Four SOL field hockey team were winners in Monday’s opening round of the District One AAA Tournament. To view photos of the CR North/Spring-Ford and CB East/Wissahickon games, please visit the Photo Gallery.
#10 PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 3, #23 LOWER MERION 0
The Colonials defeated the Aces for the second time this season, this time in much more convincing fashion than their 3-2 win in a regular season meeting, and coach Marianne Paparone acknowledged it may have been an advantage to play the same team twice.
“I think it may have been in some ways because the kids will think, ‘Okay, we already beat this team,’ and they know what to expect,” the PW coach said. “It’s hard to beat a team twice – that’s the only thing I was worried about..”
Jess Dixon put the Colonials on the scoreboard at the 23:27 mark, and the fate of the Aces was all but sealed when Sophie Kolkka (Frankie O’Brien assist) scored a goal late in the half to send the Colonials into halftime with a 2-0 lead.
“Putting that second one in – I think that really changed the momentum,” Paparone said. “I think it took a lot of life out of Lower Merion because now they have to score three to win, so that second goal before halftime made a big difference.
“Last time, they did a really good job in transition, and I think we definitely did a better job in slowing down their transition. We didn’t get a ton of scoring chances, but we capitalized on the ones we got, and I think that’s always big.”
For good measure, senior Paige Totten tacked on a goal midway through the second half.
Paparone acknowledged the strong player of center mid Aurora Mills.
“She’s had such a great year,” the Colonials’ coach said. “She’s just really taken on a great leadership role, and she’s kind of our energy, our spark.
“She’s not the most highly skilled kid, but she’s just effort. She just goes to the right place, she’s our vocal leader, and she brings us a lot of energy, and here’s a kid who never played mid before this year. I kind of stuck her there, and she’s really doing a good job. She never gets tired, she’s always going hard, and she’s a good role model for the other kids.”
O’Brien, according to Paparone, once again held down the fort on defense
“She’s been very steady and very reliable for us – she takes a lot of our free hits,” the PW coach said. “It was a solid team effort, especially by our team leaders, and everyone contributed to the win. We achieved our first two goals of the season (winning the SOL American Conference championship and winning a playoff game). Now we are targeting our third goal.”
The Colonials held a 12-10 edge in shots. Both teams had six corners.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (15-3, 13-1 SOL) will travel to seventh-seeded Methacton for a second round game on Wednesday.
Lower Merion 0-0 0
Plymouth Whitemarsh 2-1 3
#14 CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 3, #19 WISSAHICKON 0
The Patriots made their first trip to districts in five years a memorable one, opening up an early lead and never looking back on their way to the shutout win.
“They had a couple of opportunities and did come back a couple of times, but our team was so pumped to be in districts,” coach Michelle Finegan said. “They were going after it, going after it, going after it.
“Our team was the better team, and we dominated the game. However, the goalie on Wissahickon, Claire Tarzia, was really, really strong, and they had a lot of heart.”
On this day, it took more than heart to slow down a determined Patriot team that earned a second round date with archrival Central Bucks West. The Bucks defeated the Patriots in two regular season meetings.
“This is definitely something they want,” Finegan said. “They’re fired up, but that being said, I think West is a great team. We have a lot of work to do, but at the same time – what the heck? We might as well play them one more time.”
Riley Donnelly put the Patriots on the scoreboard at the 14:11 mark of the opening half, and less than a minute later, the sophomore midfielder – this time using a Cailey Lever assist – scored again, giving the Patriots a 2-0 lead heading into halftime. Lever (Mackenzie Boyle assist) added a second half goal for the 3-0 final.
“Our team never gave up,” Finegan said. “They were pressuring the ball hard, they were pumped.
“In the second half, Wissahickon came out like wildfire. I called out a timeout less than two minutes into the second half. They went back out, regrouped and did better. Wissahickon had some really good talent. We did really well in the first half, and they didn’t have too many opportunities. In the second half, they didn’t have too many opportunities, but it felt like they were going to counterattack the whole half.”
Finegan acknowledged the solid performances of several players.
“Sarah Sheehy was really strong in our defensive end, and Reilly Finegan played well – they were on fire, the first half especially,” the Patriots’ coach said. “They set the tone.
“Reilly lifted a ball from the 40 to inside the 16 – a direct hit to Riley Donnelly.
“Obviously, Riley Donnelly played outstanding. Cailey Lever also played well – she didn’t play as well the first half as the second half, but the second half, she put in a close-out goal with 6:52 left on a very nice goal.”
Finegan also lauded the strong play of Wissahickon’s Kara Miles.
Central Bucks East (15-4, 10-4 SOL) will travel to War Memorial Field on Wednesday for a second round game against CB West (7 p.m.). Wissahickon closed out its season with a 13-5 record overall (12-2 SOL).
