Borzillo, Conestoga girls find redemption against Great Valley
Redemption felt sweet, especially for Monica Borzillo. Just eleven days ago, Conestoga had fallen to Great Valley in the semifinals of the District 1 tournament. So Borzillo had revenge in mind Saturday afternoon when the teams met again in the PIAA quarterfinals at West Chester East.
Redemption felt sweet, especially for Monica Borzillo.
Just eleven days ago, Conestoga had fallen to Great Valley in the semifinals of the District 1 tournament. So Borzillo had revenge in mind Saturday afternoon when the teams met again in the PIAA quarterfinals at West Chester East.
Borzillo scored three goals and assisted on two others, and this time the Pioneers came away with a 12-9 victory.
"It's like we just won the championship," Monica Borzillo said. "It's like total revenge. This game really showed how much heart we have and how much passion we have. We put it all out on the field."
Conestoga came out of the gate a little slow and fell behind by 2-0 within the first four minutes.
But then, Borzillo and the Pioneers (22-3) got to work. Sondra Dickey scored two quick goals to tie it. Then Scottie Growney scored. Then Borzillo. Then Dickey. Then Maggie Stetson.
After Dickey netted her fourth and final for good measure, that 2-0 deficit had turned into a 7-2 Conestoga lead. Conestoga led 11-5 by halftime, and six Pioneers had scored.
"The thing is, everyone's a leader," captain Sarah Nicholson said. "We all push each other, and we all hold each other to play the best we can. When everyone has that same mentality, it works."
Great Valley (21-4) pushed scored four second-half goals to bring it within, 11-9, with less than six minutes to play.
"We were still winning, so [coach Amy Orcutt] told us to play like it," Dickey said. "The message was to keep playing, don't stop."
With 4 minutes, 27 seconds to go, Borzillo added some insurance, and the defense halted the Great Valley attack to hang on, and send Conestoga to the semifinals against Radnor on Tuesday.
Conestoga 11 1 - 12
Great Valley 5 4 - 9
Goals: C-Sondra Dickey 4, Monica Borzillo 3, Maggie Stetson 2, Scottie Growney 1, Chrissy Walton 1, Liz Scott 1. GV-Natalie Kahn 3, Ashlyn Smith 2, Olivia Muscella 2, Megan Buettner 1, Kristen Knaff 1.
Saves: C-Laney Stetson 3, Jules Horning 3. GV-Mia Tornetta 7.