PIAA Class 3A Girls Lacrosse: Radnor a third win away from a fifth state title

The road to the PIAA Class 3A state title game has been anything but what Radnor High coach Lis Zuern expected.

To win the school’s fifth girls state lacrosse title the Raptors must not only beat Central League antagonist Conestoga Saturday at Panzer Field at Penn State (2:30 p.m.), but do it for a third time this season.

It’s been a Central-themed postseason story for the Raptors, as they also had to defeat Garnet Valley and Penncrest for a third time to reach the title game, Zuern’s girls eliminating Garnet Valley in the first round of states and Penncrest in the semifinal round. Don’t expect Zuern to find amusement in the “third time’s a charm” adage.

“Playing a team three times, beating a team three times is never, never easy,” Zuern said. “It’s the Central League. It’s the toughest league in the state.”

Speaking of three, Zuern is in her third year rebuilding the Raptors (23-2), who are loaded with seniors like goalie Arden Jansen, instrumental in leading a squad that has lost only to nationally ranked Garden City and Gulf Coast. Jansen “100 percent” feels the Raptors are a team of destiny.

“This is a team that is very senior heavy, and I think everyone is meshing together very nicely,” Jansen said. “Everyone has been buying in, and I think it all shows through in our play. I’m really excited. This is definitely something our team has been working for this whole entire season. We’ve always been focused on that date in June taking it one day at a time, one game at a time. And I think this team is just super excited showing all our hard work pay off.”

Zuern is as tough as her girls. Seven months into a pregnancy, she still gets up and down the sideline efficiently, a credit to youth and likely her career as an attack. It’s going to be a girl, probably a lacrosse player in waiting, and Zuern appreciates the game for helping her through the early and difficult motherly moments.

“I get my butt kicked every day,” Zuern said. “All my energy goes into lacrosse. But it’s good. It’s funny because it keeps you busy, too. It makes the pregnancy go by super-fast.”

To get to where the Raptors want to be, they have a formidable task ahead in Conestoga (20-4). Coached by Amy Orcutt, the Pioneers are no stranger to big games as they are eyeballing a third state girls’ championship.

The Raptors most recently registered 9-7 win over Conestoga in the District 1 championship on May 29. During the regular season Radnor beat Conestoga, 7-6, at Radnor. As with Penncrest and Garnet Valley, the third games in the series tend to run a little closer largely due to the ageless competitiveness blossoming in the Central League.

The Raptors were down a star when Kate Gallagher injured an ankle in their 13-11 win over Penncrest in the semis. It showed until the Raptors stepped up.

“Kate is truly one of our best players out there, but I think it shows the depth of our team with another amazing player off the bench being able to step in and fill her shoes,” Jansen said. “I think we showed perseverance. Even when (Penncrest) got the momentum back, we had each other’s backs and focused on the next play.”

This Raptors team unquestionably is special to Zuern, for this is the first group she bonded with. She remembers that time as if it was yesterday, and it makes this trip sweeter.

“Those 14 seniors we have,” Zuern said. “We have four very, very good captains who have kept the team on track and inspired them throughout the entire year. It’s huge.”

Zuern isn’t the first Radnor girls lacrosse coach to work through a pregnancy during a memorable season. Kristin Addis gave birth during the 2021 season. Addis missed only a game and guided that team to its last state championship.

Like Zuern, it was Addis’ second child and first title. Something much more appealing to think of than third time’s a charm.