Injuries have ravaged the starting lineup around her, she has changed positions in mid-season and she has found herself on the attack with new players at her wings.

Yet, none of the above -- let alone opposing defenses -- have been able to slow Canon-McMillan's Taylor Schram.

A senior forward/midfielder, she was already the most prolific goal scorer in school history with 93 goals through three seasons. Her 48-goal regular season this autumn just ensured that her record will no doubt be around a while longer.

She was the one constant in an ever-changing lineup. Coach Dave Derrico's hand was forced because of the injuries that struck at some of the most inopportune times and to some of the most key positions. But regardless of what happened on the pitch, he always knew he could count on Schram, the reigning Gatorade Pennsylvania Player of the Year, Penn State recruit and member of the U.S. Under-17 Olympic Development Program.

"She reads the game better than anyone I have seen," Derrico said.

"She is fun to watch and a pleasure to coach. Sometimes players on our team will just stop and watch her play. It is like magic watching her play."

Schram helped lead the Big Macs to a 13-5 regular-season record, a 10-2 mark good for second-place in Section 5-AAA and a trip to the WPIAL playoffs. The Big Macs edged Chartiers Valley, 2-0, Saturday in a preliminary-round game as Schram scored another goal.

They then upset Section 4-AAA champ Bethel Park, 2-0, Tuesday in a first-round match. Schram assisted freshman Veronica Rothka on both goals.

Injuries began to affect Canon-Mac early on this season when senior defender Jocelyn Hupp went down with an ACL tear in the second game of the year. That forced Derrico to move forward Taylor Parisse to defense.

Parisse and Schram had formed a lethal 1-2 scoring combination throughout their careers, but the move had to be made to strengthen the team. Schram quickly started to develop a bond with senior Sarah Zeh who was moved to forward.

"I mean it was difficult for the whole team," Schram said. "We could never get comfortable with formations, someone was always getting hurt, but I think we have done a good job of adjusting."

Senior Mindy Coleman was forced to sit out with a concussion nine days later.

Late in the season against West Mifflin, Alayna Littell went down with a fractured tibia and then Zeh, who had joined Schram up top, was lost for the season with a torn ACL and MCL.

Out of the five seniors who entered the season, only Schram and Melissa Coleman remained in the lineup throughout. Even without the complement of her fellow seniors, whom she had grown accustomed to playing alongside the past three seasons, Schram still produced.

The new lineup was tested immediately in its first game together at Upper St. Clair. Canon-McMillan won, 1-0, completing the season sweep of their section rival for the first time in program history.

The lone goal in the Upper St. Clair game was scored by, who else, Schram.

"One thing that I like about her is that you get a lot of goal scorers and they will stay up top," Derrico said.

"Taylor comes back and gets into the center and she gets the ball. No matter how hard the ball comes to her or if it gets deflected, immediately she has it under control"

Throughout the entire regular season, even after moving to midfield, Schram was only shut out once, in a 3-0 loss against section champ Mt. Lebanon.

"She is actually a better midfielder than forward," Derrico said. "She is an outstanding finisher but she is just a better midfielder. In the midfield you see her scoring has not stopped. She is still scoring from there and it hasn't slowed her down."

It is not uncommon on the high school level for one player to have half of his or her team's goals. Schram accomplished that feat this season. What makes Schram's accomplishment special is that she scored half of the goals on one of the highest scoring teams in the WPIAL. Canon-McMillan racked up 96 goals in just 18 games this season, Schram had 48 of them.

Schram made a verbal commitment to Penn State after being recruited by numerous Division I schools.

"She will be a great player for any college," Derrico said.

"She is strong, she is quick and she has a great vertical leap. I think she is going to be an asset to Penn State -- big time."

Before heading to Penn State Schram will continue to compete with the Olympic Developmental Program, of which she has been a part since she was 11.

This past spring Schram played in Portugal and Florida with the team. This winter she will travel with the team to Delaware and Mississippi and if she makes the cut, she will head to Russia in February.

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