By Harry Chaykun
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 5/20/14
In March of 2001, Archbishop Carroll opened its lacrosse season with a victory.
Samantha Swart was about to celebrate her second birthday.
By the end of that season, Carroll had not lost to a Catholic League opponent and was celebrating its first Catholic League playoff championship.
Monday night at Neumann University, freshman Swart was in a Carroll uniform for the first time in a Catholic League title match. She scored four goals and added three assists, and the Patriots’ domination of the PCL continued.
Carroll earned a 21-5 decision to claim the playoff title for the 14th consecutive season. The Patriots’ winning streak over Catholic League opponents has reached 181 games.
“Everyone always tells us we have to continue it,” said Swart. “It’s pretty exciting.”
Swart will have the chance to help Carroll earn its spot in the PIAA lacrosse tourney Thursday when the Patriots play in the District 12 title match at Northeast High School in Philadelphia.
The young Syracuse University commit got two of her goals and two of her assists in the first half Monday, as Carroll (17-3) built a 12-2 lead. She chipped in with two more goals and another assist in the second half, when her playing time was limited as coach Lorraine Beers cleared her bench.
Senior Megan Santoleri also scored four goals for Carroll, and senior Margaret Filippelli closed out her career with three goals and one assist. Filippelli is the last of three girls – following Kate and Kara – to help Carroll keep its streak intact. In Carroll’s 14 years of winning, a Filippelli has been in the lineup for 11 of those seasons.
“This year’s team has been more together,” Filippelli, who like her older sisters will wear a Loyola (Md.) uniform, said. “Every gets along so well, and it’s been a lot of fun.”
Santoleri admitted that with the fun came a few anxious moments.
“You don’t want to be on the team that has the streak broken,” the future Delaware Blue Hen said. “Every game is a new game. You don’t know if it might be the day when you’re dropping the ball and they’re scoring goals.
“It’s great to look on the sidelines and see all those former players who are now coaching us. And you look in the stands and count how many who used to play for Carroll come back for the playoffs each year. You also have so many good young players you want to try to help out.”
Junior Isabelle Schmitt added three goals and one assist and Avery Murphy also scored three goals for Carroll. Nicole Hutson had three goals for Archbishop Wood (14-4).
“Each team is different, but each year we always say that winning never gets old,” Beers said. “This is a great group. They have a lot of enthusiasm, and they love lacrosse.”
Archbishop Wood 2 3 – 5
Archbishop Carroll 12 9 – 21
Archbishop Wood: Nicole Hutson 3G, Tess Wild 1G, Bailey Greenberg 1G, Marah Hayes 1A.
Archbshop Carroll: Samantha Swart 4G 3A, Megan Santoleri 4G, Isabelle Schmitt 3G 1A, Avery Murphy 3G, Margaret Filippelli 3G, Meghan Matey 1G 1A, Alexis Kuchia 1G 1A, Anna Murphy 1G, Abby Fox 1G.
Saves: Riley McKee (AW) 7, Sophia Cuzzupe (AC) 4, Morgan Keruly (AC) 1.
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