Check out the results of SOL field hockey teams in action Wednesday.
American Conference
WISSAHICKON 1, PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 0
On Sept. 9, the Trojans lost to Plymouth Whitemarsh 4-1. It was the second game of a difficult nine-game stretch that saw the Trojans lose five and tie one.
This week, the Trojans turned the tables on two of those teams, avenging a 1-1 tie with Upper Moreland with a 4-1 win over the Golden Bears on Monday and following that by handing PW its first conference loss on Wednesday.
“I think my girls have been really coming along,” coach Lucy Gil said. “It’s such a nice turnaround. They’re playing with a lot more intensity and purpose. They’ve somehow decided that this season wasn’t going to be a bust, and they were going to put everything they have into it.
“It was really nice to see this team turn it around because they’re such good kids. They played a really good game today.”
The Trojans’ improved play coincides with the return to the lineup of Brianna Miles on Saturday.
“She’s our sweeper, she coordinates the defense, she talks it up back there, tells everyone who to mark and who to be with,” Gil said. “Today she made two saves behind the goalkeeper.
“I think she’s making quite a difference back there, and I think the girls are just so happy to have her back. I think they trust her, and they have a lot of confidence in her. I think she’s made a really big difference.”
Sophie Hessler broke a scoreless tie at the 14:41 mark of the second half, turning a pass from Marie Dickson on a penalty corner into a goal that proved to be the game winner.
“It was a pretty even game,” Gil said. “No one was overpowering anyone. It could have easily gone either way.
“Even being able to say that is nice because we lost to them 4-1 the last time around. For us even to stay with them and to pull one out like that was very sweet.”
Gil went on to laud the efforts of several players, including sweeper Kyra Myers.
“I have two sweepers, and both of them stopped them almost every time,” she said. “They did such a great job of not letting them near the goalie. They both were on fire today.
“Kara Miles is my left back, and she was everywhere today. She was back, she was forward. She is playing really well.”
With the return to the lineup of Brianna Miles, Lauren Marolla returned to her center back position.
“She provides a lot of that umph, and having her at center back helps us get our offense started,” Gil said. “It was hard when we didn’t have her there.
“What it does is we stop people at the 50 instead of all the way in our circle sometimes, so having her there really helps.”
Trojan goalie Claire Tarzia was credited with nine saves while PW’s Tori Byrne had eight. The Colonials held a 10-6 advantage in corners.
“Today’s game was a huge disappointment,” PW coach Marianne Paparone said. “It was a big game, and we did not play well – it seems like we played more not to lose instead of playing to win, and the pressure of being undefeated (in league play) got to us.
“We made too many errors, made poor decisions and did not play with intensity. It is difficult to beat teams twice in a season, and hopefully, today we learned that lesson. It was a game that we could have won but did not play smart enough or hard enough.”
While the Colonials fell to 9-1 in the league (10-4 overall), the Trojans are 6-3-1 in league play (6-6-1 overall).
Wissahickon 0-1 1
Plymouth Whitemarsh 0-0 0
UPPER MORELAND 2, UPPER DUBLIN 0
The Golden Bears responded to Monday’s disappointing loss to Wissahickon with a strong showing against a Flying Cardinal squad that brought a five-game winning streak into the game.
Junior Delaney Smith put the Golden Bears on the scoreboard at the 7:51 mark of the first half after a strong individual effort, carrying the ball into the circle and scoring on a shot that deflected off the goalie into the upper corner of the cage. That 1-0 lead stood until halftime.
“Once we get a goal I feel our spirit is up and we know that we can do this,” Smith said. “Last year I feel as though we struggled all the time.
“When we score, we get more confident in ourselves and our team.”
“We actually tell ourselves we need to get that first goal,” teammate Samara Santry said, “Because that’s what gets us started when we go out hard in the beginning.”
The Flying Cardinals, who did not have a shot in the first half, drew four straight corners to open the second half. The Golden Bears’ defense stood tall.
