By Mark Zimmaro
LANSDALE - Anna Cusumano’s campaign is based on incredible work ethic and being a poster student.
It’s accounted for the Lansdale Catholic senior’s role as team captain of the the field hockey team and President of the Student Council. Only one of those roles really came as a surprise.
“It just really hit me that it’s a big thing,” Cusumano said of her nomination as Student Council President. “I kind of just signed up, put some posters up and handed out some cookies. Now I’m president.”
Lansdale Catholic's Anna Cusumano waits for a teammate to insert the ball on a penalty corner in a game against Archbishop Ryan. Photo by Mark Zimmaro
Cusumano won the school election last spring and will be officially inducted on Friday to be the head of the senior class.
Success seems to follow Cusumano in all areas, but it’s not based on handing out cookies.
“She just excels,” said Lansdale Catholic coach Karen Dowd. “And all the girls on the team really like her and look up to her. I don’t know what I’m going to do without her next year. I’m just cherishing this year with her.”
Cusumano received All-Philadelphia Catholic League honors last year as a junior midfielder along with her teammate goaltender Katie Herron who graduated in the spring. Cusumano’s dynamic stick-handling skills were on display each game and somehow she found another gear. Cusumano, who plays club field hockey with Main Line Mayhem, could seemingly stickhandle her way through a crowded New York Subway train at rush hour.
“I just got a field hockey net in my backyard,” Cusumano said. “And I just dribble in my backyard and shoot on the net.”
What makes it even more special is that Cusumano doesn’t lose any acceleration on bumpy grass. She actually prefers it.
“I love playing on the grass,” Cusumano said. “I know many people don’t. But I feel like playing on grass gives you such a step above. When I get onto the turf, I feel like it gets so much easier and it’s a completely different level for me.”
Anna Cusumano
Cusumano will take those skills to the turf next season at Catholic University where her sister Katie Cusumano played before graduating in 2022. Katie played high school field hockey at Gwynedd Mercy Academy so Anna is excited to follow in her sister’s footsteps for the first time.
“It’s nerve-wracking but also exciting because I want to be able to fill her shoes,” Anna said. “She was a big captain and a big asset to the team, but I’m excited to make my own path at Catholic and also be a big asset to the team.”
Back to the present, Cusumano has led the Crusaders to a 3-0 start in PCL play with a thrilling 5-4 victory over Conwell-Egan, followed by a convincing 7-0 shutout over St. Hubert. The Crusaders kept it rolling on Wednesday with an 8-0 triumph over Archbishop Ryan, fueled by a hat trick by junior Maura Johnson.
“It was my team, mainly,” Johnson said. “Just the passes and the chemistry we have, working it down the field and giving it to me to put it in the cage.”
Maura Johnson
Cusumano, Kate Fredrickson, Casey Dvorchak, Isabella Ciccocelli and Ella Ruffels all added goals for the Crusaders in the victory in support of Johnson's three-goal game.
“Our team has been working really well,” Johnson said of the Crusaders' 3-0 start. “Compared to last year, we have way better chemistry of getting the ball down the field and talking."
The next three Lansdale Catholic PCL matchups are at home on the grass against Archbishop Carroll, Little Flower and Cardinal O'Hara.
After that, the Crusaders will close out their divisional schedule with a couple of key matchups on the road against Archbishop Wood and Bonner & Prendie.
Lansdale Catholic vs. Archbishop Ryan Photo Gallery
Lansdale Catholic defeated Archbishop Ryan, 8-0, on Wednesday. Photos by Mark Zimmaro
Ask me anything
In the second installment of Ask Me Anything, high school field hockey players dive into a musical category.
We ask players from Archbishop Ryan, Little Flower, Lansdale Catholic, Archbishop Wood and Cardinal O’Hara to think of a song or a music act that their parents like that maybe they will admit is actually kind of cool.
We think maybe a couple of Cardinal O’Hara dads have some explaining to do. Check out the video next-door.
Ask Me Anything - Music Edition
Ragdolls looking ahead
Archbishop Ryan goaltender Rylee Ferry has faced her fair share of shots as the Ragdolls continue to rebuild and increase participation in their program. The expected growing pains are there, but that doesn’t deter Ferry, who enjoys the work in front of the cage.
“If we’re being honest, it’s not as much running,” Ferry said with a laugh. “But I really like the aggressiveness and the attention of always having a ball hit at you. I feel like when you’re in the field sometimes, you’re waiting and waiting. In goal, it’s all on me and gives me more of an ability to do my own thing.”
Archbishop Ryan is still looking for its first PCL win of the season after losses to Archbishop Carroll, Conwell-Egan and Lansdale Catholic.
Archbishop Ryan senior goaltender Rylee Ferry turns aside a shot during a game against Lansdale Catholic on Wednesday. Photo by Mark Zimmaro
“The overall goal is to be happy with ourselves and to compete,” Ferry said. “Win or lose, we always have to be proud of each other. If we all try our best and we all work hard, that’s all that matters and I hope a lot of these girls that came out for their first year of field hockey come out next year. I want these girls to come out next year and have fun and play.”
Ferry is a senior and has been the goalie the last three years. She’s grooming JV goaltender Kyleigh Judge to be ready for next year.
“I’ve been teaching her everything I learned in my three years,” Ferry said. “She seems to enjoy it and I hope she does because it brings me a lot of joy. I’m hoping she carries it through for her next two years.”
Golden Goal
Congratulations are in order for Archbishop Carroll’s Sienna Golden, who notched her 100th career goal in a 2-0 win over Hillsborough High School at the Proving Grounds in Conshohocken on Friday.
Golden is closing in on the school record of 104 career goals and the only thing holding her back was Tropical Storm Ophelia, which swooped into the area over the weekend. When play resumes, it will only be a matter of how high she sets the new record.
Archbishop Carroll's Sienna Golden seen here in the PCL championship game last year. Photo by Mark Zimmaro
So far Archbishop Carroll is cruising through the PCL, outscoring Archbishop Ryan, Bonner & Prendie and Little Flower by a combined 37-0.
Carroll, along with Cardinal O' Hara and Lansdale Catholic remain 3-0 in PCL standings. The Lady Patriots will be on the road this Wednesday in matchup against Lansdale Catholic.