Eagles look to build on momentum

By Mario Sarmento
SPORTS EDITOR

Last year, Pope John Paul II advanced to the state playoffs with one of the youngest teams in the area. But the Eagles were a one-man team on offense, and on defense Kirsi Keenan covered up for mistakes in goal.

This year though, not much was expected of Pope. But after 20 games, the Eagles are 14-6 and serving notice that they may be a dark horse come playoff time.

Against West Boca Raton, one of the top teams in the area as well as the state, Pope shrugged off two quick first half goals and scored one of their own in the second half to make the final score much closer than people would have thought.

The reason the Eagles are shooting for another playoff berth in District 14-3A is easy to pinpoint, according to Coach Bill D’Addio.

“This is a real blue collar team,” he said. “We call them the lunch pail crew. There’s not a lot of superstars on this team, but they come together every day and they work hard. That’s what it takes in high school.”

If there is a star on the team, it’s D’Addio’s 15-year-old daughter Brittany, a sophomore midfielder who is one of the top scorers in the county.

D’Addio has scored a team-leading 24 goals, but it’s her 25 assists that get her father’s attention.

“One thing about Brittany, she gets as many assists as she gets goals, and that’s very helpful,” he said.

The father-daughter dynamic on the soccer team is one that Brittany said she has learned to deal with.

“It’s interesting,” she said. “But it’s good. He helps me a lot.”

The two keep their relationship on the field separate from the one they enjoy off the field, which Brittany said has helped.
Last year, D’Addio was often the only option on offense, but this season she’s had some help from forwards Marisa Bennardo and Caitlin Carney, and midfielder Monica Scalfani, who each have nine goals.

“People came in and they’ve been doing real well up top,” D’Addio said.

The Eagles did lose one key weapon when sophomore Devon Mellui went down with an ACL injury and was lost for the season. Even so, she’s still tied for third on the team with eight goals.

But like last year, the strength of this team is in its defense and goaltending.

The Eagles lost one of the top keepers in the area in Keenan, but Bill found a true gem in Lauren Berlingo, a junior who moved here from New York.

“Very good club player, she’s done a very good job,” D’Addio said.

The backline is also strong, with transfer Morgan Currie and holdovers Ashley Burkhart, Cara Horton and Elena Bennardo helping to stymie opponents.

“That helps us against the better teams, like the Boca Highs where we have to play a much bigger school,” D’Addio said.
The Eagles’ six losses were all to top teams: Pine Crest, Spanish River, Saint Andrew’s, West Boca Raton, Boca Raton and Park Vista, and all but one came by a single goal.

Pope did manage a tie against the defending state champions and district rival Scots in their first meeting of the season Nov. 12, and their performance against those schools has given them the confidence to believe they can compete against any team they face.

“It makes us play better,” Brittany said. “It makes us more psyched to win.”