A pair of SOL field hockey teams – Central Bucks South and Hatboro-Horsham - advanced to Wednesday’s District One AAA semifinal round. To view photos of the CB South/CR South game, please check back later this weekend.
#2 CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 2, #7 COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 0
The Titans can add earning a state tournament berth to the list of goals attained this season, but according to senior Mackenzie Harding, Friday’s win – which ensured the defending district champions a spot in states – is just another step in the journey.
“That’s huge for us,” the senior captain said. “That’s been our goal all along, and we’re really proud of where we are, but it’s not over yet, and we know that. We’re just taking it game by game.”
Friday’s game didn’t feature quite as much firepower as Wednesday’s 5-1 win over Strath Haven, but it wasn’t for lack of opportunities. The Titans were awarded 20 corners and took 24 shots. Rock South goalie Anna Sternberg was credited with 18 saves, and senior defensive back Amanda Besselman also had a pair of stops near the goal line.
The tone might well have been set when the Titans capitalized on their second corner just over four minutes into the game. Corrine Kenney capped a sequence that began with Megan Hamilton’s insert pass and included a drive by Harding from the top of the circle that was deflected into the cage by Kenney.
“That was huge for us,” Harding said. “We don’t need that to get excited because we all pump each other up, but that’s definitely what any team strives for.”
The Golden Hawks best scoring opportunity of the game came late in the first half when they drew three consecutive corners within a one-minute span. They came up empty, and the Titans took their 1-0 lead into the intermission.
Midway through the second half, Rachel Gorman connected for an insurance goal on a play that began with a Harding free hit and included a pass from Hamilton. That 2-0 lead held up until the final whistle.
The Titans’ first goal, according to Rock South assistant Colette Paprocki, might well have been the turning point in the game.
“I think that slowed down our momentum,” she said. “The calls that we were fighting for weren’t going our way, but what we’re going to work on is just playing through it no matter what the call is and hoping to continue on and have a good game on Wednesday.
“We just have to keep playing with heart the next time around, stay positive and just be happy that the season’s not over and play for a win on Wednesday.”
The loss was Rock South’s second of the season at the hands of the Titans – both by identical 2-0 scores, but the Golden Hawks didn’t make things easy for the Titans on Friday.
“We played them before, and we really learned from that,” Rock South senior Maddie Keppel said. “We have definitely talked about different strategies about how to play a team like that. They’re very aggressive, and they go for the fouls. You really have to stay low. We’ve really been working on that together and individually as well.”
Rock South (15-5-1, 12-1-1 SOL) remains alive in its quest for a state playoff berth. The Golden Hawks will travel to Downingtown West next Wednesday to take on the sixth-seeded Whippets. They are two of four teams battling for the two remaining playoff spots. The Titans (19-1, 13-1 SOL) will face Hatboro-Horsham in a semifinal game on Wednesday.
Council Rock South 0-0 0
Central Bucks South 1-1 2
#1 WEST CHESTER HENDERSON 2, #8 CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 1
The Bucks hung tough against the district’s top-seeded team, and they had their opportunities, but in the end, they came up just short.
“We played such a good game today, and I would say for most of the game, we looked like the better team,” coach Courtney Hughes said. “We were controlling the ball, we were creating scoring opportunities.”
The Warriors got on the scoreboard at the 6:56 mark of the first half on a goal by Susannah Pitt that was set up by all-everything senior Katie O’Donnell during corner play. They took that 1-0 lead into halftime.
“I felt like we had more offensive opportunities in the first half than they did,” Hughes said. “We were really happy at halftime. We talked about how we just had to finish.”
In an evenly played second half, Pitt struck again with 7:39 remaining to put the Warriors on top 2-0. Again O’Donnell had a hand in the goal, this time delivering a cross from the right side.
O’Donnell has accepted a lacrosse scholarship to Penn State, but the senior standout could have her pick of schools for field hockey as well.
“Katie O’Donnell kind of took over,” Hughes said. “She was just dribbling through people. She would dribble 60 yards, and it would look like people were just standing still with their tackles.
