Being Xaverian - Our Lady of Good Counsel High School

WCAC CHAMPS ONCE AGAIN!
Going into the 2012 season, the GC Girls Soccer team
returned 11 starters from a team that lost only one game
in 2011. Knowing that their leading scorer, midge purce ’13
would miss possibly a month of playing time due to playing
in the U17 World Cup for the U.S. National team, the team
was prepared to step it up.
Beginning their season with a scrimmage, the GC Girls’
Soccer team lost starter abby saturni ’14 to a broken
foot that kept her out all season. Going into their regular
season though, the team collected themselves and played
great. They won their first three games by a combined
score of 17-0, as well as capturing a key win against
O’Connell with a 3-1 score.
In a non-league game against Fallston, the team hit
another road bump, powerhouse player Imani Dorsey ’14
went down with a season ending concussion. Since the
U17 US National team did not make it out of the first round
in their tournament, the GC Girls’ Soccer team happily
welcomed Midge back to the playing field.
As the team was reassembling, they pulled out a three
game winning streak and then lost 5-4 against a strong
McDonogh. During a tie against Holy Cross, the team’s real
loss hit when both Kelsey Daly ’13 and Lexy andrews ’15
suffered season ending ACL injuries.
Looking toward their upcoming games, they were now
down four starters and had to re-invent themselves. The
pivotal moment in the season was at Ireton. The girls were
losing 1-0 when a storm delayed the game for 30 minutes.
The coaches changed the formation, and the seniors
changed the teams’ attitude. The girls scored two goals in
the final eight minutes to win 2-1. Over the next six games
the team surrendered one goal and scored 22, with two of
those coming in the championship match with O’Connell.
In the WCAC Championship game, the Falcons were led
by their defense that made stop after stop on a potent
O’Connell attack. They took the lead at the 27 minute
mark when Karli cirovski ’14 crossed a ball in the box and
Midge finished it, 1-0 GC. In the second half, O’Connell was
pressing them and was awarded a penalty kick with about
ten minutes left. O’Connell’s All Conference player lined up
the shot, but megan Hinz ’14 dove to her left and made a
great save. Two minutes later amanda amankwa ’14 flicked
on a ball that Midge took, and buried it in the corner of
O’Connell’s box. The game ended with a 2-0 championship
win—the Falcons’ 8th time taking the WCAC title!
In the season overview, the team scored a total of 64
goals and gave up only ten. midge purce led the way
with 27 goals giving her a total of 101 for her career; a
new GC record. The defense was led by their goalkeeper,
megan Hinz who made 53 saves including two penalty
kicks and was backed up by alicia chavez ’14. caroline
Kimble ’13, Lexy andrews ’15, Karli cirovski ’14 and maddie
pack ’15 started most of the games in defense. sarah
settlemire ’14, madison Hoover ’14 and mandi Wilson ’16
played important relief minutes. The midfield was led by
seniors Hollie Byer ’13, Kelsey Daly ’13 and Jordyn Brock ’13
along with courtney parr ’14 and suzanne Kimble ’15.
Kali amoah ’15 came off the bench to relieve the starters.
The frontrunners were midge purce ’13, nia Dorsey ’16,
amanda amankwa ’14, nicole Bautista ’16, Julia abbott ’16
and maggie Boyd ’13. Jenna Beck ’16 and anais Ventura ’15
were brought up to Varsity and played in several games.
Imani Dorsey ’14 still managed five goals in her limited
season.
“The seniors stepped up in crucial moments and led the
team to a championship. They finished 16-1-2 and their
all-time record was 394-92-47,” said Coach Jim Bruno.
“This was the 25th year of Good Counsel’s Girls’ Soccer
program—and the girls made it a special one.” ✦
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