Breedveld, O’Shea gave Radnor girls soccer a postseason-worthy boost

NETHER PROVIDENCE — A soccer team is usually only as good as its weakest link. The place to try and conceal that weakness is often at outside back, a position that can elevate a team with its quality or drag it down with errors.

It’s no surprise, then, that Radnor is a district champion. The way its outside backs, Julie Breedveld on the left, Sydney O’Shea on the right, confidently help control games is a big reason why the Raptors are in the postseason.

The latest test for Radnor (17-4) comes Tuesday in the PIAA Class 3A tournament opener against Greencastle-Antrim (19-2), the third seed from District 3. Kickoff in Radnor’s first states game since 2000 is 6 p.m. at Encke Field.

While many details stand out in Radnor’s march to the District 1 title, sealed with a comprehensive 3-0 dispatching of Villa Joseph Marie Thursday, the outside backs are not to be overlooked. Radnor has peaked down the stretch by playing as a cohesive whole, with the outside backs playing their roles.

“We have strong center midfielders,” Breedveld said, “so they allow us to step up because we trust them to get the ones in the middle and we can clean up whatever is left.”

Radnor won its three district games by a combined score of 6-0. Goalie Mallory Toomey was only lightly taxed by dangerous shots in those games. The Raptors are adept at controlling tempo, thanks largely to central midfielders Kate Boujoukos and Emily Daiutolo dictating field position and Jane Daiutolo, floating as the No. 10 and occupying dangerous pockets of space while often unlocking the defense with her knack for through balls.

But the prime reason Radnor can maintain pressure on for so long rests on the backline. Breedveld and O’Shea are unafraid to step up with the ball, pinning back opponent’s wingers. And they connect well in that half space to funnel possession from the center backs to the midfield. It’s an unglamorous task. Outside backs are often asked to defend on an island; when they have the ball, they’re a target for high pressure. Not everyone embraces that, but O’Shea and Breedveld flourish under it.

“Sydney and I both, we like that position a lot, especially since our center backs, they always have our backs,” Breedveld said. “So it’s not as much of a nerve-wracking position as you would think. Olivia (Kelley) and Telly (Schwartz) in the middle, they always back us up. I think we all have good chemistry back there, so we’re pretty comfortable.”

Breedveld will play lacrosse at Gettysburg, and her dynamic two-way presence in midfield was a big part of the Raptors’ PIAA Class 3A title last spring. O’Shea isn’t the most physical, but she puts herself in good positions, recovers well and doesn’t try to do too much with the ball.

Greencastle-Antrim won the Mid-Penn Colonial Division and rattled off 18 straight wins to earn the top seed in the District 3 tournament before a semifinal loss. Three players – Haley Noblit (27 goals), Courtney Andruczk (25) and Avery Parks (23) – have had massively productive seasons. It’s the kind of group that tests the entire backline.

Breedveld and company have been prepping for such challenges all season. They’ll have the home field advantage and, given the long wait for PIAA soccer to return, perhaps the edge in intensity.

“I think we’re all excited that we’re going far this year because (Radnor) girls soccer hasn’t gone far in a while,” Breedveld said. “I think that’s why everyone comes to stuff, because it hasn’t happened in a while, so everyone’s really excited.”