Photos/Videos: Donna Eckert & John Knebels
By: John Knebels
PHILADELPHIA – Even though the program had not won a Philadelphia Catholic League girls’ soccer title since 2002, and despite being an underdog going into the final, St. Hubert’s possessed a feel . . . an intangible . . . a certain look.
It was as though the only people who honestly believed in their mission were themselves.
“I don’t think too many people gave us a chance,” said Hubert’s first-team All-Catholic senior Luca D’Andrea. “I get it. I understand that. We were going up against a team going for a fifth straight championship.”
D’Andrea paused.
“We came into the game with nothing to lose.”
They left the game as metaphorical billionaires.
On a chilly October 25 at St. Joseph’s University, St. Hubert’s dethroned four-time defending champion Archbishop Wood in a penalty shootout. Following a 1-1 deadlock that continued through two overtime periods, Wood scored on three of four tries, so when senior Riley Roesner connected on Hubert’s fifth straight success – following goals by senior Grace Smith, aforementioned D’Andrea, junior Saige Primavera, and junior Kady Donnelly – it mathematically clinched a 5-3 advantage.
Roesner’s successful boot ignited a carnival-like celebration near the 20-yard line. The buoyant Bambies then bounded to the stands to join family, friends, and schoolmates in communal euphoria.
“I think there were some nerves to start the game, and that’s why we went down,” said Hubert’s first-year coach Shawn Wimsey, referring to an early tally by Wood senior Paige Eckert, the PCL’s Most Valuable Player. “We fought back hard.”
Ignoring the stress of their deficit, the Bambies controlled play for the rest of the first half. A goal by Bridie Musial following a terrific direct kick by D’Andrea that set off a mad scramble in front of the Wood cage sent the contest into halftime tied at 1-1.
At various junctures of the second half and two overtime periods, the inarguable star of the game – Hubert’s junior goalie Quin Miller – emerged strong with several clutch saves, including a diving stop of a low direct kick tracer by Eckert.
“She was a killer today,” said Wimsey. “In the semis and the finals, she kept us in the game. She made the huge saves in penalty shots.”
Although several Bambies responded to questions minutes after their career-defining triumph, each varsity player had an opportunity to reflect on the same question several days later.
“At what point of this journey,” they were asked, “did you honestly believe that Hubert’s could be a championship team?”
In true team fashion, every player shared her individual insights.
Luca D’Andrea, senior: “After that (2-1 overtime loss) regular season game against Wood. Even though we didn’t get the win, there was just something different about how we played. The way we competed, stayed together, and kept our focus, it really showed me what this group of girls was capable of. I remember thinking that if we got another shot at them, it would be a different outcome. It just felt different than the last two years, like we were finally moving in the right direction.”
Fallyn Lydon, senior: “If you had told me this outcome my freshman year, I wouldn’t have believed you. We overcame so many obstacles together, starting with having a losing record freshman year to improving game by game each year. The past two years we improved tremendously and we competed until the semifinals, losing to Wood each year, but I knew once this season started we had a strong chance to compete for the PCL, districts, and states.
“In our loss to Wood early in the regular season, I believed that we could beat them because I had so much faith in my teammates. For our semifinal game against Carroll (1-0 win), we were so positive, relaxed, and singing and dancing. I think that our positive attitude and our energy really helped us. Going into Wood on championship day, I knew we had a good chance but we had to keep that same energy and positivity. We had the same routine – I guess you could say we were superstitious.
“At our pasta party on Friday before the big day, we watched Remember the Titans. It gave us a lot of positive messages and we took that with us into the big game. The bus ride there was so much fun and filled with positivity. After we scored the tying goal, something inside me said, ‘We got this.’ We prayed a lot and I kept praying down to the last kick in penalty kicks. When double overtime was over, I didn’t doubt for a second that we were winning that game. We practiced PK’s all week. Our amazing goalie, Quin, was focused on stopping us at practice as if she knew they could be a factor. And she wasn’t wrong. I couldn’t have asked for a better season or have it any other way.”
2025 PCL Championship St. Hubert's vs. Archbishop Wood Regulation Highlights by John Knebels for PSD:
2025 PCL Championship Penalty Kicks between St. Hubert's and Archbishop Wood - PSD Video by John Knebels
Riley Roesner clinches shootout and lifts St. Hubert's to first PCL title since 2002 - PSD Video by John Knebels
Bridie Musial, senior: “Since my freshman year, I always knew our team was special. Not just on the soccer field, but off it, too. We grew such a bond over the years that it just makes our playing on the field stronger. But there was something special about this year. The moment that really sticks out to me was the first time we played Wood. Although we lost in overtime, we knew we could beat them once we faced them again. We felt so strong as a team that day knowing we would become one of the top teams and a force to be reckoned with. Throughout my years, we were always the underdogs, and this year we proved how the underdogs can come on top. The joy we felt the day of the PCL championship was indescribable, and I don’t think there are girls more hardworking and deserving of this title than St. Hubert’s.”
