In the small world of Washington-area private high school girls lacrosse, Rachel Manson and Sarah Waxman couldn’t have come from two more different programs.
At ultra-competitive St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes, Manson was an attacker accustomed to goals, victories and championships. Waxman, a goalie, plied her trade a step below at Sidwell Friends, where more than anything, she got plenty of practice stopping shots.
Yet their paths converged three years ago when they became roommates as freshmen at Penn, and in three seasons the two juniors have helped turn the formerly wretched Quakers into national championship contenders.
“When we told our friends, they were like, ‘You’re rooming with who? You’re rooming with a Sidwell girl? You’re rooming with a St. Stephen’s girl?’” said Manson. “It’s two different scenes.”
After winning just one game in 1999 and earning its first winning record since 1988 four years ago, this weekend the Quakers (15-1) will host Maryland (16-3) in the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals with a berth in the Final Four — to be played at Penn’s Franklin Field — on the line.
“We do not want to clean out our locker room,” said Waxman. “That’s something we’ve been saying. It’s almost like it’s been paved out perfectly for us.”
Waxman has come personally as far as anyoneon the team, emerging this spring to earn Ivy League goalkeeper of the year. Second in the nation with only 6.09 goals allowed, she also has the second best save percentage (.538) remaining in the NCAA tournament.
“I don’t think she really understood the amount of dedication, the amount of time it took, but that was quickly ingrained in her,” said Manson. “She is very die hard, and I don’t think she got that from Sidwell. I know she got that from being at Penn.”
Manson has been one of Penn’s most consistent scorers throughout her career, but the losses were a new and uncomfortable experience. She currently leads the team with 35 goals and eight assists.
“It was not easy freshman year when we went 8-7. That was shocking. Even last year when we went 10-6. Six losses is a lot, no matter how many wins you have,” said Manson. “This year feels right.”
NCAA Quarterfinals
Maryland (16-3) at Penn (15-1)
Saturday, 1 p.m.
Penn isn’t favored against an Atlantic Coast Conference powerhouse like Maryland, but they’re playing with the same chip on their shoulder that fueled their undefeated run through the Ivy League.
“[Maryland’s] got a couple of tall kids, but we’re going to try to frustrate them with our good defense and slow them down,” said Quakers goalkeeper Sarah Waxman. “I don’t think that’s going to be a problem.”
