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Mt. Lebanon tough match-up for WPIAL lacrosse foes

By Eleanor Bailey almanac Sports Editor ebailey@thealmanac.Net 4 min read
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Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Ally Klaber is tripped up by defenders on her way to the goal during Mt. Lebanon lacrosse action. Klaber is one of two Blue Devils players who have scored 100 career goals.

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Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Mt. Lebanon’s Katie Freedy applies defensive pressure on Emily Fagelson from Upper St. Clair. The Blue Devils edged the Panthers, 7-6, in overtime to claim the section title and grab one of the top seeds in the upcoming WPIAL Class AAA tournament.

If girls’ lacrosse teams had to exchange videos with their playoff opponents as the football squads are required to do during the WPIAL championships, Mt. Lebanon wouldn’t have a problem with that policy. Live or on video, the Blue Devils are a difficult opponent to scout.

“Teams can look at all the films they want but they are never going to figure out who to shut off or who to key on because anyone can score,” said coach Brian Kattan. “We don’t have one player.”

While the Lebo ladies have seven to 11 players who can “easily” rack up the tallies, they boast two seniors who have recently notched their 100th career goal.

Ally Klaber reached the milestone against Peters Township. The senior finished with four goals in a 14-13 win. Lexi Gibbons recorded the achievement during Lebo’s overtime victory against Upper St. Clair, 7-6.

“We are loaded. We are deep,” Kattan said. “Team play has been our key all year and that’s our strength going into the playoffs.”

That doesn’t mean, however, Lebo’s attempt to capture its third WPIAL title in five years will be easy. A district championship may be as difficult to claim as was winning the section banner.

“It’s always an accomplishment because we have a great section between us, Peters, Bethel and USC, obviously,” Kattan said. “There is a rivalry and a lot of great teams there and you have to play well to win the section.”

When it counted most, Cora Broadhurst played well. With 1:26 left in overtime, the senior scored the decisive tally. The George Washington recruit saw her opportunity and took advantage for the game-winning goal.

“Just a tremendous team effort and a great job by Cora,” Kattan said. “She saw the 1-on-1 that we planned for her to take and she just buried the shot.”

Broadhurst is one of many bright players on the Lebo squad. For example, defender Celia Tandon is headed to Stanford. Gibbons, who was recently inducted into Lebo’s prestigious Cum Laude Society, will play for LaFayette. Klaber is going to Dickinson. Broadhurst, meanwhile, will play lacrosse at George Washington.

While it is not a position Kattan embraces, he understands that his team is nonplussed by deficits. They fell behind, 3-0, before coming back against both Peters and USC.

“We don’t worry if we get down a couple of goals. This team has a lot of leadership on it, young and old. They are not going to get too concerned about getting down a couple of goals.”

Despite the margin and despite losing Maddie Reisinger to a knee injury in the game, the Blue Devils adjusted. The sophomore stepped in and filled the position held by Kate Sramac before The Almanac’s 2017 Athlete of the Year graduated and went on to Cornell.

When Reisinger went down, Cara Lynch, who is normally a starter, filled the gap. The Blue Devils also utilized Eva Dorr and Lainey Donaldson to plug the hole.

“Maddie had been playing very well for us but we were able to move a few people around in the midfield and everybody else did a great job. They all have confidence in each other. Nobody is worried if we put someone else in. They know the plays. They know what to do. It’s the next-man-up mentality. We know they will do their best.”

With a section banner in hand, the Blue Devils plan on playing their best in the playoffs and searching for a WPIAL championship and a chance to compete in states. They received a first-round bye along with defending champion Pine-Richland and Fox Chapel. Lebo will open post-season play at home May 17 against Bethel Park, a 12-7 winner over Seneca Valley, at 7:30 p.m.

“It was our goal from the beginning of the year,” Kattan said. “They never wavered on that even when we lost a couple close games. They never got down on each other. They stayed positive the whole year. It’s a whole new season and it’s all up in the air now but I I think if we play well, then we have just as good a chance as anybody else does.”

Note: Lebo recognized its seniors prior to the win against USC. They included: Rachel Larkin, Callie Plesco, Casey Lynch, Kelsey McKiernan, Klaber, Gibbons, Katie Freedy, Tandon, Broadhurst, Lizzie Gladden and Josie Cort.

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