GIRLS SOCCER: Birthday Celebrations, Anticipated Returns and Big Wins Highlight This Week’s PCL Notebook

Philadelphia Catholic League Notebook 9/30

Photos/Video: Marc Narducci, Donna Eckert, Ryan Emmerich & Ryan Nix

By: Marc Narducci

Quite a birthday celebration for Lansdale Catholic’s Carolyn Moore

Carolyn Moore may have received some good birthday gifts, but she supplied herself with the best one, or should we say two.

A junior at Lansdale Catholic, Moore celebrated her 17th birthday on Sept. 29 by scoring twice as Lansdale Catholic defeated Archbishop Ryan, 4-0 on Thursday in a key Catholic League game.

The win improved Lansdale Catholic to 4-0 in the Catholic League, joining Archbishop Wood as the only two teams unbeaten in league play.

That will set up a showdown Thursday Oct. 6 when the Crusaders host Archbishop Wood.

Getting back to the win over Ryan, Moore broke a scoreless tie with a goal late in the first half. That seemed to open the floodgates.

Lansdale Catholic pulled away with two goals early in the second half and Moore capped the scoring with the fourth goal late in the second half.

After the game, the Crusaders sang “Happy Birthday” to Moore.

“It was really shocking,” Moore said afterwards of her two-goal performance.

Maybe one reason it was surprising was that Moore had been under the weather for most of the week.

“She has been sick the whole week and finally got healthy yesterday (Wednesday),” Lansdale Catholic coach Bree Benedict said. “It was a good welcome back after being out a few days.”

While the final score looked lopsided, the teams appeared to be heading into halftime even before Moore scored the late first half goal.

Lansdale Catholic vs. Archbishop Ryan - PSD Highlights by Donna Eckert & Marc Narducci

Carolyn Moore talks about her two-goal performance in LC's 4-0 win over Archbishop Ryan - PSD video by Marc Narducci

She received a long pass from Emily Simpson and ran it down and hit it with her body, just beating a charging goalie in putting the ball in the back of the net.

“It set our spirits pretty high, it was at the very end of the first half and kind of gave us hope we had this game,” Moore said.

And on a Lansdale Catholic team where several players have taken turns making one big play after another, this was Moore’s day.

“Carolyn stepped up big-time today with that goal before the half and then with another goal in the second half so I thought she ind of really set the tone and the rest of them followed,” Benedict said.

This win, against a Ryan team that advanced to the Catholic League final before losing to Archbishop Wood last year, showed that Lansdale Catholic will be a serious contender this season.

With Rhode Island commit Meghan Steinbach and Simpson (who had a goal and assist against Archbishop Ryan), the Crusaders have their share of big-game performers.

Lansdale Catholic vs. Archbishop Ryan - PSD Gallery by Donna Eckert

Lansdale Catholic understands there are high expectations, and even a game that looked like a rout on paper, was put into perspective by Benedict.

“I know the score was 4-0 but this was by no means an easy game,” Benedict said.

Her point is well taken. The teams were even for almost the entire first half, but the Crusaders made the big plays when they had to, the true mark of a title contender.

Bella Wack came on big for Lansdale Catholic

Earlier in the week, the Crusaders earned a 4-1 win over Little Flower.

Seniors Simpson, Bella Wack, and Delaney King and freshman Molly Norbury were the goal scorers.

Benedict had especially high praise for Wack.

“Bella has been phenomenal all season and throughout her career at LC,” Benedict said. “Throughout her four years, she has provided timely goals that give the entire team energy and momentum. She is an absolute impact player and her goal before the half was exactly what we needed. Don’t sleep on Bella Wack.”

Lansdale Catholic senior #16 Bella Wack - Photo by LC Jr. Reporter Ryan Emmerich

A prime time player hoping to return for the postseason

A player whose presence has been sorely missed this season has been Archbishop Ryan junior forward Gianna Rivera, one of the top offensive threats in Southeastern PA.

Rivera has been out since suffering a preseason injury. She broke the fifth metatarsal in her left foot. Rivera then underwent surgery in which a screw was put in her foot.

“The plan is to make it to the playoffs and be back by then,” Rivera said.

