Playing with a purpose, Carroll’s Ferraioli steps up her game
RADNOR >> Maddey Ferraioli came to Archbishop Carroll from Villa Maria Academy as a ninth grader.
She is the goalie for the Patriots’ girls lacrosse team, and she has seen the best of the attack players who have competed for coach Lorraine Beers, which explains why she has gotten better in each of her varsity seasons.
“She used to tell me ‘I can’t do this,’” explained Sam Swart, Carroll’s All-American midfielder who will play at Syracuse next spring.
When she thought about Carroll’s game against Garnet Valley at the 17th Katie Samson Lacrosse Festival on Radnor High’s Library Field, Ferraioli reflected on the cause for which the games are played — helping those with serious spinal chord injuries.
Ferraioli was happy to be the winning goalie as Carroll earned an 18-12 victory over Garnet Valley. She also smiled knowing that there was a bigger purpose in what everyone enjoying the summer-like temperatures came to Radnor to share.
“I know (Samson) was a goalie who was hurt badly,” Ferraioli said. “I’ve tried to show that being short doesn’t mean you can’t play goalie. It’s great that we can play here and try to help other people.
“We’ve got some more big games coming up before we start the playoffs. I won’t be playing college lacrosse (at the University of South Carolina), but we definitely want to make it to states and keep going past the first round this year.”
Ferraioli faces the challenges teammates Kaitlyn Detwiler, Anna Murphy, Grace Gallager and Swart provide at practice each day.
“I do what I can to try to stop them,” she said. “I’m not always successful, but then in the games I see what they do to other goalies and that helps me feel a little better.”
Against Garnet Valley, Swart (five goals, five assists), Detwiler (four goals, one assist), Gallagher (four goals), and Murphy (three goals) were hot for Carroll, which has scored 70 goals in wins over District 1 Class 3A contenders Downingtown West, Harriton and Garnet Valley and Class 2A challenger Radnor.
Riley Delaney and Camryn Faith each had a hat trick for Garnet Valley.
Ferraioli received defensive help from junior Shea Neary and sophomore Keri Daly, who turned in several interceptions in the second half to push back Garnet Valley’s comeback attempts.
Neary’s mother, Jackie, was an outstanding player at Ridley High and Temple University and is head women’s lacrosse coach at Cabrini University.
“We try to play smart defense,” Shea Neary said. “You can’t panic, and you have to keep your head in the game and keep your composure.”
Daly, a Havertown resident, knows how important it will be to Carroll’s seniors to be successful in the playoffs.
“We have to work together as a team,” she said. “It was great to be playing a game keeping in mind that we would be helping others who really need it.”
Also at the Katie Samson Lacrosse Festival:
Agnes Irwin 6, Owen J. Roberts 4 >> Maria Pansini scored twice and chipped in an assist as the Owls scored five times in the first half to eke past Owen J. Emily Wills added a goal and an assist, and Hailey Andress made five saves in goal.
Notre Dame 11, Great Valley 10 >> Kelly Coyle found the back of the net four times and gobbled up nine groundballs to pace the Irish.
Makenzie Irvine (two goals and two assists), Claire Nappi (two goals, assist) and Claire Gola (goal, two assists) also contributed heavily to the attack.
Episcopal Academy 8, Radnor 6 >> Taylor Lucey netted a pair, and Olivia Dirks set up three goals to go with her marker as the Churchwomen ran out to an 8-1 halftime lead and hung on for the win.
Strath Haven 11, Germantown Academy 9 >> Margot Hotham notched a hat trick, Gillian Brennan added a pair of goals and Katie Capalbo turned aside 14 shots as the Panthers won.
