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Kennard-Dale's historic season ends in PIAA quarterfinals


WEST GROVE – Conestoga went on a nine-run streak and shut down the Kennard-Dale offense to earn a 17-6 victory, ending the Rams' season in the PIAA girls' lacrosse quarterfinals Saturday at Avon Grove High School. 

Five minutes into the game, Conestoga began a 14-1 run and never looked back.

“You can’t make mistakes against a team as good as Conestoga, they’re fast everywhere across the field," Kennard-Dale head coach Kelly Wetzel said. "They’re athletic across the board, they have great team defense, they play well in transition. We’re not used to that kind of competition every week: Welcome to the Central League.”

Monica Borzillo led Conestoga's attack with four goals, four assists and three caused turnovers. Goalie Jules Horning, a Marquette commit, made nine saves and two caused turnovers.

“Our defense played great today, and kept coming up with big stops," Horning said. "We were quick off the line, and we did a good job re-defending and on the ride. This was definitely one of our best games of the season – everybody was on the same page.”

The District 3 champion Rams took an early 2-1 lead when junior attack Emmie Dressel and junior midfielder Gillian Zimmerman each scored unassisted goals.

But Conestoga began taking command, scoring five straight goals in the next eight minutes.

Kennard-Dale interrupted the streaking Pioneers when senior attack Hannah Bracey scored, assisted by Zimmerman, with 11:07 left in the first half.

Conestoga then fired off nine straight goals, five before halftime. With 15:40 left in the game, the Pioneers held a 15-3 lead.

Nine of the Pioneers’ 17 goals were assisted.

“We were communicating all over the field today," Horning said. "We were really playing well together.”

Late in the game, Dressel posted her second goal of the game, and sophomores Maddie Day and Morgan Bowings also found the net.

“I think our entire team worked hard today, kept trying to get the ball," Wetzel said. "But you just can’t make mistakes against a team like Conestoga.”

The Rams (21-2) end their season as the first YAIAA team to win a district lacrosse championship.