If she is able to return, Rivera’s presence alone would make Ryan a highly dangerous team. She is a great finisher, a person who has the proverbial nose for the goal.

During the summer, she was a member of the Philadelphia Coppa Rage team that won the U-17 national championship in Florida. The team was coached by Archbishop head coach Tom DeGeorge.

“That was amazing,” Rivera said. “It was the best experience I could ever ask for.”

Rivera played at such a high level that she was named to the Best XI team for her age group.

It was actually the second time that Rivera earned this honor, having also been named the previous year.

When the team returned home to the Philadelphia area, they were the subject of numerous stories in the print, digital and electronic media.

“It was a lot, seeing our pictures everywhere on TV and in newspapers,” she said. “It was amazing.”

Archbishop Ryan junior forward Gianna Rivera - PSD Photo by Donna Eckert

Now Rivera hopes to return for the Catholic League playoffs, which start shortly after the conclusion of the regular season, which is Oct. 17.

“I am just trying to move the foot around, use some band works, just to get it started so I can get ready to play again,” she said.

If she is able to come back and return to her form, then nobody will relish playing Archbishop Ryan in the playoffs, because marking Rivera would be one of the biggest challenges that any Catholic League defender would face.

Tight win for Ryan

Before the aforementioned loss to Lansdale Catholic, Archbishop Ryan earned a 2-1 victory over Archbishop Carroll. The Ragdolls got goals from Jenna Contino and Chelsea Ritter.

Impressive tie for Archbishop Wood

Archbishop Wood continued its challenging non-league schedule by playing Penn Charter to a 2-2 draw.

Penn Charter took a 2-0 lead before the Vikings rebounded for the draw.

“Girls showed some fight being down 2-0,” Wood coach Tom DeGeorge said.

Sage Boost and Sophia Topakas were the goal scorers, with Daryn Savage and Ava DeGeorge contributing assists.

Earlier, Wood earned an 11-0 win over Bonner-Prendergast. Paige Eckert led the way with two goals, while everybody else were single-goal scorers.

Archbishop Wood notched a 2-2 tie against a tough Inter-Ac League opponent, Penn Charter - PSD Photo by Donna Eckert

Big output for St. Hubert

St. Hubert earned a 10-0 win over Bonner-Prendie and Ang Kinniry led the way with four goals. The single goal scorers for the Bambies were Lorenza D’Andrea, Mia Tobin, Alyssa Browning, Luca D’Andrea, Sam Kinniry and Failyn Lydon.

Impressive close win for the Lions

Cardinal O’Hara traveled to Little Flower and earned a 2-1 win on Thursday. Maura Kane and Lauren Moore were the goal scorers. Junior Ava Hneleski had eight saves in goal.

For Little Flower Olivia Bradley was the goal scorer and teammate Meghan Brennan made nine saves.

It was a big win for O’Hara, bouncing back from a 4-0 loss to Conwell-Egan. Hneleski was busy in goal with 10 saves for the Lions.

Cardinal O'Hara photos by Ryan Nix & Donna Eckert

Double shutout week for Conwell-Egan

Speaking of Conwell-Egan, the Eagles used a balanced attack in the aforementioned 4-0 win over Cardinal O’Hara.

Mya Aizen, Connie Wojton Gianna Vorgity and Liliana Dias were the goal scores. Keeper Katharine Brennan contributed five saves.

Besides the play of Brennan in goal, Conwell-Egan coach Andy Adamec had high praise for the D.

“All four defensive players played great,” he said, alluding to Samantha Terry, Wojton, Lexi Pavel and Rylee Joyce.

The Eagles followed that win with Thursday’s 2-0 victory over Archbishop Carroll. Maxi Ellison and Vorgity were the goal scorers, while Brennan earned the shutout in goal.

Catholic League standings (through games played Sept. 29)

Archbishop Wood 5-0

Lansdale Catholic 4-0

Archbishop Ryan 3-2

Conwell-Egan 3-3

St. Hubert 2-2

Little Flower 2-3

Cardinal O’Hara 2-4

Archbishop Carroll 1-3

Bonner-Prendergast 0-5