Ryan girls repeat as Catholic League soccer champions

At first, Jazmin Gonzalez couldn't remember the last time Archbishop Ryan lost a Catholic League girls' soccer game. Neither could Taylor Woods. Julianne Blank had to think about it, too.

You can't really blame them. It's been a while.

Top-seeded Archbishop Ryan blanked No. 2 Archbishop Wood at home, 3-0, and won its third straight Catholic League championship Sunday. It's the team's 25th consecutive league win.

"It's exciting. These girls are a special group," said Ragdolls coach Ryan Haney, who has won five Catholic League titles in 10 years at Ryan. "I think we've still got a lot more to go."

Freshman Haley O'Neill started the scoring. She tapped in a rebound with 2 minutes, 34 seconds left in the first half after a Woods cross was blocked by Vikings goalie Devon Haviland.

"I watched it in slow motion," said O'Neill, who called the goal the biggest of her life.

It was downhill for Ryan from there. After playing the first half against the wind - which knocked down punts and long passes - the Ragdolls played with it in the second.

Ryan was more effective moving the ball and scored again 16 minutes into the second half. Blank put the ball in the top left corner with a long shot from the right side. Three minutes later, she assisted Woods on the third goal.

That was more than enough for Gonzalez, who made four saves to add to her school-record 54th shutout. The state record is 58.

"It's pretty crazy, but I think it's teamwork," said Gonzalez, a Charleston Southern recruit, on her career shutout total. "I'm just blessed to have the defense that I have."

As for that last time Ryan lost a game in the Catholic League, you have to go back to Sept. 5, 2013. Wood beat Ryan, 1-0, in a Catholic League opener.

Gonzalez, Woods, and Blank, after a moment's thought, were eventually able to remember that game. Still, it took some time. It's been a while, and the Ragdolls also have something else on their minds.

"Now we're on the road to states," Gonzalez said.

Archbishop Wood 0 0 - 0

Goals: AR-Haley O'Neill, Julianne Blank, Taylor Woods.

Saves: AR-Jazmin Gonzalez 4; AW-Devon Haviland 7.