boyertown High girls’ lacrosse team captured the PAC-10 championship when the Lady Bears defeated Owen J. Roberts May 9 in the championship game in Phoenixville, 19-12.
For Boyertown it means a complete decade of dominance as they have not only won 10 straight championships, but they have extended their PAC-10 winning streak to an amazing 139 games.
Although another league championship for the Boyertown girls’ lacrosse team may seen routine to some, it wasn’t to this group of girls who were focused on this one goal since the beginning of the season.
‘ It’s very exciting to see this years’ senior class be able to win another PAC-10 championship,’ said Head Coach Pam Wernersbach. ‘I think this win happened because this team trusts each other and really came together as a group when Owen J. was challenging for the lead.’
Who could blame these girls if they went into the game a little too overconfident. Afterall, no PAC-10 team seriously challenged them (except a three-point win against Spring-Ford on April 9) all season. They defeated the Wildcats twice during the regular season by a total of 21 goals.
It was a slow start for the Lady Bears who let the Wildcats stay with them throughout the first half and part of the second. In fact, Owen J. Roberts closed to within one goal at 12-11 at one point.
But feeling a little threatened, the Lady Bears turned it back on to score seven of the last eight goals to win the game going away.
‘Up until that point in the game, the girls seemed to be coasting,’ said Wernersbach. ‘When OJR got to within one, it seemed as if the whole group put their focus into making us succeed at all aspects of the game and raised their level of play.’
Rachel Engler led the Boyertown offense with six goals, whiel Kaitlyn DeHaven added two goals and four assists of her own. Haley Wentzel, Annie Rodgers and Alex O’Herrick each chippped in with two goals.
In the semifinals, Boyertown had no trouble knocking off Pottstown, 17-3. They held a 10-1 halftime lead and were never really threatened.
Wentzel had six goals for Boyertown while Engler added four goals and one assist. O’Herrick contributed with three goals and one assist and Lauren Mengel netted a pair of goals. DeHaven had a goal and one assist and Rachel Shaw added one goal. Alicia Stratten and Rodgers were each credited with an assist.
The next step will be the district playoffs, but the Boyertown girls will have a little time to sit back and enjoy another league title. It was another amazing PAC-10 season for a team that is simple far superior to the other league teams.
‘This group has been playing together for a very long time,’ said Wernersbach, ‘They have a chemistry and rhythm when they are on that is unstoppable.
