Check out the results for SOL field hockey teams in action Tuesday. To view photos of the CB South/North Penn game, please visit the Photo Gallery.
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 2, NORTH PENN 1
They knew they had their share of doubters coming into the season.
The eight-time defending SOL Continental Conference champions - who advanced to the state semifinals last fall - were minus Division One recruits Corinne Kenney, Emily Cliggett and Sam Bodo as well as Maggie Walsh, who is in the starting lineup at Gwynedd Mercy University.
“Everyone was kind of doubting us,” senior Steph Litzenberger said. “Kids at school ask, ‘How do you think you’re going to do?’ You just don’t know.”
For one day at least, the Titans silenced their doubters with a gutsy win over the Maidens in their league opener. Litzenberger scored a pair of goals, and senior goalie Sarah Zeszotarski was all but impenetrable in the cage, turning away 11 shots before the Maidens broke up her shutout bid with a goal in the closing seconds.
“I feel as though we’re more of a team unit this year – if something goes wrong, we’re there to back each other up, and if something goes great, we’re there to cheer each other on, pump each other up,” Zeszotarksi said.
It was Zeszotarski keeping the Titans in it during a first half that saw the Maidens apply some serious pressure. A key sequence came late in the half when the senior goalie turned away three consecutive shots during corner play, and at halftime, it was a 0-0 game.
“We definitely had control of the ball offensively, and we had more possession,” North Penn coach Sam McCracken said. “If we could have gotten an early goal, I think it would have made a big difference. I think the girls’ confidence would have been up a little more.
“We’re lacking a little experience, and we’re just trying to get comfortable with each other. We need a little more time to gel. The girls are working hard.”
It was Litzenberger scoring 31 seconds into the second half on a strong shot from the top of the circle, and the Titans led 2-0 when she found the cage with her second goal at the 23:06 mark.
“That was a big confidence boost for all of us,” Litzenberger said of getting on the scoreboard first. “You could feel the energy.
“Obviously, in the second half, we’re all tired, but like our coach says, ‘Once you get the first goal, you girls know you’re in control of the game, you keep the pace,’ and that’s what we do.”
“That first goal – I was jumping up and down in the goal cage,” Zeszotarski added. “In previous years, Steph’s been there ‘just in case,’ but this year she’s really stepped up to the plate. She’s going to be that player who always gives 110 percent. Even if we’re down a goal, she’s going to be the one sprinting up to that corner and reaching in for that tip. She’s always going to be there, and I can count on her for that.”
South’s 2-0 lead stood until sophomore Brianna O’Donnell scored in a scramble in front of the cage with 29 seconds remaining during corner play, but it was too little too late as the Titans earned the important win.
“Amazing – it feels very, very good,” coach Lindsay Walbrandt said. “I told the girls – those two goals brought tears to my eyes because it was a save, get the ball up, good passing, re-defending and tackling back, passing and a strong finish. That’s a team goal regardless who has the last touch.
“I’m so proud of the way they stepped up and played as a team. This was our chance to put our mark on our conference, and I think we did that today. It’s so hard coming in from last year, losing some really strong girls and getting a new coach.
“When I first met them in May when I was hired, I had no idea of any of their names – all 70 of them that came out for all three teams. Honestly, we started from square one. When I look back at our optional summer practices until now, I’m blown away with the progress they’ve made and the way they’ve bought into what I’m telling them. They’re playing like a team. That’s been our goal this year, and they’ve done that. I’m thoroughly, thoroughly impressed.”
The win came on the heels of a 6-0 loss to perennial powerhouse Episcopal Academy on Friday
“We had a rough game last week against Episcopal, but it was nice to have competition because these are games we’re going to have to play if we make it into districts, if we make it into states,” Zeszotarski said. “It was almost a slap in the face that we needed to pick it up, and we picked it up today. It was almost like two completely different teams.”
North Penn 0-1 1
Central Bucks South 0-2 2
BENSALEM 6, NORRISTOWN 1
The Owls exploded for three goals in each half to earn the no-doubt-about-it non-league win. Autumn McBride got the ball rolling when she turned an Alyssa Dalyrmple pass into a goal less than five minutes into the game. That 1-0 lead stood until just 6:30 remained in the half when McBride found Victoria Reid for the score. Less than a minute later, Madis Kubik scored to send the Owls into halftime with a 3-0 lead.
