Check out the recaps for SOL field hockey teams in action Thursday. CR South/Bensalem photos provided courtesy of Darryl Rule of J&D Photography.
SOL National Conference
PENNSBURY 3, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 0
Jamie Parell had to think about it for a second.
"Second grade," the Pennsbury field hockey coach said, smiling.
That's where she had been the last time the Falcons won an outright Suburban One National Conference championship, all the way back in 1992. Her current seniors, for that matter, had been in fourth grade the last time the team even earned a share of the league championship, back in 2009.
All of that is now history for Pennsbury, though. Nell Webber started the Falcons on their way Thursday afternoon when she finally got her team on the board early in the second half, sparking Pennsbury to a 3-0 win over Council Rock North.
The victory earned the Falcons an outright SOL National title, the program's first in 25 years. Should Pennsbury defeat Truman Tuesday in its league finale, it would give the program its first-ever perfect run through the conference.
"I'm really proud of them," Parell said. "This is very exciting for them and for the program. This is an outstanding league, and there are so many really hard games and really good teams. To win the championship is something very, very special."
The 2017 championship began to take shape in 2013, when the William Penn Middle School team went undefeated. Then, a year later, a freshman-dominated junior varsity team went 15-1-1 for Pennsbury.
The Falcons struggled against the Big Three of the league the last two years, going 1-11 against Neshaminy, Council Rock North and Council Rock South. This year, with a team featuring 12 seniors, many of whom are three-year starters, Pennsbury is now 6-0 against those three.
Of course, the clincher was something that didn't come easily, not against the Indians Thursday afternoon. Pennsbury had clinched at least a share of the title Tuesday by beating Council Rock South, but that meant nothing to a Council Rock North team that bent but didn't break in the first half.
Pennsbury, who had beaten CR North 5-0 earlier this year, outshot the Indians 11-0 in the first half and had nine penalty corners in the first 30 minutes, but the game reached intermission scoreless. It was the first time in 11 league games that Pennsbury did not score in the first half.
"We talked about concentrating on finishing at halftime," Parell said. "We'd controlled the game, and the ball was in their end for most of the half. We just had to break through."
Pennsbury would do that less than five minutes into the second half, when Annie Price played the ball to Webber, who cashed it in from the right side. It was 2-0 less than two minutes later, after Price sent the ball into the circle to Samie Hackman, who sent it across the crease to Olivia Mauro for the goal.
Maya Geller's rocket from a step inside the circle with seven minutes left made the final 3-0.
Pennsbury, now 13-3 overall and 11-0 in the conference, plays Truman Tuesday and Upper Dublin Wednesday before the District 1 seeding meeting.Council Rock North (7-9, 5-7) will travel to Ridley on Saturday for a non-league contest at 10 a.m.
Council Rock North 0-0 0
Pennsbury 0-3 3
NESHAMINY 6, HARRY S TRUMAN 0
Abby Geisler connected for a hat trick to lead the Redskins to the decisive win.
Jamie Pennington turned an Anna Skrot pass into a goal just over 10 minutes into the game, and seven minutes later Geisler connected on an unassisted goal. Liana Jones – using a Pennington assist – scored with 5:47 remaining in the half to send the ‘Skins into halftime with a 3-0 lead.
Geisler (Ciara Lambon assist) found the cage 43 seconds into the second half, and then it was Hope Cahill connecting, using a Kiley Gurysh assist. Geisler completed her hat trick with just over five minutes remaining, this time using a Cahill assist.
Neshaminy (10-6, 9-2 SOL) will host Mount St. Joseph in a non-league game on Friday, and Harry S Truman (3-12, 1-10) will be on the road at Academy Park on Monday for a non-league game.
Harry S Truman 0-0 0
Neshaminy 3-3 6
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 9, BENSALEM 0
Katelyn Cocco connected for a hat trick while Mikayla VanAken had a pair of goals to lead the Golden Hawks to the Senior Night win.
Sarah Solomon put the Hawks on the board four minutes into the game, and then Cocco went to work, reeling off three consecutive goals in a 12-minute span – her first and third with assists from Tori Wright and her second with a Caitlyn Thornton assist.
