NA Edged By North Hills In Section Finale, Still Qualifies For WPIAL Playoffs
A goal by senior Emma Patsilevas with 2:28 remaining spoiled a valiant comeback bid by North Allegheny and lifted host North Hills to a 13-12 victory at Martorelli Stadium on Monday night. The Tigers trailed by five at the half before a stunning comeback gave NA the lead, 12-11, with 4:54 to play in regulation. However, back-to-back goals by Kaycie Cleric and Patsilevas allowed the Indians to escape with a narrow win in the Section 2-AAA finale.
Thanks to a Seneca Valley loss to Fox Chapel on Monday night, the Tigers locked up a playoff berth in the upcoming WPIAL playoffs despite the loss to North Hills.
In the early going, North Allegheny netted four of the first five goals to take a 4-1 lead just over three minutes into the contest. Avery Anderson, Laurel Donley, Isla Abrams and Delaney Kennedy fired the opening salvo for the Tigers in what proved to be a back-and-forth shootout.
The Indians responded with six consecutive goals, including four in a row by Duquesne University recruit Abby Krogmann, to take a 6-4 lead with 15:18 left in the first half. After an Abrams goal cut the North Hills lead to 6-5, the Indians continued to ride the hot hand of Krogmann, who scored four consecutive markers for a 10-5 advantage by intermission. Krogmann finished with a game-high nine goals on the night.
Down by five at the half, North Allegheny began to rally with goals by Abrams and senior Leigh Failla, trimming the deficit to 10-7 two minutes into the second half. Krogmann’s ninth goal made it 11-7, Indians, before the Tigers netted five in a row to garner a 12-11 lead with just under five minutes to play in the game. Back-to-back markers by Kennedy, and consecutive tallies by Abrams, Failla and sophomore Maddie Lemmon vaulted NA on top by a goal.
Unfortunately for the Tigers, the Indians managed to escape thanks to the late goals by Cleric and Patsilevas to prevail, 13-12.
Despite the loss, North Allegheny displayed its mettle in a hard-fought contest. Along with Abrams’ four goals, the junior middie posted seven draw controls, four ground balls and two assists. Kennedy won 15 of 23 draws in addition to her hat trick. Senior Mia Natoli was strong on the defensive end with four caused turnovers, three ground balls and an interception. Freshman Keely McMahon-Regan totaled a pair of assists, while Anderson caused three turnovers in a addition to her one goal.
With the loss in the section finale, North Allegheny slips to 6-6 overall and 4-5 in Section 2-AAA, while North Hills improves to 6-3 in section play. Both teams have qualified for the WPIAL playoffs. The Tigers look to get back into the win column on Thursday with a non-section visit to Quaker Valley.
Girls Lacrosse Summary vs. North Hills, 5-1-23
| GAME SUMMARY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| SCORE BY HALVES | 1 | 2 | FINAL |
| North Allegheny | 5 | 7 | 12 |
| North Hills | 10 | 3 | 13 |
