LouisvilleCatholicSports.com

Valkyries come up short on repeat effort for state title

LouisvilleCatholicSports.com chronicles the 2011-2012 sports year in review. We will bring you every sport, every season, every team’s results in a capsule each weekday until we're finished. From Cross-Country to Softball and all sports in between, here’s what happened in 2011-2012 on the Louisville Catholic sports scene.

Sacred Heart Academy fell just short of a repeat of their 2011 state championship, falling to KCD. Assumption had an injury-riddled season and Mercy took home the title honors in the Blue Division of the Braveheart Tournament held at Sacred Heart.

Here is a review of the 2012 girls Lacrosse season.

Assumption – state quarterfinalists

With standout Mickey Grosso nursing a knee injury, the Assumption Rockets bowed-out of the post-season in the quarterfinals of the state tournament with a 17-4 loss to rival Sacred Heart Academy. The Rockets goalie, junior Joanna Tarullo, had a solid season in goal as she often faced dozens of shots every game. Christina Franck and Jorgie Dermody, along with Grosso, provided much of the scoring punch for the Rockets. Dermody, Alex Fehder, Gorsso, Spencer Kurtzahn, and Jessee Riendeau were selected as Academic All-Americans by the Woman’s Division of US Lacrosse.

Mercy Academy – Braveheart Tournament Red Division champions

The Jaguars of Mercy Academy won the Red Division of the Braveheart Tournament held at Sacred Heart Academy in late April, defeating Oldham County 6-5 in a thrilling final game.

Katie Nord, Katie Wegenast, Mary Wagner, Rachel Beavin were selected to the Braveheart Red Division All-Tournament team. Beavin scored four goals to lead the Jaguars in that championship game.

Sacred Heart Academy – KY Lacrosse State runners-up

Though the Valkyries were unable to defend their 2011 state championship crown, they extended KCD in the championship game before falling 12-7.

Sophie Ford was named an Honorable Mention All-American by the Woman’s Division of US Lacrosse. Ford, along with teammates Ana Grandinetti, Maria Lenhardt, Jennifer Oldfield, and Olivia Solomon earned Academic All-American honors as well.

The Valkyries defeated Collegiate in the state semi-finals in a game that featured three Collegiate players being sent off for major penalties. SHA won the game 10-8 in overtime.

“Our goalkeeper, Claire Emison, played an unbelievable game,” SHA coach Brandon Davis said after that game. “She stepped up just when we needed her to and then we got offensive production from everybody. It wasn’t one or two players, but everybody making contributions for the team.”

After the KCD championship loss, Davis said: "A lot of people before this season were kind of brushing us off because we graduated so much, so to be able to have all these girls step up and have a great season was excellent. We were very pleased with what we did this season.”