VanAken made it a 5-0 game when she scored an unassisted goal in the opening minute of the second half. Then it was Thornton turning a Solomon pass into a goal. Bridget Doherty’s goal midway through the half put the Hawks on top 7-0. Goals by Van Aken and Lauren Mitchell (Ashley Lackman assist) closed out the scoring.
The Golden Hawks’ dominance is underscored by their advantage in shots (28-1) and corners (9-0).
Bensalem goalie Selena Lee was credited with 19 saves while Aspen Handel was forced to make just one save in the shutout.
Council Rock South (9-7, 7-4 SOL) will host Neshaminy on Tuesday, and Bensalem (3-13, 1-10) will be on the road at Abington on Tuesday.
Bensalem 0-0 0
Council Rock South 4-5 9
SOL Continental Conference
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 2, SOUDERTON 1
Nicole Bauer was busy writing a reminder to tell her team when Taylor Mason found the back of the cage with West’s first goal after weaving her way through the Indians’ defense.
“I looked down to write a note – ‘Get on number 9,’ and she had scored,” the Indians’ coach said of Mason.
Mason’s goal with 18:56 remaining in the first half knotted the score 1-1, but it was her second goal on a beautiful reverse chip from the top of the circle 11 minutes later that was the difference in the game.
“Her second shot was great – she was unattended, but it was a terrific shot,” Bauer said.
“Taylor’s skills have continued to improve over the time we’ve coached her,” West coach Courtney Lepping said of Mason. “Her reverse chip is something she’s been working on all week just to continue to improve.
“I told her before the game started, ‘These are looking great. You’re going to get one.’ For her to go out there and use it in a huge moment – she just knew how she had to go in there and attack.”
Mason’s back-to-back goals erased an early Souderton lead. Sophomore Courtney Kenah scored during corner play just three minutes into the game. Anna Gwiazdzinski’s initial shot was turned away by goalie Peyton Fischer’s diving stop on the left post. Kenah was there for the rebound, giving the Indians a 1-0 lead that Mason erased.
“We passed the ball really well, better than we have in any game,” Mason said. “Before every game, we would say, ‘Let’s get at least four consecutive passes in a row.’ This time I think we had like seven or eight in a row.
“There were parts of the game where we got a little antsy, but for the most part, we kept control and stayed strong the whole time. Our defense probably played with the most grit they ever had. Everybody was dropping back. We were playing it down to every last little call. We went down and dirty for it.”
The Indians came close to knotting the score on more than one occasion in a second half that saw them draw seven penalty corners while the Bucks had none. Fischer turned away a pair of shots on the fourth corner midway through the half, but the big play came with under 10 minutes remaining when – with the goalie down – West’s Chloe Miller-Russo saved the day, stopping the ball and clearing it out. Making the play loom even larger was the fact that the Bucks – due to an infraction on the previous corner – were down a player during corner play.
“It hit the post and was rolling right on the line,” Miller-Russo said. “I thought our defense was killing it, so it was my turn to step up and show them that I’m there for them just as much as they’re there for me. The ball was right on the line, and I was like, ‘No, we’re not going into overtime, no way.’”
The drama was far from over. The Indians drew a corner with less than a minute remaining. This time it was Casey Reichwein delivering a defensive save.
“Before every corner, we always tell each other that it’s going to be okay – do your best, we’re on the field for a reason, go out and show them they don’t deserve that goal,” Miller-Russo said. “Our defense has been together for so long that we’re so used to being there for each other. If it goes through one person, we’re there to back it up.”
For the Indians, it was their second heartbreaking 2-1 loss this week. In both, they had opportunities.
“On-the-line opportunities – that’s the story of the season, literally on the line,” Bauer said. “We have not gotten a win that we weren’t supposed to get, so they don’t feel in their hearts that they’re a really good team. We are a good team, and we just need to get into playoffs to show it.”
Central Bucks West (13-4, 9-3 SOL) will close out its regular season with a non-league road game at Strath Haven on Wednesday. Souderton (7-9, 3-8) will travel to Methacton on Saturday for a non-league game at 10 a.m.
