Nov 14, 2014 3 min read

Nervousness is inevitable for a girls soccer team preparing for a state championship game. Hersheypark Stadium is a large facility, and an unfamiliar opponent stands in the way of the program’s first state title.

Canon-McMillan’s players did not get the memo about nerves. Head coach Dave Derrico was astounded by his team’s composure in practice Thursday evening.

While his stomach churned with the thought of Saturday’s PIAA Class AAA title game, Canon-McMillan’s players casually went about their routine, precisely executing drills while holding casual conversation with one another.

“They don’t have any nerves,” Derrico said with a chuckle. “I think I have enough nerves for everybody, including my assistant coaches. I felt like I was a bundle of nerves in that last game, and all of the girls were calm and cool. This is no different.”

Canon-McMillan (19-4-1) will face Central Bucks West (19-6-1), the third seed out of District 3, today at 4 p.m. in Hershey for the state championship.

The Bucks advanced to the title game with a 2-0 victory Tuesday night against Elizabethtown. Behind their striker, Shae McCarty, Central Bucks West scored one goal in each half and shut down its opponent on defense.

Like the Big Macs’ three previous opponents, the Bucks rely heavily on one forward – McCarty – and are strong up the middle. The strategy is to make defenders overcommit to attacking midfielders before sending a ball down the field to McCarty.

It’s a formula Canon-McMillan shut down in its three state playoff games – outscoring opponents, 11-2.

“They almost look like a carbon copy of my team,” Derrico said. “They have two strong central defenders. They have strong midfielders and they have a nice, young forward up front. They play the ball right up the center though and I hope they continue that because we’ve defended it before.”

While Central Bucks West is fundamentally sound with a strong keeper and an aggressive defense, Canon-McMillan has the same strengths. Senior goalkeeper Kyra Murphy, a Duquesne commit, is an all-state selection.

Senior defender Abby Gillespie is relentless in the back, pressuring opposing players into critical errors. Aideen O’Donoghue displayed her versatility in a victory over Spring-Ford Tuesday when she shifted from forward to right-outside defender opposite Gillespie.

She marked the opponent’s best forward, scored the game-winning goal on a header off a corner kick and assisted on sophomore Sabrina Bryan’s goal in the first half. Much like in previous games, where players such as Alena Poljak, Allison Oddi, Allison Thomas and Allison Walker scored key goals, it was someone different who helped the Big Macs overcome adversity.

“We have a lot of people who have scored this season,” Derrico said. “We don’t count on one girl like some of these other teams have. They send everything to them almost exclusively. We can stop that.”

The Big Macs departed for the three-plus hour trip to Hershey Friday morning. Again, it’s nothing new. In three state playoff games, with one trip to Bald Eagle Area High School and two trips to Chambersburg High School, Canon-McMillan has traveled an estimated 968 miles.

“They hit everybody every time they challenge for a ball,” Derrico said. “They use their arms to drag players down. We’re going to hope that our skill level is just a little bit better, and we can play around them quickly to avoid that physical contact. Don’t count Canon-Mac girls out in a physical match up. The girls are ready.”