Lenfesty, Cadets turn the tide, top Titans
By Greg Swatek gswatek@newspost.com 5 hrs ago 0
On the night of April 4, tears ran down the cheeks of Sam Lenfesty.

The sophomore goalie for the Frederick High girls lacrosse team, Lenfesty was understandably disappointed. She had just allowed an overtime goal to friend and club lacrosse teammate Quinlin Gray of Tuscarora on a free-position shot.

It was the eighth goal of the game for Gray, a Division I prospect who simultaneously lifted the Titans and deflated the Cadets.

But circumstances and feelings have changed dramatically since then. And, if Lenfesty is going to shed any more tears, they will likely be joyful ones.

On Friday, Frederick advanced to its first sectional final in the Class 3A-2A West playoffs with a 10-6 victory at Tuscarora. Lenfesty shined in this one, shutting down numerous scoring opportunities for the Titans, including a few from point-blank range.

She will carry good vibes and a great deal of confidence into Monday’s regional semifinal at top-seeded Middletown.

“I am just so proud” of what the team has accomplished, Lenfesty said after the victory over Tuscarora.

This one played out much like the meeting in early April, with Frederick taking and preserving the early lead. Only this time, the Cadets did not relent in the second half, building their lead to as many as six goals just over three minutes in.

Junior midfielder Delaney Irwin scored very early in both halves off of wins on the draw by sophomore midfielder Isabella Pellet.

Irwin finished with five goals and an assist. She scored all three of Frederick’s goals in the second half, and had the ball on her stick as time expired.

“I just think Delaney is awesome at everything,” Lenfesty said.

Freshmen Kyla Popielaski, Maggie Nealley and Amanda Effland, Pellet and senior Abby Spessard added goals for Frederick, which enjoyed long stretches of possession to kill the second-half clock.

“We want to slow the game down and do the things that we do well, which are off-the-ball cuts and off-the-ball picks, working the ball in,” Frederick coach Brandon Brewbaker said.

“We played three overtime games this season. Four other games were decided by two goals. So, playing in those close games and being able to kill off the clock really played off today.”

The other big difference between this one and the first meeting was the Frederick defense. The Cadets swarmed in their own zone and forced someone other than Gray, who finished with one goal, to beat them.

Freshman midfielder Chandler Stewart tried, scoring three goals for the Titans. Senior captain Christina Foundas, junior attack Jena MacDonald and Gray added a goal each. But Tuscarora was never able to generate sustained periods of offense.

Lenfesty, who finished with six saves, said the Cadets were forced to change their defense following the overtime loss to Tuscarora, and now everyone communicates better and has a greater degree of trust in teammates.

“Hats off to these girls,” Brewbaker said. “Due to all of the rain that we’ve had, we’ve been inside a lot. But they come to practice, work hard and are prepared.”

Now, they will take their chances against a good Middletown team. In a previous meeting this season, Frederick let the game get away in the second half after its deficit was one at halftime.

“We have proven we can play with these teams,” Lenfesty said. “Otherwise, we wouldn’t still be here [in the playoffs].”