District 1 Class 3A Girls Lacrosse: Sophomore ‘spitfire’ Jansen steers Radnor to states

RADNOR — When Lis Zuern took over as the girls lacrosse coach at Radnor, she knew she would have veteran players and a proud heritage.

As for a most necessary component for a championship team, that was a mystery, one that didn’t take long to solve.

“I had no idea if we had a goaltender,” said Zuern, the Raptors’ first-year coach. “They didn’t tell me that.”

Turns out, the Raptors would have a sophomore, Arden Jansen, who not only has made an early difference in the District 1 Class 3A tournament, but has become an unexpected rookie leader for the defending state champion. Two days after making a spectacular late save to help push the Raptors into the quarterfinals, Jansen made six critical saves Saturday as Radnor outperformed Unionville, 11-6, to win a semifinal berth Tuesday against Conestoga.

“Arden is our brick wall back there,” Zuern said. “She pumps up the team. She’s the energy of the team. She’s definitely a spitfire. She always challenges the attack in practice and everything. She’s awesome.”

For a veteran team with multiple scoring threats and a sturdy defense, it’s noteworthy that a first-year player would be so influential. Jansen, though, has been readying for that challenge for most of her life. The sister of honorable mention All-Delco keeper Abby Jansen, who helped the Raptors to that 2021 state championship before continuing her career at the University of Virginia, Arden Jansen tends goal with a veteran steadiness.

With an awareness of the value of Saturday’s game — the winner would be guaranteed a spot in the state tournament — Jansen knew she had to be ready.

“I had a good warmup,” she said. “And if I have a good warmup, and I am seeing the ball, I think I can just carry that over to the game itself.”

Just as Jansen gave her teammates comfort, the Raptors provided the keeper with early support, jumping to a 6-2 lead by halftime. When that gap widened to 9-2 early in the second half, it would be up to the defense to prevent any late rally. That’s when Jansen repeatedly blunted would-be Longhorns bursts as the fourth-seeded Raptors improved to 16-4. Fifth-seeded Unionville (15-5) will try to take the playback route to a state tournament bid, beginning with a Tuesday visit from Downingtown East.

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Radnor goalkeeper Arden Jansen, left, makes a save on Kennett's Jordyn MacMillan Thursday night in a District 1 Class 3A girls lacrosse playoff game. (Pete Bannan - MediaNews Group)