Congratulations to Archbishop Wood on winning the 2025 PIAA 2A Girls Soccer Championship - PSD Photo by Donna Eckert
By: John Knebels
MANCHESTER, PA – It’s been more than a week since Archbishop Wood girls’ soccer program gave their entire school community a very early Thanksgiving and Christmas present.
When senior Kylie Wiest contributed the most important goal of her career – a perfectly-placed 12-yard bullet inside the right post with 5:54 remaining in sudden-death overtime to secure a PIAA Class AA 2-1 thriller over Burrell in front of a boisterous crowd at Northeastern High School – the Vikings’ first-ever state championship triumph unleashed a torrent of emotion that culminated in a mound of humanity lying in celebration at the 20-yard line.
By now, legends have been etched into permanence. Wiest with the overtime winner . . . Senior Philadelphia Catholic League Most Valuable Player Paige Eckert with the game’s first goal and remarkable seventh – eighth if counting a successful penalty kick in Wood’s 3-2 (3-1 PK) win that severed Northwestern Lehigh’s 54-game winning streak in the semifinals – during a four-game postseason streak in which the Vikings outscored their highly qualified opposition by 13-6 . . . Jet-quick freshman Avery Miller performing more like a grizzled veteran under the lights, highlighted by her pinpoint pass that set up Eckert’s state title tally . . . Junior goalie Cat Gabel, who increasingly came up clutch with key saves . . . and Coach Maria Kosmin, who somehow galvanized her troops after an emotionally draining 2-1 (5-3 PK) loss to St. Hubert’s in the PCL championship.
The celebrations have concluded; the memories cemented. The trophy housed. Winter sports have begun.
But the 23 players and two coaches who spearheaded this remarkable accomplishment were each asked one final question, and all of them opted to answer: “Looking back on the season – before, during, or after – think of a particular moment that best represents what this team is all about. It could be something very small or something big.”
Here are their responses – beginning with the coaches, then the players, organized by class year and alphabetically:
WIEST FOR THE WIN: Senior Kylie Wiest scores overtime winner to give Wood its first state championship - PSD Video by John KNebels
Maria Kosmin, Coach: “Game versus Villa in states. We were up by two. They came back and tied it, 2-2. Seniors have been great all year leading, but when the second goal happened, junior center back Molly McConnell’s reaction after the goal of ‘We are not losing this game’ and ‘Let’s go’ mentality gave me goosebumps. We picked each other up and were able to score three more! We have great leaders in our seniors, which is a huge reason for our success, but seeing it come from other players throughout the postseason run really showed how we all pick each other up and step up at different times. Seniors led by example for everyone else on the team to learn how to lead.”
Tim Henes, Assistant Coach: “We lose to Hubert’s in a heartbreaker, then have to regroup and play Villa, a perennial state finalist. The players from both teams know each other. There is plenty of history. To be able to play a complete game like the players did made everyone feel, ‘Why not us?’”
Mia Casey, Senior: “One particular moment is the PCL championship, even though we lost in PKs, we held our heads high and picked each other up to win in PKs against Lehigh and continue to win the state championship in overtime. The strong point of our team is that different players step up each game. It’s not just one player.”
Paige Eckert, Senior: “One moment that represents this team is the practice back after losing in the PCL championship. It was very serious and quiet when practice first started. Before the coaches got there, the other captains and I decided to pull the whole team together and talk about how important states are and how we never want to feel how we felt on the night of Hubert's again. It was the most serious the team has ever been. We all agreed to play every game and practice like our last, and clearly it showed. Practices were sharp, and we were hungry to win it all and prove that we are one of the best teams in the state.”
