GIRLS SOCCER: Statement Wins All-Around Highlight This Week’s PCL Notebook

Photos/Videos: Donna Eckert & Marc Narducci

By: Marc Narducci

Archbishop Wood shows strength in early showdown win

It was an early season game with a playoff atmosphere, although that seems to be the case any time Archbishop Wood faces Archbishop Ryan in Catholic League girls soccer action.

This was a rematch of last year’s Catholic League championship, won by Wood.

And in this first regular season matchup of the two Catholic League titans, it was again Wood prevailing by a 3-0 score on Thursday evening at the Ukrainian National Soccer Club.

Last year Wood won 3-1 in the title game, but Thursday’s matchup was different. The title game was tied 1-1 at halftime before Wood pulled away in the second half.

This one saw Wood take a 3-0 halftime lead, with the Vikings in complete control.

“We really played well,” said Wood coach Tom DeGeorge.

That’s an understatement.

Archbishop Wood vs. Archbishop Ryan - PSD Highlights by Donna Eckert

Grace Hoeger scored on an assist from Ava DeGeorge. Continuing her torrid start, DeGeorge scored on an assist from Jenell Moebius. Also scoring was Paige Eckert from Sage Boost.

Five different players earning a goal and/or an assist demonstrated the balance of this Vikings team.

What coach DeGeorge liked most was how his young players responded to playing in this playoff type atmosphere. Wood has five freshmen, and three of them – right back Bridget Johnson, center midfielder Sophia Topakas and Eckert at center forward – were starters.

DeGeorge said that Boost, who is a sophomore, had a huge game.

“Credit to Sage Boost at center mid,” he said. “She was really good on both sides of the ball.”

Junior Lauren Greer had the shutout in goal.

This doesn’t mean that Archbishop Ryan can’t come back. A program this strong is bound to remain competitive, but right now Wood is clearly in the driver’s seat. Ryan was also playing without accomplished goal scorer Gianna Rivera, out due to injury.

#29 Paige Eckert

An Oct. 6 game featuring Archbishop Wood at Lansdale Catholic, is certainly one to watch. Lansdale Catholic has an experienced team and the Crusaders appear to be viable contenders.

Either way, it will take a lot to beat Wood, now 7-1, with the lone loss 1-0 to Springside Chestnut Hill Academy. The Vikings are 4-0 in the Catholic League and with so many young players, this is a team that has yet to reach its peak. The one thing that seems clear is that Wood won’t relinquish its Catholic League title very easily.

Big Senior Day at Archbishop Wood

It was Senior Day at Archbishop Wood on Monday and the Vikings defeated Little Flower, 6-0.

Junior Ava DeGeorge had three goals and one assist.

The other goals scorers were Sophia Topakas, Daryn Savage and Maddie McCloud, who also added an assist.

The other assists came from Giulia Nevrotski, Sage Boost and Cate DeGraw.

Lauren Greer earned the shutout in goal.

Archbishop Wood vs. Little Flower - Senior Day Gallery by Donna Eckert

Earlier win for Archbishop Ryan

Prior to facing Archbishop Wood, Archbishop Ryan earned a 3-1 win over Conwell-Egan. Three different goal scorers emerged for the Ragdolls.

They were Emma Fitzgerald, Chelsea Ritter (on a penalty kick) and Natalie McFadden.

Big win for St. Hubert

For the second straight game a young St. Hubert team was controlling play for much of the afternoon, but with nothing to show on the scoreboard.

The previous game, St. Hubert made several strong runs, but ended up losing to Conwell-Egan, 2-0.

Then on Monday, the Bambies were in a similar predicament at Cardinal O’Hara.

There were some strong offensive runs, but keeper Ava Hneleski and the O’Hara defense kept making big plays.

Then late in the first half, senior Mia Tobin one-timed a cross from Angelina Kinniry into the back of the net and that was the confidence-builder the Bambies needed.

St. Hubert would eventually win 2-0 for its first Catholic League win as freshman Luca D’Andrea, among the more impressive young players in the Catholic League, scored an insurance goal.

It shouldn’t be surprising that Tobin, one of the team leaders, provided what turned out to be the game-winning goal.

What came as a surprise is that coach Jeannette Graziosi-Hibbs moved Tobin to forward. She has played center midfield throughout her high school career.

“It was definitely hard, I hadn’t played up top in years, I always played center mid since freshman year, so that was definitely different, but it was a good experience,” Tobin said.

This was just another example of Tobin doing whatever it took to help her team win.

“Mia is our captain and the rock of the team who has been with us four years and I would say she has played 99 percent of the minutes overall during her four years,” Graziosi-Hibbs said. “Today we actually threw her a curveball and put her up top and she scored a big goal for us.”

