Central Bucks South advanced to Saturday’s District One AAA title game, thanks to Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Hatboro-Horsham. To view photos of all the action, please visit the Photo Gallery.
#2 CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 2, #14 HATBORO-HORSHAM 0
The stage has been set.
Central Bucks South and West Chester Henderson took care of business on Wednesday, ensuring that the district’s top two seeds will meet in Saturday’s District One AAA title game at Wissahickon High School (3:30 p.m.).
“I’m happy we came up with a victory and that we’ll be heading to the championship game this weekend, but we have to play even harder this weekend, and we all know that,” senior captain Megan Hamilton said.
This was the third meeting between the two SOL Continental Conference rivals with the Titans winning all three. Although the score was the same as the last time the two teams met, Wednesday’s game was a far cry from that game, which saw the Titans draw 20 corners and fire 22 shots on goal with Emily Braunewell singlehandedly keeping her team in it with 20 saves.
In Wednesday’s showdown, the Titans weren’t as dominant, holding a 7-3 advantage in shots and a 7-1 edge in corners.
“Usually they have over 20 corners a game, and today they hardly had any,” Hatter defensive back Jane Henry said. “I think we just tried to give the second effort.”
“We contained a few players who draw the corners,” Hatter coach Laura Swezey added. “I’m please with how we controlled the ball. We just have to capitalize when we have it.”
The Titans got on the scoreboard at the 17:38 mark of the first half when Hamilton, who scored both of her team’s goals, connected. The play marked the end of a passing sequence that began with Corrine Kenney in the defensive end and included a pass from Emily Cliggett to Hamilton, who carried the ball into the circle and fired a rocket into the cage.
Late in the half, the Hatters generated their biggest offensive threat of the game firing a pair of shots that Titan goalie Sarah Zeszotarski turned away – the first with a diving save and the second while on the ground.
If the Titans needed insurance, they got it when – during corner play with 5:54 remaining in regulation – Hamilton deflected a Cliggett shot into the cage for the 2-0 final.
“They were pretty strong in the back, and we weren’t connecting as much as we should have,” Kenney said.
“We came out hard in the beginning,” Hamilton said. “Towards the end, we were getting very flustered, and we needed to slow down more.
Although they weren’t thrilled with their performance, the Titans (20-1, 13-1 SOL) did what they needed to do to get the win.
“Today we knew in the first five minutes that if Hatboro didn’t change the way they were going to play – we were well prepared for that, just hitting the ball, throwing the ball in the air,” co-coach Jeff Harding said. “I thought we made the most of the chances we had and countered and got the win.”
The Hatters (14-6-1, 9-5) will face Owen J Roberts in the third place game. They have already ensured themselves a spot in states.
“My senior year going to states – I don’t really care that we lost this game,” Henry said. “We have another game this week, and we’re going out with a bang. I’m so excited.”
Hatboro-Horsham 0-0 0
Central Bucks South 1-1 0
#5 CONESTOGA 1, #8 CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 0
Olivier Everts, the top scorer on Conestoga’s field hockey team the last two season, connected for the game’s only goal with seven minutes remaining until halftime.
“He took a real nice shot,” West coach Courtney Hughes said. “He carried the ball to his left hand side and then turned around and reverse shot. Our goalie never saw it.
“We definitely had some scoring opportunities. There was one in the beginning of the second half – I thought it was in the goal cage. I wouldn’t say our chances were as clean as their chances, but we had some opportunities to score.”
The Bucks fell short of their ultimate goal of a return trip to the state tournament, but a second place finish in the SOL Continental Conference and a trip to the quarterfinals of districts was no small feat.
“They were all really upset because they wanted it so bad,” Hughes said. “They were playing with such heart all season as evidenced by all of our overtime wins, and that was hard to reconcile for our seniors because they felt they left our team down because they couldn’t get us back to states.
“The five seniors we’re losing are the heart of our team. They really showed what CB West’s heart is all about. It was really great for our young kids to get a chance to be a part of that because there is a bright future for the program.
“We have some really skilled players coming up, and they got to play with and see what that passion to play looks like. It’s hard to think of that now because you’re losing such amazing players.”
Hughes bids farewell to Elena Romseburg, Erick Fiorelli, Kate Varallo, Caitlyn Lowery and Maddie Shields.
“Every member of the senior class all had a role,” she said. “They built this team into what it is. When you think of all the things they’ve gone through, they were the steady ones.”
The Bucks closed out their season with a record of 18-4 (12-2 SOL).
Central Bucks West 0-0 0
Conestoga 1-0 1
#6 DOWNINGTOWN WEST 2, #7 COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 0
The Whippets scored a goal in each half, and the Golden Hawks had no answer. The Golden Hawks closed out their year with an SOL National Conference title and a 15-6-1 record overall. They were 12-1-1 in league play.
Council Rock South 0-0 0
Downingtown West 1-1 2
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