Emily McDonnell didn’t want a repeat of last year.
McDonnell is a senior on the Archbishop Ryan High School soccer team, and while her first two years on the soccer team were successful, junior year was anything but.
And McDonnell had no interest in seeing it happen again.
“Freshman and sophomore year we were good, we lost in the semifinals, but junior year, we didn’t make the playoffs,” said McDonnell, who lives in Torresdale. “That was really hard because Ryan never doesn’t make the playoffs. It was a really tough year, we only had one senior, but we knew we had to do better than last year. It’s always hard because there’s so many good teams in the PCL, but we should be one of those good teams.”
This year, they were.
The Ragdolls once again competed in a stacked Catholic League, but this year they were among the best, not only making the playoffs but winning a game before losing in the semifinals on penalty kicks to Conwell-Egan.
By virtue of making the semis, the Ragdolls also secured a spot in the District 12 4A championship and a spot in the state tournament.
“We had a really good team, and we practiced as hard as we could and took the season so seriously,” said McDonnell, who helped Ryan knock off defending Catholic League champion St. Hubert in the first round. “We knew we had to do better this year. And we got better all year. In the beginning of the season, we’d get leads and then not keep it. During the middle of the season, we just turned it around and started playing the way we knew we could, and we started winning.”
McDonnell did her part.
In fact, she did any part she could.
The Ragdolls had some incredible players who could do their job very well. With McDonnell, they had a player who could do just about anything well.
And the best part? She was happy to do it.
“I played center defensive mid and then I switched to outside back, I move positions a lot, wherever they need someone,” McDonnell said. “From playing soccer, I’ve played every position so I know how to. I just keep calm and play as hard as I can. I like centermid because I’m in the middle and I can control everything. You do offense and defense, everything, so it’s a spot where you can do a lot of things to help the team.
“It didn’t bother me moving around, I feel comfortable playing anywhere, so I had fun. And I wanted to help anyway I could, so I could play anywhere. Plus I had help.”
The Ragdolls grew as a group this year, which makes sense considering only one player graduated a year ago. This season, the team had 10 seniors and two senior managers, so the girls have been together for a long time.
“We were really close, everyone was very close,” McDonnell said. “It kind of just happened right away. Everyone gets along, enjoys playing together and playing for each other. Everyone just became close throughout the years.
“Nobody thought we’d make the playoffs this year, but we played the best we could and we knew from the beginning we could get this far. I’m really proud of what we did, I’m proud of what we did.”
McDonnell and her mates will have more time to play together. They’ll play for a District 12 title, and then go on to play in states.
After that, she’ll turn her attention to flag football, where she plays receiver and cornerback. She’s new to the sport, but already having fun.
“I never played before, but my goalie asked me to play, so I did. I ended up starting and played every game on offense and defense,” said McDonnell, who is also involved with Athletes Helping Athletes. “The only challenge was pulling flags. After that it became natural. It’s easy, fun and I enjoy it. I knew how to catch since I was younger, I always knew I could do that. I played basketball freshman and sophomore year. We made the championship, but lost to Conwell-Egan.”
McDonnell still has a chance to avenge that loss in the spring, and she also has the rest of soccer season, which could continue for a few more weeks.
Her future is bright after Ryan, too.
She will attend Holy Family where she will major in radiology and this week, she committed to playing soccer for the Tigers.
“I really like Holy Family, it’s right by my house and it’s a great school,” McDonnell said. “My mom works at an imaging place, and I’ve been there a lot. I’ve broken ankles, wrists, fingers. I had my knee X-rayed. And I remember people working there being nice and keeping me calm. I want to do that.”
Parental support has meant a lot to her.
So has her coaches’ backing.
“My parents and my coaches have helped me get here,” McDonnell said. “My parents have done pretty much everything, take me everywhere, get me everything I need. They have gotten me to where I am. My coaches have made sure I have the confidence. They help me play the best I can and learn more to be better. I’ve been very lucky.” ••
