Deffending Flyers Cup champs pick up where they left off
By Dave Conard, Sports Editor, UnionvilleTimes.com
ASTON—Ask any coach or Athletic Director and they will tell you that one of the most difficult things to do in any sport is to have a successful campaign following a championship season.
Unionville claimed the 2011 Flyers Cup Championship after posting a 15-1 regulatr season
More often than not the reason that the pinnacle could be obtained is largely due to senior leadership or experience that has found away to overcome pitfalls and obstacles during a long season, culminating in hoisting the trophy thus raising the bar for future squads.
Last season Unionville blistered ICSHL opponents on a regular basis posting a 101-10 scoring advantage while posting a 15-1 regular season record, then battled through a brutal bracket to claim the coveted Flyers Cup championship against the best that the tri state area has to offer, consider the bar raised.
Fast forward to this week, the Indians have picked up right where they left off laying waste to any one who has stood in their way en route to a 5-1-0 start which puts them two points behind Haverford and Downingtown East who are both 6-0-0 in the league standings.
Last seasons leading scorer junior Annabeth Donovan (23 goals, 11 assists) has again established herself as one of the league biggest scoring threats as she has 5 goals and 3 assists to her credit in the young season, including a goal and an assist in an 8-0 rout of Avon Grove this week as the Indians prepare to battle Radnor on Saturday night.
Even with all of its success, Unionville, who gets major contributions from seniors Jenna Lisicky and Kate Steller, is mostly comprised of underclassmen, which is a scary prospect for the rest of the ICSHL girl’s varsity league.
The junior tandem of Lyndsey Wenzel, who posted a goal and helper in the win against the Devils and Lilly Henjes (2 goals, 5 assists in 2011) have set the tone offensively all season and are a threat every time they touch the ice.
The Indians have been more than proficient defensively allowing just eight goals thus far in six games thanks to stellar work at the blue line by a couple of young guns in sophomore Morgan Wilm, who has also recorded 3 goal and 3 assist thus far, and freshman Emily Anderson who helped fuel the 21-1 edge in shots on goal against the Devils.
Unionville senior goaltender Jenna Lisicky (2-1-0, 1.83 GAA, .833 save pct.) recorded her first shut out of the season against Avon Grove, that coupled with the exploits of freshman net minder Lillian Jones (3-0-0), who has allowed a miniscule 0.46 goal against average while posting a ridiculous save percentage of .938, has made the Indians crease virtually impenetrable all season long as they have allowed more than one goal just once all season, a 5-4 loss to Haverford.
Check back with the Times following Saturday’s game for a complete game story and actions photos.
Unionville 6 2 0 -8
Avon Grove 0 0 0 -0
U Wenzel Topp Oneil
U Wilm Henjes Donovan
U Donovan
U Topp
U Wenzel Anderson Wilm
U Steller Henjes
U Anderson Steller McDonough
U McDonough Wenzel Ward
