By Harry Chaykun
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 5/20/13
Margaret Filippelli’s name does not appear on the list of Archbishop Carroll players who scored goals in the Patriots’ 20-4 victory over Cardinal O’Hara in the Catholic League championship game at Neumann University Monday night.
Don’t think Filippelli didn’t play a key role in helping Carroll claim its 13th consecutive league playoff title while stretching its unbeaten streak against Catholic opponents to 169 games.
“As far as I’m concerned, she’s out (most valuable player),” said senior Taryn Deck, who was named Catholic League MVP in voting by the league’s coaches. “She wins draws, gets all those groundballs, makes those amazing passes and has the best stick work on the team.”
Filippelli contributed three assists to the Patriots’ attack, but her biggest effect on the game came in the circle, as she helped her team to a 12-1 draw control advantage in the second half as Carroll broke away from an 8-4 halftime lead and outscored O’Hara, 12-0, in the final 25 minutes.
“I know if I get the ball to the other girls on this team, they’ll do their jobs and we can be successful,” Filippelli, a senior who has committed to Loyola (Md.), where her older sisters Kate and Kara played, said.
Seniors Natalie Schmitt and Deck did the most damage on attack for Carroll. Schmitt got three goals in each half and also chipped in with an assist, while Deck contributed four goals and one assist. Megan Santoleri, Julianne Miele, Isabelle Schmitt and Brittany Hazzard had two goals apiece for the Patriots, who play for the District 12 title at Germantown High’s Benjamin Johnston Memorial Stadium Thursday.
The District 12 winner will qualify for the PIAA Tournament, which begins Wednesday, May 29.
“Natalie had a great game,” said Carroll coach Lorraine Beers, whose first team lost in the 2000 Catholic League final and who has not known defeat against a PCL opponent since.
“She was 6-for-8 shooting, really worked hard out there and did a great job re-defending. And Taryn has been just amazing.”
Cardinal O’Hara, which finished 11-6 under first-year head coach Natasha Ciminera, got two goals from junior Sam Amicone. Junior goalie Kerry McCanns turned away a dozen shots as the Lions were outshot, 41-14.
“We need to get them to understand that they need to be going to camps and playing in the summer leagues,” Ciminera, a recent Penn State graduate and former O’Hara player, said. “I remember when I was played in the summer for Phantastyx (Beers’ club team). That’s the kind of experience that makes you better.”
Archbishop Carroll 20, Cardinal O’Hara 4
Cardinal O’Hara 4 0 – 4
Arch. Carroll 8 12 – 20
Cardinal O’Hara
Sam Amicone 2G
Kasey Jones 1G
Gabby Rowe 1G
Kerry McCanns 12 saves
Archbishop Carroll
Natalie Schmitt 6G 1A
Taryn Deck 4G 1A
Megan Santoleri 2G 1A
Isabelle Schmitt 2G 1A
Julianne Miele 2G
Brittany Hazzard 2G
Meredith Campbell 1G
Meghan Matey 1G
Margaret Filippelli 3A
Sophia Cuzzepe 7 saves
Morgan Keruly 2 saves