Another Dalrymple to McBride connection resulted in a goal at the 18:13 mark of the second half to put the Owls on top 4-0 before Georgia Werkiser scored midway through the half to put the Eagles on the scoreboard. McBride, who had a hand in five goals, got that goal back less than a minute later, using a Kara Bachman assist, and Kubik closed out the scoring with her second goal of the game, this one also with a McBride assist.
The Owls held just an 11-10 advantage in shots and 5-4 advantage in corners, but Bensalem goalie Selena Lee turned away nine shots in a strong performance to keep the Eagles at bay. Norristown goalie Lauren Whitley was credited with two saves.
Norristown 0-1 1
Bensalem 3-3 6
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 8, HATBORO-HORSHAM 0
The Golden Hawks came back from Friday’s opening day loss at Central Bucks East with a vengeance, opening up a 4-0 halftime lead and rolling to the shutout win.
Caroline McGovern led the offensive onslaught with four goals and an assist.
It was Paige Schmid connecting on a goal just over two minutes into the game, and the visiting Hawks were off and running. Back-to-back goals by McGovern, the first with a Tori Wright assist, gave the Golden Hawks a 3-0 lead less than 14 minutes into the game. A goal by Sarah Womer (Schmid assist) sent the Hawks into halftime with a 4-0 lead.
Another Womer goal at the 17:40 mark of the second half, again with a Schmid assist, put the Hawks on top 5-0, and just over a minute later McGovern scored to complete her hat trick. Mikayla VanAken (McGovern assist) connected to make it a 7-0 game, and McGovern closed out the scoring with her fourth goal, this time with a VanAken assist.
The Golden Hawks generated 16 corners. Goalie Julia Pero was forced to make just one save in the shutout win while Hatboro-Horsham’s Liz Wilburn had 14 saves.
Council Rock South 4-4 8
Hatboro-Horsham 0-0 0
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 8, GARNET VALLEY 1
The Patriots continued their torrid offensive production, exploding for eight goals on their way to a rout of the Jaguars. Riley Donnelly collected her second hat trick in as many games to lead the Patriots. She also had a pair of assists, but the sophomore standout had plenty of help. Junior Abbey Butler scored a pair of goals while Kelsey Mulholland added a single goal and a pair of assists. Rachel Fife and Reilly Finnegan added single goals.
“(We were) able to take advantage of our scoring opportunities today while defending some tough attacking pressure from Garnet Valley in the second half,” coach Michelle Finegan said. “Abbey Butler started off the scoring for CB East, and Riley Donnelly and Kelsey Mulholland also added some great scoring.
“Rachel Fife and Reilly Finegan added a couple terrific goals as well. We are starting to work better together and hope to continue improving this week with Suburban One League games on the horizon.”
CB East goalie Sydney Richter turned away 11 shots in a strong outing while Garnet Valley’s Bridget Elison had 16 saves in a busy afternoon. The Patriots held a 25-13 advantage in shots while the Jaguars had a 5-4 edge in corners.
Central Bucks East 5-3 8
Garnet Valley 1-0 1
Saturday, Sept. 5
QUAKERTOWN 8, PALISADES 0
Senior Becky Gerhart and Emma McLaughlin both connected for the hat trick in a contest the Panthers owned from start to finish. It was Gerhart putting the Panthers on the scoreboard with a reverse chip goal, marking the first of three straight goals for the senior captain. Julia Ely tipped in a shot by McLaughlin to put the Panthers on top 4-0, and in the closing moments of the half, McLaughlin dribbled around several defenders for the score to send the Panthers into halftime with a 5-0 lead.
In the opening minutes of the second half, McLaughlin found the cage again, this time using a Gerhart assist. Hilary Scott turned a McLaughlin pass into a goal, and McLaughlin closed out the scoring, turning a pass from Jenn Jiminez into a goal and the 8-0 final.
The Panthers, according to coach Diane Molinaro, played a wide open passing game against a tough Palisades squad.
“We continue to grow and develop as a team,” the Panthers’ coach said. “I am happy to see major contributions from all the players and look forward to a competitive game against CB West this week.”
The Panthers will host the Bucks in the SOL opener for both squads on Wednesday afternoon.
Quakertown 5-3 8
Palisades 0-0 0
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