Check out the results for SOL field hockey teams in action Wednesday.
American Conference
WISSAHICKON 4, PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 0
What a difference a day makes.
Twenty-four hours after absorbing a 5-0 drubbing at the hands of Hatboro-Horsham, the Trojans responded with a gem in Wednesday’s high stakes game against archrival PW.
“I think we were so flat yesterday, and we came out with a mindset that we knew we were going to lose to Hatboro,” said senior Kara Miles, acknowledging that the players hadn’t forgotten last year’s 7-1 loss to the Hatters. “We knew we had two of our hardest games this week.
“After our 5-0 loss yesterday, we said, ‘If that happens tomorrow, it’s not going to be pretty.’”
“We came together as a team yesterday after the game,” added senior goalie Claire Tarzia. “We all knew that it wasn’t the team that we are. We came together and we said that’s not who we want to be against PW. It’s an in-league game, it’s a team that’s always known as a rival to us, and we wanted to come out and show them and show the league who we really are.”
The Trojans wasted little time before proving their point. Emily Purnell (Sammi Pak assist) scored midway through the opening half, and when Pak (Marie Dickson assist) connected with 9:14 remaining, the Trojans led 2-0 heading into halftime.
“Just the way they played – they played together, they put the ball on each other’s sticks,” coach Lucy Gil said. “They weren’t creaming it up the field. They were really looking for each other. The defense held strong.”
If there was any doubt about the outcome, those doubts were put to rest when Jess Waite (Sam Scoma assist) scored on a shot across goal to spot the Trojans a 3-0 lead just over seven minutes into the second half. Waite added a second goal with 4:07 remaining, this time using a Miles assist, for the 4-0 final.
It was a far cry from the preceding day’s loss to the Hatters.
“We talked a lot more today – it was a lot louder, and we grew a lot more trusting of our teammates,” Miles said. “We really came together – yesterday we were kind of playing individually.
“We came back out for revenge for PW. We want our league championship back.”
The key to Wednesday’s win, according to Tarzia, was teamwork.
“We walked off the field today, and Sam Mullin looked at me and said, ‘We really connected today. That was the team I know,’” Tarzia said. “She really just summed it up.
“You watch the transitions and the passes that went through everyone, and everyone just was there. They trusted their teammates.”
“The other big thing we have been working on at practice is our transitions,” Miles added. “We have this great offensive line and we have this great defensive unit, but we haven’t come together.
“I think this was the first game we really had great transitions and were working solidly. If it came down on the defense, it was right back up on the offense. We have some great people – Sam Scoma, Marie Dickson, Emily Purnell and Jess Waite – basically the whole forward line was connecting flat and through up the field to score the goals. They weren’t easy goals, but they were pretty.”
Tarzia was credited with 13 saves in a clutch shutout performance in goal, and according to the senior goalie, the team that showed up against PW is the team that has to show up every game.
“We have been having a tough time showing up, and against Hatboro-Horsham you saw it,” Tarzia said. “Today we were there, and it needs to be there every day or we’re not the team we need to be.”
“Today I felt like I saw so many white (uniformed) players on the field – it wasn’t like I was just seeing the other team come on me,” Miles said. “I saw my team, and I heard them calling for the ball. We were able to get those connections, which we have had trouble with.”
Last year, the Trojans fell to PW 4-1 in the initial meeting between the two squads.
“They really wanted to win,” Gil said. “They’ve been talking about wanting to beat PW because they finished first last year, and they want to give themselves a chance to be in first place this year.
“It was a surprise even to me that they could turn it around this quickly. I didn’t know what to expect coming into today. I knew they had it in them, and I knew they could play better than yesterday, but for them to turn it around like this was night and day.”
Wissahickon (3-2, 3-0 SOL) will travel to Upper Merion Friday, and Plymouth Whitemarsh (2-2, 2-1) will be on the road at Upper Dublin.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 0-0 0
Wissahickon 2-2 4
NORRISTOWN 3, UPPER MERION 0
It looks like there could be ice cream for everyone at the Eagles’ practice on Thursday.