Mia Tobin from St. Hubert talks about scoring the game winning goal in a 2-0 win over Cardinal O’Hara - PSD Video by Marc Narducci

Goal by No. 22 Mia Tobin on an assist from No. 12 Angelina Kinniry - PSD Video by Marc Narducci

Winning the first in a league where the competition is so difficult, was a major confidence booster to this young St. Hubert team.

“We definitely needed this one and now we have to keep winning them to put ourselves in a better position,” Tobin said.

This was St. Hubert’s third Catholic League game. The Bambies had opened Catholic League competition with a 7-2 loss to defending champion Archbishop Wood.

After the win over O’Hara, Graziosi-Hibbs asked her team how it felt to get the first win. So we turned the tables and asked the same question to the coach.

“Not only for me, but I think it feels so good for them because I know how much they wanted it and how much it makes them feel good,” Graziosi-Hibbs said. “It’s more for them, it’s the feeling that they get when they’re doing well on the field, they care connecting, combining and talking.”

And now this young team is winning as well.

First Catholic League win for Cardinal O’Hara

Cardinal O’Hara bounced back from the loss to St. Hubert to earn its first Catholic League win, a 7-1 victory over Bonner-Prendie

Carly Coleman had two goals and single scores came from Hope Scolis, Lauren Moore, Caitlin Henzel, Greta Miller and Analise Albertini.

Scoring for Bonner-Prendie was Mary Kate Cappello.

Kaelynn DiEnnis made two saves for O’Hara while Hannah Quinn registered 20 saves for Bonner-Prendie.

Little Flower with a big win

Following Monday’s 6-0 loss to Archbishop Wood, Little Flower rebounded with a 3-1 win over Conwell-Egan. Bella Torres scored twice and Hayden Johnston added the other goal.

That improved Little Flower to 2-1 in the Catholic League.

Busy schedule for O’Hara keeper

Cardinal O’Hara junior keeper Ava Hneleski’s greatest skill may be time management. Not only has she manned the goal for the Lions, but she is a member of the golf team.

This fall she has excelled at both sports. According to Hneleski, she shoots two to three over par in golf.

Hneleski says she took up both sports at about the age of five.

“I love the fact that soccer you are on a team and golf you are on your own, they are so different, but I love them both,” she said.

For good measure she is also a member of the basketball and track teams.

The fall is a big juggling act, finding enough time for soccer and golf.

“It’s hard,” she said. “It’s a constant juggle in choosing, but I am pretty good at that and try my best to balance the best I can.”

Cardinal O’Hara junior keeper Ava Hneleski is also a member of the Lion's golf team - PSD Photo by Marc Narducci

The beginning of August was the biggest challenge when both sports were in going through preseasons.

“It would be like three hours of soccer in the morning and four hours of golf in the afternoon,” she said. “But it was fun.”

Of course one could do worse than playing two sports at once, but it is challenging.

“I love every different aspect of every sport,” she said. “It’s been a lot of fun.”

Conwell-Egan competitive in defeat

Conwell-Egan was competitive this past week in consecutive 3-1 Catholic League losses to Archbishop Ryan and Little Flower.

Mya Aizen scored the goal against Ryan on a header off a corner kick.

Trailing 1-0, Conwell-Egan was called for a handball in the box, giving Ryan a penalty kick which it converted.

“We had numerous chances but couldn’t find the back of the net until Mya scored,” Conwell-Egan coach Andy Adamec said.

Conwell-Egan then beat MAST Charter 7-0 with Bridget Cannon scoring twice. Single goals were scored by Rylee Joyce, Connie Wojtan, Maxi Ellison, Mya Aizen and Gianna Vorgity.

On Thursday, the Eagles fell to Little Flower 3-1 as Ellison was the goal scorer.

Mark your calendars

On Thursday (Sept. 29), Archbishop Ryan will visit Lansdale Catholic at 3:45 in a game between expected Catholic League contenders.

Non-league test for Crusaders

Lansdale Catholic’s game this past Thursday at St. Hubert was postponed. No makeup date has been set. This past week Lansdale Catholic didn’t play a Catholic League game, but the Crusaders continued their difficult non-league schedule with a 3-2 loss to the George School.

Senior Emily Simpson, off to a strong start, scored both goals for Lansdale Catholic.

Catholic League standings (through Thursday, Sept. 22)

Archbishop Wood 4-0

Lansdale Catholic 2-0

Archbishop Ryan 2-1

Little Flower 2-1

Archbishop Carroll 1-1

St. Hubert 1-2

Cardinal O’Hara 1-3

Conwell-Egan 1-3

Bonner-Prendie 0-3