Monday, November 21, 2011
Ryan Greer comes to the Galloping Ghosts from St. Joe's Prep
In the nearly two months since becoming the Abington High School boys’ lacrosse coach, Ryan Greer has learned about a juggernaut that has won five straight Suburban One League Championships. That kind of success starts with Wet Bandits Lacrosse in the fall. "The big thing for them to realize, especially in the fall, is that it's about developing and creating good habits," Greer said. Though unlisted on the coaches’ page, Greer has spent much of the autumn working with the Bandits, which includes some key upperclassman who will make up the Galloping Ghosts for the high school season, and taking notes on player skills and mental approach. Greer arrives from St. Joseph's Prep, where he served as the associate head coach for the 2011 state …
Monday, July 18, 2011
The Bandits team comprises 10 Abington lacrosse players; the summer tourney is a prelude to the season.
For Matt Figueroa, Max Malloy, Rane Najera and the large contingent of Abington High School lacrosse players who spent the first half of their summer playing club lacrosse, it's time to rest. The Wet Bandits High School Varsity Roster, comprising 10 Galloping Ghosts, as well as students from Hatboro-Horsham, Upper Dublin and Wissahickon, completed their summer tournament schedule by competing in the 2011 Warrior Summer Sizzle Lacrosse Tournament, held in Baltimore. The Bandits went 4-1 in pool play, but failed to qualify for the championship. For the season, they won the Lehigh Laxfest Championship, made the finals of the Meltdown Lax Tournament, and reached the quarterfinals of the Senior A bracket of Tri-Lax National Summer Festival, …
Thursday, May 26, 2011
The Ghosts fall in playbacks to Avon Grove.
The too-soon ending to the Abington boys lacrosse season will force the players to face their greatest 2011 demon: faceoffs. Dominated at the faceoff X, the Galloping Ghosts were bounced from the PIAA District 1, Class-AAAA playbacks with a 12-10 loss to Avon Grove, ending their season without a third straight state tournament appearance. "It's a big loss, but I hope it can be easily forgotten," junior attacker Matt Figueroa said. "We learned that we really need someone to take faceoffs. After the game, a lot of kids were talking about going to camps this summer to improve and hopefully face off for us next year." According to head coach Randy McNeill, the Ghosts won just four of 26 for the game, not a good recipe for a team wanting to …
Sunday, May 22, 2011
After defeating Boyertown and Great Valley, the Ghosts fall to Conestoga 14-1, ending their bid for a district championship
The pre-game Norwegian chant, used as motivation for the Abington boys’ lacrosse team, includes loud wails and words that sound like gumala, bistee, nana, kundiaa, walumpa and walumee. It's probably best not to make sense of it, as long as it works. "I can do some parts," junior attacker Ryan Ambler said. "It's a weird chant, but I love it." Of many possible translations, one that seems appropriate for the Galloping Ghosts is "Go further," after a series of postseason disappointments that have followed a relatively easy five-year run of Suburban One National championships. Abington's quest for a district championship ended soundly Saturday afternoon with a 14-1 loss to Conestoga in the PIAA District 1 Class AAAA quarterfinals. The …
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Seefried watches the Indian who knocked her out ... from the sidelines.
NEWTOWN—The sight of Molly Seefried standing on the sidelines, with hands in pockets, told her frustrating story of a Tuesday reduced to cheerleading. Having to watch the player who put her there made it worse. "It was awful," said Seefried, who was forced out of her final high-school game with a concussion. "I hated being out. It's annoying because I missed so many games, and it was especially difficult watching the girl play who hit me." That girl, Council Rock North junior Hannah Plappert, contributed two goals and two assists to the Indians' 12-5 win over Abington (13-6), ending the Galloping Ghosts' season in the first round of the PIAA District 1, Class-AAAA playoffs. Plappert also unintentionally ended Seefried's Abington career. In…
Seefried watches the Indian who knocked her out ... from the sidelines.
NEWTOWN—The sight of Molly Seefried standing on the sidelines, with hands in pockets, told her frustrating story of a Tuesday reduced to cheerleading. Having to watch the player who put her there made it worse. "It was awful," said Seefried, who was forced out of her final high-school game with a concussion. "I hated being out. It's annoying because I missed so many games, and it was especially difficult watching the girl play who hit me." That girl, Council Rock North junior Hannah Plappert, contributed two goals and two assists to the Indians' 12-5 win over Abington (13-6), ending the Galloping Ghosts' season in the first round of the PIAA District 1, Class-AAAA playoffs. Plappert also unintentionally ended Seefried's Abington career. In…
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Five Abington teams head to the playoffs
With the regular season wrapping up around the Suburban One League, five of Abington's spring sports teams aren't done yet. The girls and boys track and field teams each took second place at the Suburban One League National Conference playoffs, and will head to the PIAA District 1 playoffs on May 19 and 20 at Coatesville High School. The volleyball team and both lacrosse teams also qualified for the playoffs and play Tuesday. Below is a preview of what to expect from each of the team. Boys’ Lacrosse When it comes to the regular season, the Galloping Ghosts boys' lacrosse team has maintained an impressive level of consistency. Abington has won five straight conference championships and haven't lost a conference game since losing to …
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
The 5-5 Ghosts will prepare for a May 5 rematch
NEWTOWN — Nearly 30 minutes had passed since her lacrosse team suffered a swift and convincing road defeat, and Carli Fitzgerald was still shaking her head. Fresh off Abington's 15-7 dismantling at the hands of Council Rock North — a team that declared afterward that it no longer wants to be co-champions of the Suburban One National Conference — Fitzgerald had gathered her thoughts for an honest assessment. "They were here to play today and I don't think we were," Fitzgerald said. "I think it taught us that we have to win these games." She paused, then smiled. "We'll beat 'em next time,” she said. Before the May 5 rematch at Abington, Fitzgerald, Molly Seefried and company will have to digest a disappointing Monday in Newtown, when North …
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Gallagher and Figueroa each score hat tricks in win over Pennsbury
FAIRLESS HILLS — Like every other conference opponent during the past four seasons, Pennsbury tried to end an Abington winning streak. As usual, it didn't end well for the Falcons. Staked to a four-goal, first-quarter lead, the Galloping Ghosts lacrosse team cruised to a 10-6 win on a chilly Friday, keeping Suburban One National foes winless in 42 unofficial attempts since May 11, 2006, when Pennsbury won 6-4 on the same field as Friday's game. "We like having a big target on our backs, because it forces us to play harder," long stick midfielder Anthony Greco said. "We came out fired up, with a lot of momentum and played our hearts out. It was probably one of my favorite games by far." After a slow beginning, in which Pennsbury controlled …
Friday, April 15, 2011
The senior attacker missed five games with a concussion.
HOLLAND, PA—With the rain growing heavier and mud splattering on her legs, Molly Seefried couldn't be happier. And why not? After missing the past five games with a concussion—an eternity for any high-school athlete—Seefried rejoined her Abington teammates on Wednesday afternoon, lacrosse stick in hand. Wielding it as efficiently as ever, the senior attacker scored four goals to help the Galloping Ghosts to a 13-6 win Wednesday over Council Rock South, as the teams opened up the conference portion of the schedule. The team followed that with a blowout 20-1 win over Neshaminy on Thursday. "Oh my God, it was awesome," Seefried said, after her Wednesday performance. "I haven't had this much fun in a month. I'm so excited to be back. I really …
