Healthy Ella McConville leads Freeport to WPIAL girls soccer first-round win over Ringgold
BUFFALO TWP — Just over two months ago, Freeport’s Ella McConville returned to the soccer field after a back injury suffered in the spring kept her out for four months.
Yellowjackets head coach Steve Kukic had enough confidence in her recovery and ability that he had her switch positions.
“We had Ella, Peyton Los and Tess Hanak all in the midfield and had to decide who would play where,” he said. “We ended up moving Ella from defensive midfielder to attacking midfielder.”
McConville’s play was instrumental in Freeport’s run to a WPIAL Section 2-2A title, and she found herself in the middle of the team’s scoring barrage Tuesday night.
The sophomore scored a goal and added four assists as the No. 2 ’Jackets blitzed visiting 15th-seed Ringgold in an 11-0 WPIAL Class 2A first-round playoff victory.
“I was coming off the injury, and it took a lot of work to get used to my new position,” McConville said. “Now I focus on assists and setting up our forwards.
“We have a lot of confidence, and I thought we’d still be playing at this point in the season.”
Freeport will host No. 5 North Catholic at a time to be determined in Saturday’s quarterfinal round. The Trojanettes defeated Beaver 2-1 Tuesday.
Freeport (16-1) won its 15th straight game and wasted no time taking command against Ringgold (6-10-1).
Nia DiSanti scored less than five minutes into the game. Brinley Sullivan and CeCe Schlegel followed with goals after the Rams were unable to clear corner kicks just three minutes apart.
Camryn Woods scored the first of her three goals, and Freeport led 6-0 at the half.
“We had played just one game in the last 12 days and our girls were itching to get after it,” Kukic said. “They were ready to go.”
Woods paces Freeport with 20 goals. DiSanti, who scored again in Tuesday’s game, now has 13 goals, and Elena Jenkins’ tally gives her 11 on the season.
“I’m so grateful to be playing with the talented players we have,” McConville said. “They make my job easy.”
Freeport will now focus on getting past the district quarterfinals. They have been stopped there the last three years, by South Park the past two seasons and by Mt. Pleasant in 2022.
Freeport and North Catholic are section foes. The Yellowjackets won both meetings with the Trojanettes this season, 4-0 and 2-0.
“They say it’s tough to beat a good team three times in one season,” Kukic said. “But it’s not about who we play. It’s about us.”
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Freeport's Camryn Woods (22) takes a shot on goal past Ringgold's Olive Dibernardo (26) in a WPIAL Class 2A girls soccer first-round game Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, at Freeport Stadium. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Freeport's Jocelynn Johns (15) tries to get past Ringgold's Olive Dibernardo (26) in a WPIAL Class 2A girls soccer first-round game Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, at Freeport Stadium. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Freeport's Camryn Woods (22) takes a shot on goal past Ringgold's Braylynn Romito (24) in a WPIAL Class 2A girls soccer first-round game Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, at Freeport Stadium. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Freeport players pose with their fingers in the shape of a "W" after beating Ringgold in a WPIAL Class 2A girls soccer first-round game Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, at Freeport Stadium. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Freeport's Alyssa Alcorn (55) with a goalkeeper kick in a WPIAL Class 2A girls soccer first-round game Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, at Freeport Stadium. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Freeport head coach Steve Kukic during half time of the WPIAL Class 2A girls soccer first-round game Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, at Freeport Stadium. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Freeport's Camryn Woods (22) sets up to take a shot on goal in a WPIAL Class 2A girls soccer first-round game Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, at Freeport Stadium. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Freeport's Peyton Los (18) with a kick pass in a WPIAL Class 2A girls soccer first-round game Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, at Freeport Stadium. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Freeport's Cecilia Schlegel (24) takes a shot on goal in a WPIAL Class 2A girls soccer first-round game Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, at Freeport Stadium. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Freeport's Peyton Los (18) looks to make a shot on goal in a WPIAL Class 2A girls soccer first-round game Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, at Freeport Stadium. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Freeport's Cecilia Schlegel (24) takes a shot on goal in a WPIAL Class 2A girls soccer first-round game Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, at Freeport Stadium. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Freeport's Nia DiSanti (13) takes a shot on goal in a WPIAL Class 2A girls soccer first-round game Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, at Freeport Stadium. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Freeport's Ella McConville (5) with a pass in a WPIAL Class 2A girls soccer first-round game Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, at Freeport Stadium. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
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Freeport's Ella McConville (5) looks to make a pass in a WPIAL Class 2A girls soccer first-round game Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, at Freeport Stadium. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Eagle
