She’s a scorer. And she’s a leading scorer. But most of all, Kiley Gallagher is a leader.

Gallagher is so adept at both skills that she led the Palmyra field hockey team all the way to the state championship game.

On Wednesday at Exeter Township High School, during the semifinals of the PIAA Class AAA postseason, Gallagher netted a pair of goals to lead the Cougars to a 3-0 triumph over Downingtown East.

Gallagher gave Palmyra a 1-0 lead with 12::21 left in the first half when, stationed at the doorstep, she converted a baseline feed from Lexi Smith. Gallagher also scored the goal that placed an exclamation point on the triumph, with 16:11 remaining, when she walked into the Downingtown East circle and unleashed a forehand blast that made it 3-0.

But Gallagher and Palmyra fell one win short of their dream of a state title three days later, as they were edged 1-0 in overtime by Emmaus. Stopping and containing Gallagher was obviously part of the Green Hornets’ game plan, as the Cougars were shut out for the first time all season.

The possessor of great hand-eye coordination, speed and a lethal shot, the senior forward is headed to Boston University on a Division One athletic grant-in-aid.

– Jeff Falk