Focus on fundamentals carried Franklin Regional girls lacrosse into playoffs

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, May 18, 2018 | 11:00 PM

There's always that flashpoint moment during a season where a team will be defined by what it did or didn't do.

For the Franklin Regional girls lacrosse team, that moment came on the last day of April when the Panthers suffered an 8-7 loss to Section 1-AA rival Ellis School. The loss was a painful one as it spoiled the Panthers' chances of earning at least a share of the section crown.

“Obviously, after the Ellis game, their heads were kind of down,” Franklin Regional coach Mackenzie McGuire said. “I was not happy with that Ellis game because we have a lot more talent than we showed.”

In what is probably a decision that will go on to define the 2018 season, instead of yelling at her players and making them run, McGuire took all the blame. She admitted there were things she lost sight of, mainly fundamentals.

“I take the fall as the coach and we went back to the basics, and I think that made a huge difference,” McGuire said.

Franklin Regional (15-3) immediately went on a four-game winning streak to close the regular season. In some ways, losing to Ellis, a team the Panthers dominated 14-5 in their first meeting, was exactly what the team needed to regain focus.

“I like that we learned our lesson there, instead of in the postseason,” McGuire said.

Franklin Regional has had its share of character-building losses this season. Each of the Panthers' three losses came by one goal. The Panthers split the season series with section rival and No. 2 seed Oakland Catholic, split with Ellis and lost an 11-10 match against nonsection rival and eventual No. 1 seed Hampton.

“I think they're finally realizing that we can compete with the better teams,” McGuire said. “Their skill is up there. It's the confidence we're working on.”

The Panthers also gained confidence when they earned a No. 6 seed in the WPIAL Class AA playoffs. Franklin Regional rolled into North Allegheny last Monday to face No. 11 Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, looking to extend its wining streak.

“It was hard going into the North Catholic game because we haven't seen them,” McGuire said. “They lost to Hampton by one (goal) and Mars by one.”

Nevertheless, the Panthers played their game. Sophomore Noelle Boyd scored four of her five goals in the game's first five minutes to give the Panthers all the momentum and the lead. Fellow sophomore Christian Hodawanec added five goals, and junior Courtney Giles had three to lift Franklin Regional to a 15-7 win. What's even more impressive is Franklin Regional advanced without the help of their top two scorers, Angie Ginanangeli and Francesca Giacchino. The win showed the amount of depth the Panthers have.

“We don't have one girl who has 20 goals more than anyone else. They're all neck and neck,” McGuire said.

The win moved the Panthers into the quarterfinals to face No. 4 Seton LaSalle, and the Panthers earned a 15-4 victory. Hogowanec scored six times, and Noelle Boyd and Giannangeli each had three goals. Giacchino scored twice, and Giles added a goal. Kendra Delissio made nine saves in goal.

The No. 6 Panthers were scheduled to play Quaker Valley in the semifinals Monday.

“I think a huge thing is that we have a lot of girls with good speed. We have a lot of seniors (that) are still mad about last year,” McGuire said. “These girls know what it takes, know they have it, and that's the heart of what's happening now.”

William Whalen is a freelance writer.

Tags: Franklin Regional