Check out the results for SOL field hockey teams in action on Monday. To view photos of the CR South/Tennent and Souderton/Pennridge games, please visit the Photo Gallery.
Continental Conference
HATBORO-HORSHAM 2, QUAKERTOWN 1 (OT)
There’s no need for officials to review the rules of 7v7 overtime for either the Hatters or Panthers. Both – it seems – are quite familiar with overtime procedures. Monday’s overtime thriller was the fourth overtime game for both squads and the second time the two teams needed extra time to determine a winner.
The game had a familiar ending as well.
Syd Rausa scored the game winner in the early season meeting between the two teams (with 10:37 remaining), and the center forward was back at it again, this time scoring on a breakaway with 9:08 remaining.
“My goal was to get (the shot) off and not let (the goalie) get the opportunity to come out and play it,” said Rausa. “She was coming out, and I saw a little corner, so I just hit it. I feel like we dominated the overtime. We definitely had a lot of opportunities.”
The win loomed large for a Hatter squad that fought off the Panthers in a second half they controlled – drawing nine corners – but managing just one goal.
“With all those corners, our defense did amazing,” Rausa said. “They literally did awesome, and our goalie had some amazing saves.
“We have to give credit to one of our sophomores, Kayla Reighn. She marked 10 (Emma McLaughlin), who’s one of their key players, and she did awesome.”
With the win, the Hatters improve to 3-1 in overtime contests while the Panthers are 1-3.
“We know how bad it feels to lose close games where we’re right there and just didn’t finish it,” Hatter senior captain Kelsey Hopkins said. “I think that pushes us – we don’t want to feel like that again.
“We started to play on our heels and let up the intensity a little bit (in the second half), but once we started going, I think we realized how important the game was.”
It was Rausa scoring an unassisted goal with 5:04 remaining in the opening half, but the Panthers came roaring back, drawing nine second-half corners. They cashed in on the fifth when senior Emma McLaughlin dodged the Hatter defenders in her path and slammed home the equalizer. They drew four more corners in the next six minutes but came up empty, thanks to a stingy Hatters’ defense that was anchored by goalie Liz Wilburn, who finished with 11 saves.
“She’s just been getting better every game and every practice,” Hatter coach Laura Swezey said of Wilburn. “She’s one of our fastest players, and her eye-hand (coordination) is wonderful.
“Defensively, we really came through. We kept our sticks on the ground, stayed down and got the ball out in the second half. We stepped up our defense.”
The Hatters generated some offense of their own in the final minutes of regulation, drawing a pair of corners, but goalie Rylee Lawler and the Panthers’ defense stood tall.
The Hatters, according to Rausa, went into overtime with a singular mindset.
“We said, ‘Okay, we’ve held them off this far – let’s just win this,’” Rausa said.
The Hatters did just that, forcing the Panthers to absorb yet another tough loss, but coach Diane Molinaro had no complaints about her team’s effort.
“They gave their all in this game,” she said. “We have grown a lot as a team. Every single one of the players has developed and is continuing to develop great skills.
“We’re getting stronger each game, each practice. Defensively, I thought we worked well as a unit. We dominated (the second half), and it does get frustrating not be able to put the ball in when you have so many corners.”
Both Lawler and Wilburn came up big in goal, and each team also had a defensive save. Brenna Reilly stopped a McLaughlin corner shot on the post shortly after the senior captain had scored the equalizer, but it was Quakertown sweeper Mel Olivieri delivering the defensive play of the game when she somehow made a backhanded stick stop of Gabby Acker’s shot across goal in OT, stopping it inches before it crossed the goal line.
“Mel had an amazing defensive save,” Molinaro said. “She saved the game, and she actually had a spectacular game. She has really stepped up to the plate this year. She keeps her stick down and is becoming effective at stopping transition and fast breaks.
“The girl that she was marking (Rausa) is fast, and Mel hung with our. Our goalie Rylee (Lawler) had some great saves.”
Molinaro went on to credit McLaughlin, Becky Gerhart and Hillary Scott.
“They gave it their all,” the Panthers’ coach said. “I’m proud of the effort and leadership they showed.”
The Panthers were without starting forward Julia Ely (illness)
“Taylor Rinehimer stepped up to the plate and did well,” Molinaro said.
Hatboro-Horsham (6-8, 5-6 SOL) will host Central Bucks West on Wednesday, and Quakertown (4-11, 2-9) will host Central Bucks East.
Quakertown 0-1-0 1
Hatboro-Horsham 1-0-1 2
PENNRIDGE 2, SOUDERTON 0
The visiting Lady Rams scored a pair of goals in the first half, and that was more than enough for goalie Carley Wingate, who turned away all 14 shots she faced in a superb effort to earn the shutout win.
“It was a great team effort,” Pennridge coach Becky Spahr said. “We are trying out some new positioning, and the team really stepped up to fill new roles.
