Photos/Videos: Donna Eckert, Zack Beavers, Lennie Malmgren & Marc Narducci
By: Marc Narducci
SPRINGFIELD, PA – Senior Carly Coleman began her career at Cardinal O’Hara as a defender and will be ending it as one of the more dangerous offensive performers in the Philadelphia Catholic League.
Midway through last year, O’Hara coach Dave Cornish decided that the Lions needed a little more punch in the offense.
Cardinal O'Hara senior Carly Coleman #5 - PSD Photo by Marc Narducci
So he moved Coleman from her central defender position to playing up top as a striker.
After getting the needed experience over the second part of last season, the move has paid major dividends this year.
Coleman has scored so many big goals. Her latest explosive was a two-goal effort in Thursday’s 3-0 win over Lansdale Catholic that clinched a PCL playoff berth for the Lions.
“She has been one of the best scorers in my tenure here,” Cornish said. “And I have been here 10 years.”
Coleman has shown the quality that all top finishers possess.
“She just knows where the net is,” Cornish said. “It’s like if you give her a chance, she will take it. That’s how it’s been this season, she doesn’t miss much.”
Cornish said he had an indication that Coleman would have a big year when she scored a hat trick in the Lions’ opening scrimmage.
Besides the two goals on Thursday, she has had so many clutch goals. There was the goal in a 1-0 win over Archbishop Carroll.
Carly Coleman talks about her team's big 3-0 win over Lansdale Catholic - PSD Video by Marc Narducci
O'Hara's Carly Coleman #5 chases after LC's Olivia Boccella - PSD Photo by Marc Narducci
In a 2-1 overtime win over Conwell-Egan, she scored both goals.
Time and time again, she has come up big this season for the Lions.
“It’s been awesome this year,” Coleman said. “It’s a team effort and my teammates have to get me the ball and they have done a good job.”
As prolific she has been on offense, Coleman and the Lions got a big boost by the recent return from Lily Marquis, who opened the scoring against Lansdale Catholic.
Marquis is returning from an ACL injury and the game against Lansdale Catholic was only her third of the season.
She also scored last week in a win over Little Flower, so her presence has been huge.
Going from defender to striker isn’t easy, but Coleman credits Cornish and her father Brian, who is the head girls’ soccer coach at Springfield.
She said the return of Marquis has been huge.
“I think Lily and I have good chemistry,” she said. “I know we can always trust each other, and our midfielders have been great getting us the ball as well.”
Despite its record, Lansdale Catholic has been a competitive team
Lansdale Catholic was a PCL finalist last season, but the Crusaders missed earning a playoff spot this season. The Crusaders are 3-5 with one game remaining.
One of the main reasons is that they suffered major losses due to graduation. This is a young team, but the Crusaders were highly competitive.
Lansdale Catholic's Mattie Williams #3 defends O'Hara's Greta Miller #11 - PSD Photo by Marc Narducci
Even in the loss to Cardinal O’Hara, Lansdale was controlling possession for a large segment of the first half. Cardinal O’Hara got two transition goals to lead 2-0 after the first 40 minutes.
Yet four of the Catholic League losses have been by one goal, including two in overtime.
“Against Cardinal O’Hara they had three shots and it’s been like this the entire season,” said Lansdale Catholic coach Nyki Beuke. “We were controlling every part of the game, and they converted that first shot.”
Lansdale Catholic struggled with something that ails many soccer teams.
“We’ve got to put the ball in the back of the net,” Beuke said. “We have done everything else.”
With young players such as freshman forward Mattie Williams, and sophomores Molly Norbury and Natalie Oliveri, there is a good foundation for the future for the Crusaders.
Two more wins for Archbishop Wood
Archbishop Wood earned two more wins this week, one in convincing fashion and another a nail-bitter. The Vikings defeated Conwell Egan, 7-1 and then added a last-minute 3-2 victory over St. Hubert.
Sophomore Paige Eckert, who has scored so many clutch goals in her young career, added another by converting a cross from Ava DeGeorge for the winning goal with about a minute to go against St. Hubert.
Sophomore Paige Eckert #29 scores in the final minute to give Wood a 3-2 victory vs. St. Hubert - PSD Video by Donna Eckert
Wood (7-1) finishes its Catholic League schedule at Little Flower on Monday.
Ryan eyeing regular season title
Archbishop Ryan (6-0-1) would win the regular season title with wins in its final two games.
