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GIRLS SOCCER: Archbishop Wood and Nazareth Academy Will Meet Again in PCL Finale

By John Knebels Photos: Donna Eckert, 10/25/24, 6:00PM EDT

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By John Knebels

PHILADELPHIA – Rinse and repeat.

A year later almost to the day of last year’s final, the same two programs will meet at noon Sunday at Northeast High School to decide the Philadelphia Catholic League girls’ soccer championship.

While undefeated top-seed Archbishop Wood attempts to seize their fourth consecutive crown, two-seed Nazareth Academy seeks to not only avenge last year’s 2-0 championship defeat, but also rectify their only PCL loss of the season, a 1-0 decision that included the only goal that Nazareth allowed in the entire PCL campaign.

The PCL semifinals at Gwynedd-Mercy University this past Tuesday determined how they arrived in the season’s marquee event.

In Wood’s 4-0 victory over five-seed St. Hubert’s, junior Paige Eckert dished three assists, none prettier than a perfectly placed pass to freshman Brinley Miller, who beat Hubert’s goalie with a head ball about a yard from the cage to give the Vikings a 1-0 lead in the first half.

“With the seniors, it could have been their last game and as a freshman, I wanted to help them so they could keep going,” said Miller. “The ball Paige played was really good. I was just trying to get it in the net.”

Three minutes before intermission, junior Kylie Wiest passed to sophomore Bailey Lyons, who had entered about seven minutes earlier. Describing what happened next as her career highlight, Lyons scored to double Wood’s advantage.

In the second half, a determined St. Hubert’s controlled most of the composite possession. Any chances by the Bambies were either thwarted by Wood’s defense or deterred by sophomore goalie Cat Gabel.

“It feels really good,” said Gabel. “As a team, we’re a family.  I want to have the same energy for the entire season. Just stay with the ‘you got this’ kind of thing. And I trust my teammates as much as possible.”

Archbishop Wood vs. St. Hubert - 2024 PCL Semifinal Highlights by John KNebels for PSD:

Playing all-out on offense put Hubert’s midfield defense at serious risk, so the Vikings’ top two scorers – Eckert and senior Regan Kelso – made the Bambies pay, with the former setting up the latter for a pair of insurance tallies.

“It’s amazing to be able to set someone up no matter who gets the stat,” said Eckert. “We’re winning. That’s all that matters.”

After the game, Wood first-year coach Maria Kosmin was asked about the plethora of contributions from so many underclassmen.

In addition to those already mentioned, the defensive unit comprised of freshman Leah O’Neill, junior Macie Kennedy, junior Brigid Johnston, and sophomore Molly McConnell frustrated the Bambies. 

Upperclassmen Brinley Miller, Bailey Lyons, Paige Eckert & Cat Gabel led Archbishop Wood to 4-0 win over St. Hubert's and into PCL championship - PSD Video by John KNebels

“Most teams know and look out for Regan Kelso, Paige Eckert, and Kylie Wiest,” said Kosmin. “So to have Brinley come in as a freshman and not only start but contribute many goals and assists throughout the year in big games has been huge for the team. That goal from start to finish was one of the nicest we have seen all year, from Brinley’s initial pass out to Paige, Paige working to get us up the field, and the cross couldn’t have been any better, and Brinley just finishing it off with her head. It was nice.

“Bailey being able to put away that chance in that type of game and atmosphere was a huge goal we needed before half. Kylie played her a beautiful ball and she capitalized on the opportunity. It’s exactly what the team needed going into half.”

The only PCL team that threatened the Vikings this year, Nazareth Academy, upended three-seed Archbishop Ryan, 2-0, on consecutive goals by seniors Natalie D’Alfonso and Rileigh Donohue.

“Just keep the pressure on,” said D’Alfonso, describing the Pandas’ strategy. “Do our runs, get back on our runs, and just work hard. (The first goal) was really important to get us going and keep our energy up for the rest of the half. Winning this is a huge accomplishment.”

Donohue, who added the insurance goal with 14 minutes left in regulation, agreed with her classmate.

“Work hard, play good on defense, run back, do all that,” she said. “Once we got one goal, we needed another one to put them away, and that’s what we did.

“This could have been our last game. Yesterday could have been our last practice. We didn’t want it to end.”

Nazareth Academy vs. Archbishop Ryan - 2024 PCL semifinal highlights by John Knebels for PSD:

Since the regular season had ended on October 7, and the first round of playoffs didn’t begin until 10 days later, and then the semifinals five days, Nazareth’s previous game had occurred a rather ridiculous 15 days earlier. Hopefully next year, the PCL will commence playoffs sooner or extend the regular season to avoid a potential disadvantage for teams awaiting competition.

Seniors Natalie D'Alfonso and Rileigh Donohue scored one goal each in Nazareth Academy's 2-0 semifinal win vs. Archbishop Ryan - PSD Video by John Knebels

First-year head coach Brigid Sullivan Kelley successfully returned Nazareth Academy back to the PCL championship - PSD Video by John Knebels

Confident that her team could and would win, Nazareth first-year coach Brigid Sullivan Kelley nevertheless admitted to not being entirely sure what effect the long delay in competition would have on her squad.

“I always thought we had the ability, and I thought we were prepared,” she said. “I so I was a little concerned about keeping up that level of competitiveness. I said that if we came with a sense of urgency and a will to attack, I thought we could get back to the final.”

(Contact John Knebels at jknebels@gmail.com or on ‘X @johnknebels.)