Check out the results for SOL field hockey teams in action Friday.
National Conference
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 2, NESHAMINY 1 (OT)
It looked as though the Golden Hawks and Redskins would be settling for a 1-1 tie in Friday’s battle of conference unbeaten squads, but with 1:58 remaining in overtime, Caroline McGovern turned a pass by Mikayla VanAken into a goal and a scintillating overtime win.
"I'm very, very proud of the team – I think they played outstanding,” South coach Lisa Belz said. "We came out really hard, but we just had a tough time finishing.
"Everybody played together and we really had some nice passing combinations. We had a lot of shots on goal.”
Early on, the Golden Hawks saw a goal waved off when a corner shot that found the cage was ruled too high, and with 10 minutes remaining in the first half, it was the Redskins responding with a goal of their own by Mia Sexton. The Hawks knotted the score when McGovern found the cage in the final minute of the half, using a Tori Wright pass during corner play.
"Both teams came out very strong,” Belz said. “It was very high intensity, and both teams played very well.
"It was kind of back and forth the first half, and making sure we tied it up going into halftime was crucial. This is a league game, we're about halfway through the season, and we have a tough week this week. Putting that goal on the board going into halftime was important. It gave us some momentum going into the second half."
The Hawks drew 11 corners in the second half but couldn't turn any of them into a goal, setting the stage for overtime.
"We had opportunities, but we couldn't get the shots off," Belz said. "Their defense came out really well on the corners, and we had a hard time getting the shots off."
Belz credited defenders Emily Keller, VanAken, Wright and Bianca Bonanni.
"The defense did outstanding today," the Hawks’ coach said. "They've really been stepping up.”
Although the Redskins came up just short, coach Jamie Pinto was pleased with her team’s performance.
“We played hard today,” the Redskins’ coach said. “The girls should be proud of themselves. They never stopped playing and working hard through regulation and overtime.”
Pinto went on to credit the corner defense of Sexton, Emily Alexis, Elena Donato, Jamie Pennington and goalie Jill Mitchell in a contest that saw the Hawks draw 21 corners.
“(They) played unbelievable,” the Redskins’ coach said. “We had players diving in the cage to save goals, and they played smart under pressure.
“We had some good looks to score but just couldn’t finish. We knew coming in this was going to be a tough game, and both teams fought hard. It’s always hard to lose games like this, but I’m proud of how we played and worked together. I know we will get stronger and learn from this loss.”
The Golden Hawks (9-0, 6-0 SOL) don’t have a whole lot of time to enjoy the win – they will travel to Unionville for a non-league game on Saturday at 11:15 a.m. Neshaminy (6-3, 5-1) will host Bensalem next Thursday.
Neshaminy 1-0-0 1
Council Rock South 1-0-1 2
ABINGTON 9, BENSALEM 0
The Lady Ghosts celebrated Senior Night with a shutout win that saw all five of the team’s seniors get on the scoreboard with an assist or goal. Senior Sam McGee led the team with eight points, scoring twice – once unassisted – and assisting on four other goals. Senior Kaila Brown scored her first hat trick of the season. One of those goals was unassisted. Junior Grace Terrizzi found the cage twice, and seniors Sarah Boches and Bridget Broscius each connected on their first goals of the season. Contributing assists were senior Jackie Kizel, junior Evyn Stewart, Boches, Doyle (2) and sophomore Aileen Hughes.
The Ghosts, who led 7-0 at halftime, held a 10-4 advantage in corners, but the Owls, according to Abington coach Amanda McMahon, kept battling, earning three of their corners in the second half.
Junior goalies Megan Dockstader and Mackenzie Greiner combined for the shutout.
Abington (3-6, 2-4 SOL) will host Council Rock South on Tuesday, and Bensalem (0-7, 0-6) will host Pennsbury on Tuesday.
Bensalem 0-0 0
Abington 7-2 9
CARDINAL O’HARA 6, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 0
Continental Conference
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 4, CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 3
South surprised East by jumping out to a 2-0 lead, but the conference-leading Patriots responded by reeling off four unanswered goals before the Titans found the cage at the buzzer for the 4-3 final.
“East is a well-coached team,” South coach Pat Toner said. “Michelle Finegan has done a wonderful job with that team. We were playing against some very talented players and we've adopted that none of us is as strong as all of us mentality.
“We may not have some of the Division One players some of the other schools have, but we definitely have kids that are starting to understand what to do. We're doing a lot of teaching this year. They need to believe they can play with anyone if they play as a unit.”
The Titans proved as much in the opening half of Friday’s game when Megan Weeks (Casey Reilly assist) and Lauren Dougherty scored back-to-back goals within a 70-second span 10 minutes into the contest. Riley 
Donnelly’s goal with an assist from younger sister Emma Donnelly at the 11:23 mark made it a 2-1 game at halftime.