Brigid Johnston, Senior: “The first moment that came to mind is the day before our state semifinals against Northwestern Lehigh. Everyone kept saying how they were 54-0 and how it would be a tough game, but I remember thinking that if we beat Northwestern, we would win the whole thing. We just had to get through one more game, and I think one of our strengths through the state run was our motivation to keep going. We were not used to being an underdog, so it felt good to beat a team who went 54 games without a loss. We studied the other team and knew where they were strong and weak. The moment of beating Northwestern represented what Wood does, because no matter how good a team may be or how many goals they score, we will come prepared and ready to play even if we are tied or down a goal.”
Wood Head coach Maria Kosmin knew her troops had to score the overtime winner as soon as possible - PSD Video By John KNebels
Paige Eckert's absolutely amazing career came to a storybook close with her school's first-ever state championship - PSD Video by John Knebels
Paige Eckert's 40-yard blast missed by less than a foot - PSD Video by John KNebels
Macie Kennedy, Senior: “A moment that shows what our team is all about was losing the PCL championship. It hurt, but instead of letting it break us, we used it as motivation. We came back tougher, more focused, and ended up winning states. That bounce-back is who we are.”
Kelsey McNamara, Senior: “After our PCL loss, everyone stayed at one of our teammate’s house. We supported one another and reflected on the game. I think this moment really shows how close Wood girls soccer is and how easy it is to rely on one another.”
Sophia Topakas, Senior: “A moment that stands out to me is before the season even starts, we always have captains’ practices, which are non-official practices where all the incoming freshmen and past years’ players, whether it be JV or varsity, get to come and play soccer a week before tryouts. During this week, it’s full of a lot of fun and just trying to get to know everyone by including them in little games or just talking all together. This stands out to me because it is one of the first team things we do, and it really shows how much we are trying to get to know one another. Our team is very close, and this just spotlights how we are always trying to include and support each other through everything. In my opinion, teams thrive not just because of skill, but because of the relationships and bonds throughout.”
Riley Weber, Senior: “A part throughout this whole season that represents all this team is about is even though we always would push each other to do our best during games and practices, we had fun every step of the way, especially on the way to the state championship.”
Kylie Wiest, Senior: “There isn’t just one particular moment, but the team is very close and our chemistry is good. We would either get food or hang out after every game and every weekend during the season.”
Cat Gabel, Junior: “A word I would use that represents this team is resilience. Our first goal was winning the PCL, and not one person thought we would lose that game. That first practice back, everyone was still upset. But we pushed through because we knew there was still one goal we hadn't reached ever. Before the semifinal game, we knew that the team we were playing was gonna be tough, but everyone was still positive going into that game and giving everything we had. Winning PKs was an amazing moment for everyone on the team.
Walking into the state championship game, all we could think about was what we accomplished this season and just to give everything one last shot. Going back to the word resilience. Winning states showed that Wood girls’ soccer is a family, and we don't give up on each other.”
Bailey Lyons, Junior: “Since the very beginning of the season, winning states was our goal and we did not let anything get in the way of that goal. No matter the result, we always believed in each other every game. I think we were a ‘family’ before a ‘team,’ and we played for each other and all Wood girls soccer players that came before us, and that led to a lot of our success this year.”
Molly McConnell, Junior: “This is not a particular moment, but the whole run at states – every single game after the big unexpected loss against Hubert’s. We showed up every game with the mentality that we are going to win with this team since we didn’t win the PCL title. We knew we were not giving up and we were gonna go and win that state title, which is what we did. That shows the dedication and hard work that our team consists of and is made of.”
Sophia McDonald, Junior: “One moment that represents what this team is all about was the state semifinal game. Going into the game, we knew we had a challenge ahead of us, but in the end, we came together as a team, beating the reigning champions. Every single player stepped up and did their job.”
Brigid McConnell, Sophomore: “A particular moment that kind of represents what this team is all about is when we lost the PCL championship and didn’t just quit and put our heads down. Instead, we worked even harder for what we wanted (to win states), and we did just that. I think this team was so determined to win, and never once did this team put their heads down and think we couldn’t win.”
