Hey 19: Archbishop Carroll’s Catholic League title streak continues

ASTON — Some Archbishop Carroll girls lacrosse players don’t hesitate to talk about the school’s rich tradition in the sport.

Others prefer not to dwell too much about what went on in the past, including the things that took place before those players were born.

No matter what form their approach took Monday night, the Patriots all wore their best smiles for the pictures that were taken after their 20-6 victory over Cardinal O’Hara in the Philadelphia Catholic League championship game at Neumann University.

The title was the 19th consecutive for Carroll and its 20th-year head coach Lorraine Beers. The victory was the 240th in a row for the Patriots over Catholic League opposition.

“These girls are very hard-working,” Beers said, before she had to rush from Neumann to get to an awards dinner. “They’re just a great group. Now that we’ve done this, let’s get ready for states.”

Carroll, which won the 2017 PIAA Class 3A title, begins play in the 2019 PIAA Class 2A tournament Tuesday, May 28, when it takes on the fourth-place team from District 1. That same day, O’Hara is headed to the PIAA Class 3A tourney to face the sixth-place team out of District 1.

The Pats got four goals and two assists from Alexandra Cabahug-Almonte and four goals and one assist from Kellie Ann Matey, while Kiley Mottice, Amber Germer, and Madison Henry all contributed three goals and one assist.

Karli Dougherty, who led the team with five draw controls, chipped in with two goals and one assist. Henry came up with four draw controls, and Matey’s draw control contribution was three, while Keri Daly added two.

Rachel Familetti, who had one assist, and Rylie McGowan both scored a pair of goals for O’Hara.

The second-seeded Lions trailed, 4-3, with 17 minutes left in the first half before Carroll went on a run of five consecutive goals and seven of the last eight of the half to go up, 11-4.

O’Hara got as close as 12-6 in the first four minutes of the second half, but Carroll held the Lions scoreless over the final 21:33 while putting in eight shots. Goalie Julia Dellaratta turned away nine Lions shots.

“I didn’t get on the field when we won the (state) championship two years ago,” Matey, a junior, said. “It’s great being able to win another (Catholic League) championship and have the chance to go to states again.”

Dougherty helped a Carroll team to a Catholic League title for the third time during the 2018-19 school year. She was a field hockey starter, a key contributor with the basketball team, and has been a starter in lacrosse.

“I try to help out wherever the coach needs me,” said Dougherty, who spent part of the game taking draws and part of the game on the receiving end of draws “We knew this was a championship game, but to us it was just our next game. We wanted to come out with the same attitude and same energy we’ve had all season.”

Daly, who is headed to Saint Joseph’s University, was the Catholic League’s most valuable player in field hockey.

“They came out intense and played us very tough,” Matey said of Cardinal O’Hara. “They’re a young team, and their coach has them working very hard. I know they will keep getting tougher.

“We’re happy to win today and know now we have some time to get ready for our first game in the state tournament.”

Germer was another player whose focus was on playing a game instead of worrying about playoff pressure.

“They made it tougher on us than the first time we played them,” Germer said. “We just kept doing what we knew we had to do.”

For Mottice, there were a few thoughts about the history of Carroll lacrosse.

“Even if you haven’t been here that long, you know how many championships they’ve had, and you don’t want to be part of the team that doesn’t keep the streak going,” she said. “There might be a little pressure before the game, but then you go and do what you can to make it to 19.”

For Carroll, the 2019 Catholic League season ended the way the previous 18 campaigns did, with happy Patriots posing with a Catholic League championship plaque.