EXETER TOWNSHIP — While it will be a season to remember for Pleasant Valley’s lacrosse team — which was hugely successful in its first 24 games — Saturday’s Class 3A state quarterfinal game ended the year on a sour note.

The bad taste will linger for some time after being eliminated 15-3 by District 1 champion Springfield Delco. But the memories made will forever be etched in the minds of the players that have continued a winning tradition.

The Bears, who finished with a 22-3 record, have been the dominators on most occasions, but they ended up on the reverse side against the Cougars.

There’s no denying Springfield was the swifter and better team. It was never threatened, even though PV gave effort — especially from highly-spirited Devon Bush, who reached an impressive milestone during the contest.

Bush, who’s headed to East Stroudsburg University, posted her 400th career goal, although she was swamped throughout the contest by the Cougar defense.

Delco head coach Keith Broome made it a point to key on the talented senior.

“They’re an excellent team, with an impressive record and No. 4 (Bush) is a standout player, so we wanted to contain her,” Broome said.

The winners charged hard and often, passed the ball with precision, while their gifted players knew where each other was at all times on offense.

“We’re aggressive, we’re aggressive but (we) play it the right way,” Broome said.

“(Our) senior class has been a very good group for us.”

That comment is quite the understatement. Springfield has eight players moving on to the next level, with two of them headed for Division 1, proving their skill.

Midfielder Maddy Kane leads the way for the Cougars, and came through again on Saturday. The Ohio State commit buried four goals against the Bears, and was one of eight different Delco players to score.

Springfield took control from the onset, taking a 5-0 advantage after the opening quarter. While the Bears limited the D-1 champs to just two goals in the second frame, they couldn’t cut into the lead and trailed 7-2 at the break.

Kane recorded three of her goals in the opening half. Katie Keffer also tallied for the winners, while senior midfielder Kylee O’Donnell also got on the scoreboard.

Delco also scored right before intermission as Keffer hit the back of the net with three seconds left on the clock.

“Turnovers killed, us,” said PV head coach Toni Bush. “It was loss of draw control. (Our) team is not used to playing heavy competition. This is something we worried about, heading into (the playoffs).”

The mistakes were costly for the Bears, which suffered 15. And the Cougars definitely took advantage.

They reeled off five third-quarter goals thanks to O’Donnell, Giulia Keller, Kane and freshman Eva Lemeuix.

The only interruption came from Devon Bush with 6:31 to play in the third quarter, her career 400th. That goal left her team in a 9-3 hole, and a tough hole to climb out of. It ended up being the final goal of the day for the Bears.

“(By not) playing tough competition, it puts you in a difficult position,” said Coach Bush, who has elevated the PV program from its beginning stages to a perennial power in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference and District 11. “Early turnovers got in their heads … we just couldn’t (rebound from it.).”

IMPRESSIVE RUN … PV may have hung its head on the bus ride home, but the season was far from a Debbie-downer. Any time you win 20 or more games, it says a lot about your program.

INTENSE PLAYER … Devon Bush can play for any team. She has fire in her belly, and desire, as do her teammates. Bush committed to Monmouth, but then de-committed to play at ESU this fall.

JUST ONE LOSS … Springfield Delco’s only loss came to New Jersey power Haddonfield Heights early in the campaign, 9-5.

QUOTABLE I … “She wears her emotions on her sleeve; she was very frustrated as you can see,” Coach Bush said about her daughter handling the loss and the end of the season.

QUOTABLE II … “We play in a tough league, the Central League, which is very competitive. I think it prepares you when you get into state playoffs,” said Coach Broome.

Pleasant Valley 0 2 1 0 - 3

Springfield Delco 5 2 5 3 - 15

Goals: Pleasant Valley - D. Bush 1, R. Rath 1, B. Halamar 1; Springfield Delco - M. Kane 4, M. Wainright 2, K. O’Donnell 2, E. LeMeuix 2, K. Keffer 2, G. Keller 1, B. Deegan 1, L. Scott 1. Assists: Pleasant Valley - D. Bush 1; Springfield Delco - A. Hunter 2, M. Clifford 2, M. Wainright 1, K. O’Donnell 1, E. LeMeuix 1. Saves: Pleasant Valley - A. Borger 7; Springfield Delco - G. Augello 4.