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Bears lacrosse win play-in game to reach states

PV lax headed to states

For the Pleasant Valley girls lacrosse story, the beat goes on.

And so does Rylee Rath’s goal production.

Rath, District 11’s all-time leading goal scorer and overall scorer, tallied five goals and teammate Brielle Halamar matched her total in the host Bears’ 18-3 defeat of Delaware Valley in a PIAA Class 3A subregional play-in game.

In addition to her five goals, Rath — who surpassed 500 career points this season — also added four assists and recorded her 1,000th career draw control.

Pleasant Valley was coming off its third consecutive District 11 Class 3A title, as it edged Nazareth, 13-12, in overtime. Nazareth earlier snapped the Bears’ 10-game winning streak with a 10-8 victory in the East Penn Conference final. Their only previous setback was a 9-7 defeat to Wilson West Lawn April 11.

The Bears, who improved their overall mark to 22-2, also received three goals from Sam Miller. Emi Stipeck recorded one save, but it was her 100th for her career.

Against Delaware Valley, Pleasant Valley started slowly with a 4-1 lead after the first quarter. But it erupted for seven goals in the second for a 11-3 advantage at halftime. Pleasant Valley held its opponents scoreless after halftime.

With its win, Pleasant Valley will open the state tournament June 2 with an opponent and destination yet to be determined.

Last season, the Bears downed Upper Dublin, 12-4, in the PIAA Class 3 first-round game. They were eliminated by Springfield Delco, 15-3, in the quarterfinal round.

Pleasant Valley ended last season with a 22-3 record.

BEAR CLAWS ... Rath has 127 goals this season, and will attend Northwestern University next year. With their 18-3 victory over Delaware Valley, the Bears have scored 15 or more goals 13 times this season. They have 336 goals on the season.

Delaware Valley 2 1 0 0 - 3

Pleasant Valley 4 7 4 3 - 18

Goals: Delaware Valley - Rhyan Morris 2, Mackenzie. Heath 1; Pleasant Valley - Rylee Rath 5, Brielle Halamar 5, Sam Miller 3, Gabby Kutzler 2, Peyton Knecht 2, Alexis Getz 1. Assists: Delaware Valley - None; Pleasant Valley - Rath 4, Halamar 2, Knecht 1, Getz 1.; Saves: Delaware Valley - Jaida Palacios 7; Pleasant Valley - Emi Stipeck 1.

Records: Delaware Valley (8-11); Pleasant Valley (22-2).