“What we’ve been working on in practice was our flicks,” Norristown coach Rachel Shuster said. “The deal that I gave them was – whoever had a successful flick in the game would get a treat, so we’re actually having ice cream tomorrow.
“Literally, every one of them – if they could not flick, they shot a ball that was like a lifted ball. We tried to use being on grass to our advantage, so we practiced on grass yesterday, so they could get a feel for what we were going to have today.”
Delzayah Culbreath spotted the visiting Eagles a 1-0 lead when she connected at the 15:27 mark of the first half, and Norristown was on its way to its first SOL win since the Eagles defeated Cheltenham 2-1 on Oct. 16, 2013, in the final conference game of the season.
“This was fabulous for us,” Shuster said. “We definitely needed it – it boosted everyone.
“Once they got that first goal, it gave them more confidence to keep going. It was a little bit different. We’ve spent a lot of time on defense, and today we didn’t have that much time on defense, which was great.”
The Eagles tacked on an insurance goal in the second half when Brihanna McIntyre scored at the 22:34 mark. That 2-0 lead stood the rest of the way.
“We needed to work a little bit on transitioning down the field,” Shuster said. “Once we get it down there it keeps popping back out, but we were able to keep it down there today. It was great.”
Shuster lauded the strong performance of Emani Guy on defense.
“She had a great game clearing the ball out,” the Eagles’ coach said. “Georgia Werkiser had some great hits down the field.
“They all played amazing as a team. I was very impressed with everyone. I’m very proud.”
Norristown (1-4, 1-2 SOL) will travel to Cheltenham on Friday, and Upper Merion (1-4, 0-3) will host Wissahickon.
Norristown 2-1 3
Upper Merion 0-0 0
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 1, CHELTENHAM 0 (OT)
Madison Baer carried the ball into the circle and slammed home the game winner early in overtime, propelling the Spartans to the dramatic win.
“(Cheltenham) has been playing better,” Springfield coach Linda Nixon said of a Lady Panther squad that suffered its first conference loss. “The game was up and down.”
The important win came on the heels of an 8-0 beating at the hands of Germantown Academy 24 hours earlier.
“We needed to dig ourselves out of the turf and come back and play,” Nixon said. “We were really beaten yesterday – we were in the mercy rule in the first half.
“I knew they’re good, but we just could not get going. Their turf is just terrific, and unfortunately, I think it’s getting more and more difficult to change surfaces and be successful. It’s a different game.”
Springfield goalie Isabelle Boles recorded seven saves in the shutout win.
“Yesterday at GA, she had a fabulous game,” Nixon said of Boles, who had 15 saves against the Patriots. “She really had a great game, and she also had a good game today, but she was not tested nearly as much.”
The Spartans held a 10-6 advantage in penalty corners while the Lady Panthers had a 7-5 edge in shots.
“Hopefully, we learned some things, and we’ll get our act back together,” Nixon said.
The Spartans coach credited the strong performances of defensive back Brianna Buckley, midfielder Victoria Ebner, and defensive back Sharyn Wilson.
Springfield (2-2, 2-1 SOL) will travel to Upper Moreland on Friday while Cheltenham (2-1, 2-3) will host Norristown.
Cheltenham 0-0-0 0
Springfield 0-0-1 1
UPPER MORELAND 6, UPPER DUBLIN 2
The Golden Bears found themselves deadlocked 1-1 with the Flying Cardinals early in the second half, but they closed out the game with five unanswered goals to earn their first win of the young season.
Emily Zanine accounted for the lone goal of the opening half, turning a Jessica Flanagan pass into a goal. UM’s 1-0 lead was erased in a hurry as Upper Dublin’s Marlie Siegel connected for an unassisted goal 31 seconds into the second half, but the Bears wasted little time before responding. Noelle Woodman (Flanagan assist) scored the go-ahead goal 19 seconds later.
