It's official -- a dynasty has been established under Peters Township High School girls' lacrosse coach Kim Eldridge.

Peters Township won its third consecutive WPIAL championship by defeating Upper St. Clair (13-7) in the championship match last Thursday at North Hills' Martorelli Stadium, 18-15.

Peters Township (15-6) added to its accomplishments over the past three years by playing in the first-ever PIAA tournament, routing Kennard-Dale, 19-7, at Hempfield on Tuesday. Kennard-Dale of District 3 finished the season 16-7.

The Indians will play Manheim Township at State College Saturday at 2 p.m. in the next round of the state playoffs.

"The girls play with confidence because of the experience that they've been there before," Eldridge said. "There's no substitute for the experience from the past. Even the younger girls who didn't play in this year's [championship] game, know what they'll have to do to be there again."

Peters Township was led by junior attacker Jules Femiani, who netted seven goals against Upper St. Clair in the final. Lauren Wray, a senior midfielder who has earned all-section honors in lacrosse and soccer, led the Indians to an 11-7 win over Mt. Lebanon in the semifinals, on May 19 with four goals.

"After we beat Mt. Lebanon to clinch a state-playoff berth, I told the girls this makes us one of the best teams from Western Pennsylvania, so we need to represent the WPIAL and play as well as we can in the state playoffs," Eldridge said.

Peters Township finished tied for the Division 1, Section 1 championship with Upper St. Clair during the regular season. The Indians lost three section games, including their first meetings against rivals USC and Mt. Lebanon before topping them in section rematches as well as during the playoffs.

Despite 13 players graduating from last year's title team, Peters Township began the season by winning its first five games. The Indians then hit a dry spell by losing back-to-back games to USC and Lebo as well as three games in Columbus, Ohio, at the Hanigan's tournament April 17-18.

Peters Township lost to three teams rated in Ohio's top 10 (according to the Laxpower.com computer rankings) Upper Arlington, Sycamore and Thomas Worthington. The three losses were by an average of nine goals. The loss to Sycamore, 12-3, was perhaps the most one-sided. The Aviators (20-0) are ranked No. 1 in Ohio and have lost only two games in the past three years.

Eldridge said an 8-7 upset loss May 5 at Franklin Regional, the fourth-place team in Section 1, served as a springboard toward the playoff run, which resulted in a five-game winning streak.

"We learned from that," Eldridge said. "It whipped us into shape to know where we needed to be if we wanted to win against the best teams."

Peters Township quickly fell behind, 2-0, against Upper St. Clair in the district final before rallying to tie the score by halftime, 8-8. The Indians took control by going on a four-goal run to start the second half, then held off a USC comeback attempt.

Ray and Femiani were two of the top scorers on the team this season. Other notable offensive threats included junior midfielder Ellie Hanlon and junior midfielder/attack Brianna Kilberg.

The defense was a team strength with a senior-laden group that consisted of Jenna Simmons, Cassidy Schemm and Sarah Grech. This trio not only started in this year's title game, but also started as sophomores when Peters Township won its first WPIAL crown in 2007. Grech earned first-team all-section honors, bouncing back from missing last season due to an ACL tear.

Other senior contributors were attack player Samantha Schwartz, defender Amanda Wylie and goaltender Corey Sam, a first-year starter who earned all-section honors this year.

"Corey did a remarkable job in goal all season," Eldridge said. "Sam was a prime example of a less-experienced role player who stepped up once she assumed a leadership role on the team.

"We graduated a lot of girls from last year who have gone on to play in college so there was some rebuilding to do, day-by-day.

"I told the team that they've got to do the work if they want the recognition of being another championship team ... and they did."

Peters Twp. girls win

third consecutive

WPIAL lacrosse

championship