The Manheim Township girls lacrosse team found itself down, but ultimately not out.
The Blue Streaks trailed by as many as six in the first half at Ed Journey Field on Friday in their nonleague game against Germantown Academy.
Led by the defense, the Streaks erased the deficit in the second half, ultimately picking up a 12-9 win over the Patriots.
Manheim Township (12-3) trailed big after four goals from Lucia Smigel. Rare unforced errors began to mount for the Streaks, leading to a 7-1 lead for the Patriots early in the second quarter.
“It was a smack in the face,” said Streaks junior goalie Leah Cramer. “We knew we had to step it up.”
Germantown Academy led 7-3 at halftime, but Manheim Township came out firing in the second half, looking like an entirely different team.
“We knew we had our work cut out for us when we went down 7-1 to a team of that caliber,” said Manheim Township first-year coach Colleen Parmer.
Goals from Lexie Kauffman, Brenna Campagna and Olivia Young early in the third quarter cut the Streaks’ deficit to one.
When Elliana Romano found the back of the net with 4:43 left in the third quarter, the six-goal deficit was gone and the two teams were starting over at 7-7
What looked to be an unstoppable offense from Germantown Academy was held to just two goals in the second half, the result of a pesky Township team that swarmed to every loose ball, allowing its defense to create offense.
Cramer made a huge save with just under two minutes to play in the fourth quarter, and the Streaks were able to swing the ball around and run out the remaining time to complete a thrilling comeback victory.
“When we go against these Philly teams, we know it’s going to be a game,” Cramer said. “But we are looking forward to it, and when it’s a win, we make sure to take it all in.”
“When you can come back from 7-1 against a team like this, you know you can do hard things,” said Parmer.
Liv Parmer finished with three goals and an assist for the Streaks. Young had two goals and an assist, Kauffman two goals and Romano a goal and an assist.
Manheim Township is left with just a pair of games left in the regular season, both against nonleague opponents. The Streaks face Downingtown East on Tuesday at 4:15 p.m. at Ed Journey Field, then host Twin Valley on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
Township, which won the Lancaster-Lebanon League Section One title, is slated to play Cocalico on Friday, May 10, at Penn Manor’s Comet Field in the L-L semifinals at 5 p.m.
Lampeter-Strasburg will take on Hempfield in the other semifinal at 7 p.m.
