Pennsbury held its Kick Out Cancer event on Saturday. The Falcons defeated St. Hubert’s 7-0, but it was the butterfly release after the game that was most memorable. To view photos of the event, please visit the Photo Gallery.
The following article is sponsored by Liberty One Construction Company.
By Mary Jane Souder
The butterfly was reluctant to leave Megan Engeland’s finger, staying long after many had flown away in the butterfly release that capped Pennsbury’s Kick Out Cancer event Saturday.
Perhaps it was because hers had special significance.
“Butterflies were my aunt’s favorite, so the whole butterfly releasing is really cool,” said Engeland, whose aunt, Debra Liss, lost her battle with cancer. “That’s something that definitely crosses my mind every time we do it.
“It’s really touching to be holding it and see them not fly away, and everyone is looking at them.”
The butterfly release has become an annual tradition for the Falcons the past three years, and it’s not just personal for Engeland but for the entire squad. The idea was initiated in memory of Margaret Howe, the mother of Kylie Howe, a member of the soccer team who graduated last year.
Butterflies had special significance to the Howe family, and they were released the first time in 2012, the fall after Margaret Howe lost her battle with uterine cancer.
“It started off with Peg’s involvement (in 2011),” Pennsbury coach Kaitlyn Battiste said. “When she passed away, we really wanted to make sure that the girls knew they were playing for something more than just soccer, more than just Pennsbury.
“That’s what we were really trying to put to them today - this is a fight (against cancer), and we’re fighting together with the community. The butterflies have a special place for all of them. Although Kylie’s not here this year, they said that was one thing they still wanted to do.”
Keeping the tradition alive, according to the players, was a no brainer.
“It just shows how Pennsbury soccer is not just a team, but we’re also a family,” senior captain Amy Blazejewski. “We’re always there for each other, we support each other.
“It really just shows how thoughtful and supportive everyone is to put so much effort and time into creating such a special event.”
The players sold raffle tickets and t-shirts and also held a bake sale. Funds raised this year will be donated to the Philadelphia Friends of Jimmy V Foundation.
“Just how the team really comes together for cancer (awareness) and all the money we raise – it means a lot,” Engeland said. “It’s definitely a cool feeling, especially at the Mac game (at Macclesfield Park) and here on our home turf, it’s a great feeling stepping out there with the whole team together.”
Saturday’s butterfly release highlighted a morning that included a convincing 7-0 non-league win over St. Hubert’s. Not even the rain and wind that greeted the players when they arrived at the field could dampen their spirits, and by game’s end, the storm had cleared out.
“I think it’s the whole event and everything it signifies,” Engeland said. “It doesn’t matter what team we play.
“The whole team still comes together as a family, no matter what happens out on the field.”
“We’re also not just playing for the win but for those in memory,” Blazejewski added.
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Coaches routinely suggest that their team’s success is the result of a team effort. In the case of this year’s Falcon squad, that isn’t just lip service.
Through 13 games, the Falcons scored 35 goals, and while Jadyn Peto accounted for seven of those, 12 different players have contributed goals.
“We’re just getting a lot of contributions from players all over the field,” Battiste said.
The Falcons boast seven shutouts this season, and making that statistic even more remarkable is the fact that they have done it with three different players seeing action in goal – Nany Santiago, Kayla Kunde and Coral Nuschke.
“It didn’t matter who we had in goal because they didn’t have to make too many saves because we had Caroline Foley, Rachel Beri, Karina Raykova and Amy Blazejewski – that’s one senior on that defense and a junior and two sophomores,” Battiste said.
Anchoring the midfield are junior captain Abby Wick and senior captain Megan Engeland.
“The two of them have played really well with one another,” Battiste said. “They’ve battled a couple of different injuries at different points, but we have been able to move people in and out.”
The Falcons’ outside midfielders are sophomores Mary Webb and Riley Rudd, and at forward, the Falcons boast a wealth of talent.
“It’s been an awesome problem to have for them to keep coming up and asking ‘Why aren’t I starting?’” Battiste said. “We have Uche (Onuoha), who’s a senior goal scorer. Meredith Webber is a sophomore forward, and Jadyn Peto is a junior forward.
“Kelly Amador had two game winners as a sophomore, so we started her against Bensalem. Jadyn came off the bench and scored two goals. They all want to play, and they play for each other.
“That’s one of the things we’re trying to emphasize to them – although we have those players who are scoring the goals, it’s coming from all over the field. The number of assists we have and the number of players who are just contributing to everything that’s happening on the field. It’s a great problem to have. It’s a lot of fun.”
After Saturday’s win, the Falcons boast a 13-0-1 record overall, but winning is just part of what has made this season enjoyable.
“As a coaching staff, we have said we love coming out here,” Battiste said. “These girls are just not afraid to work hard.”
While they might groan when Battiste mentions Fitness Friday, they don’t complain.
“They just work hard for each other,” Battiste said.
With four league games remaining, the Falcons are 9-0-1 in league play with a seven-point lead over second place Council Rock South. Their only blemish is a 1-1 tie with Neshaminy.
“Out of all four years, this is the best we have ever done, especially this far into the season,” Engeland said. “It definitely makes us feel we can go far this year.”
The Falcons have seven seniors on their roster – three are starters, but grades are unimportant to this squad.
“I think our team chemistry this year is the strongest it’s ever been,” Blazejewski said. “That builds trust also, and in between grades – seniors don’t just hang out with seniors. We hang out with freshmen. We all hang out together.”
“Winning definitely helps build chemistry,” Engeland said. “When you’re winning, everyone is enjoying soccer, and it makes you come together more.
“Ever since tryouts when we stepped out here – we’re all really good friends. We all hang out with each other outside of soccer. That has definitely helped us win games – the fact that we’re really close to each other.”
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The Falcons’ 7-0 win over St. Hubert’s – which saw the Falcons sprint to a 5-0 halftime lead – underscored the team’s balance and depth. Ten players contributed to the scoring. Caroline Foley had a pair of goals, Amy Blazejewski had two assists, and Megan Engeland had a goal and an assist. Adding single goals were Kelly Amador, Sara Kervick and Lizzy Kirk while Cassidy Rudd, Riley Rudd and Whitney Roth each had an assist.
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