Check out the recaps for SOL field hockey teams in action Saturday. Pennsbury/PW photos courtesy of Darryl Rule of J&D Photography.
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 1, PENNSBURY 0
(Submitted article)
For a hot, humid morning in mid-September, this one certainly had more the feel of a playoff game on a chilly evening in mid-October.
Ava Borkowski scored the game’s only goal on a beautiful reverse shot 9:47 into the game, using an assist from Sophie Kolkka.
“Today the difference maker was scoring early,” PW coach Charise Halteman said. “That was big for our team, and obviously, we had to maintain the lead, but it definitely set us up for a good game.
“It was a battle today, but it was a good game. It was a grass game for our team, so that was a little bit of an adjustment. We’re not used to the big hit game that Pennsbury is pretty good at, so that was a little bit of an adjustment for us, but I thought overall, there was a lot of back and forth opportunities of both ends.”
PW goalie Katherine Houghton made eight saves to make that early 1-0 lead hold up in a matchup of teams leading their Suburban One League divisions. The loss snapped a five-game winning streak for the Falcons as Plymouth-Whitemarsh improved to 8-0.
“I had been following their success earlier in the week, so I knew it was going to be a good game,” Halteman said. “Based on information I that I had read, I thought our teams would match up really well today. I thought they would have a strong attacking six, and I think we have a strong attacking six. Today’s game was a really well-matched game.”
The game ended when Pennsbury's Maya Geller rifled a shot into the goal off a corner as time expired but had the goal was waved off for being too high in the cage.
"It was a really good game," said Pennsbury coach Jamie Parell. "Both teams competed at a high level. Neither team ever let up. I knew Plymouth-Whitemarsh would be really good, and they were very impressive. Even with the loss, we still had a very good week."
Pennsbury was playing for the third time in three days, after ending long losing streaks with wins over Neshaminy (3-1 Thursday) and Council Rock South (3-0 Friday). P-W had also played Friday, with a 4-0 win over Hatboro-Horsham.
Despite playing so many games in a row, Pennsbury kept the pressure on in the second half, throwing six shots at Houghton in an effort to get the tying goal. Pennsbury's best chance, before Geller's shot on the final corner, came with 5:30 left in the second half, when Kate Chesney ripped one that Houghton just managed to tip away.
Michele Deodati made three saves for the Falcons, who outshot P-W 15-9.
“They definitely have some really talented players on their team,” Halteman said. “They had – in the last seconds of the game – a corner, and a shot went in the goal at the end. There was a little controversy on whether it was tipped or not. I don’t really know.
“The call went our way today, so we survived with a 1-0 win. It’s really good for us. We now have two non-league wins along with our league wins, so I think that’s really important for us moving forward.
"Beating Wissahickon 1-0 and Pennsbury 1-0 – some of these closer game, it just is more of that playoff feel. The intensity level is high, and that’s what we need to be prepared for the end of the season. I thought we were a little tired in the second half. I had to pull one of my starters out because she thought she was going to be sick, so I think the heat was getting to us.
“I thought my goalkeeper – Katherine Houghton – and my defenders, led by Sophie Kolkka, they kept fighting under pressure and doing what they needed to do to keep the ball out of the net. I’m really proud of their effort.”
Plymouth Whitemarsh (7-0, 5-0 SOL) will travel to Cheltenham on Tuesday, and Pennsbury (5-2, 4-0) will be on the road at Council Rock North on Tuesday.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 1-0 1
Pennsbury 0-0 0
EPISCOPAL ACADEMY 3, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 2
The Bucks were looking to avenge last year’s 6-2 loss to EA on Saturday morning, and while they didn’t come away with the win, they did come mighty close only to see the Churchwomen break a 2-2 tie with less than two minutes remaining in regulation.
Eva Altadonna scored both of West’s goals. Both came during corner play. The first – just over three minutes into the game – came on a tip off a scramble in front of the cage after the initial corner shot. That goal sent the Bucks into halftime deadlocked 1-1. Altadonna’s second goal at the 20:17 mark of the second half, came off a Taylor Mason shot. EA knotted the score with 17:57 remaining. It was back and forth until the final two minutes when the Churchwomen capitalized on a corner.
EA held a 15-11 advantage in corners. West goalie Laura Kubit was credited with eight saves in the loss.
Central Bucks West (5-3, 3-2 SOL) will host Souderton on Tuesday.
Central Bucks West 1-1 2
Episcopal Academy 1-2 3
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