Lacrosse teammates Meg Delaney and Caroline Grimsley recently reached major milestones, together. In back-to-back games on April 23 and 25, the two standout players each scored their 100th career goal – an exciting and unique accomplishment for athletes who are friends on and off the field.
Meg, a senior midfielder and a team captain, and junior attacker Caroline have always enjoyed special chemistry on the field that not only has spurred them to become the best versions of themselves, but has also helped the team reach the playoffs each year during their tenure on the squad.
An all-section first-team honoree for three years, Meg has 31 goals so far this season. Caroline, an all-WPIAL first team pick last year as a sophomore and the coaches’ pick for rookie of the year as a freshman, has 37 goals and 29 assists so far.
“One hundred goals is not an easy feat and represents the culmination of a lot of hard work and effort on their part,” says six-year head coach Kellee Cribby. “I see how much they have put in the work every day to accomplish these milestones, and I’m really proud of them. It’s a big deal. It’s also fun to see how hard the team celebrates with them, because I know they see how much work it took to get here.”
Meg was the first to join the 100 Club in an important section game with Shady Side Academy. Her achievement came in the fourth quarter when she tied the score and then went on to score her 101st with 1:47 remaining in regulation. It took two overtimes for teammate Kennedy Murton, a senior, to secure the winning goal in a hard-fought battle.
In a non-section meet up with Walsh Jesuit High School (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio), the Foxes had early trouble in a game that turned into a defensive challenge. Yet, Caroline found an opportunity to score her 100th goal, which came five minutes into the third quarter. It was Meg who fed her the ball and got the assist on the play.
“Caroline and I have been playing together for three years now, and since the start, it’s felt automatic,” says Meg when explaining their synchrony. “We have great chemistry. We can read each other, find open space, and create scoring opportunities without even saying a word. She’s incredibly fast, and her ability to roll the crease makes her a constant threat on offense.”
Careers Full of Triumphs
Both players’ career stats are equally impressive. Meg has earned 102 goals, 19 assists, 121 points, and 219 draw controls. Caroline has scored 100 goals, 59 assists, 159 points, and 38 draw controls.
Yet even the most experienced players can be tense before big games.
“I’ve never been so nervous before a game,” says Meg when recalling the hours before the competition. “Knowing I was close to hitting 100 and that we had the chance to take down our rival, Shady Side, made it feel even bigger. I knew it wasn’t just about the milestone; it was about proving ourselves after last year’s playoff loss to Shady Side. When I hit it, I felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders, and all the nerves disappeared. From that point on, the only thing left was to get the win — and we did, which made the moment even better.”
Caroline echoes Meg’s thoughts.
“I felt a lot of pressure going into the (Walsh Jesuit) game,” says Caroline, who has scored in every game this season. “Everyone was expecting me to get that 100, even my parents. Even though I felt so much pressure, I was also really excited because I knew I could achieve it that game!
“I was so happy and even emotional to have accomplished something so big with my teammates. They really helped me get that one goal to reach my 100, and it felt good to have a team that was there to celebrate me. I immediately thought about how grateful I am to have such a team like ours.”
Hard Work and Dedication
“Meg’s athleticism is incredible,” coach Cribby says. “She is a workhorse for the team all over the field. She puts a ton of effort and work into forcing turnovers on defense, and then still has the stamina to produce on attack. As a midfielder, she’s playing both sides of the field and that’s not easy to do.”
Coach Cribby continues, “Caroline is a massive threat when she’s on the field as an attacker. She’s consistent and reliable, and you know when the ball is in her stick, she’s going to make something happen. She’s also great as a feeder. Caroline is also fast, and she uses that to make an impact in the ride, often causing turnovers and getting our offense a second chance to score. It also been fun to see her and Meg flourish on the draw too.”
Playoffs on the Horizon
It’s not a stretch to say both players have a lot more firepower as the season edges closer to the playoffs. The Foxes were the WPIAL runner-up in 2022 and have made the playoffs every year since Coach Cribby has been at the helm, but have not captured the WPIAL title since 2017. Each year, they fight to change that outcome.
“We started off a bit slow this season, but our win against North Allegheny was a turning point – it gave us the belief that we could win on the road,” says Meg. “The Peters Township game was another highlight; it was a back-and-forth battle, but we found a way to finish strong. The Shady Side win meant everything – not just for the rivalry, but for proving our mental toughness.”
Coach Cribby is cautiously optimistic about her team’s chances to make the playoffs. She has taken her teams to the playoffs five consecutive times – each of her years at the helm.
“I expect we’ll make the playoffs and am excited for postseason play,” she says. crosse