Kylie Wiest experienced what most athletes dream of - ending the season by scoring an overtime goal - PSD Video by John Knebels
Cat Gabel came up big during post-season run - PSD Video by John Knebels
Goalie Cat Gabel with key first-half save to keep the game scoreless - PSD Video by John Knebels
Wood head coach Maria Kosmin dresses her players and managers with state championship gold Medals - PSD Video by John Knebels
Brinley Miller, Sophomore: “After we lost the PCL, it would have been easy for us to just blame one another, but that isn’t the way our team is. Together as a team, we took accountability for our own mistakes and didn’t put the blame on any one person. Instead, we uplifted one another and made it a goal to do something that hadn’t been done before – win states. We knew we would have to work extremely hard, but we were willing to put in that work to show that we were better than the result of one game.”
Leah O’Neill, Sophomore: “I think one moment that truly defines and represents us as a team was the practice after the PCL loss when we all came together and knew that we were not gonna lose again. Looking at everyone made me understand what we had, and although our hard work carried us through the season when we went undefeated, I think the loss sparked something we never had before. None of us had ever experienced losing in the PCL final, and after seeing everyone upset, especially the seniors, it made us realize that we want it more than ever and this is the team that could win.”
Mackenzie Weber, Sophomore: “One moment from this season that represents our team is that after losing PCL champs, we came together as a team and worked harder than before to become state champs.”
Maren Johnston, Freshman: I think a moment that really represents our team was when Villa tied the game, 2–2, in the second half of the state quarterfinals. When that happened, I think we all realized how badly we wanted to win, and that the only way to do it was by working together as a team and not playing individually. We had players on the field, who usually aren’t the most loud, encouraging everyone to relax and play our game. Once everyone settled down and focused, we started playing our game again, and that’s what I think helped us take control and win, 5–2.”
Mae Kennedy, Freshman: “I think the first round of states versus Villa gave us a feel for the challenge of winning a state title. We lost one of our teammates to a broken arm and another got knocked out of the game for a bit, but we were able to come back and win that game. It showed that if we wanted to win, we had to really fight for it. We were losing in the quarterfinals to Trinity at halftime and we came back and won. We went to PKs in the semis and won, and we had to win in overtime in the final.”
Mia Kosmin, Freshman: “I think that a moment that represents our team is our first practice after the PCL loss. All of us were upset that we came short of the final, but our seniors pulled us into a team huddle and I remember them saying that it was over with and now came the next game. They emphasized that the loss was in the past and how they didn’t want our season to end that way. We had a great practice, and I think this moment showed what our team was all about by giving us hope and encouragement that we were not done yet.”
Lexi McLemore, Freshman: “A game that really stood out to me was the semifinal game against Northwestern Lehigh. We had already come further than expected, and Lehigh had won the states many years in a row and had a 54-game winning streak. But we used their overconfidence to help us catch them off guard, and we ended up winning the game, which was one of our best victories.”
Avery Miller, Freshman: “The moment that represents us is our pasta parties. We had one before every game, and I think it brought us together as a family and a team every night, which led to our chemistry on the field.”
Giuliana Russo, Freshman: “One moment I would pick would be any of the practices. We are always working hard no matter what we are doing. Sharing laughs or being serious, the practices are what makes us a team. We have a great bond that carried us through the highs and lows, which ultimately helped us win a state championship.”
Wood breaks the ice as freshman Avery Miller sets up senior Paige Eckert's second-half goal with a perfect pass - PSD Video by John Knebels
Wood Student section was loud and supportive all game long - PSD Video by John KNebels
Archbishop Wood 2025 PIAA 2A Champions!! PSD Gallery by Donna Eckert
Paige Savage, Freshman: “Coming from club practice and jumping straight into my first high school practice with a team that has won a four-peat in the PCL, you could tell right away that it was a highly competitive atmosphere with each girl pushing each other to become better each practice and each day, and that carried through all season.”
Spoken like state champions.
(Contact John Knebels at jknebels@gmail.com or on ‘X’ @johnknebels.)