Penn Charter manages to overcome injuries

It was Saturday. The clock read approximately 6:30 p.m.

The Penn Charter girls' soccer team had just won its second consecutive Independent Schools state title at Cabrini College when the prospect of a three-peat was first mentioned.

Yes, a three-peat would be nice, coach Darci Borski thought, but she wanted to enjoy this championship first.

The sentiment from Borski, who in two seasons at the Quakers helm has amassed an overall record of 35-6-4, was justified. It made sense that she wanted to savor this one a little bit longer considering all the obstacles Penn Charter overcame this season.

It started in preseason, when the Quakers (15-4-3) kept only 16 players for the varsity roster. At the time, the number seemed fine, especially with returning starters such as Jlon Flippens, Dom DeMarco, and Mireyah Davis back and ready to go.

But the Quakers started the season 1-3-1, a far cry from where they had left off in the 2013 campaign.

Then the injuries hit.

Penn Charter lost its goalkeeper, Davis, to a broken nose, and three other starters went down for significant periods of the season, as well.

Suddenly, 16 Quakers became 12. Underclassmen got more time on the field, and other players were put in positions they weren't used to.

And worst of all, the bull's-eye that had been placed on the team's back for more than a year was still there, as each game seemed to be the opponent's biggest of the season.

But Penn Charter kept trudging along.

It was a Sept. 26 loss to Agnes Irwin that really turned the season around, Borski said. That was the moment her girls "stepped up and didn't look back," she said.

"You couldn't count us out," Borski said. "We kept coming and working hard. There were some pretty dramatic victories and some storybook endings.

"It was a magical season the way it all came together," she added.

The way it all came together was a 13-game unbeaten streak to finish the season, as Penn Charter rallied to capture a second straight Inter-Ac League title, as well as the state championship.

That was impressive considering the Quakers went on a run such as that with only two seniors.

What Penn Charter might not have had in senior leadership, it made up for in the form of Flippens, a dangerous junior forward who scored some big-time goals this year, including key game-winners down the stretch.

In three seasons, the Maryland recruit has amassed 84 goals, becoming one of the most feared offensive threats in the area.

"It makes me excited for the future," Borski said. "[Next season,] my senior leadership is going to be unbelievable. I'm thankful we were so young this season and went through growing pains."

Maybe it isn't too early to start talking about a three-peat.