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FIELD HOCKEY: PCL Old Rivals Take the Field After Year-Long Absence

By Dan McCarty (photo/videos by Dan McCarty), 09/28/21, 4:45PM EDT

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Archbishop Carroll and Cardinal O'Hara Meet Up for League Contest After 2019 Title Match

By: Dan McCarty

RADNOR, PA--It was the scene of an age-old rivalry in Philadelphia Catholic League (PCL) field hockey action when the Archbishop Carroll Patriots hosted the Cardinal O’Hara Lions Wednesday, September 22, 2021 at The Proving Grounds in Conshohocken. 

O’Hara and Carroll have faced each other countless times in the PCL title game. Both teams went into this match knowing that it would be a repeat of the 2019 championship, in which O’Hara emerged victorious after an intense overtime thriller.  This day however, the Patriots managed to get revenge as they edged the Lions by the narrowest of margins, 2-1.

“There was definitely a lot of stress going in to the game knowing that they are our biggest rival,” said Carroll goalkeeper Reilly McMenamin. “I was really happy with the outcome.”

“It was a fight today,” said Carroll head coach Christina Elisio. “Everyone was on their toes. We took a slip. Everyone got their momentum back.”

Archbishop Carroll vs. Cardinal O'Hara.(video/Dan McCarty)

More important than the outcome was being back on the field playing in person again after 18 months of a pandemic. 2019 marked the last time these two teams were even able to take on each other. The 2020 season was shut down due to COVID though Carroll saw its first appearance in the state finals, the first PCL and District 12 team ever to do so. Therefore, seeing a sense of normalcy made the day even more special.

“We’re so happy we’re back competing,” said O’Hara head coach Jenna Spaeder. “It’s exciting. My seniors are ready to go. I have a lot of them. We’re hoping to keep it going.”

The Lions were off to a solid start. Tri-captain Mia Scarduzio registered the first goal of the afternoon off of an assist by Kerryn Eife for a 1-0 halftime surplus. The score did not change for a while. Carroll's Sienna Golden tied it up when she found the net with 1:49 remaining in the third quarter. Courtland Schumacher provided the assist. Teammate Shannon Wood scored with Golden assisting in the last three minutes of action to call it a match.

Archbishop Carroll Co-Captain Grace O'Neill talks about getting back on the field and ultimate team goal.

Cardinal O'Hara's Tri-Captain Mia Scarduzio puts the season in perspective.

“It was an awesome win,” said co-captain Grace O’Neill. “We were so excited just being able to play really well together.”

McMenamin led the way for Carroll’s defense with a total of nine saves.

“Our defense kept strong, did really well,” said McMenamin. “On the corners, we really kept our momentum.”

O’Hara goalkeeper Mackenzie Hand stayed on her feet as well making three saves.

Archbishop Carroll returns to PCL action Wednesday, September 29 when travels to take on Conwell-Egan (3:45 PM) followed by Archbishop Wood on October 6. Its ultimate goal is to win the PCL.

“We just want the girls to keep working on their skills, have fun and stick together as a unit,” said Elisio.

In more league action, Cardinal O’Hara travels to face Wood on the 29th at 4:00 PM.

“We’re just taking it one game at a time,” said Spaeder. “We’re learning from each game that we’ve had. We’re just going to keep going up from here.”