Pressure is no problem for Archbishop Wood's Regan Kelso in Catholic League championship

Regan Kelso is no stranger to pressure.

She felt the pressure last year when, as a new transfer, she joined the Archbishop Wood soccer team that was seeking its third straight Catholic League girls soccer title.

She felt it this year as well, knowing that the Vikings were the team to beat.

“Everyone is watching us and teams are playing their best against us,” said Kelso, now a senior. “But mostly, I put pressure on myself.”

Luckily for the Vikings – and unluckily for every other team in the Catholic League – Kelso thrives under pressure.

“During the summer, I was really nervous about going to a new school and a new team,” said Kelso.. “But as soon as I step onto the soccer field, it all melts away.

“No matter how intense the game is, playing soccer has always been my stress-reliever.”

Kelso has also been a stress reliever for the Vikings.

In last year’s Philadelphia Catholic League championship game, Kelso scored both goals to lead Wood to a 2-0 win over Nazareth Academy.

This year?

She did it again.

Kelso scores go-ahead goal in Catholic League Championship game

Wood and Nazareth met Sunday in a rematch of last year’s girls soccer title game. The Vikings were looking for their fourth straight championship, and the Pandas their first after joining the PCL last year.

With 15 minutes to go, the game remained scoreless. That’s when Kelso flew down the field, quickly positioned herself 10 yards from the net, and drilled the go-ahead goal.

That goal would hold as the game-winner, giving Wood the 1-0 win.

It’s a moment every athlete dreams about, and Kelso, who has been playing soccer since she turned three, now has two of those moments to her name.

“When I’m playing soccer I’m purely in the moment,” said Kelso. “It’s all about the game.”

This year, her second on the team after transferring from Pennsbury, Kelso was named team captain. She has 15 goals and seven assists, which lead the team in scoring.

Kelso faced another big change this summer, when the Vikings hired a new head coach after longtime coach Tom DeGeorge stepped down.

“I was really comfortable with Coach Tom, but I had heard good things about our new coach,” said Kelso. “They actually coach the same way, so it’s worked out really well.”

That’s not too surprising, considering the team’s new coach, Maria Kosmin, is Tom DeGeorge’s sister. And the family feeling extended beyond the coaching staff.

PCL girls soccer semifinal photos: Archbishop Wood defeats St. Hubert in Catholic League semifinal

“Our team is a family,” said Kelso. “We’re always together, even on our off days. All of us, from freshmen to seniors, are so close to each other.”

Going into Sunday’s game, Kelso felt the usual butterflies, as well as excitement of the challenge ahead.

“Nazareth is a really good and well-organized team,” said Kelso. “I know it will be a great game.”

The Vikings went undefeated in the PCL this season, defeating Nazareth 1-0 in September. The team gave up just three goals en route to the 10-0 league record.

Next year, Kelso will be continuing her soccer career at Saint Michael’s College in Vermont, where she plans to study nursing.

“I looked at a lot of schools but I just love the coaches and players there,” said Kelso. “I feel like I’ll fit in really well.”

Kelso is helping younger kids grow their love of soccer

In addition to playing soccer, Kelso is also a coach. She coaches a 7-U team at Yardley Makefield Soccer (YMS), where she played club soccer for 12 years.

“At that age, they’re just starting to build a foundation and understanding the basics of the game,” Kelso said. “It feels really good to give back and help the younger kids learn to love the game as much as I do.”

The kids on Kelso’s team are also some of her biggest fans. They know all about her illustrious high school career, and, even before Sunday’s game, were already in awe of their “famous” coach.

“They are so interested in my games and my team,” said Kelso. “They love to know every detail and ask so many questions.”

And after learning about their coach's heroics in the championship game?

“I think after the championship game I’m going to have to plan a Q&A session,” Kelso said with a laugh.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Pressure is no problem for Archbishop Wood's Regan Kelso in Catholic League championship