“It really helped that we held them, especially when they had all those corners,” coach Karen Grossi said.
The Golden Bears drew four consecutive corners of their own. They did not covert any of them into a goal, but they sealed the Cardinals’ fate when – with 3:22 remaining in regulation – Jess Flanagan completed a passing sequence that began with a Smith cross that was deflected by Maura O’Leary to Flanagan for the 2-0 final.
The win over Upper Dublin was the second of the season for the Golden Bears, who had not defeated the Cardinals since 2008 coming into this season.
The Golden Bears held a 7-1 advantage in shots and a 7-5 edge in corners.
With the win, the Golden Bears upped their record to 6-3-1 in league play (8-4-1 overall) while the Flying Cardinals are 7-3 in the league (7-5 overall).
Upper Dublin 0-0 0
Upper Moreland 1-1 2
UPPER MERION 2, NORRISTOWN 1
The Vikings opened up a 2-0 lead before the Eagles scored a late goal. Danielle Antonucci connected at the 16:43 mark of the first half to send the Vikings into halftime with a 1-0 lead. They upped that lead to 2-0 when Kaitlyn Lutz (Antonucci assist) scored midway through the second half.
Norristown’s Natalie Mitchell broke up the Vikings’ shutout bid with a goal at 8:48 mark for the 2-1 final.
“We played with intensity from start to finish,” coach Angie Yanocha said. “They worked well together as a team, and it was a nice comeback after a tough loss to PW on Monday.”
Viking goalie Devyn Antonucci was credited with six saves.
Upper Merion is 4-6 in league play (5-8 overall), and the Eagles are 0-10 in the league (0-13 overall).
Norristown 0-1 1
Upper Merion1-1 2
SPRINGFIELD 2, CHELTENHAM 1
The two teams exchanged goals in the first half with the Lady Panthers getting on the scoreboard when Madison Gianelle converted a penalty stroke into a goal at the 21:52 mark. Tara Murphy connected for the Spartans, who found themselves deadlocked with the Lady Panthers 1-1 at halftime.
Christine Campbell scored the game winner for the Spartans, who held a lopsided advantage in shots (18-2) and corners (16-1).
Cheltenham goalie Tegan Dorley was credited with 13 saves.
The Spartans are 6-5 in SOL play (7-5 overall) while the Lady Panthers are 1-9 in the league (2-11 overall).
Cheltenham 1-0 1
Springfield 1-1 2
Continental Conference
QUAKERTOWN 4, NORTH PENN 3 (OT)
The Panthers have been on an emotional roller coaster ride this week.
On the same day they received the good news that they would have been 19th seed in the 28-team District One AAA field as of Sept. 27, the Panthers were upset by Souderton.
“On Monday, they all had their heads hanging low and were really upset after the loss,” coach Alyssa Maltese said. “Then they posted the seedings, and I said, ‘That loss hurts us a little bit, but your chances aren’t over. While the loss is going to drop us, it’s not the end of us.’”
The Panthers responded with a thrilling overtime win over a Maiden squad that is in third place in the conference standings. It was Becky Gerhart (Emma McLaughlin assist) delivering the dramatic game winner during corner play with 4:53 remaining in OT.
“Coming off of Monday’s loss, the girls were disappointed, and I give them all the credit for picking themselves back up and getting it together,” Maltese said. “They were working hard today.
“That’s all we asked of them today was to focus and work hard, and they did it. They played 70 minutes of hockey today.”
The Panthers got on the scoreboard first when Megan Thompson converted a penalty stroke into a goal midway through the half. The Maidens rallied to knot the score on an unassisted goal by Amanda Laessig in the closing minute of the half.
Gerhart (McLaughlin assist) scored at the 26:31 mark of the second half to put the Panthers on top, but again, the Maidens had an answer. This time it was Casey O’Donnell converting a penalty stroke into a goal to knot the score 2-2.
