North Penn Knights
Murphy’s journey began last August, entering high school soccer on North Penn’s junior varsity team. By October, she had earned her spot as the varsity team’s starting goalkeeper
Over the past 10 months, Rachel Murphy has gone from a freshman newcomer to a poised and tested goalkeeper, steadily carving out her place between the posts.
Murphy’s journey began last August, entering high school soccer on North Penn’s junior varsity team. By October, she had earned her spot as the varsity team’s starting goalkeeper, helping the Knights reach the District 1 Class 4A playoffs. From there, her growth only accelerated.
Through the winter and spring, Murphy competed with the Ukrainian Nationals’ ECNL squad, sharpening her skills in one of the top club circuits in the country. As June wrapped up, she took another leap—joining the Ukrainian Nationals’ Liberty side in the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL), where she faced older, collegiate-level talent.
Despite being just a rising sophomore, Murphy handled the challenge with composure. She finished the WPSL season with a 5-1 record, capping her run with a 3-1 victory over the Delaware Ospreys.
“It’s been really great, I love seeing the level everyone is playing at,” Murphy told The Reporter. “The kind of shots I’m getting are really helping with my development.”
Murphy made her WPSL debut on June 3 in a 4-1 win against Real Central NJ. A week later, she stood her ground after a tough start against Penn Fusion, regrouping to hold off the opposition as her team rallied for a 3-2 comeback win.
From there, she delivered back-to-back clean sheets in 1-0 victories over top teams SJEB FC and the Ospreys on June 17, per the report. Her only blemish came in a narrow 1-0 loss to Real Central on June 20, but she and the Liberty bounced back quickly to close the season on a high note.
With the club needing a keeper late in the season, Murphy was quick to step up. What began with nerves in her first game soon turned into a comfortable rhythm.
“My club season ended early and they needed a goalie, so I told them I’d help them out,” Murphy said. “The first game, there were some nerves but after that, it came easier. I just got into the groove of playing, it was like stepping into the high school season for the first time.”
Tom DeGeorge, who coaches both the Liberty squad and Murphy’s ECNL team, had no doubts about her ability to contribute. Her addition not only gave the team a reliable presence in goal, but it also allowed natural defender Payton Radosti to return to her usual role on the field.
Murphy’s time with the Liberty was more than just about minutes. She played behind a stout defensive group featuring players like Anna Croyle, Daryn Savage, Kate Weyer, Meredith Blannett, and Casey Malone—plus a midfield loaded with collegiate experience, according to the article.
“They told me to play with more confidence and to call for the ball,” Murphy told The Reporter. “They wanted me to be louder and own the box, so they’ve really helped me with that. Just watching the college players play has been helpful and being on the field and seeing it from a different perspective, it’s helped me mentally process the game faster.”
In Monday’s season finale, Murphy shook off an early goal from Delaware — an eight-minute breakaway — and locked in. She grabbed a corner service later in the half, made a sharp save on a header, and totaled five stops by game’s end as her team’s offense surged, according to The Reporter.
Pennridge alum Liv Grenda, now at Dayton, tied the game in the second half and later added a second goal thanks to an assist from Caroline McDonald (Kutztown/Downingtown East). Murphy’s saves helped keep the match level until the offense took over, and she added another stop before McDonald tacked on a third goal via a cross from Gabby Herrmann, an incoming Drexel freshman.
“I’ve definitely been playing with my feet better, especially when we’re under pressure,” Murphy said in the article. “I think I’ve been able to play quicker and make better decisions on the ball.”
Off the field, Murphy has another asset in her development: her sister Maddy. A recent North Penn grad and Ukrainian Nationals alum heading to play at Buffalo, Maddy gave Rachel daily challenges as a forward.
The sisters trained together frequently, lifting three times a week and hitting the field even more often. During the high school season, they even shared the field for part of the campaign after Rachel claimed the varsity goalkeeper role.
“We … go to the field together probably four times a week,” Murphy said in the article. “It’s great getting to face shots from a Division I athlete, it’s awesome because she doesn’t go easy on me and I know it’s helping my development.”
As she prepares for her sophomore season at North Penn, Murphy returns more seasoned, confident, and ready to lead. The goalkeeper who started last August as a newcomer is now one of the Knights’ anchors.
“I’ve definitely learned the importance of being confident and owning where your spot is,” she said. “I’ve been playing like I’m confident knowing I can keep the ball out of the net.”
