| 04/27/2006 |
| Chaykun: Healthy Brophy chipping in for Carroll |
| Harry Chaykun , Of the Times Staff |
The story began two days before Christmas in 2004 in the gymnasium at Archbishop Carroll High.
"I was dribbling (a basketball), cut and something in my knee popped," said Mary Beth Brophy, who was a Carroll sophomore at the time and was a member of a junior varsity team that would go on to post an undefeated record against Catholic League opponents.
"I shrieked, but after a little while when I calmed down I thought I’d be OK. I didn’t go to the doctor right away."
Seven weeks after her surgery, she had made good progress toward recovery. "I was getting close to running," said Brophy, whose sister Jess was a Carroll senior at the time. "After driver (education) March 12, I was walking through a little shopping center when I slipped on some ice. This time I had an ambulance ride to the hospital. "My parents were in California, so Jess and Annie (her younger sister, who was a Carroll freshman) rescued me." The kneecap on her right knee had split in half, so Brophy had a second surgery. "By July, Jess (an All-Delco lacrosse player who was getting ready to leave for her freshman year at James Madison University) was taking me out to run," Brophy said. Despite a lot of advice not to do so, Brophy returned to the Carroll soccer team when tryouts began last August. "The first game I played I had this huge brace," she said. "And I was limping around out there. I started noticing that even when I was sitting in class my leg was really hurting me, so I went back to the doctor. "I had more surgery Dec. 9. They had to take out the pins they had put in my knee. Within two weeks, I felt a lot better." She joined the Carroll swimming team, which she believes helped speed her recovery. "I might have been the slowest swimmer on our team," Brophy said. "But I know being in the water was good for my leg." She made it through the winter without slipping on any ice, and by March 1 she was ready to return to lacrosse for the first time since her freshman season. "I felt so good being back out there our first game," Brophy said. "I was anxious and excited about having the chance to play again." Monday, she helped Carroll to its 12th consecutive victory, a 14-13 decision over previously undefeated Unionville. The day before, Brophy and several of her teammates were at Radnor High for tryouts for the National School Girls Tournament, which will be held Memorial Day weekend. "We had a lot of people picked for the Upper Atlantic teams," Brophy said. Since she has become an expert at recovering from injuries, Brophy has become a caretaker for younger sister Annie, who played well as a freshman with Carroll’s Catholic League playoff champion lacrosse team last spring. Annie, a two-year starter in soccer, suffered a knee injury in the Catholic League soccer all-star game in November. "She tried to slide and landed very awkwardly," Brophy said. "They could hear her knee pop from the sideline and right away people were saying she had a torn ACL. "She had surgery in the first week of January. In about two weeks, she’ll be able to start doing some agility drills. I think maybe she might be able to play some (lacrosse) tournaments before the end of the summer. "And I know she’ll be playing soccer again in the fall. I’ve tried to stay on her about doing the right things so she’ll get better sooner. Sometimes I think she just doesn’t want to hear it, but she knows I know what I’m talking about." o Six local players were among the 13 girls who were chosen to participate in tryouts for the United States Under-19 team in Baltimore in August. Kelly Barnes and Emily Geary of Radnor, Shannon Bernard of Ridley, Archbishop Carroll’s Mary Beth Brophy and Cara Filippelli and Alyssa Kovach of Strath Haven were picked for the second round of tryouts to select the team that will take part in the U-19 World Championships in Ontario, Canada next year. o As the Springfield High team returned from its trip to Marple Newtown last Thursday night, the coaches and players noticed a lot of activity at the school. A storage garage beside one of the school’s parking lots was burning. "The O’Hanlon twins -- juniors Michelle and Jamie -- were watching what was going on," said Springfield head coach Keith Broome. "Then they told me that the car parked closest to the garage was theirs. "And it’s a convertible. Fortunately, there was no damage to the car." o Monday, Radnor handed Ches-Mont League leader West Chester East its first loss and Archbishop Carroll handed Southern Chester County League leader Unionville its first loss. The weekly laxpower.com state rankings have West Chester East at No. 1, Central League co-leader Conestoga No. 2, Radnor No. 3, followed by Unionville, Ridley, Downingtown West, Springfield, Council Rock North, Boyertown, Archbishop Carroll, Strath Haven, Germantown Academy, Abington, Great Valley, Downingtown East and Agnes Irwin. Two undefeated members of the top 10, Conestoga and Archbishop Carroll, put their undefeated records on the line Saturday morning (10:45) when they meet in the Katie Samson Lacrosse Festival at Radnor High. Another interesting matchup Saturday pairs Radnor and Agnes Irwin at 12:30. Last year, the Owls knocked off the Red Raiders in the Samson event. Springfield will face Germantown Academy at 10:30. The WPIAL rankings have Peters Township (11-2) ranked No. 4 and Seton LaSalle at No. 6. Peters Township’s two losses were in spring break games against Ridley and Marple Newtown. Seton LaSalle was shut out in a recent visit to Carroll. To contact Harry Chaykun, e-mail hchaykun@delcotimes.com
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