Ava DeGeorge ready to help lead Archbishop Wood’s run at PCL repeat

WARMINSTER >> With the Archbishop Wood girls soccer team’s attack stifled by a talented Springside Chestnut Hill Academy side, junior Ava DeGeorge chalked up Thursday afternoon as a learning experience for the Vikings.

“They’re a really good team,” said DeGeorge of SCH. “They lose it and they get it right back so it’s like you’re chasing, chasing and when you get the ball you’re tired. So it’s tough to play against them.”

A first-half goal by Lisa McIntryre was enough for the Blue Devils, last year’s PAISAA champions, to earn a 1-0 win that was both a nonleague contest and a family affair with Wood coached by Tom DeGeorge, Ava’s father and SCH coach being Maria Kosmin, Ava’s aunt and Tom’s sister.

“Family dinner next week should be interesting after this one,” Ava said.

Springside Chestnut Hill quickly set the tone, keeping the ball in the Vikings’ half for most of the early portion of the contest. Wood’s offense could never find its footing with probably its best chance coming on a free kick in regulation’s final moments but Ava DeGeorge’s try for the near left post was wide.

“I think that it was good for us because they’re an extremely good team and I don’t think we’re going to play teams like that in the PCL,” Ava DeGeorge said. “So that’s really going to help us going forward. And this is the best I think we’ve done anytime we’ve played SCH so I think it’s a good improvement from years before.”

Archbishop Wood’s first loss in its third game of 2022 has been one of few recent snags for Ava DeGeorge on the soccer field.

Transferring to Wood from William Tennent for her sophomore season, she helped the Vikings win their first Philadelphia Catholic League title since 2016, collecting two assists on corner kicks in a 3-1 victory over Archbishop Ryan in the league championship. Wood went on to win the District 12-2A title and advance to the PIAA quarterfinals.

In July, DeGeorge and Philadelphia SC Coppa Rage, coached by Tom DeGeorge, won the US Youth Soccer U17 national championship.

“The best experience ever,” said Ava DeGeorge of Coppa’s title run. “I don’t think anything that I ever play soccer will live up to that. That was amazing.”

Coppa Rage, which also includes four players from SCH Academy – Bella Brown, Elena Franklin, Brigid McDonald and Abby Fitzmaurice – lost in the 2021 U16 national final but would not be denied a year later, rolling past Minnesota’s Tonka Fusion Elite 5-0 in the final July 24 in Orlando, Florida.

“We were so set on it,” Ava DeGeorge said. “We were like we’re not losing this year. It was the worst heartbreak ever.”

Archbishop Wood graduated five of its seven All-PCL players from 2021 – including Alyssa DeGeorge, who is now at Cabrini after earning league MVP honors – while returning first team selections Ava DeGeorge and senior Daryn Savage. But the Vikings’ expectations still remain high this fall as they aim to defend their Catholic League crown and qualify for the state tournament for a fourth consecutive year.

“I think the biggest thing is when I first got this job was like ‘Wow, how can I come back and win next year when I just lost this caliber of player?’” Tom DeGeorge said. “But I really think over the last couple years we continue to build something to where all these new kids are coming and we’re just feeding. I put five freshmen on varsity this year, that’s pretty impressive. There’s not many teams that have that many freshmen on varsity. I had 19 freshmen come out.

“So I think we’re doing a good thing over here at Wood to where it’s like we’re drawing a lot of soccer players that want to compete.”

Wood from going scoreless for the first time this season. SCH Academy, meanwhile, struck for the day’s lone goal in the opening half as McIntyre put a shot from the front of the net inside the right post.

“You never want to come to a game thinking the other team’s better but being realistic we knew what we were up against, right,” Tom DeGeorge said. “I thought the girls competed, I thought the girls were organized and I think we learned a lot today.

“I think we learned a lot today that I think we’re going to be able to carry into the season cause you’re not going to run into too many teams of that caliber, you know what I mean. You’re going to run into good teams, you’re going to run into different scenarios but that team is a different level for high school.

However, in Wood’s two prior contests, Ava DeGeorge, who plays at center midfield, showed her effectiveness for the Vikings’ offense in victories over both Villa Joseph Marie and Academy of Notre Dame.

“Last year, she scored a lot of goals but she was also a great distributor,” Tom DeGeorge said. “She’s still looking to distribute but we’re looking for her to take people one-v-one a little bit more, go to goal, be a little more selfish.”

Ava DeGeorge and Paige Eckert each had a goal as Wood opened the season Sept. 2 with a 2-1 win over Villa Joe. Tuesday, DeGeorge assisted on Eckert’s tally as the Vikings edged Notre Dame 1-0.

“I think this is one of the best starts that we’ve had, especially since I’ve been here,” Ava DeGeorge said. “Inter-Ac schools are always really tough and Villa is obviously a really big school so to get those wins was huge and hopefully we can continue to keep doing good.”

Archbishop Wood begins its PCL schedule Monday as it takes on St. Hubert 3:45 p.m. at Philadelphia Soccer Club. The Vikings then have three straight home league matches capped by a final rematch with Archbishop Ryan Sept. 22 at the Ukrainian American Sports Center.

“I think that I’ve had to take on more responsibility this year than I had to last year with losing all those starters and seniors,” Ava DeGeorge said. “But I think this year’s team is going really good and everyone’s contributing, everyone is doing their part and it’s helping.”