DISTRICT 1-3A GIRLS LACROSSE: Fast start sparks Bishop Shanahan to win over Upper Dublin

UPPER DUBLIN — Bishop Shanahan scored three goals in the first 3:46 of its District 1-3A semifinal against Upper Dublin Thursday afternoon.

The Eagles’ lead was trimmed to one goal once in the first half, but they never surrendered the advantage. They led by at least three goals the entire second half.

No. 3 Bishop Shanahan advanced to the district championship game with a 9-6 win over No. 2 Upper Dublin on a rainy Spark Field at Upper Dublin High School.

Emma McGlothlin, Elise Pezone and Gillian Greco scored the three quick goals that put the Eagles (19-2) in control from the start.

“We come out hard in all games,” Greco, who scored two goals, said, “but this game we just wanted to win and it shows in practice and especially today. Coming out strong really helps our confidence throughout the game. We just really wanted it and the motivation – it kept going throughout the game.”

Upper Dublin (19-2) responded with three of the next four goals – one apiece by Anna DiMartile, Maeve Hogan and Bridget DiMartile – to trim their deficit to one, 4-3, but Fiona Duncheski scored the final goal of the first quarter to give Shanahan a 5-3 lead.

Pezone scored back-to-back goals on eight-meter shots late in the second quarter to give Shanahan its largest lead of the game at four, 8-4.

Bridget DiMartile scored the final goal of the half to get Upper Dublin within three, 8-5. That score lasted through the entire third quarter and the first 3:56 of the fourth. Charley Melconian scored – on a nice feed by Stella D’Ambro – to get Shanahan’s advantage back to four with 8:04 left in the game. Hogan got Upper Dublin within three, but they weren’t able to cut into their deficit in the final 6:25.

“It seems to be a pattern with us now,” Upper Dublin coach Dee Cross said of the early hole, referencing their four-goal deficits in the second round and quarterfinals. “They never gave up, but we just can’t start slow like that. (Shanahan) only had one goal in the second half, we just couldn’t score.”

Bishop Shanahan’s defense and goalie Juliana O’Brien played a key role in the win. The Eagles held Upper Dublin to its lowest goal total of the season and didn’t allow the Cardinals to score on any of their eight-meter shots.

“We run a really fast defense,” Shanahan defender Carly Cunningham said, “so it’s a lot of moving in and out. They definitely were really good at getting the looks inside, so they got early goals quick in the first quarter and then we really made an adjustment to make sure we were seeing it sooner and make sure we got a body on it. We’re really good at having each other’s back and that really worked for us today.”

“We practice all the time eight meters,” Greco said. “We have a ton of girls on the team – different shots, a ton of diversity – some girls run it in, some girls rip it. (O’Brien) sees everything and we want to practice them and the practice shows in games when we execute on them.”

Upper Dublin generated scoring opportunities, but were only able to get six goals past O’Brien.

“They played fast and they played hard – Shanahan did – which we knew they were, we just could not solve our shooting,” Cross said. “We were shooting right at the goalie. She’s good – you have to give her credit – we just couldn’t find a way to put it past her consistently and that made a huge difference because that’s a momentum-breaker.”

Bishop Shanahan, which is playing in Class-3A for the first season after winning the Class-2A title in 2024, 2023 and 2021 and finishing second in 2022, will face No. 1 Springfield (Delco) in the championship game Wednesday, May 28 at a site and time to be determined.

“It feels amazing,” Cunningham said. “We really wanted to come out and prove that even though we’re in 3A instead of 2A, that we can still get here and do what we need to do. We want to come out and show everyone what we’re made of.”

“Our class, the 25s, have been in 2A the entire time,” Greco added, “and we were really excited going into this season and coming in here we have something to prove. We’re on a mission and we’re doing that. I think we all have the want and the drive and it’s showing in our games. We’re ready to take on the championship.”

Upper Dublin will host No. 12 Conestoga in the third-place game at 4 p.m. Wednesday ahead of the PIAA-3A state playoffs.

“Our season’s not over,” Cross said. “We’re still playing for third or fourth place. I’m proud of their effort and I know they’ll bounce back. It’s just a tough way to lose.”

Bishop Shanahan 9, Upper Dublin 6

Bishop Shanahan 5 3 0 1 – 9

Upper Dublin 3 2 0 1 – 6

Goals: BS: Emma McGlothlin, Elise Pezone 3, Gillian Greco 2, Fiona Duncheski, Stella D’Ambro, Charley Melconian. UD: Anna DiMartile, Maeve Hogan 2, Bridget DiMartile 3.