Wissahickon 0-0 0
Central Bucks East 2-1 3
#16 COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 1, #17 SPRING-FORD 0
Margaret D’Auria has found a home in her first year in the cage for the Indians, collecting double-digit saves and recording her 13th shutout in Monday’s district opener. Spring-Ford’s Claire Kraft was almost as tough, turning away 14 of 15 shots she faced.
“Their goalie was phenomenal,” coach Heather Whalin said. “She stopped a couple of really nice shots – on the one she did a full split.
“It was just a back and forth game. We had a lot of opportunities we did not capitalize on, they had a couple of opportunities also. Hannah Stalker had a really nice defensive save on one of them, and my goalie is becoming more comfortable the more she’s playing field hockey. She’s the first to tell everybody it’s the defense.”
And the Indians’ defense was put to the test by the visiting Rams
“They've just been playing really well,” said Whalin of Stalker, Rachel Pomerantz, Gabby Shepard and defensive mid Jennica Jonovich. “They don’t want this season to end, so they didn’t want to be a one-and-done team, so they knew a 16-17 matchup is anybody’s game.
Bridget Thompson scored the game’s only goal with 24:44 remaining in the opening half, scoring during a flurry of activity in front of the cage. Neither team scored the rest of the way.
Whalin credited the strong play of mid Claire Jarema.
“She had a great game,” the Indians’ coach said. “She ran down a couple of girls that actually had the possibilities of breakaways.
“Devon Mela and Julianne Mangano had really good games today. There was a lot of back and forth play. They were very strong and gave us a really good first round contest, so hopefully, that will spark us for the next game.”
Council Rock North (14-5, 10-4 SOL) will be on the road for Wednesday’s second round game against top-seeded Unionville.
Spring-Ford 0-0 0
Council Rock North 1-0 1
#18 COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 2, #15 PERKIOMEN VALLEY 1
The Golden Hawks found themselves staring at a 1-0 halftime deficit but rallied for a pair of second half goals to earn the win.
“We were able to draw a lot of corners in the second half, and that definitely helped us out,” coach Lisa Belz said. “Once we went down there, we scored three or four in a couple of minutes, and their coach called a timeout.
“We didn’t get down there too much in the first half, but in the second half, we were down at their end a lot.”
The Vikings took a 1-0 lead at the 10:34 mark of the opening half on a Kelsey Giese goal, but Caroline McGovern (Tori Wright assist) scored her first of two goals with 10 minutes remaining. Two minutes later, McGovern scored the go-ahead goal on a corner, once again using a Wright assist.
“Caroline had a beautiful aerial corner,” Belz said. “It went right to the top right corner over everyone to tie it up.
“We kept drawing corners, and Caroline had a direct shot in from the top of the circle. They were good – they had a couple of really good players who were fast, and we had a hard time adjusting.
“You try and talk to the girls about the playoffs and how important it is. Even at practice this weekend, I said, ‘This could be your last practice,’ but that doesn’t really sink in to them sometimes. They have to understand this is the playoffs, and you can’t turn it on 20 or 30 minutes in. You have to be on the whole time. We thought we were well matched.”
Julia Pero turned away seven shots in a winning effort in goal for the Hawks.
“They had some really nice shots, and she did an excellent job,” Belz said. “Our sweeper, Julia Davis, did a really good job too, getting the ball out of the circle.
“Katie Rafter had to play their best player, and she did well (Giese). I thought she did a nice job covering her and stepping up to the ball.”
Council Rock South (13-6, 11-3 SOL) will travel to Downingtown East for a second round contest against the second-seeded Cougars on Wednesday.
Council Rock South 0-2 2
Perkiomen Valley 1-0 1
#6 DOWNINGTOWN WEST 2, #24 PENNRIDGE 0
Becky Spahr’s message to her players after Monday’s season-ending loss was simple – be proud. Her players took that message to heart.
“I’m more proud than sad,” junior Kellie Drugotch said, unable to hold back the tears. “That was our goal this year to achieve playoffs. In the beginning, I don’t really know if I thought we could, but I’m a lot more proud than I am sad.”
And the Lady Rams had every reason to walk away with their heads held high. They not only battled gamely against a highly skilled Whippet squad for 60 minutes, they also recognized that their trip to districts represented a quantum leap. Last year, the Rams won just two games, and the district tournament wasn’t even a passing thought. This year, the Rams won 10 games and earned a district berth.
The key to the team’s turnaround?
“I think it was just confidence, people stepping up, people becoming leaders and people not wanting to repeat the past,” senior Carley Wingate said. “When Becky said she wanted us to go to playoffs, I didn’t believe her at the beginning of the season, but seeing everyone else work as hard as they did in preseason and during practice made me want to work 100 times better.”
Wingate certainly did her part to extend the Lady Rams’ season, turning away 21 shots in an inspired effort in goal.
