Shaler Three-Peats as WPIAL Girls Lacrosse Division II Champs

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, May 22, 2015 | 12:33 AM

Senior midfielder Shannon Lynch scored four goals and added an assist, leading Shaler (19-1) to a 10-5 triumph over Blackhawk (15-3) in the WPIAL Girls Division II lacrosse title game at Highmark Stadium Thursday evening. It was the third straight championship for the victorious Titans. Lynch scored an amazing 22 goals during her squad’s three game trek through the playoffs this season. In three championship final contests, Lynch notched a total of 16 goals. She also scored six goals each as a sophomore in 2013 and a junior in 2014.

Blackhawk, a strong defensive team that gave up just over four goals per game during the season, held a 4-3 halftime lead on strong performances by seniors Abby Shope and Aleena Malinski. Shope, a West Virginia Wesleyan recruit, scored three goals during the opening half while Malinski stonewalled the Titans with ten first half saves. Malinski , who will play goalie for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute next season, finished the game with a total of 17 saves.

Shaler, however, regrouped and showed the form that resulted in two previous championship game victories. The Titans outscored Blackhawk 7-1 during the second half, outshooting the Cougars 14-2 during a dominating onslaught. Shaler’s other scoring came from senior midfielder Neely Regan, who tallied three goals. The St. Leo (FL) recruit was the Titans’ second-leading scorer with 11 goals during the playoffs. St. Francis (PA) recruit Stephanie Fleming, a senior midfielder, chipped in with a goal and an assist for Shaler, while senior attacker Cristine Cafeo and sophomore midfielder Ashley Warren added a goal apiece. Senior goalie Kaylee Coyle made seven saves for the Titans. Shope scored the lone goal of the second half for Blackhawk, her fourth. Emma Verrett, a junior attack winger, scored the Cougars’ only other goal.

Scoring Summary

First Half

00:18     SH           Stephanie Fleming (Shannon Lynch assist)

02:46     BL           Abby Shope (free position)

12:01     BL           Abby Shope (unassisted)

15:05     SH           Shannon Lynch (unassisted)

16:12     BL           Emma Verrett (free position)

19:38     SH           Neely Regan (free position)

23:23     BL           Abby Shope (free position)

Second Half

02:22     SH           Shannon Lynch (unassisted)

05:19     SH           Neely Regan (Stephanie Fleming assist)

11:38     SH           Ashley Warren (unassisted)

14:15     SH           Shannon Lynch (unassisted)

19:48     BL           Abby Shope (free position)

20:27     SH           Shannon Lynch (unassisted)

23:03     SH           Neely Regan (free position, man-up)

24:52     SH           Cristine Cafeo (free position)

Tags: Blackhawk