Players to Watch in Girls PAISAA Final

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Springside Chestnut Hill Academy and Episcopal Academy were the top two teams in the Inter-AC this season and the local rivals will meet a third time to decide the Pennsylvania independent schools (PAISAA) title on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. at The Proving Grounds in Conshohocken.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The two teams met twice this season. Springside won 1-0 in overtime at home in early September and EA held them to a 1-1 draw at Episcopal Academy in late October. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Springside's defense conceded only eight goals all season, giving up more than one goal in a game only once to Pennington School. Episcopal Academy had a high-powered attack, scoring more than 60 goals on the season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Springside won the title last year with a 1-0 win over the Academy of Notre Dame and also won it in 2017. EA won the title in 2018.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at three players from each team who could be the difference-makers in Wednesday's final.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"left","id":63725,"width":266,"height":176,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2022/11/2021-11-17_17-01-46_910-1024x683.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-63725" width="266" height="176"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>[player_tooltip player_id='33226' first='Lisa' last='McIntyre']</em></figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='33226' first='Lisa' last='McIntyre'], Senior, Midfielder, Springside Chestnut Hill Academy</strong><br>McIntyre scored the lone goal in last year's championship game and is a threat to repeat the feat this year. Her senior season has been slowed by injury but she's still a player EA will have to game plan for. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='41028' first='Isabella' last='Brown'], Senior, Midfielder, Springside Chestnut Hill Academy</strong><br>Brown scored the lone goal in the 1-0 semifinal win over Westtown School and is another offensive weapon for a Blue Devils team that rarely needs more than one goal to win. Brown is good at creating chances for herself and her teammates. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='45365' first='Abby' last='Fitzmaurice'], Senior, Defender, Springside Chestnut Hill Academy</strong><br>The Blue Devils defense has been incredibly stingy this year and it helps to have someone as experienced as Fitzmaurice anchoring the back line. Along with her classmates, Fitzmaurice knows what it takes to finish a grinding season with a win for a trophy and will be a key player in limiting EA's prolific attack. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='25932' first='Maya' last='Naimoli'], Senior, Goalkeeper, Episcopal Academy</strong><br>In a game where Springside Chestnut Hill will have the advantage in experience, Naimoli will be called upon to lead a young EA team to a trophy to cap an outstanding high school career for the Ohio State-bound keeper. Given how little has separated the two teams in their two previous games this season, Naimoli may be enlisted to step up in a penalty shootout to decide the outcome. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":63726,"width":356,"height":237,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2022/11/6N4A5705-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-63726" width="356" height="237"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Maya Bright</em></figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Quinn Whitaker, Sophomore, Forward, Episcopal Academy</strong><br>If you look at some of the lopsided score lines from Episcopal Academy this season you would assume Whitaker was a big reason for that but she missed the better part of the season with injury and that didn't seem to make too much of a difference in the team's ability to put the ball in the back of the net. Whitaker's presence will however be key against a stingy defensive team like SCH. As she showed in the 6-1 semifinal win over Penn Charter (2 goals, 1 assist) she can beat you in multiple ways. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Maya Bright, Sophomore, Forward, Episcopal Academy</strong><br>Bright has been leading Episcopal's front line with Whitaker out and she's had an even bigger impact than she did as a freshman, scoring goals at will at times for the EA attack. She'll be tested against a tough defensive team, but her combination play with Whitaker in the final third could be the key to unlocking Springside. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->