Check out the results for SOL field hockey teams in action Thursday.
SOL National Conference
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 2, WILLIAM TENNENT 0
It was a red letter day for the Council Rock South field hockey team.
Not only did the Golden Hawks notch a shutout victory in the Philadelphia Field Hockey Game of the Week that was live streamed, the win also represented a personal milestone for coach Lisa Belz, who notched the 100th win of her stellar career.
“There was just a lot of positivity surrounding the team today – it was nice,” Belz said. “Even though today the score was only 2-0, we did a lot of nice things in the game, so I was happy.”
Katelyn Cocco put the Golden Hawks on the board in the first half, thanks to a dazzling individual effort.
“Cocco has outstanding speed,” Belz said. “Her goal – she took it all the way down 60 yards and scored.”
In the second half, freshman Kerry Kaufman connected on an insurance goal for the 2-0 final.
“We have a nice new freshman, and she’s also scoring goals for us,” Belz said of Kaufman. “We’re constantly moving people around, trying to figure out what the best combination of people are. The girls are responding and picking up their level of play every game. I’m happy overall.
“We had a really nice passing game today. Bianca Bonanni’s playing in the center, and she’s been a strong defensive back for us. This is her third year starting varsity, and today she really stepped up to the ball and distributed the ball well.”
The Golden Hawks held an 18-0 advantage in shots, but keeping the Panthers in the game was goalie Sophia Trozzi, who recorded 16 saves in a standout effort.
“We haven’t played Tennent for a while because they were in the (Continental Conference),” Belz said. “They looked pretty good. It wasn’t like we were dominating. It really was back and forth, but my backs stepped up, so they weren’t in our circle a lot.
“They have some nice players – their defense is pretty good, and their goalie is really good.”
With the win, the young Golden Hawks improved to 3-1 in conference play. Three of their four loses are at the hands of non-league foes.
“We have a tough non-league schedule,” said Belz, whose non-league schedule includes games against some of the top teams in the district. “We only have five returning starters from last year, one of them being the goalie, so there’s six new people on the field. We’re making progress.”
Council Rock South (3-4, 3-1 SOL) will face archrival Council Rock North on Monday at 3:30 p.m., and William Tennent (1-5) will travel to Wissahickon for a non-league game on Friday.
William Tennent 0-0 0
Council Rock South 2-0 2
PENNSBURY 3, HARRY S TRUMAN 0
The visiting Falcons struggled to find the cage and found themselves locked in a scoreless tie at halftime. Things changed in the second half as they erupted for three unanswered goals.
At the 26:30 mark, Maya Geller scored a goal that turned out to be the game-winner during corner play, using an Anna Sharp assist. Sharp’s unassisted goal 13 minutes later gave the Falcons a 2-0 lead, and with three minutes remaining in regulation, Maddie Spratt (Geller assist) closed out scoring with a goal.
Keeping the Tigers in the game was goalie Christina Gregory, who recorded 24 saves. Also for the Tigers, Grace Sutton had a goal line save in the first half to keep the Falcons off the board.
Pennsbury (4-4, 4-1 SOL) will host Perkiomen Valley in a non-league game on Saturday at 11 a.m., and Harry S Truman (1-6, 0-5) will travel to William Tennent on Monday.
Pennsbury 0-3 3
Harry S Truman 0-0 0
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 4, BENSALEM 0
Junior Sarah Everett connected on a pair of goals and teammate Brenna Schoenfeld added a goal and an assist as the visiting Indians opened up a 4-0 halftime lead. Sarah Scott had a hand in three goals, contributing three assists.
The Indians held a decided advantage in shots (16-0) and corners (23-1).
Council Rock North (6-2, 4-1 SOL) will host Council Rock South on Monday, and Bensalem (1-6, 1-5) will travel to Neshaminy on Wednesday.
Council Rock North 4-0 4
Bensalem 0-0 0
SOL Continental Conference
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 4, QUAKERTOWN 1
Sparked by a pair of goals from Casey Reichwein, the Bucks found their offensive stride in Thursday’s win, drawing 13 corners and taking 31 shots.
