An Exceptional Season

The independent schools of County Lines country had an amazing sports season. Especially the girls! Max Field Hockey ranked four of the schools in the top 10 in Pennsylvania. One won the PAISAA (Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association) championship, while another won the DIAA (Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association) Division II. Plus, area girls’ teams also finished first in soccer and first in volleyball. And the boys’ teams had a banner year in football.

We wish these star athletes well as they head to top colleges.

Field Hockey

Max Field Hockey (MFH) ranked the Academy of Notre Dame de Namur 1st in Pennsylvania, winning 22 of its 23 games. The Irish were ranked 25th nationally by MaxPreps. The team won the Inter-Ac championship and PAISAA and outscored their opponents 133–19.

Head Coach Brandi Ritz said that two seniors, both named to the All Inter-Ac team, had a major impact for the team this season. Reese Milone, who’s committed to Princeton, scored 11 goals, along with Kiera Sack, who also scored 11 goals and is committed to Northwestern. According to Coach Ritz, one other player deserves mention: Maeve McGinley, a junior, who scored 32 goals last season and has committed to the University of North Carolina.

Finishing second in the MFH ranking was Episcopal Academy, which won 19 of their 22 games. Senior Rebecca Block scored 31 goals, had 12 assists and will attend Cornell University next year. She received multiple honors for her play, including MFH National Player of the Year. Senior Eliana DeGennaro anchored the team’s midfield and defense. Named to MFH Second Team, she’s headed to the University of Richmond.

Villa Maria Academy finished fourth in the MFH rankings with a record of 22–3, winning its fourth consecutive District 1 title. The Hurricanes’ star, scoring 223 goals during her four years with Villa — the 6th most in history among all high school girls — was senior forward Caitlin Connell. She’s headed for the University of Virginia. Defensive standout Lilly Ippolitto, headed for Towson University, was selected as an All-Star by the Athletic Association of Catholic Academies in 2024–25.

The Agnes Irwin School had a record-breaking season with a 15–5 record — its most wins since 2015 — and was ranked 9th in the state. Owls’ Coach Nicole Gerdes declared it a “magical season.” Defender Gwen Schnyder will play at Gettysburg College next season, while Margo Chisholm, who scored 12 goals this season, has committed to play lacrosse at Boston College. Junior Gabby Lee already committed to Ohio State, scoring 25 goals with 15 assists.

In Delaware, Wilmington Friends School’s success from 2024 — the Quakers had a record of 15–2–1 and reached the championship round for the first time in 38 years — carried over to this season. The school finished 2025 at 17–1 and, this time, won the 2025 DIAA Division II Championship, capturing its first state title in field hockey since 1986. It was ranked 4th by MaxPreps in Delaware.

Coach Scott Clothier states that among its standout seniors were goalkeeper Anna Weiner, who allowed only 9 goals all season and 0 in the state tournament; Molly Dolan, who scored 25 goals, 11 assists and became WFS’s all-time leading goal scorer; and Sara Clothier, who also had 11 assists and will play at Bowdoin College next fall.

Girls’ Soccer

Episcopal Academy had a brilliant girls’ soccer season, shutting down its Inter-Ac league competitors with 12 wins and winning the PAISAA tournament. MaxPreps ranked the school 3rd in Pennsylvania.

Coach Andy Fraggos looked back at the season. “The care they had for each other at practice had a direct impact in how they showed up for each other in games…. They weren’t concerned who got the goal or assist. Their priority was the team succeeding. This group showed the program for years to come the power of a team that put the collective above the individual.”

The top players were the team’s senior captains. They were “incredible leaders … a major factor in our success.” Sofia Gagliardi at forward, the MVP of the Inter-Ac, is going to the University of Maryland for lacrosse. Caroline Johnston at center midfielder, headed for Cornell for lacrosse, was deemed “a major part of our success.” And Caitlyn McCarthy at centerback, committed to Duke, was “strong, fast and insanely competitive … the heart of this team,” said the coach. All three were All-Inter-Ac and All-Delco.

Girls’ Volleyball

It was another strong season in girls’ volleyball for Tower Hill, winning its third state championship in four years. Coach Michael Sachs reported, “Our players … started a tradition not just of winning but more importantly of servant leadership, support and fun. Each season, younger players step up into larger roles, both playing on the court and becoming great leaders. While state championships are never guaranteed, our players have created such a strong culture that we often seem to be competing for them. At the same time, win or lose they are creating special moments and relationships that they will value forever.”

Leading the team for the Hillers were senior Lily Leung and junior Sydney Fischer, both All-State selections. Leung was a “spectacular defender and solid passer,” the Delaware Coaches’ Association Player of the Year and the Delaware Online top-ranked player. She’ll play for NYU next year. Fischer was “a strong attacker and blocker” and the “most dominant outside hitter,” though she missed eight matches this season with a bad ankle sprain. Nevertheless, Delaware Online ranked her the #2 player in the state.

Football

For Malvern Prep football coach Dave Gueriera, this past season was “special.” The Friars “showed tremendous growth, resilience and leadership, and it was rewarding to see that effort reflected in an Inter-Ac championship (shared with Episcopal Academy) and a top-5 state ranking.” He continued, “The group set a strong standard for how we want to compete and represent the school.”

Two seniors who stood out for the team were QB Jackson Melconian and tight end Dylan Novak. Melconian was the Inter-Ac MVP and the “unquestioned leader of the team.” Finishing 2nd in most passing records at Malvern, Melconian plans to go to Vanderbilt for baseball. Novak was Mini Maxwell Club Award winner and “pound for pound one of the best football players in the state on both sides of the ball.” His college plans are to go to Notre Dame for lacrosse.

Sharing the Inter-Ac championship was Episcopal Academy with its first league title since 2019. Coach Todd Fairlie said that “defense was the backbone of the team all year.” Led by senior lineman Dorian Dabney, the team “played tough, disciplined and physical football every week. … They made things hard for opposing offenses from start to finish — forcing turnovers, creating pressure and playing with a high level of effort and execution.”

Offensively, Jackson Orcutt, headed to the University of North Carolina in lacrosse, led the way and leaves EA as the “most accomplished receiver in program history.” Orcutt set two Inter-Ac records — most receiving yards in a season and most career touchdown receptions — and “consistently delivered in big moments.”

Boys’ Soccer

The Phelps School was ranked 5th in the state in soccer by MaxPreps, and for the fourth consecutive year, it was the champion of the Penn-Jersey Athletic Association. The Lions finished the season with a record of 22–9–2.

Michaiah Clarke has been a “stalwart for the team,” said Trey Morin, the school’s Director of Athletics. Clarke has a strong awareness defending the back post, was dependable in recovery situations during defensive transition, and was named to the All-American Game and as All-State by Prep Soccer. He also excels in the classroom and is currently weighing his college options. Goalkeeper Gabin Meneyrol was a “dependable, competitive presence.” He was consistent in goal, showed good command of the box, and demonstrated the ability to make big saves routinely while stepping up in key moments. Over the course of the season, he averaged 4.1 saves per match.

It was another exceptional season. We congratulate them all!