Souderton’s Rachel Judge lets out a scream of triumph as the clock runs out (Bob Raines–Montgomery Media)
**Note: This article originally publishing in The Reporter and on GameTimePA.com**
FRANCONIA — With her team down 5-4 to 28th-seeded Downingtown West in the second half, Souderton girls lacrosse coach Kelly Kelly called the most important timeout of the season.
“It was about staying calm, as well as no body contact,” said Kelly about the reason for the timeout. ‘‘Making sure defensively, because they have so much speed, that we use our footwork…because we were relying on our stick and getting called on it.
“We made that adjustment and it made the world of difference.”
That defensive change proved to be magic, as Souderton went on a 5-0 run the final 18:23 to pick up a 9-5 second-round victory over the Whippets to advance to the District 1 quarterfinals.
Amber Lambeth led the charge for Big Red offensively, netting five goals in the game. She also scored the first two goals of the game for Souderton to give her team an early 2-0 lead.
“Amber is actually our leading scorer on the team right now, so she stepped up,” Kelly said. ‘‘She was moving hard through with speed and intensity. She was using her other teammates…which was nice.”
Lambeth’s five goals came within the first six Souderton scored on the day. Her fourth tally tied the game at five, her fifth gave Big Red the lead for good at the 13:11 mark.
“I think (my teammates) had awesome movement and great passes,” the senior said. ‘‘It was just easy to work with them. We had great communication, great connection.”
Big Red got goal-scoring contributions from five players in all, with Carlie Doughty, Natalie Bulgier, Brittany Roynan and Juliana Ofalt netting one a piece.
The other standout for Souderton resided in the net Thursday. Kelly Williams registered 10 saves on the day, each one bigger than the last.
Souderton’s Carlie Doughty tries to push past Downingtown West’s Meg Graham (Bob Raines–Montgomery Media)
“Kelly is a senior captain and she is the voice of our defense,” Kelly said. ‘‘She comes up big, she gets the girls excited, she gets the girls intense. There’s no letdown with Kel. I think from probably yesterday morning at 8 am she was pumping the girls up, getting them ready for this game. She comes out with her head in this game, ready to go.”
“I think a lot of the shots were easy, especially in the first half, because they were facing into the sun,’ Williams said. ‘‘The second half was definitely a little harder because the sun was on me…(Downingtown West) had a lot of good shots – it was just our defense, I think, was getting there and was able to slow it down just for a second so I had that extra second to react.”
Souderton’s Amber Lambeth makes a cut for the goal past Downingtown West’s Heather Camden (Bob Raines–Montgomery Media)
It would be unfair to narrow Williams’ saves down and name a “best” one, but with the game tied at five Downingtown West held some solid possession that ended with a good save by Williams. The go-ahead goal was scored less than two minutes later and Souderton never looked back.
“She had huge saves – huge ones that we needed,” said Lambeth about Williams. ‘‘It was awesome to see her on fire. I can’t even remember the ones that went in because she saved so many.”
The Whippets were led by Ryan McKinney, who had a hat trick. Senior Emma Cooper added two goals of her own.
Souderton play 4th-seeded Great Valley in the quarters Saturday at West Chester East. Big Red will be the underdog, but that is not important. They have some momentum right now, and they are focused on keeping that going into Saturday.
“(In the past) we’ve kind of been a team that has made it to the playoffs and then in the first round knocked ourselves out almost,” Kelly said. ‘‘This is a team that we’ve been talking all season about – playing our game, keeping our game going and keeping that into the playoffs. It’s not so much focusing about ‘we’re in the playoffs now.’ No…this is just another game, another day we get to play. That’s kind of where we’re at, staying a little mellow with it.
“It’s all about who steps on the field that day,” Lambeth added. ‘‘So anyone can win and we’re just really excited.”
District 1 Second Round
Souderton 9, Downingtown West 5
Downingtown West 3 2 – 5
Souderton 4 5 – 9
Goals: S: Lambeth (5), Doughty, Bulgier, Roynan, Ofalt DW: McKinney (3), Cooper (2).
Saves: S: Williams 10.
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