Mackenzie Gebhardt's position shift helped lead to an offensive outburst last week. The senior midfielder scored a career-high eight goals to lead Upper Perkiomen's lacrosse team to an 11-9 season-opening win over Emmaus on March 24.

            Liz Fox, Hope Flack and Courtney Bauer each also scored once for the host Indians, who overcame a slow start. Erika Boyer delivered three assists.

            Alyse Thompson, a freshman, recorded 12 saves in her varsity debut against the visiting Hornets. Upper Perkiomen's defense allowed just one goal in the second half to secure the victory.

            Following a timeout just over six minutes into the game, the team which trailed 5-1 posted 10 of the remaining 14 goals.  "I'm really happy with how the team turned it up after the slow start," said head coach Susan Flack. "The girls played with heart, energy and intensity the rest of the way."

            Gebhardt delivered five goals before halftime. Her tally with 18 seconds remaining in the first half forced an 8-8 tie for the Indians.

            She said the shift from attacker to midfielder allowed her to take a more active role in the game. Gebhardt possessed the ball on both sides of the field and drove to the opposing cage.

"Mackenzie is in fabulous shape," said Flack, in her fourth season as head coach. "He shot was spot on, and she was utilizing her left hand, as well. She hustled all over the field."

            In the second half, the Indians allowed just one goal and Thompson recorded four saves. 

"The defense performed really strong," Flack said. "I was hoping for that.  "Alyse did a really good job," Flack said of Thompson, who played a similar position during the field hockey season. "A couple of the referees told me she didn't look like a freshman."

On Monday, Upper Perkiomen suffered an 18-7 non-league loss to Central Bucks South. Gebhardt delivered a team-high three goals, while Hope Flack added two goals and an assist. Thompson recorded three saves for the team, which trailed 8-4 at halftime.

            Gebhardt and Hope Flack, a pair of second team Pioneer Athletic Conference selections from the team that captured the Frontier Division title and qualified for the District One playoffs, will be expected to play a crucial role in they hope to return to the post season.

            Gebhardt delivered 48 goals and six assists last season. Flack, a junior midfielder, scored a team-high 65 goals in 2016.

            Upper Perkiomen's additional returning players include junior attackers Fox and Boyer, sophomore Courtney Bauer an attacker and midfielder. 

            The defenders include seniors Elizabeth Pierson, Courtney Drager and Megan Wismer along with junior Casey Smoll.

            Key newcomers include freshman AiYi Young and Grace Lehman, a sophomore attacker.