Plum girls lacrosse picks up pace, improves playoff positioning

By: Josh Rizzo
Saturday, April 27, 2024 | 11:01 AM

The Plum girls lacrosse team has made adjustments as the season has progressed. When the Mustangs’ young attacks needed time to grow into their roles, Plum counted on its upperclassmen to help carry the fight in the midfield.

The Mustangs have been scoring at an impressive clip this season. While Plum took an 8-6 loss against first-place Indiana on April 24, the Mustangs are on a trajectory to earn a spot in the playoffs at 8-3 overall and 6-2 in Section 1-2A.

Bella DiFrancesca, who has nearly 80 goals in her career, and Sophie Anderson, who also has scored around 80 goals, have helped lead the Mustangs in the midfield.

“Bella is our major draw person,” Plum coach Don Barnabei said. “Along with her in the circle, you have Sophie Anderson. They don’t just play lacrosse, they think lacrosse. They know when they should do something.”

Rayla Smith is the program’s all-time leading scorer with more than 200 goals. Smith helps give Plum another threat along with DiFrancesca and Anderson.

While Plum won’t repeat as section champion, Baramie believes the Mustangs have learned from defeat this season. Plum’s losses in the section have come to Penn-Trafford and Indiana, which are the two teams ahead of them in the standings.

The Mustangs, who are hoping to earn a bid in the PIAA playoffs for the first time in program history, have been trying to do everything faster this season. Baramie knows that if Plum makes it out of the WPIAL tournament, the Mustangs will need to move quicker against the top teams from the east.

“One of the top things we’re working on is improving the speed at which we play,” Barnabei said. “We’re increasing the speed of practices, and it’s starting to reflect with how we are playing in the game.”

Plum’s pace has helped the Mustangs put up 144 goals this season, good for an average of 13.1 per game.

The Mustangs also have been looking for spots to work younger players into the lineup. Baramie recently had his JV team play for most of a 10-goal victory over Oakland Catholic to gain experience.

“When you get into the playoffs, you need more than just 14 players,” Barnabei said. “We’re working on that.”

Plum has shown steady growth throughout the year, and Barnabei believes the Mustangs are set up well for the playoffs.

“We have really been working on sending cutters into the center,” Barnabei said. “We were off to a slow start where most of our scoring was done in the midfield. In the last three or four games, attacks have stepped up and are coming out to meet the ball and put it in the back of the net.”

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