Central Bucks West notched a win in Thursday’s District One 3A second round action. The Bucks are the lone SOL school to advance to Saturday’s quarterfinal round.
CLASS 3A
#1-4 CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 10, #1-20 METHACTON 6
Just over a minute into Thursday’s second round game at War Memorial Field, Dani Dundas scored back-to-back goals within a 30-second span to spot the Bucks an early 2-0 lead. Then it was Maddie Maio’s turn. It took the senior midfielder two minutes to score a pair, the second with a Liv Fitzgerald assist, and the Bucks led 4-0 less than five minutes into the game.
Goals didn’t come as easily after that, and at halftime, it was a 6-3 game. The Bucks held a 4-3 scoring edge in the second half.
“We started off really strong, and then we just let some poor decisions and turnovers get the best of us,” West coach Tara Schmucker said. “I think we got a little anxious somewhere in the middle of the first half and started to play their game more than our game.
“We had some very good individual performances. I just don’t think it was our best team win.”
Topping the list of strong individual performances was Casey Reichwein, who anchored the Bucks’ defense.
“Casey had a phenomenal game,” Schmucker said. “She had four draw controls, which is low for her, but she got some key ones.
“She had three caused turnovers, and I thought she did great defensively.”
Reichwein also had two ground balls.
Schmucker went on to laud the play of Maddie McGarry and Lucy Varner, who had three ground balls each.
“They both had very good defensive games,” the Bucks’ coach said. “Our goalie – Lauren Ring – had four saves, and she had some pretty big saves in key moments.”
Dundas, Maio and Liv Fitzgerald led the Bucks with three goals each. Maio had a pair of assists, and Fitzgerald had one assist.
“Liv Fitzgerald really stepped it up on the attack,” Schmucker said. “Dani came out strong for us on offense.”
Chloe Miller Russo had one goal. Emma Harding and Finley Ueland both had a pair of assists.
“Give Methacton credit – at the end of the first half and into the second half, I thought they started getting the best of us on transitions,” Schmucker said. “Ultimately, I think we got a little complacent and sloppy in places. It was not a complete game for us.
“We won – certainly we wanted to eradicate what we happened last year with the number one seed (a second round 6-5 loss to Downingtown East), and I certainly think we did that. Now just need to make the most of this opportunity.”
Central Bucks West (16-3, 7-1 SOL) will host #12 Perkiomen Valley. The Vikings upset fifth-seeded Harriton 9-8.
Methacton 3-3 6
Central Bucks West 6-4 10
#1-11 DOWNINGTOWN WEST 9, #1-6 PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 6
The Colonials saw their season come to an end in Thursday’s second round game. For coach Ellen Reilly, the hardest part of the loss was bidding farewell to a special senior class.
“They’re good kids –that’s part of the reason I coach,” the Colonials’ coach said. “This group of seniors have put the time and dedication in, and they’re all-around good kids. They’re good student-athletes.
“They come from good families, they do what you ask them to do. Hey, it just wasn’t our day today. I just feel bad for the seniors because I know they wanted to go further.”
For one half, the two teams exchanged goals, and the score was deadlocked 4-4 at the intermission. The second half belonged to the visiting Whippets, who outscored the Colonials 5-2 after the intermission. The game was the first in a week for PW while Downingtown West was coming off an 8-7 win over Strath Haven 24 hours earlier.
“Downingtown West came out ready to go, and they played yesterday,” Reilly said. “They were aggressive, they were beating us to the ball and the draw was huge today.
“They won 90 percent of the draws. They were one step quicker than us. I don’t know if it was due to our layoff or if we didn’t prepare and come out ready to go the way we should have.”
Peyton Mattice controlled the draw for Downingtown West, but she wasn’t the only player that presented problems for the Colonials.
“Everyone on their team was aggressive, and my kids – that step wasn’t there today,” Reilly said. “They were beating us to the ball, they were wanting it a little bit more, and when we had the opportunities, we didn’t make it count. We threw it away.
“My defense did some really nice things to get the ball. After they would win the draw, we would stop them, and then we would end up turning it over or throwing it away on the attack. Things just didn’t go our way today. They were the better team.”
Sophie Kolkka and Max Leszczynski each had two goals. Leszczynski added an assist. Vic Betterly and Raquel Baskin each had one goal.
PW goalie Meghan Ely recorded six saves.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (9-0 SOL) closed out its season with a 14-5 record.
Downingtown West 4-5 9
Plymouth Whitemarsh 4-2 6
#1-7 DOWNINGTOWN EAST 13, #1-10 CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 6
The Cougars opened up an 8-1 halftime lead on their way to the second round win.
Sophomore Riley Forman’s hat trick led the Patriots. Contributing one goal each were Katie Powell, Mackenzie Boyle and Bella Ridolfi. Quinn Ferry had three assists.
Freshman Fiona Henderson was credited with eight saves in goal.
Central Bucks East (7-1 SOL) closed out its season with a 14-6 record.
Central Bucks East 1-5 6
Downingtown East 8-5 13
#1-1 GARNET VALLEY 13, #1-16 ABINGTON 7
CLASS 2A
#1-3 PENNCREST 15, #1-11 UPPER MORELAND 5
The Lions spent the past two days sending SOL teams home for the season. Twenty-four hours after bringing an end to Springfield Township’s season, the Lions did the same to the Golden Bears, opening up a 7-3 halftime lead and never looking back.
Bryanna Gordon’s hat trick led the Bears. Moira Olexa accounted for the other two goals. UM goalie Cheyenne Grumm was credited with seven saves.
Upper Moreland (4-5 SOL) closed out its season with a 12-8 record.
Upper Moreland 3-2 5
Penncrest 7-8 15
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