Lady Knights advance to final four

HENDERSONVILLE The fifth-seeded Pope John Paul II High girls lacrosse team advanced to the state semifinals with Saturday afternoon’s 14-12 victory over visiting Ravenwood in a state quarterfinal contest.

The Lady Knights suffered losses in the quarterfinal round the previous two seasons.The fourth-seeded Lady Raptors handed PJP II one of its two losses this season, a 14-13 setback at Ravenwood on April 20.

On Saturday, PJP II (16-2) led 8-6 at halftime.

Lady Knight senior standout Grace Lascara – a Kennesaw State (Ga.) University signee – scored seven goals, provided an assist, picked up three ground balls and had two takeaways, and classmate Anna Grace Shepherd provided four goals and two assists. Senior Mercedes Smith had two goals and two assist, and sophomore Kyla Frank scored one goal.

Senior Maddy Baechle picked up four ground balls and had a takeaway.

It was the fifth consecutive win for the Lady Knights.

Lady Knight sophomore goalkeeper Reanna McNair made 17 saves

PJP II – which is under the direction of first-year head coach Paul Raccio – will face top-seeded Hutchison (17-3) – the five-time defending state champion – in Friday evening’s semifinal round, which will be played at St. Benedict at Auburndale High School in Cordova. Hutchison won its first two playoff contests against Briarcrest Christian and Harpeth Hall by a combined margin of 38-5.

Second-seeded Ensworth (15-2) will face No. 3 seed St. George’s (17-5) in Friday’s other semifinal, and the championship match is slated for noon on Saturday. St. George won the 2010 state title with a win over Ensworth, which won the 2009 state title and finished state runner-up in 2012 as well.

PJP II – which captured a 14-10 win over visiting Seymour earlier this season – led 10-1 at halftime.>> The Lady Knights opened the postseason with Friday evening’s 17-4 victory over visiting Seymour, the No. 12 seed.

Lascara had four goals and two assists, and Shepherd, Smith and junior Aiyanah Simms all scored three goals, with both Shepherd and Simms providing two assists as well.

Junior teammates Maddy Barber and Caroline Leonard scored two goals each.

Lascara and Baechle combined to pick up seven ground balls and to garner four takeaways.

Both McNair and freshman Amanda Amorese made four saves each.

>> Three Lady Knights were selected to the Tennessee Girls Lacrosse Association All-Central West Region Team and will play at the Tennessee Girls Lacrosse Association All-Star Game, which will be held on Saturday afternoon at St. Benedict (following the state championship match).

Lascara (78 goals, 6 assists, 61 ground balls and 22 takeaways) was named to the all-region team for the fourth consecutive season, and it was the second all-region selection for senior defender Miranda Smith (3 goals, 45 ground balls, 14 takeaways). Simms (48 goals, 19 assists, 41 ground balls and 8 takeaways) was the team’s third all-region selection.