By Aaron Carter
From philly.com
It was quite a season for local girls’ lacrosse teams.
Three of the four teams in the PIAA state playoff semifinals were from Southeastern Pennsylvania, and Conestoga avenged last year’s loss in the title game to Garnet Valley with a victory over Radnor.
Here is our 2016 all-area girls’ lacrosse team:
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Monica Borzillo, Conestoga
Borzillo led the Pioneers to their first state championship by scoring four goals and dishing eight assists in the championship game against Radnor. The Cincinnati-bound attacker also set a school record with 109 assists this season while scoring 79 goals on 72.5 percent shooting to finish with 188 points. Borzillo also was named an all-American and first-team All-Central League.
First team
ATTACKERS
Sondra Dickey, Conestoga
The Lehigh-bound senior led the Pioneers with 69 goals and added 22 assists during Conestoga’s PIAA championship run. Dickey scored on 62.7 percent of her shots, which helped her earn all-American honors.
Alex Ladda, Harriton
Ladda led the Rams with 67 goals and was named an all-American for the second consecutive season. The Lehigh recruit was a four-year starter and first-team Central League for the last two seasons. Ladda has 179 career goals and started as a freshman on Harriton’s state championship team.
Laura Pansini, Agnes Irwin
A four-year varsity player, Pansini graduates as the Owls’ all-time leader with 328 points, despite missing her sophomore season with a knee injury. This season, the Princeton-bound attacker scored 69 goals, added 50 assists, and helped lead Irwin to its third straight Inter-Ac League championship. Pansini ended her career with 202 goals and 126 assists.
MIDFIELDERS
Emily Mathewson, Garnet Valley
Few high school lacrosse resumés can rival what Mathewson accomplished at Garnet Valley. The Vanderbilt recruit scored 303 career goals and led the Jaguars to back-to-back state championships. This season, Mathewson also was named an all-American for the second consecutive season after leading Garnet Valley to the PIAA semifinals.
Julia Hondros, Episcopal Academy
The senior captain earned all-American honors and led Episcopal to the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association championship game against Agnes Irwin. The Brown-bound standout set a single-season school record with 113 draw controls. Hondros also scored 60 goals, forced 24 turnovers, and added 10 assists.
Liz Scott, Conestoga
Just a junior, Scott was named an all-American for the second consecutive season. The Loyola recruit scored 53 goals during Conestoga’s PIAA title stampede and led the Pioneers with 134 draw controls. Scott also was named MVP of the Central League.
DEFENSE
Kate White, Agnes Irwin
The Dartmouth-bound senior is an all-American for the second time. White was a two-year captain and a four-year varsity player who was named the team’s defensive MVP this season. For her career, White corralled 153 ground balls, won 188 draw controls, caused 157 turnovers, and scored 33 goals.
Kara Nakrasius, Garnet Valley
The four-year varsity player was a two-year captain for the Jaguars. The Temple-bound senior was also named an all-American this season.
Victoria Baretta, Downingtown East
The University of Maryland-bound junior was named an all-American for the Cougars, who ended Great Valley’s four-year run as Ches-Mont League champion and stopped Great Valley’s 55-game league winning streak, according to PhillyLacrosse.com.
GOALIE
Jules Horning, Conestoga
The senior goaltender and Marquette recruit saved 52.7 percent of shots faced en route to the Pioneers’ first state championship.
Second Team
Not listed by position
Lila Barker, Agnes Irwin
Fallon Quinn, Radnor
Samantha Swart, Archbishop Carroll
Emily Fryer, Agnes Irwin
Mikaela Watson, Springside Chestnut Hill
Bridget Whitaker, Springfield Delco
Abby Lord, Radnor
Caroline Allen, Academy of Notre Dame
Jessie Rubin, Friends Central
Linnea Hughes, Great Valley
Olivia Muscella, Great Valley
Maddie Gerbert, Owen J. Roberts
Samantha McGee, Abington
Julianne Clemens, Springfield