Winning championships never comes easy, but Archbishop Carroll’s field hockey team has made it look routine.
The Patriots enter the 2025 season seeking their fifth consecutive Philadelphia Catholic League crown and their ninth straight trip to the championship game.
The streak has been fueled by a mix of talent, tradition, and leadership – qualities particularly embodied by senior Maggie O’Neill and junior Morgan Wood, two players who represent both the past and the present of Carroll athletics.
For O’Neill, field hockey is part of a family story. She is the youngest of four standout siblings, including sister alumnae Grace and Kate, who helped build Carroll’s reputation, and brother Jack, a graduate of Archmere Academy now playing lacrosse at Monmouth University.
Maggie has been a three-year varsity contributor and is determined to help the Patriots extend their dominance.
“This program means a lot to me,” O’Neill said. “I’ve seen what my sisters accomplished here, and now I want to help my team finish strong and leave something for the next group to build on.”
Wood, meanwhile, has already etched her name in league history. In 2023, she scored three goals in Carroll’s 5–1 victory over Cardinal O’Hara, becoming the first player ever to record a hat trick in a PCL championship game.
Last fall she again delivered on the big stage, scoring what proved to be the game-winning goal at the 4:28 mark of the second period in Carroll’s 2-0 victory over Bonner-Prendergast.
“It definitely is a lot of pressure. Just winning one game is hard enough, and the Catholic League top four are really close every year,” Wood said. “If we just continue to have fun, hit our reps, and work as a team, we should come out on top again.”
Wood and O’Neill also play lacrosse for Carroll and were part of last spring’s team that seized the Catholic League championship for a 24th straight season. O’Neill has committed to play lacrosse at St. Joseph’s University next year.
For Wood, balancing expectations with enjoyment is key.
“With how much work and love I’ve put into this sport, the pressure to shine is definitely there,” she said. “But for me, fun is scoring goals and winning games.”
As the Patriots prepare for another playoff run, their mix of veterans and rising stars has them poised to keep the dynasty alive.
O’Neill’s leadership and Wood’s scoring touch will be central to the Patriots’ pursuit of yet another plaque – proof that at Carroll, tradition and teamwork go hand in hand.
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Contact John Knebels at @jknebels@gmail.com or on ‘X’ @john Knebels.
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