Early-season girls soccer rankings should have put McDonogh No. 3 with a bullet.
The Eagles (3-0), steady climbers the past few years, beat No. 1 Hammond, 3-1, yesterday.
McDonogh co-coach Ted Scocos said: "I told the girls this was the best effort I've ever seen a McDonogh team make. They knew they had to play big time, and they did. I think it lived up to a No. 1 vs. No. 3 game."
Sophomore striker Laurie Schwoy put McDonogh on the board at the 18-minute mark and had a hand in the Eagles' second goal 20 minutes later. She intercepted a Hammond goal kick, playing it off her body and hammering a high shot off the crossbar. Jessica Remmel blocked the rebound and scored off of it.
A minute later, Hammond freshman Emily Bielefeld scored. Sonia Chase scored McDonogh's last goal.