Check out the results from SOL field hockey teams in action Tuesday.
HATBORO-HORSHAM 1, COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 0
The Hatters opened their season with a hard-fought non-league win over the Golden Hawks. Kelsy Hopkins scored the game’s only goal in the first half, connecting on a drive with an assist from Jenna Cutilli on a corner.
According to coach Laura Swezey, Cutilli, Hopkins and Casey Swezey controlled the midfield.
Goalie Emily Braunewell was credited with 11 saves.
“Brenna Reilly, Kelley Henry, Kait Wallace, Ally Lavery and Emily (Braunewell) did a great job on ‘D’ containing CR South’s threats in the circle,” coach Swezey said.
Rock South will travel to Harry S Truman for a 7 p.m. game on Wednesday while the Hatters will travel to Souderton for a 7 p.m. contest.
Hatboro-Horsham 1-0 1
Council Rock South 0-0 0
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 2, WEST CHESTER HENDERSON 1
The Indians had a little score to settle when the Warriors came to town on Tuesday. Last year, Henderson – which went on to defeat CB South for the District One AAA title – humbled the Indians by a 5-0 score. A year earlier, the Warriors brought an end to the Indians’ season with a 3-0 win in the second round of districts.
On Tuesday, the Indians exacted a degree of revenge.
“It was a real nice win, considering they destroyed us 5-0 last year and the year before that they knocked us out of playoffs,” coach Heather Whalin said. “It was definitely a big win because we know they’re the defending champs, and they still have phenomenal players.
“We needed a big win. We needed something to solidify that we’re moving in the right direction, but we still have a lot to learn and a long way to go.”
Gigi Tutoni (Jennica Jonovich assist) put the Indians on the scoreboard with a goal 10 minutes into the game. That 1-0 lead held until the 6:15 mark of the second half when the defending district champs knotted the score.
“We had a defensive breakdown,” Whalin said.
Unfazed, the Indians answered with a goal 45 seconds later when Anna Lehman connected after a scramble in front of the cage, using a Jonovich assist. That 2-1 lead held until the final whistle.
“We had a lot of back and forth play,” Whalin said. “It was a lot of midfield play. The heat was bad, and they stopped the game at 15 minutes for a mandatory water break.
“Their defense was really good, and they had great middle of the field play. I knew that it was going to be our middle versus their middle, and the ball pretty much stayed there the whole time.
“They’re definitely very skilled. I know they don’t play on grass traditionally, but our grass is beautiful, and it played pretty quick. They’re well coached.”
The Indians held an 11-5 advantage in shots.
“Our execution was good today,” Whalin said. “I’m very proud of the way my midfield played with Amrit Ahluwalia, Theresa Delehanty and Gigi Tutoni, and my forwards did a really nice job.
“I had a standout player today who doesn’t get a lot of attention but saved our butts a couple of times, and that’s Hannah Stalker. She’s our back, and she’s very quiet, and you don’t see her a lot because Amrit is just this presence, but she had a really good game today.”
Rock North will host William Tennent in its SOL opener Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.
West Chester Henderson 0-1 1
Council Rock North 1-1 2
NORTH PENN 3, DOWNINGTOWN WEST 2 (OT)
It was the story of two halves for the Maidens on Tuesday.
In the opening half, the Whippets scored a pair of goals in the final 11 minutes to go into halftime with a 2-0 lead. They weren’t heard from the rest of the way as the Maidens rallied to send the game into overtime. They won it in dramatic fashion when senior Amanda Laessig turned a Casey O’Donnell pass into her third goal of the afternoon.
“I would love to say I had an amazing halftime speech,” coach Shannon McCracken said. “All we talked about at halftime was that we were playing soft in the first half.
“We were just playing soft. We weren’t attacking the ball, we weren’t winning the 50-50 balls, we weren’t going to goal hard, and we weren’t playing intense enough. I was a little unsure after the halftime talk what team was going to come out in the second half.”
McCracken needn’t have worried.
“It was like I put a new team on the field in the second half,” she said.
Laessig’s unassisted goal seven minutes into the second half got the ball rolling. She scored the equalizer – using an O’Donnell assist – with 10:20 remaining in regulation. She cashed in on the game winner at the 12:29 mark in overtime.
“She had an amazing half,” McCracken said. “She’s been working really hard this whole preseason, and I was really happy to see her have a great game today.
“She’s one of our senior captains. She was just in the right place, she was directing her teammates, and she just stepped up in a big role in the second half.”
The Maidens’ coach went on to laud the performances of several other players.
“Casey O’Donnell set up two of the goals, and she had a really nice game,” McCracken said. “Frankie Tossona had a great game defensively.”
The win came on the heels of a loss to Methacton in the season opener.
“It was a huge win in a lot of ways,” McCracken said. “To have a game go into overtime early in the season so you get that experience and win it – you can think back in the future and think, ‘We won that one.’
“Just to have a comeback win early in the season like that is awesome too. When you need that comeback late in the season, you can say ‘Hey, remember when we did it against Downingtown West,’ which is a very good team. It was a big win.”
The Maidens held an advantage in shots (12-9) and corners (8-3). Maiden goalie Marissa Elizardo was credited with seven saves.
The Maidens (1-1) are back in action Wednesday when they will host Central Bucks South at 3:45 p.m. in their league opener.
Downingtown West 2-0-0 2
North Penn 0-2-1 3
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 3, GARNET VALLEY 0
The Patriots picked their first win of the season on Tuesday, but getting the win was almost secondary to coach Brittany Kocis.
“It was important for them to play together and play the game we’ve been practicing and just putting it together,” the first-year coach said. “It was interesting because today you could really see they were trusting each other, and you could see them becoming the team they have had the potential for years to be.
“It was about them coming together, trusting each other and having fun.”
A goal from Riley Donnelly (Katelyn Stout assist) put the Patriots on the scoreboard, and they took that 1-0 lead into halftime. Abbey Butler (Donnelly assist) and Maggie Ryder added second half goals.
Kocis called the win a team effort but credited the performance of Gabby Hieber.
“She was very strong today and showed real good stick skills,” the Patriots’ coach said. “Also, we had two underclassmen step up defensive-wise – Theresa Haug and Sarah Sheehy, and that was very nice to see. Our defense did a great job.”
The Patriots will host Pennridge in Wednesday’s season opener.
Garnet Valley 0-0 0
Central Bucks East 1-2 3
MOUNT ST. JOSEPH 2, NESHAMINY 1
The Redskins lost a heartbreaker on Tuesday. A goal by Mackenzie Turchi (Abby Alexis assist) sent the ‘Skins into halftime with a 1-0 lead, and they held that lead until the Magic scored the equalizer with time about to expire. They went on to win it in overtime.
The Redskins will travel to Bensalem for Wednesday’s league opener.
Neshaminy 1-0-0 1
Mount St. Joseph 0-1-1 2
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