Canon-McMillan senior receives national All-America recognition
Aideen O’Donoghue battles for the ball against a Norwin opponent during Canon-McMillan’s state championship run last fall. O’Donoghue recently was recognized as a national All-American.
Aideen O’Donoghue races toward a goal during playoff action against Mt. Lebanon last fall.
Aideen O’Donoghue displays the certificate she earned for being named a national All-American for high school soccer.
On her recent trip to Los Angeles, Aideen O’Donoghue did not meet any celebrities. In a way, that was understandable, after all, she was the star in this adventure. The Canon-McMillan senior was one of only two players from the WPIAL named as a scholastic soccer All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
At the organization’s annual banquet, attended by some 1,200 people and held at the Los Angeles Convention Center, O’Donoghue and Seneca Valley’s Matt Happ were recognized for their achievement. They received their awards from Alexi Lalas, former USA World Cup player and current ESPN analyst. Tim Howard, a goalkeeper for the U.S. national team as well as the American club Colorado Rapids, attended as a feature speaker.
“I got to shake Alexis’ hand and Tim gave a speech,” O’Donoghue said enthusiastically. “It was pretty amazing. I’m not going to forget that. It was an unbelievable experience. Words cannot describe it.”
Well, maybe just one word.
”Surreal,” she said.
O’Donoghue wanted All-America acclaim for a variety of reasons, the least of which was posterity. However, she is now forever etched in the annals of Canon-McMillan athletic history. The school boasts a half-dozen such honorees and two others are soccer standouts: Taylor Schram, who excelled at Penn State, and Nick Sodini, who played on the Big Macs’ first WPIAL boys’ championship team.
“When I was a freshman and entered the high school for the first time, I saw that glass case and I thought to myself, ‘Wouldn’t it be awesome to be in there?’ So when I got back from LA, I gave the certificate to the A.D. and he put it in the glass case. It’s a proud moment for me. I’m very honored. I feel like for sure, that’s something that is going to be around a long time.”
O’Donoghue, indeed, has worked hard to hone her skills. After her parents signed her up to play at age 5, Greg Starcevic took over, coaching her through her playing days with Victory Sports. O’Donoghue also competed in the Canon-McMillan Youth Soccer Association’s travel program. At age 12, she committed to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds’ Academy and eventually made the club’s U15 team. She has trained with the organization youth program ever since.
“That’s where I made the most progress,” said the 17-year-old daughter of Tim and Theresa O’Donoghue. “I firmly believe that (the Riverhounds) can turn a dog into a Division I player and pro. They are top notch and I appreciate all they have done for me.”
Canon-McMillan certainly benefited from the package the Riverhounds produced, and she credited Jason Kutney in particular for her development. O’Donoghue scored 67 career goals, making her the fourth top scorer in Lady Mac history. She is tied for fifth place on the all-time assist list with 49. The all-district and all-state performer also led the Lady Macs to two section titles and two undefeated regular seasons. During her tenure, C-M appeared in two WPIAL and two PIAA championships. She capped her career with a state title this past November. She scored 27 goals and registered 20 assists during the Lady Macs’ championship run.
“Aideen certainly has left a legacy here at C-M,” said her high school coach Dave Derrico. “She was our real engine in the midfield.
“More than that though,” Derrico continued, “Aideen mentored the younger players. She was a strong leader and role model demonstrating unwavering loyalty to the program with her outstanding work ethic and unselfish play. Her real legacy is the influence she has had on her teammates, especially those who will still be here next year and the following year.”
By then, O’Donoghue will be leaving her mark on the program at the University of Pittsburgh. Recruited by Ohio and Monmouth universities, O’Donoghue picked the Panthers after having made a verbal commitment to Rutgers her sophomore season.
“I just love the city of Pittsburgh and I have a big family that is all here,” O’Donoghue said of the change of heart. “I wasn’t really ready to leave all that yet. I really want to represent this region well.”
While playing for the women’s U17 national team last spring, O’Donoghue came to that realization. She exemplifies more than just herself on the pitch. Last April, she received a call-up, traveled to California and trained with the best girls in the country for a week.
“It was unbelievable wearing the USA crest every day. It was a cool experience and great motivation because every girl there was amazing. It definitely was high-level competition. I got a lot out of it and I learned a lot, mainly that you can’t neglect who you are playing for.
“Appreciate the front of the jersey,” added the North Strabane resident. “They won’t remember the name on the back of the jersey but the one on the front and I realized that I can become the player I want to be by putting on the Pitt jersey. That’s why I changed to Pitt.”
Because Pitt plays in the Atlantic Coast Conference, O’Donoghue has the opportunity to reach her full potential. After she obtains her degree in either business or communications, O’Donoghue anticipates playing professionally in the National Women’s Soccer League, which is run by the United States Soccer Federation and comprises 10 teams. From there, she would also have a chance to vie for a spot on the Olympic team.
“I really hope Aideen gets the opportunity to represent the US in the Olympics,” said Derrico. “She has a decent chance because of the recognition she received by making the U18 pool and by being selected as a high school All-American. She would do well with the national team at whatever level she can reach.”
O’Donoghue certainly is reaching for that brass ring. She know that playing professional is one way of getting to the goal.
“Olympics would be awesome. That’s a goal,” she said. “If I get the opportunity, I’d take it for sure. It doesn’t matter at what age or year, just as long as you got there.”
To date, however, nothing rivals the tremendous feeling O’Donoghue experienced when the Lady Macs captured the school’s first state championship. She recalled the struggles of reaching the quarterfinals and losing last year after an undefeated regular season and of falling in the PIAA final as a sophomore. So from day one of training camp last autumn, all the talk was about getting back to the state championship as seniors. The overtime win against Central Bucks South provided more than redemption.
“It was an unbelievable season and the championship was more than just for us and our school,” O’Donoghue said. “As a community, we needed to win. Our community had gone through a lot of tragedy with students dying in a car accident and the police officers getting shot and one killed. The community needed something good to happen and that definitely drove us.”