“Our defense (Kendall O’Shea, Abby Bruzas and Meghan Griffin), especially goalie Carley Wingate, had a great game. Our ‘D’ withstood a lot of pressure, and our offense finished in the circle when we needed it most. Kellie Drugotch had a great game in the midfield.”
Freshman Caitlyn Amsden connected from the top of the circle with 16:57 remaining in the first half to spot the visitors a 1-0 lead. Megan Griffen (Larissa Motts assist) scored on the left post during corner play with time winding down in the opening half. Neither team scored the rest of the way.
Souderton – down a pair of players due to injuries – held an advantage in shots and corners. Wingate negated that advantage with a stellar showing in goal.
Pennridge (7-6, 5-6 SOL) will host North Penn on Wednesday, and Souderton (4-8-1, 2-8-1) will travel to Central Bucks South.
Pennridge 2-0 2
Souderton 0-0 0
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 4, CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 1
The Patriots celebrated Senior Day by scoring three goals during a deadly three-minute stretch midway through the opening half and never looked back.
“It was great to see the seniors have a great Senior Day with a win against a tough CB South team,” East coach Michelle Finegan said. “The seniors – Katelyn Stout, Rachel Fife, Sarah Braza, Sara Valko, Kelsey Mulholland, Nicole Tracy and Theresa Haug – were honored with their parents for their four years of dedication to the field hockey program, and they will surely be missed.
“We are glad to have a few more games with this group of athletes.”
Riley Donnelly (Katelyn Stout) broke a scoreless tie with a goal at the 16:06 mark of the first half. Sixty-four seconds later Cailey Lever (Donnelly assist) found the back of the cage. The Patriots weren’t finished yet. Donnelly’s second goal at the 13:22 mark – this one with a Lever assist – put the Patriots on top 3-0.
“We went in ready and knew they would be strong, but we were able to connect with a couple goals off corners, which we needed to do,” Finegan said. “We also had a couple close misses, which we are working on getting into the net.”
That 3-0 lead stood until Ally McDonald (Lauren Zakrzewski assist) put the Titans on the scoreboard three-and-a-half minutes into the second half. Lever – who had a hand in three goals – connected for her second goal with 7:28 remaining, using a Mackenzie Boyle assist.
“Our freshman, Cailey Lever, had a great game and was able to get a pair of really nice goals today,” Flanagan said.
The Patriots held an advantage in shots (17-8) and corners (16-8).
Central Bucks East (12-3, 8-3 SOL) will travel to Quakertown on Wednesday, and Central Bucks South (3-9-1, 3-6-1 SOL) will host Souderton in a 7 p.m. contest.
Central Bucks South 0-1 1
Central Bucks East 3-1 4
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 4, NORTH PENN 0
The Bucks celebrated Senior Night at War Memorial Field with a decisive win over the Maidens. Bryn Boylan scored a pair of goals, and Cadera Smith had a goal and assist. Taylor Mason added a single goal.
“The seniors contributed from beginning to end with both senior goalies combining for the shutout,” coach Courtney Lepping said. “Macella Molenari got the start and kept North Penn off the board in a half that saw them earn three corners. Courtney Westover was credited with one save to keep the shutout.
“Seniors Rachel Loux and Ariana Wexler played well on the right side to slow down the speed of North Penn forward Brianna O’Donnell. Fellow seniors Emily Halderson and Anna Hall did a great job possessing in the midfield to keep North Penn from transitioning down the field.
“Forward Mikayla Darrows contributed several beautiful passes into the circle to help force corners and had several close shots from the right post. It was a well played game all around.”
Mason put the Bucks on the scoreboard 12 minutes into the opening half, and Boylan (Smith assist) made it a 2-0 game with a goal in the closing minutes of the opening half. Smith scored an unassisted goal early in the second half, and Boylan put the finishing touches on the big win with a goal midway through the half.
The Bucks held an advantage in shots (10-3) and corners (12-3).
Central Bucks West (12-0, 9-0 SOL) will travel to Neshaminy Tuesday for a battle of SOL unbeaten. North Penn (7-7, 7-4 SOL) will travel to Pennridge on Wednesday.
North Penn 0-0 0
Central Bucks West 2-2 4
American Conference
UPPER MORELAND 2, SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 1 (OT)
Jess Flanagan turned a pass from Emily Jeinnings into a goal with 9:26 remaining in overtime to propel the Golden Bears to the dramatic win.
The visiting Bears took a 1-0 lead midway through the opening half when Noelle Woodman turned a Delaney Smith pass into a goal. That lead stood until the 23:48 mark of the second half when Meredith Giordani scored the equalizer, setting the stage for Flanagan’s overtime heroics.
Springfield goalie Isabelle Boles kept her team in the game, turning away 19 shots.
“Isabelle Boles had a stellar game, and it was a complete team effort,” Springfield coach Linda Nixon said. “Marley Berger and Brianna Buckley were solid defensively to push the game into overtime.”
UM goalie Allison Felicetti was credited with four saves in the win.
