Crossan connects as Carroll edges Bonner-Prendie

CONSHOHOCKEN >> Archbishop Carroll set up for a penalty corner in the second half of the Patriots’ Catholic League game against Bonner-Prendergast at The Proving Ground Wednesday afternoon.
“Gracie (McClatchy) hit it out to me,” Carroll junior Sam Swart said. “Maddie (Sutter) had a great assist.”
Jordyn Crossan was the Patriot who finished the corner play, giving Carroll a 1-0 lead. The Pats’ defense didn’t allow a shot on goal during the second half as Carroll (7-3, 7-0) remained undefeated in league play with a 1-0 decision.
The Patriots and Cardinal O’Hara remained tied for first place. They will meet at The Proving Ground Wednesday afternoon.
“This was a real team win,” Carroll coach Kelly Dougherty said. “From the front line through the midfield to the back line.”
The Patriots outshot the Pandas (7-6, 5-2), 14-3, and had the advantage in penalty corners, 14-1. M.C. Jones helped the Carroll defense keep B-P All-Delco Riley Dolan in check.
In the eighth minute of the first half, a Dolan shot got past Carroll goalie Kimmy McGrory, but an alert Jones kept the ball out of the cage. Bonner-Prendie was awarded a penalty stroke, but Dolan’s shot hit a goal post.
“The defensive layers were there today,” Jones said. “The midfield was really supporting us. If one of their girls got past someone, we knew we would have someone there to pick her up.
“We have two backs who are first-year varsity starters — Carly Peters and Kiersten Crossan — and they’re doing a great job.”
Jordyn Crossan said her team’s focus on penalty corners has paid dividends.
“At the end of practice, we do a lot of work on corners,” Crossan said. “My job is to get (in front of the goalie). Today, when the ball came to me, I tipped it in.
“We know this is one of the games we have to win. It’s been coming down to O’Hara, Bonner-Prendie and us. And we knew it would be good to get the top seed for the playoffs. We have two games left before we play O’Hara, and we want to be playing well going into that game.”
Also in the Catholic League:
Cardinal O’Hara 7, Conwell-Egan 0 >> Meghan Shallow posted a hat trick, Hannah Nihill contributed two goals and a pair of assists and Jen Ahearn stopped four shots for the shutout as the Lions (10-3 overall, 7-0 league) took command early.
In the Central League:
Radnor 7, Marple Newtown 1 >> Katie Quinn had two goals and an assist, Lauren Hemcher scored twice and Page Lowry came through with a goal and four assists for the Raiders (6-8, 6-4).
In the Del Val League:
Interboro 2, Academy Park 0 >> Steph McCool and Alexis Domingo scored in support of netminder Jess Hinchey, who stopped six shots for the shutout.
In the Bicentennial League:
New Hope-Solebury 2, Delco Christian 1 >> Kieran Thompson converted a feed from Emma Ellsworth to get the Knights (10-5, 8-3) on the board in the second half, and goalie Ana Yee turned in 21 saves before yielding the game-winner in overtime.
In nonleague action:
Sun Valley 2, Chichester 0 >> Liz Johnson scored twice and goalie Jaclyn Prince recorded the shutout with defensive help from Mel Leeland.