Girls Soccer Preview: A familiar face returns to Delco Christian
We’ll be posting team-by-team preview capsules for all the Daily Times soccer teams all this week, in addition to the preview feature on defending Inter-Ac champs Episcopal Academy and the ramifications of the classification shuffle. The Central League is up already; here’s the rest of Delco, starting with the Bicentennial League:
Delco Christian enjoys a homecoming this season with Angela Keelan, who spent five seasons at Notre Dame from 2009-14, returning to coach the program she started in the late 1990s. She boasts a squad featuring three seniors – goalie Ronnie Marie Falasco, midfielder Alex Thompson and defender Claudia Norton – that aims to get over the hump and claim an elusive District One title in the reshuffled Class A.
Thompson is a particularly interesting figure, a St. Bonaventure commit who has played the understudy role to All-Delcos Julia Kyne and Kailey Neef in past seasons but is ready to shine as the star of the attack.
Freshman Lily Tucker could aid the Knights as well.
The Christian Academy, which played for a district title last season in its first campaign back in the PIAA, joins the Bicentennial League with big aspirations. John Mannion takes over for a second stint as the head coach.
Despite losing two players to college soccer, the Crusaders retain three four-year starters in goalkeeper Madison Dutton and defenders Abby Mannion and Laura Plummer. Lindsay Haseltine and Grace Gormley will orchestrate the offense, while junior Hannah Sareyka transfers in from former Tri-State Christian rival Gloucester Christian.
Catholic League
Cardinal O’Hara graduated 12 seniors, seven starters, facing coach Dave Cornish with a difficult task. They have the makings of a solid defense with Kerry Patterson back in goal and Gina Amoroso anchoring the defense. Maura Hendrixson provides a seasoned hand in midfield, while Michelle Matteo will help compensate for the scoring touch of Jenny West that was lost to graduation. Amoroso, Emily McGuire and Killeen McCans will captain the squad.
Cornish had 17 freshmen try out for the team, and midfielders Makalia Ley and Grace MacManus are among those pushing most for minutes.
Bonner & Prendergast has veteran savvy on its side thanks to seven seniors who contributed significantly last year, including the forward duo of Meghan Campbell and the speedy Jewel Ford.
Paris Banks is back in goal, while Eric Carty, Kelsey Czibik and Kelley Weis represent the midfield core, with junior Tess Colivas in the mix as well. The defense is a younger unit that hopes to coalesce around senior Brianna McCarty. Sophomores Maeve McCann and Stephanie McKenna will find opportunities at the back.
Del Val League
Interboro’s strength this season appears to be in a defense that counts three seniors – Katie Receveur, Brittany Tomeo and Rachel Molino – among the projected starters. Madison Hengey scored five goals from midfield last season, and sophomore Cassidy Chadwick will be one of the Bucs’ top forwards.
Chadwick isn’t the only promising sophomore, with midfielders Courtney Floyd and Christina Affainie and defender Hailey Wittorf accruing significant experience a season ago. Freshmen Morgan Reed and Madison Brady should also get looks in midfield.
Chichester will rely on the strength of a veteran backline, anchored by goalie/East Stroudsburg softball commit Haley Coale and defenders Kayla DiPaolo and Tara Klepacki. Megan Carroll and Monigo Karnley bolster the midfield, while Mackenzie Sendek and Cameron Keith could enter the lineup and impact things.
Penn Wood embarks on its third season of varsity play, bolstering the Del Val’s numbers.
Inter-Ac
Notre Dame took its lumps last season in Ben Davey’s first campaign, despite the services of University of Virginia commit Phoebe McClernon. With her gone, the team must forge a new identity, and a strong sophomore class that includes midfielders Maggie O’Brien and Sophie Pinnie and forward Juliet Marchesani is a good place to start.
Senior defender Claire Nappi and midfielder Brooke Spino will help lead the Irish.
Agnes Irwin has a new coach in former Radnor head man Mike Welsh, and the Owls look to replace a storied class of 2016 that graduated six starters.
Midfielders Alicia O’Neill, Lydia Bartosh and Providence commit Annie McConnon comprise the senior leaders this year, along with goalie Kendall Shein.
Maria Pansini and freshman Julianne Carey will fill out the midfield. Grace Bartosh is tasked with spearheading the rebuild in defense, and freshman striker Natalie Pansini returns with varsity experience from last fall.
