Check out the recaps for field hockey teams in action Tuesday.
SOL American Conference
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 5, WISSAHICKON 0
The Colonials are once again establishing themselves as the class of the American Conference. On Tuesday, they faced a Trojan squad that was the last team to beat them in conference play (4-0 on Sept. 16, 2015), but this game belonged to the Colonials, who opened up a 2-0 halftime lead and never looked back.
“It was one of those games where the score indicates that we did well, and quite honestly, the team and myself – I thought our scrimmages and our first two games we were getting better each game,” coach Charise Halteman said. “I felt like we got to today’s game, and I didn’t see us take steps forward. I don’t think it was our best play, but we have good attack, and they keep working, so we were able to score five.
“But I don’t know if the score’s indicative of the pressure that Wissahickon was able to put on us. Especially in midfield and transition play, I thought Wissahickon did a nice job to break things up or make receptions more difficult, those sorts of things.”
Senior Kennedy Reardon scored both first-half goals during corner play.
“She scored them on corners, not necessarily the initial corner play but following through and being ready for rebounds, just sticking with the play,” Halteman said.
Freshman Hailey Copestick scored off the rebound of a goalie save early in the second half to put the Colonials on top 3-0. Sophomore Kaleigh Missimer connected for the final two goals to close out the scoring.
“She really did a nice job the whole game attacking the left side,” Halteman said of Missimer. “She came off the bench last year – she got decent time, but she’s very good. She has a good stick.
“Sam Spera, my other senior in the midfield, is more of a connector, and she sets a lot of things up. She runs corner to corner, sideline to sideline. She’s involved everywhere. In a lot of ways, our defense wasn’t tested at times today, and that’s because my midfielders and defenders are stepping up really big in the open field. It makes a difference in terms of possession.”
Contributing assists for the Colonials were Ava Borkowski and Sam Spera.
The Colonials drew four first-half corners and then more than doubled that with 10 in the second.
“The second half I definitely thought we were putting more pressure on in the circle,” Halteman said.
Goalkeeper Sarah Trask recorded three saves in the shutout victory.
Wissahickon goalie Meghan Reilly recorded four saves in the first half, and Alli Wood was credited with 13 saves in a busy second half in goal.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (3-0, 2-0 SOL) will host Cheltenham on Wednesday, and Wissahickon (1-1, 1-1) will be on the road at Springfield Township Wednesday.
Wissahickon 0-0 0
Plymouth Whitemarsh 2-3 5
Non-league
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 4, DOCK MENNONITE ACADEMY 2
The Spartans picked up a welcome win after back-to-back losses losses to Plymouth Whitemarsh and Abington.
“I thought our defense played one of its best games today,” coach Linda Nixon said. “We’re coming along. Our kids were devastated last week when we lost to Plymouth Whitemarsh (4-0). Today our passing was a little bit better. I was pleased with that aspect. We’ll take every win we can get because they’re tough to come by.”
The two teams battled to a 1-1 halftime tie. Kate Strickland put the Pioneers on the board when she converted a penalty stroke early in the game. Anya Kochanowicz connected on a penalty stroke for the Spartans to knot the score. Hers came on her second try during an unusual sequence.
“Anya took the stroke, and it was wide of the cage,” Nixon said. “The next thing we know, she’s taking another stroke, and she puts the second one in.”
It turns out Kochanowicz had taken the first prior to the official’s whistle.
“She had to take it again, and I thought that was the best thing that’s happened to us in a long time,” Nixon said.
The Spartans outscored the visiting Pioneers 3-1 in the second half. Kochanowicz connected on her second goal, this one with an assist from Charlotte DeKerillis. Maddie Yoder scored a pair of goals, the second one with an assist from DeKerillis.
Macy Balmer scored Dock’s lone second-half goal, using a Strickland assist.
“They have a couple of really nice players,” Nixon said. “Kate Strickland and Macy Balmer really did a nice job, and their goalie had a really good game.
Springfield (2-2, 0-2 SOL) will host Wissahickon on Wednesday.
Dock Mennonite Academy 1-1 2
Springfield Township 1-3 4
UPPER MORELAND 4, QUAKERTOWN 2
A pair of second-half goals by Bryanna Gordon – who finished with a hat trick – broke a 2-2 halftime tie and propelled the Golden Bears to the non-league win.
The two teams spent the first half exchanging goals. Gordon put the Bears on the scoreboard nine-and-a-half minutes into the game, connecting on an unassisted goal, but five minutes later Makenzie Adamson scored an unassisted goal for the Panthers. UM’s Claudia Zanine and the Panthers’ Halle Frederick exchanged goals in a two-minute span, sending the teams into halftime deadlocked.
Gordon’s first goal of the second half with an assist from Kiersten Kroll turned out to be the game winner, and she tacked on an insurance goal with 8:44 remaining in regulation.
UM goalie Isabella Guarenghi recorded five saves in the win.
Upper Moreland (2-2, 1-1 SOL) will host Academy of the New Church in a non-league game on Friday. Quakertown (2-3, 0-2)will be on the road at North Penn on Friday.
Quakertown 2-0 2
Upper Moreland 2-2 4
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