Check out the results for SOL field hockey teams in action Thursday.
NESHAMINY 3, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 2
The Redskins, according to coach Jamie Pinto, played ‘Neshaminy hockey’ in Thursday’s non-league win over an East squad that earlier this week clinched its first conference title since 2002. By any name, the Redskins’ performance was impressive.
“Our girls just come out and play,” the Redskins’ first-year coach said. “No matter who we’re playing, no matter where we’re playing, they come out and play hard because that’s what they know.
“They work on things we worked on in practice, they play together as a team, and it’s been working for us lately. That’s what we’re going to keep doing through the end of the season.”
The Redskins got on the scoreboard when Mia Sexton turned an Emily Alexis pass into a goal at the 25:14 mark. The Patriots had an immediate response, knotting the score less than three minutes later on a goal during corner play by Reilly Finegan (Cailey Lever assist). The remainder of the half belonged to the Redskins, who received goals from Elayna Curtin (Elena Donato assist) and Sexton in a four-minute span to go into halftime with a 3-1 lead.
“At our practices, we just work on going forward with the ball, attacking and following our shots,” Pinto said. “That’s what the girls were doing.
“Again, it was a whole team effort. We have girls cutting from the right side of the field across to the left, tracking down balls. They were sending the ball forward, we were receiving it, making a move and just shooting. Everything we have been working on the whole year, they just put it together today. They just work so hard. That’s Neshaminy field hockey – you play with heart and you just play.”
The Patriots made things interesting when Mackenzie Boyle slammed home a shot with 10:16 remaining, but that 3-2 score held until the final whistle.
“This was a huge game,” Pinto said. “Coming in, we knew they were at the top of their league, and any non-league game we can win is important, especially for the power rankings and just for our own team’s confidence.
“With this big win, we’re just going to carry it right over. We have three games left in our league, and we’re going to keep on playing the way we’ve been playing.”
Coming up big for the Redskins was goalie Jill Mitchell, who recorded eight saves.
“She played great today,” Pinto said. “In the second half, they were getting a lot of corners, and she was making the initial saves and our defenders would clear out the ball wide. They were putting a lot of pressure on toward the end, but we played well.
“She’s really stepped up in the last couple of games when we’ve needed her to. She’s been making all the big saves, and the rest of the defense is getting the ball out wide, the mids are recovering and the forwards are there for the outlet pass. Up and down the field, we’ve just been working together as a team.”
Pinto credited the strong play of Kayla Connolly in the midfield and Emily Alexis in the center.
The Patriots held a 17-15 edge in shots.
“This was a tough game and could have gone either way,” East coach Michelle Finegan said. “The Patriots held the statistical advantage in shots and corners and had some very close shots that could have been game changers.
“This game might be what we needed to push us to finish out the season strong and fight through adversity. I was proud of the team during plenty of the game, but we need to get back to more cutting off the ball, quick decision making and the strong passing team that got us the wins we have on the board.”
East’s Tylar Aivazian and Sydney Richter combined for three saves.
Neshaminy (11-4, 8-1 SOL) will host Council Rock South on Tuesday, and Central Bucks East (12-3, 10-1) will be on the road at Cardinal O’Hara on Monday for a non-league game.
Neshaminy 3-0 3
Central Bucks East 1-1 2
National Conference
PENNSBURY 4, ABINGTON 2
Kate Chesney contributed two goals and an assist to lead the Falcons to the conference win. It was Cheney – using an Olivia Mauro assist – putting the Falcons on the scoreboard six minutes into the contest. The Ghosts knotted the score on a goal by Sam Simon (Sam McGee assist). With 4:34 remaining in the half, Chesney connected on an unassisted goal to send the Falcons into halftime with a 2-1 lead.
Sammie Hackman’s goal 55 seconds into the second half put the Falcons on top 3-1, but the Ghosts responded less than a minute later with a goal by Sarah Boches to make it a one-goal game. Chesney (Hackman assist) found the cage with an insurance goal at the 19:51 mark to give the Falcons their final margin of victory.
Abington goalie Mackenzie Greiner had 11 saves while Pennsbury’s Melanie Pond had five.
Pennsbury (8-7-1, 5-5 SOL) will travel to Harry S Truman on Tuesday, and Abington (5-10, 3-8) will be on the road at Phoenixville on Friday for a non-league game.
Pennsbury 2-2 4
Abington 1-1 2
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 7, HARRY S TRUMAN 0
Bridget Thompson scored three goals and added an assist, and Camille Quigley added a pair of goals to lead the Indians. Claire Jarema contributed a goal and an assist, and Julianne Mangano had one goal to round out the goal scorers. Danielle Nelson had a pair of assists while Anna Lehman, Jessica Kusters and Mary Kate Dugan each added one assist.
Council Rock North (8-8, 7-4 SOL) will host Central Bucks West on Tuesday in a non-league game, and Harry S Truman (2-11-1, 1-8-1) will host Pennsbury on Tuesday.
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 10, BENSALEM 0
Continental Conference
NORTH PENN 3, CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 0
The Knights celebrated Senior Night with a hard-fought win over the visiting Titans.
“The seniors – Tori Bickel, Amber Blackshear, Alli Dickinson, Karli Marger, Seema Sajjan, Brynne Schoppe and Jenna Whitman – led the team to victory,” coach Shannon McCracken said.
Bri O’Donnell’s penalty stroke with 5:53 remaining in the first half sent the Knights into halftime with a 1-0 lead.
That 1-0 lead stood until 9:10 remained when Blackshear scored with an assist from Mikayla Barrow. Madison Stotler turned a Jenna Whitman pass into a goal with 5:28 remaining for the 3-0 final.
“We are very proud of the way this team handles themselves and never gives up despite the circumstances,” South coach Pat Toner said. “After losing our captain, Lauren Dougherty, to an ankle injury, we have worked hard to adjust.
“Tonight we had Doc back in a limited capacity, and she played with heart and determination. In addition, Kasey Dietzel and Mel Dunton had an excellent game.”
The Knights held a 20-3 advantage in penalty corners.
South goalie Francine Richick was credited with 14 saves. Erin Chiofe had three defensive saves and Megan Gillard had one.
North Penn (9-6, 6-3 SOL) will travel to Owen J Roberts for a non-league game Saturday, and Central Bucks South (8-6-1, 5-6) will host Central Bucks East for Senior Night on Tuesday.
Central Bucks South 0-0 0
North Penn 1-2 3
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 1, QUAKERTOWN 0
The visiting Spartans used a goal by Victoria Ebner to eke out a 1-0 win over the Panthers.
Springfield held a 7-6 edge in shots and a 10-6 advantage in penalty corners.
Spartan goalie Izzy Boles was credited with six saves in the shutout.
Springfield (5-10, 5-7 SOL) will be on the road at Gwynedd Mercy on Friday for a non-league contest, and Quakertown (3-14, 2-11) will travel to Plymouth Whitemarsh on Tuesday.
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