Congratulations to Archbishop Carroll on winning the 2025 PCL Girls Lacrosse Championship - PSD Photo by Jake Law
Photos/Videos: Jake Law & Riley Schwarz
By: Mike Livingston
GWYNEDD VALLEY. PA — It has become somewhat of a tradition.
Each May, the Archbishop Carroll Girls Lacrosse team hops aboard a bus and heads out to whatever neutral site the league has selected that year, plays in the Philadelphia Catholic League Championship… and wins it.
May of 2025 was no exception, as the Lady Patriots made their way to Gwynedd Mercy University Wednesday afternoon and defeated Cardinal O’Hara 17-2 to claim their 24th-consecutive PCL title.
Across those 24 titles, one constant has remained for the Patriots - that being head coach Lorraine Beers.
Since taking home her first title in a 21-3 victory over Conwell-Egan back in 2001, Beers and her Patriots have never looked back.
The Lady Pats have not just taken home 24 titles in 25 years (2020 season cancelled because of COVID) but done it in dominating fashion as well. The closest margin of victory was four goals, that was all the way back in 2003 during a 12-8 win over Egan.
Since then, Carroll has won each of their titles under Beers by double digits with the exception of just a few seasons. Nine of those titles came over Cardinal O’Hara, who have proved to be a consistent second fiddle next to Archbishop Wood whom Carroll defeated ten separate times in the title between 2005 and 2016.
Archbishop Carroll vs. Cardinal O'Hara PCL Championship Gallery by Jake Law for PSD
“It’s become a standard to uphold,” said Beers. “They have too, that’s on them. Who wants to be the first team in 25 years to lose, I mean that’s a pressure they should all have along the way.”
There is always little doubt as to who will win when Carroll is in the title, but this year’s Carroll club definitely left even less room. Stacked with commits from top to bottom starting with Catholic league MVP Claire Sexton who’s headed to division one William & Mary next year. Seniors Kate O’Neill (Villanova), Mei Rader (Drexel), and Ava Talago (Canisius Univ.) along with a troop of juniors lead by Greta Potten (Navy), Riley Formica (St. Joseph’s), Maggie O’Neill (St. Joseph’s), and Ava Farrand (Wagner) headline a stacked Archbishop Carroll club that had some doubt cast upon them during their first season back at the 3A level.
Following an early season clobbering at the hands of Downingtown West, some questioned if the Pats were fit to compete at the next level of PA lacrosse after dominating at the 2A level for the past few years. Though following convincing local wins over Villa Maria, Radnor, and William Penn Charter it became clear that the Lady Pats were up to par with the competition they’d be facing.
“I mean if you think about it, it really isn’t too new for us,” said Beers. “We play 3A teams every year, you look at Radnor, Stoga (Conestoga), Springfield - we play them every year, so we’re used to this competition. All of them will be in the final so we’ll see one of them (at least) again this year.”
Senior Kate O'Neill who scored 5 goals in PCL Championship Game has been a part of winning the Title since she was a freshman and is very familiar with Carroll's Successful program. (video/ Mike Livingston for PSD)
Something else that obviously isn’t new for the Lady Pats is how they treat a Catholic League title matchup. Despite winning 17-4 against O'Hara earlier in the regular season and knowing exactly what was coming with the Lions, they still came out blazing.
The Pats took the lead just a minute into the game and led 9-0 at the close of the first quarter where Kate O’Neill had already recorded a hat trick.
“It really never gets old,” said O’Neill. “Winning the plaque really is the best feeling in the world and it’s such a big accomplishment, we just look forward to it each year.”
O’Hara got two back in the second period on their first two shots of the game and were able to move the ball a bit more freely as Carroll switched up their lines.
Nonetheless that window closed quickly as the Patriots put three more up on the board in the third quarter crushing any sort of momentum the Lions may have had.
Archbishop Carroll vs. Cardinal O'Hara - 2025 PCL Championship Gallery by Riley Schwarz for PSD
The fourth was more of the same as Carroll put up another four goals with the running clock as senior attack Gracie Kucia netted one into the buzzer’s sound at triple zeros to give Carroll the victory.
“The biggest part of this team continuing this legacy is staying together,” said O’Neil. “Our team is the most important part of this legacy and working hard in practice has become really important too.”
Following the win, Carroll will hang yet another plaque on the wall in Radnor before moving onto the PIAA 3A State Playoffs in just a few weeks where they’ll look to claim a fourth consecutive title.