The pattern continued when Quakertown’s Gabby Dontonville scored during a corner with 2:53 remaining in regulation only to watch Laessig (Jennifer DeLongis assist) answer with the equalizer with 1:11 remaining in regulation, setting the stage for overtime.
“I think we just played as a team – worked together,” Maltese said. “Everyone transitioned the ball – our transitions were good.
“When we were on defense, everyone was dropping and marking. We played team defense, and we also outletted the ball and were able to work it outside and then back in.”
Although the win was a team effort, the Panthers coach acknowledged the performances of several players.
“Emma McLaughlin did a great job of keeping the ball in our attacking end and creating corners and creating scoring opportunities,” Maltese said. “Becky Gerhart scored the game winner along with the second goal earlier in the game, and she worked hard in the midfield on both sides of the ball.
“Hillary Scott and Megan Thompson definitely anchored our defense as they have for the entire season. They just kept them all together. I think we just played as a team today. Everybody had a hand in it.”
Quakertown goalie Rylee Lawler was credited with 12 saves while North Penn goalie Marissa Elizardo had 11.
The Panthers upped their league record to 4-6 (7-6 overall) while the Maidens are 6-4 in league play (7-6 overall).
North Penn 1-2-0 3
Quakertown 1-2-1 4
HATBORO-HORSHAM 2, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 1 (OT)
The Hatters won in dramatic fashion on Wednesday night, edging the visiting Patriots when Kelsy Hopkins scored at the 4:30 mark of overtime.
“It was just a great game – it was a true battle,” Hatters’ coach Laura Swezey said. “The Hatters really went to the ball tonight.
“We made a few changes in positions. We switched Jenna Cutilli to center back, and she played a commanding role on defense. Our defense was really on and communicating tonight, and our middies and forwards transitioned the ball quickly and effectively up the field.”
The loss avenged a 3-2 loss at the hands of the Patriots earlier this season, and this one was another nail biter.
“It was back and forth play,” Swezey said of OT. “A breakaway up the field for the Hatters that led to an intense scrum in front of the CB East cage with Jaime DiQuattro and Kelsy Hopkins resulted in a picture perfect lift for a goal by Kelsy with an assist from Jaime.”
Earlier, it was the Hatters taking a 1-0 lead at the 23:04 mark of the first half.
“Casey Swezey brought the ball into the circle with a nice angled sweep shot on goal and Gabby Acker had a perfect deflection,” coach Swezey said.
The Patriots rallied to knot the score at the 20:21 mark of the second half when Abby Butler turned a Maggie Ryder pass into the equalizer. That 1-1 tie held until Hopkins’ game winner.
Swezey lauded the performances of several players, noting that Jenna Cutilli, Brenna Reilley, Keeley Henry, Kaitlyn Wallace and Emily Braunewell played solid defense.
“CB East had nine corners in the second half and two in overtime, and the HH corner group of Emily Braunewell, Jenna Cutilli, Jaime DiQuattro, Kelsy Hopkins and Casey Swezey kept it scoreless,” coach Swezey said.
The Hatters’ coach went on to laud the performance of East freshman Riley Donnelly.
“She once again was deadly bringing the ball up the field and had excellent shots on goal,” Swezey said.
East goalie Betty Wesney collected 14 saves.
"She had a phenomenal game and stayed very composed throughout the entire game," coach Brittany Kocis said.
The Hatters are 5-5 in league play (7-5 overall) while the Patriots are 4-6 in the league (7-7 overall).
Central Bucks East 0-1-0 1
Hatboro-Horsham 1-0-1 2
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 1, SOUDERTON 0
Kim Hitchcock scored a goal that turned out to be the game winner at the 14:20 mark of the second half during a scramble in front of the cage.
“(We) created a ton of scoring opportunities, but the Souderton defense and goalie Shelby Landes were able to turn away 22 total shots,” West coach Courtney Hughes said. “During the first half, (we) had two goals called back that kept the score knotted at zero.”