Riley Donnell scored with an assist from Reilly Finegan, knotting the score at the 20:26 mark of the second half. Less than three minutes later, Reilly Finegan connected on the go-ahead goal, using a Cailey Lever assist. Finegan converted a stroke with 1:50 remaining to put the Patriots on top 4-2, but Erin Chioffe’s goal with a Lauren Dougherty assist during corner play as time expired made it a 4-3 game.
“I'm very proud of our corners, I'm very proud of how our kids responded,” Toner said. “I'm as happy as I could possibly be with a loss. I was very happy with how they responded. They're coming around.”
East coach Michelle Finegan lauded the strong play of Abbey Butler, Reilly Finegan and Riley Donnelly and also credited South’s Erin Chioffe, Megan Weeks, Lauren Dougherty and Casey Reilly for their strong efforts.
“Francine Richick played well in the cage for South,” coach Finegan said.
Richick was credited with 13 saves. The sophomore goalie’s efforts helped negate the Patriots’ advantage to shots (19-9) and corners (13-4).
Central Bucks East (8-1, 6-0 SOL) will host North Penn on Tuesday, and Central Bucks South (2-4-1, 2-4) will host Souderton on Tuesday at War Memorial Field at 3:30 p.m.
Central Bucks South 2-1 3
Central Bucks East 2-2 4
NORTH PENN 7, PENNRIDGE 4
The Knights took a 2-1 lead into halftime, and there was nothing to suggest the two teams would combine for 11 goals in a shootout, but that’s exactly what happened. Mikayla Barrow and Bri O’Donnell continued their torrid offensive production. Both contributed hat tricks as well as one assist.
Neither team scored for the opening 17-plus minutes, but back-to-back goals by O’Donnell and Barrow put the Maidens on top 2-0 with 7:50 remaining in the half. Sydney Borneman cut that lead in half with an unassisted goal.
The Knights scored early and often in the second half. Barrow – who finished with a hat trick – scored her second goal less than three minutes into the half, this one with an Emily Crawford assist. Two minutes later, O’Donnell (Barrow/Amber Blackshear assists) scored to give the Knights a 4-1 lead. A goal by Crawford (Alli Dickinson assist) put the Knights on top 5-1 with 22:37 remaining. Lucrezia Sanzone (Borneman assist) and Kellie Drugotch (Melanie Kerins assist) broke the Knights early tear with back-to-back goals for the Rams to make it a 5-3 game. Goals by Barrow (O’Donnell assist) and O’Donnell (on a penalty stroke) gave the Knights a four-goal advantage until Pennridge’s Caitlyn Amsden scored with 1:21 remaining.
“It was a great effort from both teams on a very hot day,” Pennridge coach Becky Spahr said. “We have been struggling to score lately, so I am happy with us putting four goals in the cage.
“We had trouble defending North Penn’s fast forward line, and they did a good job capitalizing on scoring chances. We have some work to do, but we will be ready for the second half of the season.”
The Knights – who upped their winning streak to five – held an advantage in shots (25-6) and corners (18-5).
North Penn (5-4, 4-2 SOL) will travel to Central Bucks East on Tuesday, and Pennridge (2-6, 1-5) will be on the road at Lansdale Catholic for a non-league game on Monday.
Pennridge 1-3 4
North Penn 2-5 7
SOUDERTON 7, WILLIAM TENNENT 0
The visiting Indians raced out to a 4-0 halftime lead on their way to the shutout win, Courtney Kenah put the Indians on the board, using a Jenna Hunsicker assist, and then it was Liz O’Hara turning a Jess Gabriel pass into a goal. Kenah connected for her second goal and then assisted on a goal by Randi Hess to close out the first half.
In the second half, Nina Disco connected on back-to-back goals, and Hess found the cage with her second goal for the 7-0 final.
Souderton (6-3-1, 3-2-1 SOL) will take on Central Bucks South at War Memorial Field on Tuesday, and William Tennent (1-6-1, 0-6) will travel to Archbishop Wood for a non-league game on Monday.
Souderton 4-3 7
William Tennent 0-0 0
American Conference
WISSAHICKON 5, SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 1
Jess Waite and Emily Purnell each scored a pair of goals to propel the Trojans to a their third straight win and second of the week. Friday’s win came on the heels of a 2-1 win over Upper Moreland
“That was our first game of the season on grass, and it showed in the first 30 minutes,” coach Leah Angstadt said of the win over the Bears. “After regrouping at halftime and some tactical changes, we came out much stronger.