Central Bucks West 2-0 2
Souderton 1-0 1
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 3, NORTH PENN 3 (OT)
In a game that had its share of drama, the Knights found themselves staring at an early 2-0 deficit but rallied to go on top 3-2 late in regulation. The visiting Titans knotted the scored on a corner with no time showing on the clock to send the game into overtime.
“I am so happy that this team is beginning to believe in themselves,” South coach Pat Toner said. “We have been telling them that they can play with anyone if they work as a team. Today they proved it.
“We played our third game in three days – last night in the rain at Coatesville. Somehow they dug deep today and played a very talented North Penn team, saving their best game of the week for last. I am incredibly proud of them.”
The Titans roared out of the gate to a 2-0 lead. Casey Reilly finished on a Kaitlyn Barnhart pass with 8:58 remaining in the first half, and Kasey Dietzel connected on a corner with 4:53 remaining. A goal by Madison Stotler with 12 seconds remaining in the half made it a 2-1 game.
The Knights came out of the intermission strong, and Bri O’Donnell (Julia Scanlon assist) knotted the score two minutes into the half. Both teams had their opportunities, but both goalies came up big. The Knights appeared poised to earn the win when Mikayla Barrow found the cage with 1:32 remaining in regulation, but the Titans had other ideas, drawing a series of corners with no time showing on the clock. The dramatic sequence was capped when Ally Fitts scored the equalizer.
Both teams had their chances in OT, but again, strong goalie play on both sides kept the tie intact.
“Central Bucks South came out strong from the start and played an excellent game,” North Penn coach Shannon McCracken said. “They are a team to watch out for.”
North Penn goalie Anissa Gardizy recorded 15 saves, and South’s Jillian Heilig had 11 saves.
Central Bucks South (10-5-1, 6-4-1 SOL) will host Central Bucks East in its regular season finale on Tuesday at 5 p.m. North Penn (9-5-1, 8-2-1) will host Hatboro-Horsham on Monday.
North Penn 1-2-0 3
Central Bucks South 2-1-0 3
PENNRIDGE 1, WILLIAM TENNENT 0 (OT)
The Rams celebrated Senior Night with a dramatic overtime win. Sydney Borneman scored the game winner early in overtime with an assist rom Caitlyn Amsden.
“As much as I’d like to have not taken this game to overtime, it’s a memorable game for our two seniors, Maddie Pennie and Caroline Beljan, who work so hard,” coach Becky Spahr said. “We fought and fought and stayed in it. Thankfully we pulled it out.”
The Rams might have been celebrating sooner had it not been for the 15-save effort of Tennent goalie Sophia Trozi.
“She was crazy tonight – we had a couple 1v1s, and she just stepped up and played really well,” Spahr said. “She had a ton of saves.
“William Tennent is kind of in the same spot we are in a tough conference. They’re a really good team. They’re getting better and better, and I think they’re really well coached.
“As the game progressed and we didn’t score, I think it got them motivated. They were super intense, and our girls stepped up and matched that, but we couldn’t get the final piece of the puzzle. We had the ball inside their 50 for the majority of the game, and we just couldn’t put the ball in.”
Spahr lauded the play of several players in the win.
“Our midfield, Caroline Beljan, Caitlyn Amsden, Emily Amsden, Kayla Richards and Sydney Borneman, did a great job on both sides of the ball,” the Rams’ coach said. “I was impressed with their ability to attack with pace and still recover and play strong defense.”
Pennridge goalie Mackenzie Bross recorded two saves in the shutout win.
Pennridge (4-10, 2-9 SOL) will host Lansdale Catholic in a non-league game on Friday, and William Tennent (2-13, 0-11) will host Souderton on Tuesday.
William Tennent 0-0-0 0
Pennridge 0-0-1 1
SOL American Conference
UPPER DUBLIN 2, HATBORO-HORSHAM 1 (OT)
Ryann Kullmann scored with 9:41 remaining in overtime, propelling the Flying Cardinals to the dramatic win.
The Hatters celebrated Senior Night and honored Lauren Fuller, Kaitlin Gehlhaus, Megan Leib, Molly Masterson, Maddie Reilly, Emily Salvatore, Kaitlin Schada, Lizzy Theurer, Liz Wilburn and Priscilla Yoo.
