After months of preparation followed by a long, intense regular season, the best athletic teams keep competing well into May, and for the best of the best, into June.
Indeed, Philadelphia Catholic League playoff championships have already arrived, and in some cases, already reached completion. Weather permitting, all PCL sports will have been completed by Memorial Day, and those that acquired plaques can then prepare for District 12 finals in hopes of reaching a state championship opportunity.
Led by senior Devin VanOsten, Lansdale Catholic won the Philadelphia Catholic League girls’ flag football championship. (Photo by John Knebels)
The girls’ flag football final on May 15 foreshadowed a tense exchange between defending champion Archbishop Wood and Lansdale Catholic. Both teams had only lost once, and back on April 9, LC had edged Wood in a 12-7 defensive battle.
In the second-ever PCL championship, however, offensive fireworks entertained the large crowd at Cardinal O’Hara High School as Lansdale Catholic prevailed, 33-18.
“It was the best team win of the season,” said senior Devin VanOsten, the PCL’s Most Valuable Player. “I knew the only way we weren’t walking away champs would be because we beat ourselves. Our coaches helped us prepare for everything we’d see on the field.
“I have so much faith in my teammates and I know they have faith in me. I am so incredibly proud of this team and everything we’ve accomplished since the beginning of the season.”
In what was later described as a two-way “masterpiece” by Lansdale Catholic coach Brandon Reese, VanOsten proved unstoppable on both sides of the ball.
On defense, VanOsten deflated the Vikings when she intercepted a pass and sped 58 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the first half, giving the Crusaders a commanding 26-12 edge.
On offense, VanOsten completed 28-of-31 passes for 315 yards – both season highs – and four touchdowns.
Although scoring receptions by seniors Shannon Duffy and Sophia Zito reached highlight-reel status, VanOsten’s primary target, first-team All-Catholic junior Aubrey Mobley, snared 10 catches for 129 yards and two scores.
From her linebacker spot, Mobley contributed a team-best six flag pulls and also intercepted a pass.
“I really value both sides of the ball,” said Mobley. “I think defense is just as important as offense, so I really try to put the most effort into both.
“On defense, I know I need to be aggressive on the ball and make sure I read each player’s body language. On offense, I try to be aggressive but just in a different way. I try to push the ball up field and make the right moves to get past a defender, again reading her body language.”
On May 31 at the Philadelphia Eagles Nova Care sports complex, the Crusaders will attempt to replicate their 2022 unofficial state title when they represent the PCL while competing against three other opponents in a two-game tournament.
Archbishop Carroll coach Lorraine Beers guided the Patriots to their 24th consecutive Philadelphia Catholic League girls’ lacrosse championship. (Photo by John Knebels)
Like clockwork, Archbishop Carroll dominated girls’ lacrosse start to finish. After defeating Cardinal O’Hara, 17-2, on May 21, the Patriots extended their championship streak to 24. It certainly would have been 25 if that pesky pandemic had not reared its ugly head in 2020.
The last time Carroll lost in the PCL – a 14-13 classic versus St. Hubert’s – occurred in the 2000 final. Since then, Carroll’s winning streak has now reached a quarter of a century under the tutelage of legendary coach Lorraine Beers.
“I think the fuel is to continue the legacy and to do it for everyone that came before and the people who put so much time and effort into this program, especially Coach Beers,” said senior Kate O’Neill, a graduate of St. Agnes Catholic School in West Chester who scored five goals in the PCL final and will play at Villanova next year.
“I go into every game, no matter who the opponent is, with fire. So I think playing at the same intensity in every game is super important.”
With eight different players finding twine, the Patriots are moving on to the District XII Class 3A final against Central on May 28. A victory there would allow Carroll a chance to capture a fifth straight PIAA title.
“We are super excited for the challenge,” said O’Neill. “It pushes us even harder at practice to prepare for 3A competition.”
In boys’ lacrosse, La Salle ran its PCL championship string to nine straight after thwarting St. Joseph’s Prep, 6-2, on May 22 at Arcadia University.
Frustrating the Hawks by playing keep away and dominating in face-offs, La Salle turned around a 1-0 deficit by scoring six straight goals, two by sophomore Michael vanBastelaar.
Since the win over the Prep also served as a District 12 title, the Explorers will host a first-round state tournament match on June 3.
“I think our preparation and trust in each other is what helped us to hold a talented offense to only two goals,” said junior Keenan Stahl, a product of St. Andrew Catholic School in Newtown. “But more importantly, our offense did most of the work for us by possessing and controlling the ball for most of the game.
“I like to think we approach every game as if we are playing a faceless opponent. We don’t care if we played them before or whatever the outcome of that game was. We just play every game to the best of our ability.”
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Contact John Knebels at jknebels@gmail.com or on ‘X’ @johnknebels
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