The Bucks, who will host Council Rock South on Thursday at War Memorial Field, had 15 penalty corners.
West improved to 9-1 in SOL play (12-1 overall) while the Indians are 2-8 in conference play (4-8 overall).
Central Bucks West 0-1 1
Souderton 0-0 0
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 5, PENNRIDGE 0
Emily Cliggett and Corrine Kenney are emerging as a power pair in the Continental Conference. Both turned in big performances in the Titans’ 5-1 win over Hatboro-Horsham on Monday, and they were back at it again on Wednesday.
This time it was Cliggett with two goals and two assists while Kenney had one goal and two assists.
It was Kenney (Cliggett assist) connecting on a direct corner shot to put the Titans on the scoreboard, and then Cliggett scored on a tip of a Kenney corner shot to send the Titans into halftime with a 2-0 lead.
Lauren Zakrewski duplicated Cliggett’s goal, scoring off a corner tip with a Kenney assist. Steph Litzenberger (Cliggett assist) connected to put the Titans on top 4-0, and then it was Cliggett scoring an unassisted goal for the 5-0 final.
The Titans upped their conference record to a perfect 10-0 (12-2 overall) while the Rams fell to 0-10 in the league (1-12 overall).
Central Bucks South 2-3 5
Pennridge 0-0 0
National Conference
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 7, HARRY S TRUMAN 0
The Indians wasted little time before seizing control of Wednesday night’s game, scoring six goals in the first 12 minutes and taking that 6-0 advantage into halftime. Jackie Salantri scored her first goal of the season to account for the lone score of the second half.
“Micayla Young had an outstanding game, scoring her first goal of the season and recording two assists,” coach Heather Whalin said.
Jennica Jonovich and Anna Lehman both scored two goals, and Rachel Pomerantz added one goal for the Indians, who remained perfect on the season.
Rock North is 10-0 in the league (13-0 overall) while the Tigers are 1-9 in the league (2-9 overall).
Council Rock North 6-1 7
Harry S Truman 0-0 0
PENNSBURY 6, BENSALEM 0
Haley Toadvine scored a pair of goals to lead the Falcons, who took a 3-0 lead into halftime. Teammates Sarah Zazzu, Missy Frankil, Nell Webber – up from jayvee – and Alyssa Bartkus each added single goals.
The Falcons are 7-3 in conference play (7-7 overall), and the Owls are 0-10 in the league (1-11 overall).
Bensalem 0-0 0
Pennsbury 3-2 5
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 7, ABINGTON 0
Katie Bagdon connected for the hat trick – all in the first half – as the Golden Hawks sprinted to a 5-0 lead by the intermission. Caroline McGovern and Nikki Boyd also scored single goals in the half.
Boyd – who finished with two goals – and Paige Schmid both scored a goal in the second half for the 7-0 final.
The Golden Hawks are 8-2 in league play (9-4 overall), and the Ghosts are 2-7-1 in the conference (3-9-1 overall).
Abington 0-0 0
Council Rock South 5-2 7
NESHAMINY 5, WILLIAM TENNENT 0 (Tuesday, Sept. 30)
Christen Pennington (Mia Sexton assist) got the ball rolling with a goal three minutes into the game, and two minutes later, it was Pennington assisting on an Amanda Blum goal. Midway through the opening half, Abby Alexis connected on her first of two goals – this one unassisted. Then it was Jamie Renman turning an Alexis pass into a goal, sending the Redskins into halftime wtih a 4-0 lead.
Alexis connected for an unassisted goal three minutes into the second half to close out the scoring.
The Redskins held a 23-3 advantage in shots. Neshaminy's Hailey Sheppard was forced to make just three saves in the shutout. Tennent goal Trish McCory turned away 18 shots.
Neshaminy 4-1 5
William Tennent 0-0 0
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