Less than a minute later, Jenna Getz connected on an unassisted goal, and just like that, the Golden Bears led 3-1. Goals by Flanagan (Woodman assist) and Zanine (Maura O’Leary assist) upped that lead to 5-1 with 18:46 remaining. With 5:56 left on the game clock, Siegel broke the Bears’ run with her second goal of the game, this time using an Anna Gouveia assist, but Delaney Smith got that goal back for the 6-2 final.
“Obviously, the score was very close at halftime,” UM coach Karen Grossi said. “Upper Dublin ended the first half with two consecutive corners, so my girls knew that UD would come out of halftime with confidence and even more drive.
“(We) played with intensity from the start of the second half, but UD played with more, scoring quickly. We've been telling our girls for years that the best time to score is after the other team scores – the girls listened and scored 19 seconds later. Less than a minute later they scored again. UD scoring definitely lit a fire in my girls.”
Upper Moreland (1-3, 1-2 SOL) will host Springfield Township on Friday while Upper Dublin (1-3, 1-2) will host Plymouth Whitemarsh.
Upper Dublin 0-2 2
Upper Moreland 1-5 6
Continental Conference
NORTH PENN 4, QUAKERTOWN 3
The Maidens have had the corner of the market when it came to heartbreaking losses, but they broke an early-season streak of four straight losses to earn the come-from-behind win at Quakertown.
“It’s very exciting to get a win – our first four games were against really good teams,” coach Shannon McCracken said. “We’ve hung in every game and competed with our opponents. We just needed to get that win.
“Coming into the season, the girls had high expectations for themselves, and it’s difficult to keep the confidence up. We met as a team a couple of times and said, ‘We’re right there.’ We had a tough four games to open with when you only have four returning starters. It’s hard to play those teams, but it only prepares you as you move forward in the season.”
Things didn’t look all that promising when the Panthers – thanks to goals from Becky Gerhart (Emma McLaughlin assist) and Hillary Scott (Gerhart assist) – jumped out to a 2-0 lead just over five minutes into the game. A goal by Mikayla Barrow late in the half – with a Brianna O’Donnell assist – made it a 2-1 game at the intermission.
“The girls got together at halftime and refused to give up,” McCracken said. “We had the extra effort today that we needed.”
O’Donnell – who had a hand in all four of her team’s goals – assisted on a goal by Emma Herb at the 25:37 mark of the second half that knotted the score, but 24 seconds later, Quakertown’s Julia Ely answered with an unassisted goal to give the Panthers a 3-2 advantage.
That’s when O’Donnell took charge, scoring an unassisted goal at the 22:43 mark to knot the score and connecting for the game winner with 9:36 remaining – using an assist from Herb.
“She had a phenomenal game today,” McCracken said of O’Donnell. “She’s that kid that refuses to give up and goes hard to every ball. She does not like to lose and is super competitive on the field.
“She lays herself out for team. Her first goal (at the 22:43 mark) was a diving goal. She’s exciting to watch.”
The Maidens held an advantage in shots (20-13) and corners (11-9). Goalie Brynne Schoppe was credited with 11 saves.
“Brynne played solid in goal for us, and Amber Blackshear is playing solid in the midfield,” McCracken said. “Those two kids have been playing consistent.
“Quakertown is a good team. Becky (Gerhart) and Emma (McLaughlin) are good players. It was such a back and forth game. Neither team gave up. It was exciting.”
North Penn (1-4, 1-3 SOL) returns to action Saturday when they will travel to Downingtown West for a non-league game. Quakertown (3-2, 1-2) will host Hatboro-Horsham on Thursday (7 p.m.).
