If there is one sport where all three of the respective diocesan high school teams are very strong, it is indeed girls soccer.

O’Connell’s Lady Knights, coached by Alberto Starace and Tim Lucas, are not only the number one team in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC), but they are the number one team in the entire region as selected by the Washington Post.

The Lady Knights finished second to Good Counsel in 2000. In 2001, O'Connell has been an even stronger force to be reckoned with.

As of Oct. 15, the Lady Knights had a 9-0-1 record, with victories over St. John’s, Holy Cross (twice), Paul VI, Good Counsel, McNamara, Seton (Md.), Potomac School and Ireton. O'Connell's lone tie was to Ireton (0-0).

The powerhouse Knights have outscored their opponents 47-7 (more points than the Washington Redskins have scored in five games).

Spearheading the Knights efforts has been junior goalie Cynthia McDermott, freshman sweeper Lauren Kelly, senior defenders Nastassia Imperati and Laura Renaghan, senior co-captain midfielder Anna Knecht, senior midfielder Amanda Turner, sophomore midfielder Nataly Arias, freshman midfielder Kerry Philbin, senior co-captain Molly McCall, and freshman players L.B. Puglisi and Mick Ingram.

Other players of note include senior midfielder Carah McMullen, freshman midfielder Amanda Dabbenigno and junior stopper Libby Muldoon.

Ingram (10 goals, 12 assists), Puglisi (10, four), McCall (10, two) and

Arias (nine, two) spark O’Connell’s dominant attack.

"We returned some very good players from last seasons team, but these amazing freshmen have made us very strong," said Starace.

"Anna (Knecht) has battled injuries, but she is getting better with each game. Molly (McCall) has had a great year so far," he said.

Ireton’s Lady Cardinals, coached by Frank Fonte, weigh in with a 5-2-3 record midway through the 2001 campaign.

Ireton has knocked off St. Marys (Md.), McNamara (twice), National Cathedral (D.C.) and Episcopal. Ireton has tied St. Johns, O'Connell and Paul VI and outscored its opponents 21-9.

Leading the Lady Cardinals efforts has been sophomore goalie Kari Morrison, junior sweeper Meghan Glassmacher, junior stopper Meredith Hughes, junior defenders Kelly Vornadore and Caithlin Gorman, senior midfielder Laura Kaye, junior midfielders Phoebe Mroczek and Emily Brant, sophomore midfielder Claire Kugler, as well as junior 'strikers' Kasey Polvinale and Molly Gannon.

Senior attack/midfielder Bridget Faherty is the "12th man" - the first player off the bench.

Seniors Faherty and Kaye, as well as juniors Mroczek and Brant are the Lady Cardinal captains.

Kaye and Brant have five goals each, while Mroczek has four.

"Our captains (Faherty, Kaye, Mroczek and Brant) have given us some great leadership," said Fonte. "They help the younger players every day. We're looking to do our best come playoff time."

The Paul VI Lady Panthers, coached by Meg Ashley, weigh in with a 7-2-1 record this year. Paul VI has knocked off Holy Cross (twice), Potomac School, McDonough (Baltimore), Seton (Md.), St. Johns, and McNamara. The "Black and Gold" have tied Ireton (1-1) and outscored their opponents 44-12.

Sparking the Lady Panther efforts has been: senior goalie Courtney Toms, junior 'sweeper' Colleen Luczko, senior 'stopper' Michelle Brady, senior defender Megan McGowan, junior defender Alli Opfer, senior midfielders Leslie McDermott and Alison Phillips, junior midfielder Caitlin Oliver, sophomore midfielder Lindsay Curtin, senior attack Danielle McDonald and junior attack Tina Francois.

Sophomore goalie Stephanie Marcellin splits time with Toms. Brady and McDonald are the Lady Panther captains.

McDonald leads the Panthers offensively with 17 goals and four assists. An amazing 17 seperate players have registered at least one goal or one assist for PVI.

"Danielle (McDonald) is the most important person on this team," said Ashley "She has really stepped up this season. Michelle (Brady) has played excellent defense for us this year."

The Lady Panthers won league titles in ‘91, '92 and '93. Last season, PVI lost in the semi-finals.

Soccer playoffs this season will take place Nov. 6-10.