Agnes Irwin stops Great Valley behind recovered Andress

Few feats for a lacrosse goalie are more difficult than saving a shot that can't be seen.

Just ask Hailey Andress.

The junior goaltender for Agnes Irwin missed 10 weeks this season after suffering a dangerous brain injury during a February practice.

At the Katie Samson Laxfest on Saturday, however, Andress, who has battled vision, balance, and spatial-awareness problems, stopped a career-high 16 shots in the Owls' 14-8 victory over Great Valley at Radnor High.

"This was great," Andress said. "This is only my second full week back. It's definitely a lot harder coming back than I thought it would be. Today, I just felt like I was back on my game."

While Andress stonewalled the Patriots in net, Laura Pansini peppered Great Valley (6-3) with a career-best seven goals, including a well-placed shot on a breakaway that stopped a late Great Valley charge.

Not too long ago, a similar shot would have given Andress fits.

"The ball would disappear as it was tracking across [my field of vision]," Andress said. "The ball would be in the top left and then all of a sudden it's all the way over on the right. I'd be like, 'How did it get over there?' "

Vanishing shots were the result of a brain-stem injury Andress suffered during a Feb. 8 indoor clinic at Agnes Irwin (9-4). A teammate's shot plunked Andress in the helmet above her right eye along her hairline, causing her head to jerk backward.

"My brain rocketed back and injured my brain stem," she said. "I had some speech challenges, I had balance challenges, I had a really hard time walking up stairs, and my depth perception was really off."

Andress said it was painful, but she remembers everything that happened. She stopped practicing and a teammate drove her back to the family's home in Wallingford.

About an hour later, however, Andress said she began shivering uncontrollably.

"I was so cold I couldn't really talk, and my parents immediately took me to the emergency room [at Crozer-Springfield Hospital]," she said.

Subsequently, Andress said, a specialist administered an Impact test, touted on impacttest.com as "the most widely used and most scientifically validated computerized concussion evaluation system."

Rehabilitation at Bryn Mawr Hospital followed, along with difficult physical therapy.

Andress said she missed about six weeks of school. She also said that doctors suggested there was a chance she might never play again.

Crestfallen, she vowed to return.

But the Cornell recruit has precious cargo housed under her helmet.

"That's the thing my doctors kept reminding [me]," she said. "I'd say, 'I have to get back, I have to get back.' And they'd say, 'Well, you kind of need your brain.' "

"There were some tears and debating whether I wanted to come back or just take this season off," she said, "but my teammates were unbelievable and really supported me. I honestly don't think I could have done it without them."

Agnes Irwin 8 6 - 14

Great Valley 3 5 - 8

AI: Lila Barker 3, Natalie Pansini 2, Sydney Wolfington, Emily Fryer, Laura Pansini 7.

GV: Linnea Hughes 3, Olivia Muscella 3, Ashlyn Smith, Tori Rubin.

Saves: AI-Hailey Andress 16; GV-Mia Tornetta 7.

cartera@phillynews.com

@AceCarterINQ