Delaney Newhouse, senior: “I had a good feeling coming into this season. Keeping up with the teams last year and losing in the semifinals two years in a row, we were ready. Always having a younger team and growing this year, we had more upperclassmen. We worked hard and had good chemistry. We knew it was our year.”
Riley Roesner, senior: “I knew our team had a chance at winning the championship when we only lost to the best team in the PCL for the last four years, 2-1, in overtime. We knew that if we pushed ourselves hard enough and did not give up, then we had a really good shot in going all the way and bringing home the plaque.”
Grace Smith, senior: “Coming into the season I knew we had a great group of girls and we were going to be a competition to other teams. As the season went on I really felt that we were going to have a possibility of being the winning team after we played other challenging teams and especially Wood after we kept up with them and had a great game against them even though we lost 2-1 in OT. That was a big change from the other years. After that we were dedicated and determined to push each other and leave everything on the field each and every game and win every game we could to make it to the championship. And that’s what we did, and we won, and everyone was surprised but we knew it was our year.”
Hayden Clark, junior: “I knew from my first soccer practice at Saint Hubert’s that our team had the strength and qualities to win the PCL one day. Although my first two years of playing high school soccer didn’t turn out the way we all wanted them to, every girl continued to push herself and work harder and harder to make it past the semifinals. All the hard work and dedication the team put into this year made us truly play better as a unified team. I felt it in week 3 as we could truly start to read the field, and I could feel the confidence in the way our coaches pushed us to move the ball and use the entire field. This is when I knew it, and it allowed us to win the Philadelphia Catholic League Championship. Ever since we stepped foot on the field of Saint Joseph’s University, everyone knew this would be the game that we have been wanting since day one. Everyone played their heart out and showed how badly we wanted the title of ‘PCL Champions of 2025.’”
Kady Donnelly, junior: “Coming into the season I thought we had a good chance to win, but what really confirmed it was our first matchup against Wood. Even though we ended up losing 2-1 in overtime, it was a hard-fought battle. We were in the game and we had our opportunities to win.”
Grace Gallagher, junior: “Being on the Saint Hubert’s soccer team is actually just the best thing that has ever happened to me. Our soccer team has such a close relationship with each other. Our bond is like no other team, and becoming close was the first thing we needed to do to win a championship. We work for each other, love each other, and help each other when we need it. Our hard work and dedication to each other and the team just bring us closer. Also, we are all great soccer players that have the potential to do anything we put our minds to.”
Riley Roesner reflects on her historic shootout goal - PSD Video by John Knebels
All smiles, St. Hubert goalie Quin Miller starred in her team's championship win - PSD Video by John Knebels
Senior Luca D'Andrea's dream about winning the PCL crown came true - PSD Video by John Knebels
Mallory Gallagher, junior: “I think I always knew for the past three years that we had a championship-winning team and we all had the same drive and determination to make it happen eventually. The seniors especially always pushed all of us to be the best we could be, and we wouldn’t have been able to do it without them. This whole season was filled with ups and downs, highs and lows, wins and losses, but we never gave up on each other or lost hope. I can’t place a single moment on it; it was more a feeling. Watching all of our girls put their hearts and minds into each game and work as hard as possible together made it really easy to stay confident and never lose hope. We’ve all worked so hard and it’s a much-deserved victory, and we plan on continuing to win in states!”
Finley Miller, junior: “We have been saying since the start of the season that this was going to be our year. We wound up in overtime five times this season, and each overtime we came out and gave it our all. That’s when I knew we had a winning team. No one ever gave up. We played like a team and lost like a team. If anything, going into overtime pushed us more and made us want it more. If we can get through four overtime games and one double overtime game, we could make it to the championship. I knew that whoever the opponent was, we weren’t going to go down without a fight, and that’s exactly what happened during the championship game. By the time the championship game came, we were built for overtime. This team has a special bond. We don’t just play to play. We play for each other.”
Quin Miller, junior: “We’ve been building and preparing for this since my freshman year. After this year’s tryouts and camp, we knew the talent we had in our program and that girls were truly coming to Saint Hubert’s for soccer. That hasn’t been the case in many years, and it was so exciting to see.
