Penn Repeats as Girls State Soccer Champion
Kristina Lynch assisted on both Penn goals as the Kingsmen claimed their second-straight state championship with a 2-0 win over Guerin Catholic at Butler University’s Sellick Bowl Friday.
The teams played to a scoreless draw through the first half before Penn’s Molly McLaughlin broke through in the 54th minute, taking a pass from Lynch and booting it past Guerin goalkeeper Claire Gavin.
Penn, which finishes 23-0-1, got an insurance goal in the 61st minute when Lynch found Maya Lacognato in front of the Golden Eagles net and Lacognato notched her 13th goal of the season. For Lynch, a Florida State recruit, the two assists give her 19 for the season to go with 44 goals good for 108 points.
Mackenzie Wood recorded the shutout in net for the Kingsmen, stopping three shots on goal.
The appearance in the finals is the third straight for Penn, which beat Brebeuf in 2016 after losing to Brebeuf in 2015.
Guerin Catholic finishes 16-2-1.
Kristina Lynch of Penn earns Mental Attitude Award
Kristina Lynch of Penn High School was named the winner of the Mental Attitude Award, sponsored by Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, for Girls Class 3A Soccer by members of the IHSAA Executive Committee.
The Kingsmen’s All-American forward has helped lead her team to three straight State Finals appearances in addition to a sectional championship as a freshman. The two-time team captain holds the school single-season and career records for goals, assists and points, and was named the 2016 Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year as a junior. Lynch also has excelled in the classroom, ranking in the Top 5 percent of her class with a 4.2 GPA while being named to the 2016 Indiana Soccer Academic All-State team among other honors. She is an active member in the Kingsmen Court (student council), National Honor Society and other school organizations while also finding time to volunteer her time to good causes such as the Northern Indiana Food Bank and St. Joseph County Habitat for Humanity.
The daughter of Greg and Diana Lynch, Kristina will continue her academic and athletic experience at Florida State University where she will play soccer and pursue a degree in Pre-Med (Biology).
The IHSAA Executive Committee, on behalf of Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, will award a scholarship for $1,000 to Penn High School in the name of Kristina Lynch. Since 1989, almost $900,000 in college scholarships has been presented to deserving high school students in Indiana.