North Penn 1-3 4
Quakertown 2-1 3
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 4, HATBORO-HORSHAM 3
The Patriots rallied from a pair of one-goal deficits – the final one after the Hatters took a 3-2 lead early in the second half – to earn the hard fought win. With the win, the Patriots remain perfect on the young season, improving to 5-0 overall.
“Both teams brought their ‘A’ games today,” East coach Michelle Finegan said.
Kelsey Hopkins scored at the 23:45 mark with an Andrea Baldus assist to give the Hatters a 1-0 an early lead, but the Patriots had an immediate answer with Cailey Lever scoring her first career goal when she turned a Katelyn Stout pass into the equalizer just over a minute later. A goal by Stout (Reilly Finegan assist) gave East a 2-1 lead, but the Hatters responded with Syd Rausa connecting on an unassisted goal. The two teams went into halftime deadlocked 2-2.
Rausa connected on her second goal of the game at the 28:17 mark of the second half to put the Hatters on top 3-2, this time using a Hopkins assist. Abbey Butler (Riley Donnelly assist) scored midway through the half to knot the score, and it was Donnelly – Mackenzie Boyle assist – scoring the go-ahead goal with 7:56 remaining. That 4-3 lead held the rest of the way.
“Both teams were competitive with each other on the field with fantastic play by Katelyn Stout and Isobel Mannino for CB East, and both (Syd) Rausa and (Kelsey) Hopkins were standouts for Hatboro,” coach Finegan said.
Central Bucks East (5-0, 3-0 SOL) will face Central Bucks South at home on Thursday while Hatboro-Horsham (2-3, 1-2) will travel to Quakertown Thursday for a 7 p.m. game.
Central Bucks East 2-2 4
Hatboro-Horsham 2-1 3
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 6, SOUDERTON 4
The Bucks – who led 2-0 at halftime – opened up a 4-0 lead only to watch the Indians come roaring back to make it a one-goal game with 7:20 remaining. They would get no closer, but they made things interesting.
“Although we didn't walk off the field with a win, I am proud of this groups tenacity through out the whole game,” Souderton coach Lauren Whiteside said. “We know that CB West is a tough, aggressive team with some quality players. We got caught on our heels the first half and we played a little nervous. We knew coming out of halftime that we were not playing our best so we made some adjustments and came out ready to fight.”
The Bucks received first half goals from Taylor Mason (Anna Hall assist) and Cadera Smith. Bryn Boylan opened the second half scoring when she connected on a corner, using a Mason assist. Mason scored on a chip shot for her second goal of the game to put the Bucks on top 4-0 with 18:27 remaining.
With just under 10 minutes to play, Nina Disco (Jessie Gabriel assist) scored, and 45 seconds later, Erin Saybolt turned a Disco pass into a goal. When Saybolt connected for her second goal at the 7:20 mark, it was suddenly a 4-3 game.
The Bucks got some breathing room when Boylan scored on a drive from the top of the circle with 4:09 remaining to make it a 5-3 game. Again, the Indians had an answer with Disco turning a Gabriel pass into a goal to trim the Bucks’ lead to one. Boylan scored on a reverse chip with 2:17 remaining to finish with the hat trick while giving the Bucks the 6-4 win.
“The second half was 4-4,” Whiteside said. “We never let down and were able to make a small comeback with about 10 minutes left, scoring three unanswered goals, and we were pumped!
“Even when West scored two more times, we still held face and kept on fighting. That's all I can ask as a coach – fight and fight hard. Leave it all on the field. Like I said, we are proud of our fight today but we are not content on losing and we will continue to improve to bring home some wins.”
West goalie Courtney Westover was credited with 12 saves in the win while Souderton goalie Megan Mehaffey had 13 saves.
The Bucks held a lopsided 15-5 advantage in corners.
Central Bucks West (5-0, 3-0 SOL) is off until Monday when the Bucks will host Hatboro-Horsham in a 5:30 p.m. contest. Souderton (2-2, 1-2) will travel to Pennridge on Thursday for a 7 p.m. game.
