Courtney everywhere again as Conestoga ousts O’Hara in girls soccer
PHILADELPHIA — Your eyes aren’t deceiving you when trying to track Calista Courtney on the field.
Yes, that’s really the Conestoga senior lined up at center back to start. And that red-haired streak bombing up the left flank, that’s her, too. Also the girl in the box turning a defender inside out.
One of coach Ben Wilson’s best weapons is deploying the captain in a variety of roles, as situations and matchups dictate.
“My moving around just helps all the girls get into the position they want to be in,” Courtney said. “I’m fine moving around if everyone else is comfortable where they are. Even on my club team, I’ve been moving around. So there’s never been a locked position I’ve been in.”
Wherever she is, Courtney can impact a game, as she showed in the Pioneers’ 7-0 win over Cardinal O’Hara in the first round of the PIAA Class 4A tournament Tuesday night at Ramp Playground.
Goal Conestoga! A little fancy footwork from Calista Courtney and she nudges the shot through traffic. 2-0 Stoga in the 27th. pic.twitter.com/8NgOcyHf2Z
— Matthew De George (@sportsdoctormd) November 6, 2019
Courtney scored Conestoga’s second goal, a marauding run down the wing in which she put a shot past O’Hara goalie Julia Mirarchi on the short side. She set up the fourth goal, scored by Caitlin Donovan, with a delicate slip pass. And she assisted on No. 6, a corner kick that Kristi DiRico redirected home.
That’s a lot of involvement for Courtney, who can play in central defense or as a free-range wingback around a back 3. Tuesday, with the District 1 third-place Pioneers not needing reinforcement at the back while controlling the ball, Courtney got free rein to dash forward.
Despite hosting honors for District 12 champion O’Hara, the game was lopsided from the start, pitting the Central League champion against a team that finished ninth in the Catholic League and made states by virtue of the helter-skelter seeding of teams in District 12 and a gutsy win over Franklin Towne Charter in the district final. It’s the Lions’ first appearance in states.
Only Mirarchi, who made nine saves, kept the game from getting out of control early. It took Conestoga 19 minutes to get on the board via a howitzer from McKenzie Coleman.
“I was nervous, but Jules is such a good goalie,” O’Hara midfielder Marisa Lobb said. “I think she should’ve gotten PCL (All-Catholic first team) if you ask me. Those goals weren’t her fault. It’s just miscommunication.”
It’s 6-0 Stoga. Kristi DiRico with the last touch on this corner. pic.twitter.com/s4pEfi27Ne
— Matthew De George (@sportsdoctormd) November 6, 2019
After the break, goals came thick and fast for Stoga. Donovan scored in consecutive minutes, the La Salle commit beating the defense for speed twice and leaving Mirarchi no chance.
“It’s so fun playing with her,” Courtney said of Donovan. “I know she’s so creative, she can dribble, she can pass one-touch. She has all different type of skills.”
DiRico scored in the 51st and 53rd minutes, and Conestoga emptied the bench soon thereafter. Reserve midfielder Lilli Lucia scored in the 35th.
Chances were few and far between for O’Hara. A feeble turning shot by Julia Stellabotte in the first was the only test faced by starter Caroline Klaiber. Second-half replacement Sarah Nselel made two saves.
O’Hara’s biggest win came in district final. That triumph defines its season, not Tuesday’s setback.
“This is the first time we’ve won districts,” Lobb said. “That’s a big accomplishment.”
As for Conestoga, Tuesday’s was the first states win since 2010, enduring three one-goal eliminations in state first rounds since.
“It means so much,” Courtney said. “For us, it’s a really big deal and it shows the program is growing.”
