After two seasons of coming up just short, the top-seeded Twin Valley Raiders finally got their moment. In a gritty, hard-fought BCIAA girls lacrosse championship Tuesday night at Alvernia University, they defeated third-seeded Wilson 8-6 to claim the county title.
"It feels so good because we only lost three seniors last year, so the girls that came back have experienced this," Raiders coach Courtney Kaplan said. "They know what that loss felt like, and the way they’ve grown their game in a year is just amazing. We’re just super dialed in right now, and it feels really good."
The Raiders (18-1) were powered by senior Michigan commit Ellie Kaplan, who delivered a hat trick—including the go-ahead goal late in the fourth quarter. Taylor Ebert and Meredith Siever each chipped in two goals, providing the offensive firepower needed to outlast a determined Wilson squad.
"Great. We’ve been here the last couple years and haven’t brought it home, so to finally get that medal and the trophy, it’s just great," Ellie Kaplan said.
Wilson (14-4) stayed competitive throughout, with Ryan Leaman scoring twice, but the Bulldogs couldn't find the finishing touch in crunch time. This was a far cry from the teams' first meeting earlier this season, when Twin Valley rolled to an 18-7 victory. But in championship play, everything changes.
"We played them pretty early, so obviously things change," Ellie Kaplan noted. "Teams get better, so we knew they were gonna punch back. Even though we didn’t have the ball a lot, we did a great job holding and being smart in our possessions and putting the ball away."
The game was tied 6-6 heading into the fourth quarter, a testament to Wilson's improved defense and Twin Valley's resilience. Much of the Raiders' success came from their defensive unit, which stood tall when it mattered most. Goalie Stephanie Dunbar was a wall, stonewalling multiple scoring chances as Wilson controlled possession for stretches in Raiders territory.
"We came out of our huddle and said, 'We played defense this whole game, 12 more minutes, just hold them,'" Ellie Kaplan said. "That’s all we needed to do. Our goalie stood on her head. She tracked the ball so well, and I think our defense did such a good job staying poised. We didn’t foul, we didn’t put them on the eight, and that’s kind of what bit us in the first half."
As the saying goes, defense translates to offense. With 2:39 remaining, Ellie Kaplan broke the tie with her third goal of the night, giving Twin Valley a 7-6 lead they would never relinquish. It was a fitting end for a team that had grown together through two seasons of near-misses.
"I’m super proud," Courtney Kaplan said of her daughter. "She loves competition, and the way she talks to the team and gets them fired up and dialed in, if the ball is in her stick, she’s going to make something happen."
This victory marked the fourth county championship for Twin Valley, a program that continues to build on its legacy. For fans looking to celebrate in style, the Raiders' championship run is a reminder that the right gear—from cleats to sticks—can make all the difference when the pressure is on.