Ryan opened the week with a 1-0 win over St. Hubert. Freshman defender Aubrey Wright scored the goal off a corner. MacKenzie Barnett played a strong game in goal to earn the shutout.
“It was a tough battle, but we were able to secure a goal midway through the fist half and remain composed defensively throughout the remainder of the game,” Ryan coach Megan Manion said.
Archbishop Ryan vs. St. Hubert Highlights - Video by Donna Eckert
It was the fourth one-goal PCL win by the Ragdolls.
Ryan ended its week with a scoreless draw against Archbishop Carroll.
On Monday Ryan visits Lansdale Catholic and then hosts Cardinal O’Hara on Sunday Oct. 15 at 5 p.m. in a makeup game.
Big week for Archbishop Carroll
Archbishop Carroll went 1-0-1 this week, with a 2-1 win over Nazareth Academy and then a scoreless draw with Archbishop Ryan, which had been 6-0 before the draw.
In the win over Nazareth Academy, senior Olivia Stout continued her impressive season with two goals, giving her 12 on the year.
Freshman keeper Grace Wilson made nine saves.
“We played a complete game against a very good team in Nazareth Academy,” Carroll coach Tom Quintois said. “Molly Friel and Maddie McFillin played key roles in leading us to victory.”
The win was followed by the scoreless home draw against Archbishop Ryan.
Archbishop Carroll vs. Archbishop Ryan - PSD Gallery be Lennie Malmgren
Wilson earned her sixth shutout of the season by making nine saves.
Bounce-back win for Nazareth Academy
Nazareth Academy bounced back from a 2-1 loss at Archbishop Carroll to defeat Conwell-Egan 3-0. That win clinched a playoff berth for the Pandas.
Liv Taylor, Ava McNamara and Abby Rock were the goal scorers against Conwell-Egan. Gracie Sullivan earned the shutout with five saves.
“It was a well-played game by both teams,” Nazareth Academy coach Dan Bradley said. “We played a complete game.”
He also talked about the importance of bouncing back from the loss earlier in the week.
“We had a tough game (against Archbishop Carroll) but stepped up today,” Bradley said. “They are a resilient group.”
St. Hubert Strong in defeat
St. Hubert suffered one-goal defeats to the two teams at top of the Catholic League standings. Despite the losses, the Bambies have clinched a playoff berth, where the top six teams earn a spot.
Following a 1-0 loss to Archbishop Ryan, St. Hubert fell to two-time defending Catholic League champ Archbishop Wood, 3-2.
St. Hubert received goals from Ang Kinniry and Luca D’Andrea before Wood won with a last-minute goal.
“It wasn’t our best showing but we fought through it and battle back to tie it twice in the second half,” St. Hubert coach Jeannette Hibbs said. “So I am proud of the mental toughness we displayed.
It was another strong game for freshman keeper Quin Miller.
St. Hubert vs. Archbishop Ryan - PSD Gallery by Donna Eckert
“Quinlan Miller continues to be a beast for us,” Hibbs said. “She has been a consistent contributor of energy and heart on the field. She motivates our team with her play.”
PCL Standings (through games played Thursday, Oct. 5)
The six playoff berths have been clinched. The order of the teams could still change, but the race to the six teams are known.
1. Archbishop Wood 7-1
2. Archbishop Ryan 6-0-1
3. Archbishop Carroll 5-2-1
4. Cardinal O’Hara 5-2
5. Nazareth Academy 5-3
6. St. Hubert 4-3-1
7. Lansdale Catholic 3-5
8. Conwell-Egan 1-6-1
9. Little Flower 1-7
10. Bonner-Prendie 0-8
Dates to Remember:
The PCL quarterfinals will take place on Oct. 19 at the home of the higher seeded team. The top two teams will receive byes and No. 3 hosts No. 6, while No. 4 hosts No. 5.
The semifinals will be Oct. 24 at Gwynedd Mercy University at 4 and 6 p.m.
The finals will be either Oct. 28 or Oct. 29 at the Northeast Supersite.
Tag(s): Home Schools Philadelphia Catholic Soccer Girls Soccer Philadelphia Catholic League Arch. Carroll Girls Soccer Arch. Ryan Girls Soccer Arch. Wood Girls Soccer Bonner & Prendie Girls Soccer Cardinal O'Hara Girls Soccer Conwell-Egan Girls Soccer Lansdale Cath. Girls Soccer Little Flower Soccer Neumann/Goretti Girls Soccer Saint Hubert Soccer