Reichwein put the Bucks on the board when she scored during corner play. Junior Grayce Reimel connected for her first goal of the season, and the Bucks took a 2-1 lead into halftime.
In the second half, senior Lauren Hahn (Reimel assist) connected on her first goal of the season to put the Bucks on top 3-1. Reichwein closed out the scoring when she converted a penalty stroke into a goal.
Coach Ginny Moore acknowledged the strong play of her squad.
“Willa Mazullo had an incredible game in the midfield – she had great positioning and passing the whole game,” the Bucks’ first-year coach said. “Ella Casale and Darien Bandison had outstanding defensive saves in our circle, stopping two very dangerous breakaways.
“Sophomore Bryn Spoerl made her debut in a varsity game tonight, making fast runs on the wing. The young starting sophomores – Carlin McFadden, Julia Bunch and Emily Erickson – continue to bring great energy and hustle onto the field. The Bucks looked solid tonight, and (I’m) extremely proud of their drive and passion.”
Central Bucks West (2-5, 2-3) will travel to Villa Joseph Marie for a non-league game on Friday, and Quakertown (2-6, 0-5) will host Palisades Friday in a non-league game at 3:45 p.m.
Central Bucks West 2-2 4
Quakertown 1-0 1
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 3, NORTH PENN 0
Pat Toner has never been willing to sacrifice defense for offense, but the veteran coach had a change of heart this season, opting to do just that.
Last week, Toner decided to go back to her tried and true defense-first style of play.
Thursday’s shutout win over the visiting Knights confirmed that the Titans can win – and score goals – playing Toner’s more defensive system.
“We have been struggling a little bit in the beginning – I’ll blame myself for some of it,” the Titans’ coach said. “We had gone to camp, I tried a new system – I wasn’t 100 percent sold on it, but they did very well with it. So, I thought – all right, let me try it a little bit.
“We gave up four goals to East and five to Souderton, and I really don’t like giving up that many goals, so I changed it on the bus on the way to Pennridge. I just decided we were going to play more defensive, so that’s what we did. We gave ourselves a chance.”
The Titans defeated Pennridge 3-0, and they are 3-1 since Toner opted to go back to her roots.
“We’ve been up and down a little bit, but I believe they are capable of playing at a high level,” Toner said. “Today I finally saw that they took control of the game.
“North Penn is very good. They’re always well coached. We knew that their corners were very strong – people have mentioned how strong they are.
“We tried to disrupt their corners, and we did a really good job of that. They had 13 corners, and they really didn’t get any good shots off.”
The Titans were awarded just three corners, but they converted one – the first – into an Anna Shirley goal midway through the first half. Mel Dunton was credited with an assist on a goal that turned out to be the game-winner.
Five minutes later, Sophia Wasyliw (Dunton assist) found the back of the cage to put the Titans on top 2-0, a score that held until halftime.
Casey Reilly put the finishing touches on the impressive win with an unassisted goal nine minutes into the second half.
“I thought it was a well-played game by both teams,” Toner said. “We were fortunate to finish.”
Despite North Penn’s 13-3 advantage in corners, it was the Titans holding a 10-5 edge in shots.
South goalie Jillian Heilig was credited with five saves in the shutout win.
“It was a whole team effort,” Toner said. “I thought our defense played really strong. Megan Weeks had an exceptional game, especially on defensive corners, and so did Mel Dunton. All of our captains – Annie Brady and Casey Reilly – really led the team today, and I was really proud of what I saw them do.”
Central Bucks South (5-3, 3-2 SOL) will host Neshaminy in a non-league game Saturday at 10 a.m., and North Penn (3-4, 2-3) will travel to Owen J Roberts on Saturday for a non-league game at 12:30 p.m.
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 2, PENNRIDGE 0
The Rams threw some serious defense at the conference-leading Patriots, battling the district’s top-ranked squad to a scoreless halftime tie.
