Neshaminy is Hershey bound and will play for a state championship on Saturday, thanks to Tuesday’s 3-0 win over Central Bucks East. To view photos of all the action, please visit the Photo Gallery.
All the Kisses in the Store
By: Ben Winderman
This was the SOL match-up that several coaches predicted, fans anticipated, and players imagined. An organic clash of two gritty, never-give-up sides that line-up in a traditional style, work to get the ball wide, depend on tough defending, and expect strong goalkeeping.
On this frigid Tuesday night at William Tennent High School, when full time had ticked away and Neshaminy had earned a victory, their head Coach Rachel Clemens and her undefeated athletes focused on the thing most important to them: Teamwork? Legacy? Camaraderie?
Hold those precious thoughts…
“Chocolate!” Clemens cheered. “We’re going to the store and buying every Hershey’s Kiss they have!”
The unbeaten and untied Lady Skins having just defeated the Patriots of CB East 3-0 and subsequently earning a trip to class AAA state final in Hershey PA this Saturday have their priorities straight; celebration hugs and kisses for all.
It wasn’t easy for Neshaminy, and for an extended spell at the beginning of the contest, it was CB East who owned the run of play. Patriot passion pinned the Lady Skins in their own defensive third, and the Continental Conference pressure culminated in a 30-yard direct kick taken by senior Abby Emmert that kissed the crossbar in the 6th minute of action.
East’s outside midfielders, Kristen Murphy and Emily Horn, enjoyed unexpected space, drove the ball to the end line, and served dangerous offerings to attackers Emma Loving and Shaun Kane. Neshaminy struggled mightily against the cold wind to connect passes to their forwards Megan Schafer and Gabby Farrell. When Redskin midfielder Stephanie Donahue managed a ball for Farrell in the Patriot corner East’s rugged center-back Holly Moyer stretched elastically to prevent a Neshaminy corner kick.
Fifteen minutes into the game, East senior Nicole Panella served a pass to a diagonally cutting Shaun Kane, who carved an angle behind Neshaminy’s backs, but GK McKenna Mullin pounced off her line to intercept the dangerous ball. 
A minute later, East’s sophomore attacker Emma Loving controlled a ball with her chest and hit a left-footed side volley that sailed just wide of the Neshaminy goal. East’s collective effort intensified, but as the half wore on, Patriot pressure deescalated and the scoreboard showed no advantage for the either side.
Neshaminy midfielders Amy Mandia and Stephanie Donahue began to read the East attack and the National Conference champs began to neutralize East’s momentum.
“Coach Clemens actually told us to anticipate those balls wide, and we were able to adjust effectively,” explained Mandia.
Neshaminy kept sometimes midfielder Maggie Daeche anchored in the back who alongside Nicole Nisivoccia, Katie McCoy, and Amy Heller stiffened as the half progressed. In the 22nd minute, it was Neshaminy’s outside mids who began to create as Jess Kelly found Katie Suchodolski crashing the Patriot far post. East keeper Paige Marcinkowski smothered the ball fearlessly, and Suchodolski peeled herself from the turf. The pulse of this Suburban One battle drummed a beat of bravery from which that none of these players would retreat.
“I stayed back so that we could get a handle on their strikers,” said the freshman Daeche who played with exceptional poise all night.
“This is such a great experience,” she smiled. 
Neshaminy’s Nicole Nissivoccia, who has shown wonderfully throughout the post-season, made her presence known in the 31st minute as she stuck an East attacker and played a nice ball into space for Megan Schafer. The senior star turned the right corner with her signature explosiveness and crossed a ball to her attack partner Gabby Farrell’s head. Farrell separated from the Patriot marking but only managed a lofted head ball which was fielded by a well-positioned Marcinkowski.
Although subtle, Neshaminy had begun flexing the biceps of their attack, and in the in the 35th minute, it was Farrell shaking free again to score a spectacular goal from 22 yards out.
“That goal was amazing,” Clemens raved. “It might have been the goal of the year!”
It would be hard to find spectators who disagreed. Farrell used her speed and physicality to out maneuver an East defender, gain possession, and find a seam in front of the Patriot back line.
Cutting the ball into the middle, she struck it with her left foot in a way that rendered the wind inconsequential. The shot rose like a rocket and knuckled itself in the upper ninety past a helpless East keeper. After a first half that showcased East’s dynamic qualities, it was the Lady Skins who went a goal up. It was deflating for the Patriots and inspirational for the district champs. Whispers of chocolate kisses made their way through the Neshaminy supporters as the top seed stepped closer to a state championship.
The second half offered up and down action that began to lean in Neshaminy’s direction. East, however, continued to generate chances, and in the 47th minute, midfielder Annie Axenroth started a build-up that resulted in an Emma Loving strike which skidded just wide of Neshaminy’s far post. CB East earned another direct kick from 25 yards out, but this time Nicole Pannella’s strike couldn’t penetrate the Redskins back line.
Minutes later, Megan Schafer took a ball from Amy Mandia in the midfield and turned to her right with a brilliant the first touch. 
“I saw her (Megan) out of the corner of my eye,” explained Mandia, “and she did the rest.”
Schafer accelerated into space as she approached East’s goal, drew two more defenders, used Farrell as a decoy, and finally finished the play with a precise left foot that drove the ball into the side panel of East’s net. It was Schafer’s 101st career goal and her 32nd of this season. It showed Schafer’s class and innate sense of the game.
So many times she has played that ball with the outside of her right boot to Farrell, but her decision making in the 56th minute of play separated the striker from all other challengers. She is the class of District 1 and one the greatest players in Neshaminy’s rich history of soccer. It is an honor to watch this kid perform, and Penn State has the great future fortune of seeing her in blue and white.
“We were one game away,” Schafer nodded, “and I knew what that goal would mean; so I just went for it.
“Now we’re one game away from being champs,” Schafer smiled.
“Going undefeated was their goal,” explained Clemens. “I knew it would be very difficult, but I also knew that it was achievable. We’ve gotten to this point in dominant fashion and these girls have worked every single day to be where they are now.”
In terms of their opponent, Clemens described Spring-Ford as the most technical team the Redskins have played this season. 
“They combine a technical possession style with high pressure defending and do it very well,” the ‘Skins’ coach said. “We were able to adjust our format when we played them in districts so we feel confident going in to Saturday.”
The Lady Skins know a few things about technical excellence too and balance that skill with tremendous grit. Saturday’s rematch between Neshaminy and Spring-Ford promises to be soccer spectacle; 4:00 pm in Hershey Park Stadium, and it is gratifying to know that regardless of result the 2013 PIAA class AAA trophy will belong to a District One squad.
As for the gallant team from CB East, battling injury and district disappointment, the Patriots made history for their school and all of their fans cheered with genuine love and pride: so many great games played and victories won.
With time ticking down, senior Shaun Kane made one more slashing run towards her opponent’s goal, but GK McKenna Mullin was up to the challenge. Neshaminy’s Gabby Farrell then added an insurance goal for her team in the 72nd minute, off a cross from Megan Schafer. The Lady Skins of Langhorne celebrated, once again anticipating the sweet taste of championship chocolate.
Central Bucks East 0-0 0
Neshaminy 1-2 3
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