Upper Moreland (10-4, 8-3 SOL) will host Cheltenham on Wednesday, and Springfield (7-7, 5-5) will host Wissahickon.
Upper Moreland 1-0-1 2
Springfield 0-1-0 1
CHELTENHAM 2, NORRISTOWN 1
The Lady Panthers opened up a 2-0 halftime lead, but the Eagles cut that advantage in half with a goal in the second half.
Madison Gianelle scored both of the Lady Panthers’ goals – both on drives from the top of the circle. Georgia Werkiser put the Eagles on the board with a goal in the second half, but the Panthers held on for the win.
Cheltenham (6-8, 5-6 SOL) will travel to Upper Moreland on Wednesday, and Norristown (1-13, 1-10) will be at Wissahickon.
Cheltenham 2-0 2
Norristown 0-1 1
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 6, UPPER DUBLIN 1
The Colonials raced to a 4-0 halftime lead on their way to the convincing win.
Frankie O’Brien got the ball rolling with back-to-back goals – both unassisted – to put the Colonials on top 2-0 just over 10 minutes into the game. Kennedy Reardon (Julia Fiddler assist) scored with 12:21 remaining in the half, and a goal by Fiddler (Jess Dixon assist) sent PW into halftime with a four-goal advantage.
UD’s Jess Grodsky scored two minutes into the second half to break up the Colonials’ shutout, but it took Sophie Kolkka just 38 seconds to answer with a goal for PW. Paige Toten (Ashley Sergio assist) found the cage with 2:49 remaining for the 6-1 final.
“From (our) perspective, it was a bit of a sluggish game as we lacked energy and focus but managed to score on the opportunities we created and played good enough defense to get us through,” PW coach Marianne Paparone said.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (10-2, 9-1 SOL) will travel to Springfield on Wednesday, and Upper Dublin (4-8, 4-6) will be on the road at Upper Merion.
Upper Dublin 0-1 1
Plymouth Whitemarsh 4-2 6
WISSAHICKON 10, UPPER MERION 0
The Trojans suffered a pair of tough losses last week at the hands of Upper Moreland and Wissahickon. They took out any frustrations they may have had by exploding for five goals in each half of Monday’s shutout win over the visiting Vikings.
The Trojans – thanks to a Sam Scoma goal (Jess Waite assist) – got on the scoreboard at the 28:32 mark of the first half but still led by just that 1-0 score until Waite scored with a Scoma assist with 9:19 remaining in the half. That opened the floodgates. Scoma (Sammi Pak assist) scored two minutes later, and it took just 18 seconds for Sam Purnell to find the cage with a Scoma assist. Sam Mullin (Kara Miles assist) scored with just five seconds remaining on the clock to send the Trojans into halftime with a 5-0 lead.
In the second half, Sarah Edelson (Julianna Sutow assist), Gillian Southworth (Anna Blackney assist), Kyra Myers (Sam Mullinat assist), Sophie Hessler (Pak assist) and Sutow (Pak assist) each added single goals for the 10-0 final.
Upper Merion goalie Kate Foy was credited with 17 saves. Wissahickon’s Claire Tarzia recorded just two saves in the shutout win.
Wissahickon (10-4, 9-2 SOL) will host Norristown on Wednesday, and Upper Merion (2-11, 1-9) will host Upper Dublin.
Upper Merion 0-0 0
Wissahickon 5-5 10
National Conference
NESHAMINY 1, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 0 (OT)
After defeating the Indians 4-0 in the initial meeting between the two squads on Sept. 18, the Redskins had their hands full in Monday’s rematch in Rock North’s Senior Night game.
Neither team got on the scoreboard until Christen Pennington turned a Marlena Koellner pass into a goal at the 12:01 mark of OT.
Neshaminy (14-0, 11-0 SOL) will host Central Bucks West in a battle of the SOL’s lone undefeated squads on Tuesday. Council Rock North (9-5, 7-4) will host Council Rock South on Wednesday in a battle of sister schools.
Neshaminy 0-0-1 1
Council Rock North 0-0-0
PENNSBURY 6, HARRY S TRUMAN 0
Marguerite Salamone scored a goal and assisted on two others to lead a balanced Falcon attack.
Kate Chesney got the ball rolling when she scored 87 seconds into the game, and a Salamone goal two minutes later gave the Falcons a quick 2-0 lead. Nell Weber added an unassisted goal to put the Falcons on top by three. With four minutes remaining in the half, Amelia Sharp turned a Salamone pass into a goal, and the Falcons led 5-0 after Madison Hackman connected, using a Sharp assist.
Missy Frankil (Salamone assist) tacked on a goal late in the second half for the 6-0 final.
In a pair of rivalry games on Wednesday, Pennsbury (9-5-1, 7-3-1 SOL) will host Neshaminy, and Truman (0-12-2, 0-9-2) will host Bensalem.
Pennsbury 5-1 6
Truman 0-0 0
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 2, WILLIAM TENNENT 0
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