Central Bucks West 2-4 6
Souderton 0-4 4
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 1, PENNRIDGE 0
Sarah Adcock scored 19 minutes into the game, spotting the Titans a 1-0 lead, and that would be the extent of the scoring for both teams as the Titans held on for the win in the evenly played contest.
South held a 17-15 advantage in shots. Senior goalie Sarah Zesotarski turned away 11 shots in the shutout win. Pennridge’s Carley Wingate was solid in goal as well, recording 14 saves.
Central Bucks South (2-2, 2-1 SOL) will be the home team when it faces neighboring CB East on its new turf field on Thursday (3:30 p.m.). Pennridge (1-3, 0-3) will host Souderton in a 7 p.m. game on Thursday.
Pennridge 0-0 0
Central Bucks South 1-0 1
National Conference
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 8, ABINGTON 0
The Golden Hawks saw several goals waved off in the opening half of Wednesday’s game against the visiting Ghosts – including a reverse chip by Caroline McGovern, and they took just a 1-0 lead in halftime, thanks to a McGovern goal with 33 seconds remaining.
“Abington played well,” Rock South coach Lisa Belz said. “They had two shots in the game, but they were down in our end in the first half.
“We came out a little flat today, and we definitely picked it up the second half.”
McGovern scored two minutes into the second half, and the floodgates were opened. A goal by Paige Schmid (Mikayla VanAken assist) was followed by a goal from Katie Rafter (McGovern assist), and the Golden Hawks led 4-0 just seven minutes into the second half.
Goals by VanAken and McGovern put the Hawks on top 6-0 midway through the half. Tori Wright connected with 12 minutes remaining, and McGovern – who finished with four goals and one assist – closed out the scoring with a late goal, this time using a Wright assist.
Council Rock South (4-1, 3-0 SOL) will travel to William Tennent on Friday, and Abington (2-3, 0-3) will host Bensalem.
Abington 0-0 0
Council Rock South 1-7 8
PENNSBURY 6, BENSALEM 0
The Falcons raced to a 4-0 halftime lead on their way to a shutout win over the visiting Owls. Marguerite Salamone and Nell Webber both scored a pair of goals while Caroline Siekierka and Kate Chesney each added single goals.
Pennsbury (2-2, 2-1 SOL) will host Harry S Truman, and Bensalem (1-3, 0-3) will travel to Abington.
Bensalem 0-0 0
Pennsbury 4-2 6
NESHAMINY 3, WILLIAM TENNENT 0
Elena Donato turned an Emily Alexis pass into a goal 22 minutes into Wednesday night’s game at Tennent, and the Redskins had a lead they would not lose.
Neshaminy took that 1-0 lead into halftime and added to it in the second half, thanks to goals from Maria Palmieri and Emily Curran. Palmieri scored midway through the half with an assist from Alexis, and Curran connected in the game’s final minute, benefitting from a Mia Sexton assist.
“Wow, what a night – the competition was stellar,” Tennent coach Kaitly Rauchut said. “Neshaminy has a magnitude of talent.
“Words cannot express how proud I am of my players. We have put a lot of time into practicing a new system and playing smarter defensively.
“The most refreshing thing as coaches is to see you players succeed in growth. Trish McCoy, our goalkeeper was not only spectacular, she impressively led the defense. Her counterparts of Kalisi Taufalele, Victoria Poust, Sarah Reed were exceptional. Also, Jessie Betz, Maddie Murtha, Regan Crognale and Morgan Sporak supported tremendously on the defensive efforts.”
McCoy was credited with 26 saves in goal for the Panthers while her counterpart, Hailey Sheppard, was credit with six saves in the shutout win.
Neshaminy (4-0, 3-0 SOL) will host Council Rock North Friday in a key conference showdown. William Tennent (1-3, 1-2) will host Council Rock South.
Neshaminy 1-2 3
William Tennent 0-0 0
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