“She is very skilled with her pulls and did a great job and looked to create a lot of opportunities for them. We were beating most of their players, but she was the one that did the most damage.”
The Bucks didn’t go down quietly, cutting the Warriors lead in half at the 6:51 mark when Erick Fiorelli scored a goal that was set up by teammate Kim Hitchcock. That 2-1 score stood until the final whistle.
“It was tough going against the top seed, but I was really proud of the kids,” Hughes said. “They didn’t back down, they played hard.
“They wanted it, and they were really disappointed at the end. They really, really wanted a chance to go against South again. They played their hearts out.
“The defense withstood a lot of pressure, especially in the second half. Bri (DeAngelis) had a couple of out-of-her-mind saves again. She just played really, really well. Our seniors played hard. I felt as though today was one of the best games we played in districts so far. We just came out on the bottom of the score.”
The Bucks (18-3, 12-2 SOL) will face fifth-seeded Conestoga in a battle for one of the two remaining state playoff berths on Wednesday.
“They want to go on to states, they want to continue playing together, and they’re excited to do so,” Hughes said.
Central Bucks West 0-1 1
West Chester Henderson 1-1 2
#14 HATBORO-HORSHAM 1, #6 DOWNINGTOWN WEST 0
Two days after sending third-seeded Plymouth Whitemarsh home for the season, the Hatters continued their magical postseason run, knocking off yet another favored opponent.
Friday’s win not only vaulted the Hatters into Wednesday’s district semifinals but also punched the team’s ticket to the state tournament. It is their first trip to states since 2006.
“Honestly, at first, it was just such an honor to even be in districts,” junior Jaime DiQuattro said. “We were number 14, and we thought, ‘Oh, that’s awesome.’
“To think we’re now in the top four is insane. I never thought we’d be here. I thought we could win one or two games, but the fact that we’re here right now is honestly astonishing. I am so excited.”
Defense was once again the name of the game for the Hatters, who went into halftime locked in a scoreless tie. This despite the fact that the Whippets held a 9-1 advantage in corners in the half.
“Our defense is incredible – the way they work together, the way they talk,” said DiQuattro, a midfielder. “Jane Henry is our center back, and she tells everybody where to go because she can see the whole field. She’s really a key part.”
Four minutes into the second half, the Hatters got on the scoreboard when Casey Swezey turned a pass from teammate Colby Eldridge into a goal.
“It was a great unselfish pass,” coach Swezey said. “They’ve been playing indoor together since they were nine or 10 years old,
“Colby had it inside the circle, and she knew she didn’t have a good angle and passed to her left, which is a tough ball to then get and shoot. Casey got it and did a nice flick into the cage. It was really pretty.”
The Whippets, who had a 5-2 corner advantage in the second half, had their chances to knot the score, including a corner as time expired, but the Hatters’ defense and goalie Emily Braunewell (eight saves) would not be denied.
Swezey, whose team was out-cornered 14-3, lauded the performance of her corner defense comprised of Braunewell, Jane Henry, Kelsy Hopkins, Eldridge and Jenna Cutilli.
“They did a great job,” Swezey said. “Emily had eight saves, but our defenders had some really nice saves.”
Swezey also acknowledged the defensive effort of DiQuattro.
“Jaime has been doing a really nice job,” the Hatters’ coach said. “She’s doing exactly what we ask her to do.
“They have a player that is committed to UVA, and Jaime did some nice things to try and contain her.”
The Hatters (14-5, 9-5 SOL) will face SOL Conference foe Central Bucks South in Wednesday’s district semifinal round, but for one day, the players and coaches were enjoying a win that capped a memorable week.
“It’s funny because we scrimmaged Downingtown West at the very beginning of the season, and we lost – I think it was 2-0,” DiQuattro said. “We all had that in the back of our heads coming into this game.
“We didn’t really talk about it, but we all kind of knew. Everything is coming together, and everyone pulled together, and it showed today.”
Hatboro-Horsham 0-1 1
Downingtown West 0-0 0
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