Lacrosse notes: La Salle's Kerrigan can do more than just hit
Aidan Kerrigan enjoys the best of both worlds almost year-round. In autumn, the 5-foot-11, 220-pound linebacker blasted ball carriers for La Salle. Springtime, however, it's all about lacrosse, and offense.
Aidan Kerrigan enjoys the best of both worlds almost year-round.
In autumn, the 5-foot-11, 220-pound linebacker blasted ball carriers for La Salle. Springtime, however, it's all about lacrosse, and offense.
"There's a balance to it," Kerrigan said after the Explorers clobbered Archbishop Carroll, 19-5, on Monday. "In the fall I get to hit people. In the spring I get to score goals."
"I like scoring goals," the Maple Glen resident continued. "It's really fun. It's kind of cool to do two different things because each season has something different."
Inexperience has been a major difference the Explorers (7-2, 3-0) have contended with this season. La Salle returned few seniors with big-game experience after falling to eventual state-champion Penncrest, 6-5, in the PIAA quarterfinals last season. The Explorers were vying for their second straight state championship.
"This season we've had a lot of young guys on our team so it's all been about trying to figure out where everyone fits best," Kerrigan said. "It's kind of all about getting experience. We don't have a lot of returning guys; only four seniors played in big games last year."
On Monday, freshman Matthew Clibanoff led La Salle with three assists. Kerrigan and junior Kohler Setley each tallied a team-best three goals.
La Salle's relative inexperience will be tested on Thursday at rival St. Joseph's Prep. La Salle beat St. Joseph's, 8-7, for the Catholic League title last season.
Kerrigan, a senior who made varsity as a freshman, uses his early struggles to connect with his younger teammates.
"It was tough at first playing with the big seniors," he said. "I was smaller, not as athletic as them and got my butt kicked every day. It's good to see the young guys making progress because I can relate to them and help them along in the process."
He learned from his oldest brother John, who played lacrosse at La Salle (2009) and then at Susquehanna. Another brother, Connor, played football for the Explorers (2012).
A 3.75-GPA student, Kerrigan still hopes to generate lacrosse interest for college, but said he is likely bound for Drexel to focus on engineering.
Kerrigan said he let the time of year decide which sport he preferred.
"I guess it depends what season it is," he said. "There's nothing like those Friday night football games. Both of them are great, but I've always had something (extra) for lacrosse."
Phelan on the precipice. Alynn Phelan almost didn't even play lacrosse this season. The challenges of building a team at Hallahan loomed large. Plus, she was tempted to join her twin sister, Marissa, on the softball team.
"I actually thought that I was going to switch and play softball this year because it was beginning to become a lot," the junior from South Philadelphia (between Front and Second streets) said.
"We got new coaches every year. This is the third year we've had a new coach. With the new coach this year (Brian Goettner), I'm actually glad I played."
With 24 goals this season, Phelan owns 99 for her career. The junior's next chance for No. 100 should be Friday at home against Lansdale Catholic.
"It's pretty amazing with a new program in only its third year, and to be able to get this far with it," she said. "It's pretty shocking, actually."
In her freshman year, Phelan tallied the school's first goal. Earlier this month, Hallahan (2-6) won its first PCL game by beating Archbishop Ryan.
"It was really hard trying to start and build a program," said Phelan, who has earned college interests in soccer and lacrosse. "Everything takes its time. It just feels like forever. But it didn't turn out too bad."
The milestone may have lured her away from softball, but so did loyalty to her teammates.
"I had 32 goals my freshman year and 43 last year," she said, "and I figured I'd hit 100 and I figured why not just . . . continue to set records and stuff."
Later, she added: "Since we had new coaches, I thought I would let my team down if I left."
Katie Samson Festival. The 15th annual Katie Samson Festival will take place Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Radnor. The event features 26 boys' teams and 28 girls' teams playing regular season games on six fields. Adult admission is $10, students $5 and children less than three years old are admitted for free.
Katie Samson, a former lacrosse player at Radnor High and then Middlebury College, suffered a spinal-cord injury while sledding, which left her a quadriplegic. The foundation in her name donates to research and rehabilitation treatments and programs for those with spinal cord injury.
@AceCarterINQ