Standouts from PAISAA Girls Final

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The PAISAA girls final on November 16 at The Proving Grounds in Conshohocken was every bit as good as advertised. A gritty game on a chilly windy afternoon ended with an identical 1-0 scoreline to Springside Chestnut Hill Academy's title win last year over Academy of Notre Dame. This year it was the Blue Devils' biggest challenger to the Inter-AC crown in Episcopal Academy, which put in a strong performance that on another day may have been enough to walk away with a trophy. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at the standout players on the day:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":66661,"width":404,"height":269,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2022/11/882755D0-8F06-467B-AEF2-1EE6185AB7156N4A1782.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-66661" width="404" height="269" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>[player_tooltip player_id='25932' first='Maya' last='Naimoli']</em></figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Abby Kenkelen, Senior, Forward, Springside Chestnut Hill</strong> <strong>Academy</strong><br>In a game that needed just one moment to change the outcome, senior Abby Kenkelen stepped up to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTByAQjnTjs" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">deliver the lone goal of the game in the second half</a>. It capped a strong performance on the day for the senior, who had a bid for another goal stopped by a strong save from [player_tooltip player_id='25932' first='Maya' last='Naimoli']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lainey McGonagle, Junior, Midfielder, Episcopal Academy</strong><br>McGonagle had a tough assignment on the day marking the Maryland-bound [player_tooltip player_id='33226' first='Lisa' last='McIntyre'] - the hero of last year's final - and she definitively passed it. McGonagle set the tone in the middle of the field with her grit and determination and the rest of the team fed off her in limiting a team that is used to dictating play. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='25932' first='Maya' last='Naimoli'], Senior, Goalkeeper, Episcopal Academy</strong><br>While the midfield and back line did well to limit the chances, it was only a matter of time before SCH's weapons were going to penetrate the back line. When they did, Naimoli was able to display her elite shot-stopping skills with a couple saves to add to the high school highlight reel package. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":66662,"width":441,"height":294,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2022/11/1B5002A2-7DBF-4E21-B5DD-1546F688A25D6N4A2087.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-66662" width="441" height="294" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Alex Reilly (23)</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ella Stratz, Senior, Goalkeeper, Springside Chestnut Hill Academy</strong><br>While Stratz didn't have as much to do as her counterpart she was solid when called upon against an Episcopal Academy attack that scored early and often all season long. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='41028' first='Bella' last='Brown'], Senior, Forward, Springside Chestnut Hill Academy</strong><br>Brown didn't have her usual free-flowing attacking game, but she was still extremely effective keeping the ball, creating chances and turning over EA players. The versatility she showed in playing the game that was there should bode well for her heading into college soccer next season at Binghamton. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='33226' first='Lisa' last='McIntyre'], Senior, Midfielder, Springside Chestnut Hill Academy</strong><br>McIntyre did the heavy lifting on the game-winner, outmuscling two EA defenders en route to a pass in tight space to find Alex Reilly, who set up Kenkelen for the quick finish. McIntyre was quieter than usual on the day but was again the difference-maker in another 1-0 title game win. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Quinn Whitaker, Sophomore, Midfielder, Episcopal Academy</strong><br>Whitaker played deeper than usual but was still very effective as a playmaker with her ability to play balls into space. She also showed bite in 50-50s and teamed up well with McGonagle and Grace McHugh to win many of the battles in the midfield on the day. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Alex Reilly, Junior, Defender, Springside Chestnut Hill Academy</strong><br>Reilly had the game-winning assist when she set up Kenkelen with a quick touch pass off the feed from McIntyre. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->