Dec 16, 2014 4 min read

The first time Aideen O’Donoghue watched Rutgers University’s women’s team on television, she fell in love with the Scarlet Knights.

Not only is Rutgers one of the premier programs in Division I soccer, she was enamored with the style of play.

In a few years, O’Donoghue, a sophomore at Canon-McMillan, will no longer be a spectator. She gave an oral commitment Monday to play soccer for the Scarlet Knights in the fall of 2017.

Rutgers reached the NCAA tournament in five of the past seven years and reached the second round this past season. The Scarlet Knights beat three ranked opponents in the Big Ten and climbed to the No. 7 spot in the nation – the highest ranking in program history.

“I fell in love with the atmosphere and coaching staff,” O’Donoghue said. “It’s a dream. I knew if they offered, it would be a dream come true. Playing in the Big Ten Conferernce is unbelievable. It’s incredible to think I’ll be playing in the Big Ten.”

Though O’Donoghue was one of C-M’s top offensive threats, helping lead the Big Macs to the program’s first PIAA title game appearance, she is an aggressive defender by trade.

For the past four years, O’Donoghue trained with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds Academy. When her team won the National Cup XIII Finals’ Under 16 Premier Group title in Greensboro, N.C., in July, she was a quick defender that disrupted the opponent’s offensive attack.

Canon-McMillan head coach Dave Derrico knew O’Donoghue was more than capable of playing in the back, but with her athleticism, the Big Macs needed her speed and scoring touch up top. The results were tremendous as the sophomore scored 14 goals and had 13 assists.

“Our high school team kind of shocked everyone, then to go to the state finals was another dream come true to prove people wrong,” O’Donoghue said. “Plus, my Riverhounds team won nationals. This offer was the icing on the cake.”

Arguably no goal was bigger than the game-winner against Moon in the WPIAL semifinals. In the 18th minute, Big Macs sophomore Sabrina Bryan sprinted up the sideline and completed a centering pass to O’Donoghue. With a defender draped on her back, O’Donoghue corralled the pass, turned and fired a shot into the top-right corner of the net.

When the Big Macs lost defender Allison Walker to a broken collarbone prior to the PIAA title game, Derrico turned to O’Donoghue. She responded by shutting down Central Bucks West’s top forward.

“We needed someone reliable, someone athletic and somebody who knew the position,” Derrico said. “She fit the bill. We lose something on the offensive side when we do that, but she really came through for us. She’s tough-minded. When she’s on the field, she’s a hard player.”

According to Jason Kutney, the Riverhounds’ Director of Youth Development and the manager of O’Donoghue’s U-15 team, an estimated 10 Division I programs had serious interest in O’Donoghue before Rutgers offered a scholarship Sunday night.

It was no surprise to Kutney.

“She’s very adept with her feet, she’s very good in the air and she’s good in tackles. But it’s her athleticism in the general standpoint of being able to run with anyone, jump with anyone, be in multiple positions and be effective in those positions that makes her someone who is highly coveted by a top college program,” Kutney said.

Rutgers’ interest in O’Donoghue began a year ago.

For the next two years, she will no longer have to wonder if a college coach is in the stands. With her new home a forgone conclusion, O’Donoghue can focus on the one thing that she has brought to every team – winning.

“It feels good to commit and it’s an accomplishment,” O’Donoghue said. “Not a lot of girls commit their sophomore year. I’m very proud and it’s a huge stress reliever.”