“This is my last game, and I don’t know if I’m going to continue playing in college, so I thought – this might be the last time I ever put on my pads, so I might as well make it a good one,” she said.
The Whippets led 2-0 less than 18 minutes into the game, thanks to goals by Romea Riccardo and Claudia Jaszczak.
“There was 10 minutes in the first half when we fell off, and they took advantage,” Spahr said.
The Lady Rams managed their first and only shot of the game with three minutes remaining in the opening half as the Whippets made life difficult on both ends of the field.
“I think it was their intensity,” Drugotch said. “They did have good skills, but they were tough. They got to every ball, they wanted it.”
It might have been easy for the Rams to just go through the motions in the second half, but that was not a consideration for a squad that – sparked by the play of Wingate – turned in a gutsy 30 minutes of hockey to close out their season, relentlessly thwarting one Whippet scoring attempt after another.
“After they scored two, I was a little nervous, but I believed we could hold them out the rest of the game,” Drugotch said. “I just wish we could get our offense going a little bit more.
“The seniors played their hearts out today, and they really played for our team. Our team played for them as well. Next year we’ll miss that connection.”
When the final whistle sounded, the Rams had fought off 12 second half corners (25 in the game).
“I don’t know if we’ve had a game this year where we’ve had more offensive corners than defensive corners, so we’ve been used to having tons of corners, but not quite that many,” said Spahr, crediting her defensive corner team of Drugotch (defensive flier), Meghan Griffin (post) Abby Bruzas (left trail) and Wingate. Griffin delivered a pair of defensive saves in the contest.
“Carley starts everything back there,” Spahr said. “She does not let her defenders slack. If you’re slacking and you’re one of Carley’s defenders, you’re going to be told about it, and that is a positive thing. Not only does she hold them accountable, she holds herself (accountable).
“I think she has an 87 percent save rate. I thanked her for stepping up this year – obviously, we need everyone to perform at their best to play well, but she’s kept us in a lot of games.”
The Whippets – led by the standout play of Lehigh-bound Liz Inzer – survived a pair of green and yellow cards in the second half. They will take on Mount Saint Joseph in a second round game Wednesday while the Lady Rams (10-9, 7-7 SOL) saw their season come to an end.
Pennridge 0-0 0
Downingtown West 2-0 2
#7 METHACTON 3, #26 NORTH PENN 0
The Warriors took a lead they would not lose when Olivia Hoover (Sara Setrchak assist) scored at the 17:53 mark of the opening half, and that lead grew to 2-0 when Hoover converted a penalty stroke three minutes later. Maddie Alderfer converted a second penalty stroke late in the game for the 3-0 final.
Methacton held an advantage in shots (14-6) and corners (9-4). Maiden goalie Brynne Schoppe was credited with eight saves while Sarah Park had three in the shutout for the Warriors.
North Penn closed out its season with a 9-10 record overall (8-6 SOL).
North Penn 0-0 0
Methacton 2-1 3
#8 OWEN J ROBERTS 7, #25 PENNSBURY 2
Makena Aberle connected for the hat trick and Corinne Gerber added a pair of goals for the Wildcats, who opened up a 4-1 lead on their way to the opening round win.
The Falcons received single goals from Kate Chesney and Missy Frankil, but it wasn’t enough to keep it close against the PAC-10 champions.
Pennsbury closed out its season with an 11-8 record (9-5 SOL).
Pennsbury 1-1 2
Owen J Roberts 4-3 7
Class AA Preview Capsules
#12 LOWER MORELAND at #4 UPPER MORELAND
Upper Moreland
- 13-4 overall
- 11-3 SOL American Conference third place
- Wins over sixth-seeded New Hope-Solebury (5-1), ninth-seeded Springfield (2-1 & 1-0) and Class AAA 19th-seeded Wissahickon (2-1).
- Led offensively by Jenna Getz (22 goals, three assists), Jess Flanagan (19 goals, 10 assists) and Delaney Smith (10 goals, seven assists)
- Won 13 of 14 games to close out regular season after losing first three games of the season.
Lower Moreland
- 8-9 overall
- 7-7 BAL Independence Division third place
- Wins over 10th-seeded Jenkintown (2-0) and eighth-seeded Villa Joseph Marie
- Led by sophomore Jamie Mayer, a second team all-league selection as a freshman
#9 VILLA JOSEPH MARIE at #8 SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP
Springfield
- 10-8 overall
- 8-6 SOL American Conference fourth place
- Earned a regular season win over sixth-seeded New Hope-Solebury (1-0)
- Goalie Isabelle Boles has recorded nine shutouts – three straight to close out the regular season
- Led offensively by Meredith Giordano
Villa Joseph Marie
- 9-8-1 overall
- Win over 12th-seeded Lower Moreland
About the Author
