North Catholic’s Megan Endler scores 3 goals, handing important lesson to Karns City girls soccer
Karns City girls soccer coach Tracy Dailey was unusually upbeat after suffering a 5-0 non-conference loss at North Catholic on Monday afternoon.
"All in all, it was a great game for us," Dailey said over the phone after defeat at North Park’s J.C. Stone Field.
While Trojanettes (2-0-1) junior Megan Endler posted her first career varsity hat trick, and the Gremlins let a handful of goals in, Dailey hopes the experience pays dividends later in the season, when perennial District 9 contender Karns City (3-2) hopes to once again defend its title and reach the PIAA playoffs.
"This was a game that I told the girls, I said, ‘A lot of times you learn so much more from losing to a team that can move the soccer ball and that’s gonna challenge you, than you do from winning a game 10-0,’" Dailey said. "I really think we were able to see what our weaknesses are and where we were exposed, and (those are) the things that we’re going to go back to the drawing board and work on.
"Once we take care of those little things, the bigger things will start happening."
Endler, meanwhile, admitted her third goal was on her mind as soon as she netted the second.
"That was in my head, like, ‘Can I get the hat trick?’" Endler said. "And then I got a really good assist from Frankie Liberati."
Karns City toyed with specific adjustments in the second half, going up against a different pace of play than it’s used to seeing in District 9. Dailey was encouraged by goalkeeper Peyton Claypool’s level of play and some of the saves she made.
Sophomore Megan Heinbach and Liberati, a junior, also scored a goal apiece for North Catholic.
Trojanettes coach DJ Sharpless has known Dailey for 15 years or so, with their daughters playing club soccer alongside one another when they were younger. Including Endler, the North Catholic rosters only four juniors, the others being Katelyn Phillips, Nina Lang and Liberati.
"We’re a young team just putting it together," Sharpless said. "We’re playing as a team. It’s about teamwork and moving the ball, and we have a lot of good athletes. ... We’re clicking."
Endler said similar when asked what worked well enough for her Monday.
"Just the team chemistry," Endler said. "We all click so well. We were definitely passing really well."
Endler praised how Erika Michell, that lone senior, has led the freshmen and sophomores. In WPIAL Section 2-2A play early on, the Trojanettes earned a draw against Burrell and were up on Freeport — which is without Ohio University commit Camryn Woods, but still has Iowa pledge Cecelia Schlegel — before the game was postponed due to weather. Both the Bucs and Yellowjackets were PIAA semifinalists a season ago.
"We’re so pleased with the results against those teams, going in knowing that it would be a tough game," Endler said. "We’re super happy with how we performed, so it just makes us really excited (to play) them the second time."
North Catholic jumps back into section play against Deer Lakes on Wednesday. Karns City plays Forest on Tuesday.
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Karns City's Peyton Claypool (00) makes a save against North Catholic in a girls soccer game Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at J.C. Stone Field. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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North Catholic's Annika Rushak (33) fights for possession of the ball with Karns City's Bree O'Donnell (25) in a girls soccer game Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at J.C. Stone Field. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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North Catholic's Megan Heinbach (11) celebrates Frankie Liberati's goal against Karns City in a girls soccer game Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at J.C. Stone Field. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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North Catholic's Megan Heinbach (11) heads the ball with Karns City's Aubrey Taylor (9) battling for position in a girls soccer game Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at J.C. Stone Field. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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North Catholic head coach DJ Sharpless, right, checks on injured player against Karns City in a girls soccer game Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at J.C. Stone Field. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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North Catholic head coach DJ Sharpless coaches against Karns City in a girls soccer game Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at J.C. Stone Field. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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North Catholic head coach DJ Sharpless, left, checks on injured player against Karns City in a girls soccer game Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at J.C. Stone Field. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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North Catholic’s Nina Lang (7) takes the ball around Karns City’s Nicole Huff (11) in a girls soccer game Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at J.C. Stone Field. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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North Catholic’s Mia Battalion (9) controls the ball against Karns City’s Isabel Hartz (31) in a girls soccer game Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at J.C. Stone Field. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Karns City head coach Tracy Dailey watches the action as her team plays North Catholic in a girls soccer game Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at J.C. Stone Field. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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North Catholic’s Amelia Nudi (29) controls the ball against Karns City in a girls soccer game Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at J.C. Stone Field. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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North Catholic’s Mia Battalion (9) controls the ball against Karns City’s Isabel Hartz (31) in a girls soccer game Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at J.C. Stone Field. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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North Catholic’s Frankie Liberati (10) dribbles the ball with Karns City’s Phoebe Brandon (15) defending closely in a girls soccer game Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at J.C. Stone Field. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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North Catholic’s Emma Allen, left, defends Karns City's Julia Dupe (12) in a girls soccer game Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at J.C. Stone Field. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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North Catholic’s Jada Lichtenwalter (17) tries to get the ball from Karns City’s Phoebe Brandon (15) in a girls soccer game Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at J.C. Stone Field. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Karns City head coach Tracy Dailey talks to her team after losing to North Catholic 5-0 in a girls soccer game Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at J.C. Stone Field. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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Karns City’s Molly Mahood (27) heads the ball to save a goal against North Catholic in a girls soccer game Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at J.C. Stone Field. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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North Catholic’s Megan Endler kicks the ball against Karns City in a girls soccer game Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at J.C. Stone Field. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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North Catholic’s Megan Endler (20) celebrates a goal with Frankie Liberati, right, against Karns City’s in a girls soccer game Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at J.C. Stone Field. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
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North Catholic’s Megan Endler (20) fights for the ball with Karns City’s Carleigh Lucas (31) in a girls soccer game Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at J.C. Stone Field. Justin Guido/Special to the Eagle
