Carroll captures seventh straight title

"Eight in '08," Capuzzi said last night, shortly after the Patriots had trounced Archbishop Wood, 16-3, and claimed their seventh consecutive Catholic League championship.

There was little suspense for the spectators at St. Joseph's University. Carroll jumped out to a 5-1 advantage in the first 13 minutes; led, 8-2, at intermission; and was ahead, 11-3, midway through the second half.

The Patriots, who defeated Wood in the league final for the third consecutive season, have won 106 straight league games. Their last loss came against St. Hubert in the 2000 championship game.

Capuzzi, a 5-foot-7 midfielder, led the way last night with a career-high five goals, three in the first half and two in the second. She produced 63 goals this season.

"She can score. She works that 100 yards, and she can catch and throw," Carroll coach Lorraine Beers said. "There's not much she can't do."

Capuzzi missed the 2006 campaign with a torn right anterior cruciate ligament suffered during soccer season.

"It was hard sitting on the sidelines," Capuzzi said. "It was a lot to go through. But I came to every practice and game, helped out as a statistician. I wanted to be around the team."

Capuzzi, junior Annie Brophy and the rest of Carroll's dangerous frontline attackers relentlessly pressured Wood goalkeeper Kait Prendergast. As evidenced by Prendergast's 21 saves, the ball rarely left the Vikings' end of the field.

"The most difficult thing is trying to get the ball upfield," Wood coach Chris Aquilino said. "The Carroll players know where the ball is going - and they get there."

Capuzzi's fourth goal made it 11-3 with 14 minutes, 32 seconds left to play.

"The draws and dumps were there, and so were the backdoor cuts," the 16-year-old from Broomall said.

Brophy, another terror for Wood defenders, chipped in four goals and junior Eileen Boneck added a hat trick.

"I thought we came out scattered and nervous at the beginning, but the girls composed themselves and played well," Beers said.

Mary Beth Brophy, Annie's older sister and a Georgetown recruit, Ashlee O'Hara, Olivia Salata and Tara Mitchell had single goals for the 19-1-1 Patriots.

The Vikings (17-6) received a pair of goals from Taylor Peltzer, also a highly regarded basketball player, and one from Erin Ozcowlski. Prendergast was credited with 21 saves.

Archbishop Wood 2 1 - 3

Archbishop Carroll8 8 - 16

Goals: AW-Taylor Peltzer 2, Erin Ozcowlski; AC-Gabby Capuzzi 5, Annie Brophy 4, Eileen Boneck 3, Ashlee O'Hara, Olivia Salata, Mary Beth Brophy, Tara Mitchell. Saves: AW-Kait Prendergast 21; AC-Maura Gallagher 5, Meg Corliss 4.