By BRIAN TORTELLA
Correspondent
@tortreports on Instagram
HADDONFIELD — For the first 15 minutes the game was competitive.
For the final 62, however, the separation between Paul VI and its challenger became clear.
Not that there was much doubt, but the Paul VI High girls soccer team is back and doesn’t seem to be lacking the typical firepower fans have been accustomed to seeing the last three years.
“I asked the girls to come out here and make a statement,” said Paul VI coach Karen Anderson. “I know that going into the season (playing against us) was going to be the game for a lot of teams. We needed to set the tone to start the season off right, and I think they did that.”
The No. 7-nationally ranked Eagles sure started their season off the way they expected with a dominant 7-1 triumph over Clearview Regional in non-league action on Monday morning in a rare August season-opening contest. The game ended four minutes early due to the six-goal mercy rule.
Despite losing two Division I commits to graduation in Emma McCarthy (University of North Carolina) and Daniela Vogel (Miami), who both were pivotal pieces to PVI’s last two Non-Public A state titles, the Eagles don’t appear to have lost a single step.
“It’s so impressive,” said senior Hunter Kintzing, who scored two goals in the victory. “I know our team isn’t the same. We’re missing Emma, Nat (Ceccanecchio), and Dani, but I think our midfield is really stepping up without Emma.”
What makes Paul VI (1-0, 0-0 Olympic National)so dangerous is the program’s ability to reload and the amount of weapons it has on the roster. Kintzing was one of six different goal scorers for the Eagles, a true testament to how hard it is to limit their dynamic offense.
“It’s nice to have six different goal scorers,” Anderson said. “That’s what our strength was last year: having multiple players who can score the goals. I think we did that today. We’re trying to find players in different positions and different roles. The additions we brought onto the team have served a really good job for us.”
Among the new additions to the program is Stevie Ormsby, a sophomore transfer from Cinnaminson who scored the Eagles’ second goal. Sophomore Alaina Aversa also recorded her first varsity goal. Aside from Kintzing, the Eagles returned St. Joseph University commit Eleanor Lawyer and Virginia commit Kylie Berk, who each tallied goals of their own.
The win was the 29th straight for the program dating back to 2024. The Eagles recorded 12 shutouts last season, including four consecutive in the postseason en route to a second straight state crown. The only time they were threatened was in the South Jersey Coaches Association Tournament final against Shawnee, when they came back from down 2-0 to win, 3-2, in overtime. Besides that game, the Eagles looked nearly unbeatable.
However, last year is officially history now. According to Anderson, there is a target on the Eagles’ back across the region.
“Absolutely, and if I was in the other shoes, like when I first started, I always wanted to play those teams that had the solid records to see where we compared to them,” the seventh-year coach said. “Now we’re that team and everyone’s gunning to give us that first loss, but I just have to remind the girls that we’re very talented across the board on every line, and we don’t want to leave that on the table for any teams.
“What we did last year was that team’s story. Now, it’s up to them to make their own story. That’s what we’re going off of. If we do end up finding a team that can compete with us or give us a loss wherever we may go, I think it will be good for us to be humbled at the same time.”
It’ll be a tough task to find a team who will actually give the Eagles a run for their money, but you never know what can happen in the always unpredictable Olympic Conference. Paul VI will take on Cherokee, Moorestown, Eastern, and Shawnee in-conference while their out-of-conference schedule is still loaded against the likes of William Penn Charter (PA), Pingry, and Rutgers Prep. The Eagles will face William Penn Charter (PA) on Wednesday.
“I’m trying to go for the three-peat,” Kintzing said. “My class has won it two out of the last three years, so it’s not even a goal at this point… it’s the standard. That’s our mentality going into the rest of the season.”
Despite the lopsided loss, Clearview coach Dan Matozzo remains optimistic about the team and its ability to compete against Tri-County Conference competition and in South Jersey Group 3.
“Every year since I started coaching; we’ve had some of the top teams on the schedule,” Matozzo said. “Why not? We played Eastern, Lenape, and the Shawnees. 20 years ago it was Bishop Eustace and Cherry Hill East. All of these programs have been the best. If you can get them on schedule, why not?
“If you want to see what you have, then you have to play them. Yeah we lost 7-1, but you have to see it. The next time we see players, every game should be easier. You hope that we bring the level we had here to there, and we never shy away from anyone.”
WHAT’S NEXT: Paul VI travels to William Penn Charter (Pa.) on Wednesday at 4 p.m. Clearview hosts Shawnee on Thursday at 4:15 p.m.
