Chapin, A.C. Flora go for first lacrosse state titles

After graduating 11 seniors, Chapin girls lacrosse coach Jen Green thought her team might be in rebuilding mode.

Things got tougher when defender/midfielder Chaney Partich went down with an ACL injury in a scrimmage, and the team was dealt other injuries throughout the year. But the Eagles have gotten big production from their younger players, rallied around Partich’s injury and will be going for the Class 4A championship Saturday against Bishop England.

The game will be played at Chapin’s home field, the site of this year’s championships.

“We started the year, and our code word was creativity, but we quickly had to shift it to resiliency,” Green said. “We have had numerous car accidents, concussions and an ACL tear, which have impacted on how we had to play the game. We have to play girls in positions they weren’t familiar with, and they have done a great job working together as a team.”

Four of Chapin’s top five scorers are sophomores, led by Jordan Green’s 72 points. Eden Ellison and Angel Tisdale each have 34 goals. Defensively, Mackenzie Clark and Gabrielle Ivanov were all-state selections along with junior goalie Olivia Fladung.

Despite her injury, Partich has remained a big part of the team.

“I have been to every practice and every game, and this team making it this far is a dream of mine,” Partich said. “They deserved everything they have done.”

Chapin is one of two Midlands teams playing for a state championship Saturday. A.C. Flora faces Bishop England in the 4A boys championship.

Chapin and A.C. Flora both faced their opponent this season.. B-E defeated Chapin 10-3 on March 18, while the Falcons lost to the Bishops, 12-9 on April 7.

“I told our coaches that when we played them, it was going to be a glorified scouting report. They’re going to be good; we’re going to have our hands full to beat them,” A.C. Flora coach Mickey Purdy said. “We saw some things that worked and also saw some things we have to get better at. We’re happy we have the opportunity. We’re going to try and get past this happy-to-be-there mode and get into the let’s-do-something-when-we-get-there.”

The Falcons are coming off a dramatic victory over Christ Church in the semifinals. William King scored with 19 seconds left in the 12-11 victory.

King is second on the team in scoring with 64 points. First-team all-state selection Sam Duffie leads with 98 points, including a team-high 56 goals.

A.C. Flora has scored 10 or more goals in five of its seven games.

This story was originally published April 28, 2017 at 7:41 PM with the headline "Chapin, A.C. Flora go for first lacrosse state titles."