Paul VI made history last season by winning the program’s first state championship. Now, the Eagles are on the verge of going from champs to legends.
Junior forward Hunter Kintzing scored twice and junior defender Lila Quinones added a late goal to lead Paul VI, No. 2 in the NJ.com Top 20, to a 3-0 victory over Trinity Hall that gave the Eagles their second straight NJSIAA South, Non-Public A sectional title on Thursday night at Curry Field in Haddonfield.
Kintzing gave Paul VI (23-0) a 1-0 lead in the sixth minute and the Eagles’ attack was relentless from there until adding a pair of insurance goals in the final 15 minutes to advance to the Non-Public A state final. Paul VI will face North, Non-Public A champion Immaculate Heart, ranked No. 6, in the state final on Sunday at Franklin High School.
If Paul VI can win a rematch of last season’s state final that ended with Emma McCarthy’s overtime game-winner in a dramatic 1-0 victory, the Eagles will repeat as state champions, polish off the program’s first undefeated season and immortalize themselves in South Jersey soccer lore
“This team is really special and going back-to-back winning state championships would be amazing,” Kintzing said. “I know we can do it.”
“That would be school history and set the standard and the expectations of what we’re trying to do here,” Paul VI head coach Karen Anderson said.
Averaging just under five goals per game this season, Paul VI’s offense is inevitable. On Thursday, the Eagles wasted no time starting the scoring against a stingy defensive team.
After an early goal was waived off for an offside call, Paul VI struck in the sixth minute when Kintzing scored off an assist from senior Daniela Vogel for a 1-0 lead. Vogel, a University of Miami commit, played a perfect lead pass for Kintzing down the left side. The Eagles’ leading scorer ran onto the ball, cut to her right around a Trinity Hall defender, and struck a pinpoint shot into the upper 90 to give Paul VI exactly the start it was looking for.
“I made the run out wide and Dani played a good ball,” Kintzing said. “I took a cut inside and touched it back and just curved it into the top corner.”
“I think it alleviates a lot of pressure for us once we get that first goal early on,” Anderson said. “It set the tone for us the rest of the way. I know, defensively, they are tougher, but I don’t think it was more than we’ve faced with Shawnee, Cherokee and Moorestown. But they did do a good job defensively against us.”
Trinity Hall entered the sectional final having allowed just nine goals all season — seven of which came in two games — and had recorded 19 shutouts in 18 wins and one draw. All of the Monarchs’ victories were by shutout, but they had yet to win a game when allowing a goal. Paul VI immediately put them in a tough spot.
“Coming into the game, we knew they don’t let up a lot of goals, so we knew we had to keep the pressure up,” Kintzing said. “Eventually, they would make a mistake.”
The chances kept coming from there. Kintzing hit the post later in the half as Paul VI peppered Trinity Hall goalie Emily Venezia with 12 shots over the first 40 minutes. The Monarchs were able to keep the deficit at 1-0 entering halftime, however. Paul VI could have been up by multiple goals at the half, but its players were not frustrated. They have learned to stay patient and methodical in their approach.
“I think we knew we were dominating and had the momentum; it was just a matter of time until we got another goal,” Vogel said.
The Eagles’ second goal came in the 65th minute when Kintzing curled a corner kick high to the far post for a 2-0 lead. Venezia extended in an attempt to knock the ball out of the box but it glanced off her hands and into the side netting.
“I was just trying to put it in the box and hope someone got to it,” Kintzing said. “You just have to put it in the area and hope that whatever happens, it ends up in the back of the net.”
While soccer wisdom says a 2-0 lead can be dangerous, Paul VI’s second goal felt decisive.
“I think once we got the second one we were a little more comfortable and didn’t have to worry about them coming back,” Vogel said.
Quinones capped the scoring in the final minute when she got a foot on a corner kick and poked it in off a scramble to give Paul VI a 3-0 lead.
“Lyla is a great player and she doesn’t get the credit she deserves, I think,” Kintzing said. “She’s an amazing defender, so getting a goal for her was really special.”
Quinones also helped lead a defense that recorded its sixth shutout of the season and has not allowed a goal in the state tournament.
“They’ve been phenomenal when the games really matter,” Anderson said.
The final hurdle for Paul VI figures to be its toughest challenge yet. Immaculate Heart bested No. 9 Pingry, 2-1, in the North, Non-Public A final to win its 18th sectional title and fourth in the last five years. The Blue Eagles will be out for revenge after losing to Paul VI in last year’s state championship game.
“I think we’re excited and eager to get at it,” Anderson said. “We’re going in as a really strong, mentally focused team.”
“Job’s not done,” Kintzing said. “We still have one more game to win. We know they’re going to be a good team and they’re going to come out hard. It’ll be a really good game.”
Box Score
1-Paul VI 3, 2-Trinity Hall 0
| 1 | 2 | F | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trinity Hall (18-4-2) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Paul VI (23-0) | 1 | 2 | 3 |
SCORING – Hunter Kintzing (Daniela Vogel), 6’; Hunter Kintzing, 65’; Lila Quinones, 80’.
SAVES – TH: Emily Venezia, 10; PVI: Chloe Krupa, 2
SHOTS: Trinity Hall, 22-3
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