“Jess Waite dominated the middle of the field and Kyra Myers had an excellent game in the backfield. She came up with some great saves to keep us ahead. Credit goes to Upper Moreland who gave us a hard-fought battle and challenged for the win until the last seconds.”
In Friday’s win, the Trojans raced to a 3-0 halftime, using a pair of goals by Waite sandwiched around a Sammi Pak goal on a corner with an insert pass from Grace Ball. Waite’s first goal came on a flick with an assist from Julianna Sutow and her second – on a drive from the top of the circle – was unassisted.
“It was nice to be at home again,” Angstadt said. “The team played really well together.
“The ball movement was excellent. All the goals were great team goals set up by great ball movement.”
Purnell scored a pair of second half goals – the first on a drive from the top of the circle. Both were unassisted. Springfield’s Ellie Hamilton broke up the Trojans’ shutout bid with a goal.
“This was a great team win,” Angstadt said. “Springfield had some very fast forwards, so it was important that we upped our ball speed and did not get picked off.”
The Trojans’ first-year coach lauded the strong play of several players.
“Jess Waite had another very strong game in the midfield,” Angstadt said. “She used her power and was able to rip a couple of very hard shots on goal.
“Our defensive line played really well together, and they were able to keep possession around the backfield and get the ball to our mids and forwards. Meghan Keller had a very good game in the midfield. She is a silent but deadly player and is very good at getting the ball and releasing it quickly to our open player. She also had a lot of nice tackles and helped generate attack.
“Overall, the team did an awesome job as a unit, and we hope we can continue this into next week when we have our tough games.”
The Trojans held a 21-6 advantage in shots and a 7-3 edge in corners. Springfield goalie Izzy Boles recorded 13 saves in a busy afternoon.
Wissahickon (4-4, 4-2 SOL) will be on the road at Cheltenham on Monday, and Springfield (2-5, 2-4) will travel to Methacton for a non-league game Monday.
Springfield 0-1 1
Wissahickon 3-2 5
HATBORO-HORSHAM 4, CHELTENHAM 0
The visiting Hatters scored a pair of goals in each half on their way to the shutout win. Gabby Acker (Brenna Reilly assist) scored during corner play less than three minutes into the game, and that 1-0 lead stood until – out of a Hatter timeout – Priscilla Yoo turned Elizabeth Shaffer’s pass into the circle into a goal with 5:07 remaining in the first half.
“(We) came out slow in the first half, and I give it to Cheltenham for their tenacity on the field and holding us to one goal until the last five minutes of the half,” Hatter coach Laura Swezey said. “We called a timeout and talked about being first to the ball and finishing in the circle, and 10 seconds back on the field, (we) scored our second goal of the first half.”
Midway through the second half, Shaffer (Acker assist) found the cage to put the Hatters on top 3-0, and Kaitlyn Wallace turned a deflection by Mariella Spiezio into a goal to close out the scoring.
“In the second half, we had more shots on goal, but (Cheltenham goalie) Nimi Badejoki had some nice saves,” Swezey said. “I was proud of our girls for picking up the pace in the second half and getting more shots on goal that resulted in two more goals.
“Brenna Reilly, Victoria Mullen, Gabby Acker, Kait Wallace and Molly Masterman came up big for us in the 25 of our defensive end in getting the ball out and only allowing two shots on goal by Cheltenham.”
Hatboro-Horsham (4-5, 4-3 SOL) will host Springfield on Tuesday, and Cheltenham (0-8, 0-6) will host Wissahickon on Monday.
Hatboro-Horsham 2-2 4
Cheltenham 0-0 0
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 9, QUAKERTOWN 0
The visiting Colonials received goals from five players, led by the three-goal, one-assist effort of Kennedy Reardon. Frankie O’Brien had two goals and two assists, and Sam Spera had a hand in three goals with one goal and two assists. Jess Dixon added a pair of goals, and Kerin Bechtel had one goal.
The Colonials, who led 3-0 at halftime, took a 1-0 lead on a corner shot by O’Brien.
“(We) came out strong in the first half and contained PW with the exception of a pretty goal from Frankie O’Brien,” Quakertown coach Diane Molinaro said. “The game stayed at 1-0 until 13 minutes were left in the first half when a misdirected ball slowly crossed the goal line.
“Even though the first half ended 3-0 in PW’s favor, (we) held tough. (We) looked like a different team in the second half and, as a result, gave up six goals. The team still has some work to do on playing consistently throughout the entire game. The girls worked on generating an attack and creating opportunities in the circle this week, an I am pleased we had six corners.”
Plymouth Whitemarsh (9-0-1, 6-0 SOL) will host Upper Moreland on Tuesday, and Quakertown (2-7, 1-6) will host Wissahickon on Tuesday.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 3-6 9
Quakertown 0-0 0
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