“The bond we all share, especially those of us who have been playing together since we were five years old and are more like sisters, really shines through on the field. It all came together this year when we made it to the finals, something we haven’t been able to do in the last two seasons. We were pumped! All of the predictions of us losing and Wood beating us were nothing but motivation for us to want it even more.”
Saige Primavera, junior: “The time that I knew deep in my heart that my team could be a championship-winning team would probably be after we lost to Wood in overtime 2-1. Last year we lost 4-0 in the semis, so stepping up to them and really giving them a challenge this year really shocked a lot of teams. After that game we stayed positive throughout the entire season and really encouraged each other, which gave everyone the confidence we needed to make it to where we were and win the championship.”
Emily Taber, junior: “The point in my journey when I felt that I had a championship-winning team was the second time we played Wood during the PCL. During the first four minutes Wood scored. Usually, other teams would get down about that, but people could tell that only made us want it more, and in the last 11 minutes of the first half we scored. That really made me want to win, and I knew we had a chance to win it all. I think my team and I deserved that win. In a game like that it’s all about who wants it more. Our whole team left our hearts on the field, and I am so proud of all of us and how hard we have worked for this moment.”
Morgan Dunne, sophomore: “During this journey there was definitely a moment that really made me believe that we did have a possible championship-winning team. There were many moments throughout the season, high and low, but one definitely stood out to me. It was partway through the season when we first played Archbishop Wood. We had been neck and neck with each other the whole game. We ended the normal halves with a score of 1-1. We eventually went into double overtime, but Wood got a lucky goal on us, unfortunately causing us to lose that game 2-1. Our team played an amazing game, moved the ball well, communicated well, and was getting shots off. With Wood being the number one seed when we played them, it felt like a big game for us to see where we were next to them. Scoring on them and closely playing them already made me feel that we could have a championship-winning team. Having such a close game with them gave me all the confidence and determination I needed to believe that we had the potential to take it to the finals and take that plaque home.”
St. Hubert senior Bridie Musial #19 scored to tie the game 1-1 in the 2025 PCL Championship
St. Hubert head coach Shawn Wimsey could not have been prouder of his championship-winning bambies - PSD Video by John Knebels
Congratulations to St. Hubert's - Your 2025 PCL Girls Soccer Champions - PSD Photo by Donna Eckert
2025 PCL Championship Gallery St. Hubert's vs. Archbishop Wood - PSD Photos by Donna Eckert
Charley Miller, freshman: “I felt that we had this championship win after we tied Wood in the season. Seeing us keep up with the best team really gave me hope that this year it really is anyone’s game. It was obvious that this year it was going to come down to who wanted it most, and I knew that was us. Our team showed up this year with another level of talent and confidence, and I knew that this year was our year.”
Maeve Hasson, freshman: “From day one of being on this team, I knew we had what it takes. I just felt it. Through tryouts and every single practice, up until now, we’ve given our all because that’s how badly we wanted it. Freshman year is usually scary with all the new adjustments and meeting your new teammates, but I was welcomed on this team with open arms and these girls have literally become my sisters in such a short period of time. The bonds we have made, cheering each other on, having each other’s backs, pushing each other every day, just made us that close-knit team. We all wanted to bring this title back to Hubert’s after 23 years, and we did it!”
Laney Lydon, freshman: “Being on the Saint Hubert’s soccer team as a freshman is such an honor. This team isn’t just a regular team – we are all like family. We are there for each other when there is a good play or a bad play. They are always there through the tough losses and the fun wins. The bus rides are like no other for Saint Hubert’s – we go crazy, and that’s what you need. You need a team that is there for you and has your back through good and bad times. We built a team like no other in the PCL. We are always ready for practice and games. That’s what we needed to win this PCL. Winning the championship for the first time in 23 years in my freshman year is such an honor. Thank you, Saint Hubert’s, for the best first year of soccer I could have asked for!”
Aubrey Wacker, freshman: “I always believed that we could win the championship because we had great leadership from our seniors and our captains since the start of the season!”
Sophie Wimsey, freshman: “I realized early on that we had a chance of winning the championship because we had such strong teamwork and determination. We came to every practice ready to work hard and improve. We would show up to every game and practice with a great mentality of wanting to win. We never gave up and pushed each other to be better during each practice and game.”
Just some thoughts from 20 Philadelphia Catholic League champions.
(Contact John Knebels at jknebels@gmail.com or on ‘X’ @johnknebels.)
