"I think the game against East was the best we've played yet," said Downingtown coach Ed Stillman. "That's a very good East squad. It was 0-0 at the half and we kept the pressure on. We scored one in the third period and three in the fourth period."
Jen Kohler and Beth Hatt scored 2 goals apiece against East. Hatt had 3 and Stephanie Schoening and Laura Fravel 2 each to lead the Whippets over Henderson.
Downingtown (7-1-1 overall, 3-0 league) will face perhaps its stiffest test when league opponent Great Valley (8-1-2, 2-0-1) visits this afternoon.
"We're looking for a very competitive match," Stillman said. "Great Valley is a very good team, but if we play like we have been I believe we'll win. My girls are up for the game."
SHANAHAN ON THE PROWL
Shanahan will visit Downingtown at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. The Eagles (4-5-1, 2-1) do not figure to match up with the Whippets, but they do have an incentive.
Six Eagles - Shannon Handforth, Shannon McClure, Jesse Carroll, Heather McClung, Danielle Gentile and Renee Gentile - and the coach, Andy Gentile, live in Downingtown. The players know most of the Downingtown team members and many played together on junior high squads.
"We've been talking about Downingtown since the beginning of the season," Andy Gentile said. "The kids got upset when they didn't play well and lost a couple of nonleague games to weaker teams. They said, 'How can we beat Downingtown if we can't beat this team?'
"In four years of this program, Shanahan has never beaten Downingtown. We'll give it our best shot."
Shanahan last week picked up wins over Harriton (3-0) and Henderson (4-1) and lost to Great Valley (8-0). Carroll, McClure and Handforth scored against Harriton, and Carroll, Renee Gentile, Handforth and McClung connected against winless Henderson.
EAST TIES PATRIOTS
East held a 2-0 halftime lead before powerful Great Valley scored a pair in the second half to earn a 2-2 tie on Monday. Carri Hall had both East goals.
The Vikings then played well against Downingtown before withering in the second half. Goalie Jen Shivers made several key stops to keep East close.
