By Matt Chandik
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 5/6/17
Watch Archbishop Carroll play, and it won’t take you long to find Katie Detwiler.
Carroll’s Katie Detwiler had three goals and two assists (Photos by Matt Chandik)
The Patriots’ junior midfielder embodies everything that a true midfielder is and rare are the times where you’ll see her coming off the field. She’s the one taking the draws for the reigning Catholic League champions, but she’s also taking pride in her defensive game and checking in as the Patriots’ No. 2 scoring option after 200-goal scorer Sam Swart. So, coming off the field? Eh, not happening.
“I get tired sometimes, but (Carroll coach Lorraine Beers) always teaches us to push through it,”” Detwiler said after Carroll beat host Springfield-Delco, 10-9, in a battle of two of the area’s best Saturday at Halderman Field. “We do sprints almost every day. She prepares us for this to always be mentally ready.”
Swart was the hero again for the Patriots, scoring with 59.3 seconds to play to stop a 4-0 Springfield run and give Carroll its final lead of the game. Detwiler got things started, though. She scored on a free position shot less than five minutes into the game and also set up Grace Gallagher’s first-half tally. In the second half, she scored a pair of goals and set up one of Anna Murphy’s back-to-back goals that highlighted a 5-1 Carroll run.
The fearsome duo is a major reason why the Patriots (14-0, tied for No. 1 in the Phillylacrosse.com Rankings) have their best chance to make a run for their first PIAA championship. The chance to be involved in everything is why Detwiler always wanted to play midfield, and it’s working out well for her and Carroll.
Carroll’s Sam Swart had three goals, two assists and the game-winner
“I think I’ve always loved being a middie,” said the Loyola commit. “I think about, ‘Maybe I’ll be an attacker, maybe I’ll be a defender,’ but I love both, so I feel like I couldn’t choose. Sometimes, my attack is better than my defense and sometimes, my defense is better, but (Beers) and I try to work on both so they can be just as strong.”
Springfield-Delco (13-2, No. 6 in Phillylacrosse.com Rankings) didn’t go easily, though. The Cougars, who had their 12-game winning streak snapped, put together a lightning-quick 4-0 run in 2:20 on two goals from Maggie O’Connell and one apiece from Julia Schickling and Olivia Little to knot the game up at 9 with 1:25 to go. Springfield won the ensuing draw, but turned the ball over. A couple of quick passes later, Swart picked the far corner low and away for the game-winner.
“I always go to the bottom corners,” Swart said. “Coach Beers always tells me, ‘You need to mix it up,’ but that’s just my natural habits. Before I go to Syracuse, I need to learn to shoot for those top corners, but (low) is my go-to. I feel like it’s harder for goalies.”
Springfield-Delco goalie Julianne Clemens couldn’t quite get that final shot, but she kept the game close. The senior, who earned first-team All-Central League honors last spring, made eight of her 10 saves in the first half and helped slow down the explosive Patriots’ offense.
Carroll had averaged 17.5 goals per game in four wins over District 1 foes, and Clemens was the biggest reason why the Patriots were held to their lowest goal total of the season. She was particularly sharp in the game’s early minutes, making back-to-back saves in tight.
Springfield-Delco’s Julianne Clemens made 10 saves
“It definitely put me in a good mood and it was a big confidence booster,” Clemens said. “It also had a lot to do with the defense. The defense played amazing, which led to my saves. Usually, I get in a bad mood and get down on myself if I miss the first couple, but once you make a big save, it really helps everything.”
Archbishop Carroll 4 6 – 10
Katie Detwiler 3g, 2a
Sam Swart 3g, 2a
Anna Murphy 2g
Grace Gallagher 1g
Amber Germer 1g
Maddie Ferraioli 5 saves
Springfield-Delco 3 6 – 9
Olivia Little 3g
Bailey O’Brien 2g, 2a
Maggie O’Connell 2g, 1a
Bridget Whitaker 1g
Julia Schickling 1g
Julianne Clemens 10 saves