“What an exciting game by both Hatboro-Horsham and Upper Dublin,” HH coach Laura Swezey said. “The seniors carried the intensity and excitement of the game from the beginning of the game until the very last second.
“Our team has really come on strong the second half of the season. The scores do not show the progression of our team. Our ball movement and transition of the ball has improved.”
Thursday’s game was a marked contrast to the initial meeting between the two teams that saw the Flying Cardinals roll to a 5-0 win. This time around, the Cards and Hatters found themselves locked in a 0-0 tie at halftime. Maddie Templeton gave the Cardinals a 1-0 lead when the scored an unassisted goal with 18:51 remaining. That lead held for 11 minutes as the host Hatters came back to knot the score when Paige Mullen found the cage. That tie stood until Kullmann’s game winner.
“UD’s Maddie Templeton and Molly Lunney both had outstanding games in the midfield,” UD coach Heather Boyer said. “Center back Emma Kate Powell came up with a terrific defensive play to stop a breakaway on goal in the overtime period against a much-improved Hatters’ squad.”
Upper Dublin had 20 penalty corners and 19 shots on goal while the Hatters had three corners and 11 shots on goal.
“Our defense has come up big,” Swezey said. “Tonight there were (20) penalty corners by UD and only one goal was scored. We had more shots on goal than previous games with 11. I’m proud of our whole team.”
Meghan Muth (one save) and Sarah Herchenroder (three saves) combined for four saves in the win. Liz Wilburn kept the Hatters in it with 12 saves.
“Liz Wilburn was stellar and has been all season,” Swezey said.
Upper Dublin (9-6, 8-5 SOL) will host Upper Moreland in its Corners for Cancer game on Saturday at 3 p.m., and Hatboro-Horsham (1-15, 1-12) will travel to North Penn on Monday.
Upper Dublin 0-1-1 2
Hatboro-Horsham 0-1-0 1
WISSAHICKON 3, UPPER MORELAND 1
The Trojans and Golden Bears battled to a 1-1 halftime tie, but the visiting Trojans scored a pair of second-half goals to earn the win.
Julianna Sutow (Ellen Kane assist) put the Trojans on the board with 16:50 remaining in the first half, but the Golden Bears rallied to knot the score on a goal by Phoebe Longstreth (Jess Flanagan assist).
Sammi Pak turned a pass from Emily Purnell into a goal that was the game winner with 18:32 remaining in regulation. Sutow connected for her second goal in the closing minutes for the 3-1 final.
UM goalie Cassidy Murphy was credited with seven saves.
Wissahickon (10-6, 9-4 SOL) will host Springfield Township on Tuesday at 7 p.m., and Upper Moreland (6-9, 5-8) will host Upper Merion on Monday in a non-league contest.
Wissahickon 1-2 3
Upper Moreland 1-0 1
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 2, QUAKERTOWN 1
The Spartans opened up a 2-0 lead and held on for the win against a pesky Panther squad.
Kate Wojeck and Maddie Yoder each scored a goal within a 13-minute span before the Panthers got on the board with a goal by senior Mackenzie Hadfield.
The Spartans held a decided advantage in shots (16-2) and corners (11-4).
Springfield Township (12-3, 11-2 SOL) will be on the road at Wissahickon on Tuesday for a 7 p.m. contest, and Quakertown (5-10, 5-8) will host Plymouth Whitemarsh on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Quakertown 0-1 1
Springfield Township 0-2 2
Wednesday, Sept. 11
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 3, COATESVILLE 0
The Titans exploded for three first-half goals, and that was more than enough to defeat a scrappy Red Raider squad in a contest that was played in the pouring rain at Coatesville.
Casey Reilly scored 41 seconds into the game, and the Titans had a lead they would not lose. Kaitlyn Barnhart (Kasey Dietzel assist) made it a 2-0 game, finding the cage with 12:02 remaining in the half. Two minutes later, Dietzel scored for the 3-0 final.
The Titans held an advantage in shots (9-2) and corners (6-0).
South goalie Jillian Heilig turned away the only two shots she faced in the shutout win in goal.
Central Bucks South 3-0 3
Coatesville 0-0 0
About the Author
