Photos/Video by: Donna Eckert for PSD
By Marc Narducci
PHILADELPHIA--In a match that has been anticipated since the season began, Archbishop Ryan will be facing Archbishop Wood in Saturday’s Catholic League girls’ soccer championship.
The title game will be 5 p.m. at Ramp Field in Northeast Philly.
Both teams faced formidable semifinal challenges. Wood opened with a 3-2 overtime win over Lansdale Catholic.
In the second game, after a 1-1 first half, Archbishop Ryan exploded, scoring four second half goals in a 5-1 win over St. Hubert.
Archbishop Wood vs. Lansdale Catholic in PCL Semifinal Match.(game highlights/Donna Eckert)
Archbishop Ryan vs. St. Hubert. in PCL Semifinals Match.(game highlights /Donna Eckert)
Madison Kennedy scored the game winner in the first overtime on a rebound in front of the goal for Archbishop Wood.
“We pulled center back Daryn Savage up and she had a great head ball and they cleared it off the line and Madison was able to put it in,” Wood coach Tom DeGeorge said.
Wood’s Ava DeGeorge opened the scoring in the 13th minute on a blast from 25-yards out.
Emily Beck made it 2-0, taking a pass from Ava DeGeorge, beating a defender and then hitting a shot from beyond the box into the lower left corner.
Lansdale Catholic came roaring back to tie the score and send the game into overtime. The Crusaders got goals from Nicole Mezzatesta and Delany King to tie the game up.
“It was definitely an exciting game,” Tom DeGeorge said. “We were up 2-0 at the half and they did a good job coming back. Both teams played a good game.”
Coach DeGeorge said that atmosphere was second to none.
“The atmosphere was great and until you play in a PCL playoff or championship game, it’s hard to explain,” DeGeorge said. “Our girls felt down about losing a 2-0 lead and they came out with a lot of intensity in the overtime.”
Plenty of credit also goes out to Lansdale Catholic. On Oct. 7, the Crusaders lost a 5-2 regular season game against Archbishop Wood.
Archbisop Wood senior Madison Kennedy who scored the OT game-winner is PSD's Player of The Game. (photo/Donna Eckert)
Archbishop Ryan's Gianna Rivera who scored hat trick in seimifinal game vs. St. Hubert is PSD's Player of The Game. (photo/Donna Eckert)
In the second semifinal, St. Hubert's opened the scoring on a goal by Angie Kinniry. Archbishop Ryan’s Gianna Rivera tied the score before halftime.
Ryan scored three quick second half goals to assume control, the first by Sierra DiDonato and then two more by Rivera to complete her hat trick. Anna Lombardi scored Ryan’s fifth goal to round out the scoring.
On Oct. 4, Ryan had earned a 3-0 win over St. Hubert.
“Tonight the girls were able to overcome their nerves and start to play the way they know how,” Ryan coach Scarlett Walsh said. “I’m so proud of each of them and the way they handled themselves. The girls came up with answers when needed and picked up their intensity at the same time.”
Archbishop Wood senior Madison Kennedy talks about the excitement of getting that winning goal and what she is looking forward to most. (video/Donna Eckert for PSD)
Archbishop Ryan sophomore Gianna Rivera takes us thru her goals in semifnal match vs. St. Hubert.(video/Donna Eckert for PSD)
One of the keys was the play of Chelsea Ritter, also among the top players in the Catholic League.
“Chelsea Ritter had an amazing night,: Walsh said. “She took control of the game and was a huge reason why we were able to win the way we did. Probably one of her best games of the year.”
Now comes the championship match between the two Catholic League powers. In the regular season they played to a 1-1 draw on Sept. 25 in a game that had championship intensity at Archbishop Ryan.
Imagine what the real championship will be like.