The Patriots got on the scoreboard midway through the second half when – during corner play – Kenzie Lever turned an Emma Donnelly pass into a goal. Cailey Lever added an insurance goal for the 2-0 final.
Mac Bross turned away 12 shots in another strong outing in goal for the Rams.
“She was amazing,” East coach Meghann Spratt said. “It was such a defensive game, but they were strong defensively and did a great job.
“Their record does not reflect how good they are.”
Coach Becky Spahr had high praise for her squad.
“Our team defense was phenomenal, and we challenged a very strong CB East team,” the Rams’ coach said. “The team is getting better each game, and we are looking forward to the second half of the season. It was tough play from both teams tonight.”
East goalie Emily Bullard recorded three saves in the shutout win.
“Also, incredible play by Kenzie Lever and Liz Philipp,” Spratt said. “They were the constant intensity that we needed tonight.”
Central Bucks East (8-0, 6-0 SOL) will host Downingtown East in a non-league game on Saturday at 11 a.m., and Pennridge (2-5, 1-4) will travel to North Penn on Monday.
Central Bucks East 0-2 2
Pennridge 0-0 0
SOL American Conference
WISSAHICKON 2, UPPER DUBLIN 0
It’s always a battle when the neighboring Trojans and Flying Cardinals do battle. The last four games have been decided by one goal with the Cardinals winning three of those.
The Trojans turned the tables on the Cardinals in Thursday’s initial meeting between the two squads, connecting for a pair of second-half goals and earning the shutout win.
“We made some adjustments at halftime, and they really came out swinging,” Wissahickon coach Lucy Gil said. “The second half we dominated the game.
“We scored quickly, and they elevated their play also. It was a little closer the end of the second half, but they didn’t cross the 50 much after that.”
Two minutes into the second half, Steph Scoma used a Kendal Williams assist for a goal that turned out to be the game-winner. A minute later, Grace Ball (Hannah Havrilla assist) added an insurance goal.
“Grace is fantastic – her ball handling skills are some of the best I’ve seen,” Gil said of Ball. “She’s very quick, and she moves the ball around really well.
“Hannah Havrilla, my center back, has great skills, but she’s also got that vision that you need, and she’s really growing into that position as well. They’re both special players in different ways.”
Wissahickon goalie Meghan Reilly recorded eight saves in the shutout win.
“My goalkeeper played very aggressive,” Gil said. “It doesn’t look like she faced a lot of shots, but that’s because she came out really aggressively and came out hard. I was pleased with her. She’s stepping up.”
Gil is hoping Thursday’s win is a step in the right direction for her squad.
“We’ve had a really tough time this season,” the Trojans’ coach said. “On paper, I look at these kids and they’re all really, really awesome individually.
“It’s starting to come together and we play better when we’re on our turf where it’s a little bit faster. We’ve certainly struggled with the slower turf at PW and Springfield. It’s a work in progress.
“I think it will eventually come together. I think the true test is going to be us meeting up again with PW on our turf. We’ll see how that goes. If we can hold them to a better score, I’ll be happy, and that will mean that my team is on the way to where it needs to be.”
UD goalie Meghan Muth was credited with 14 saves.
Wissahickon (2-3 SOL) will host William Tennent on Friday in a non-league contest, and Upper Dublin (3-3, 2-3) will host Upper Moreland in its Corners for Cancer game on Saturday at 10 a.m.
Upper Dublin 0-0 0
Wissahickon 0-2 2
ABINGTON 7, HATBORO-HORSHAM 0
Six different players contributed goals and three others chipped in assists for the Ghosts in Thursday’s shutout win.
Emily Schlisman connected on a pair of goals while Aly Campbell assisted on three goals. Scoring one goal each were Anna Joseph, Grace Kirwin, Abby Thomas, Devan DiMaria and Becca Gable. Jasmine Cubbage and Paige Doyle each had one assist.
Ellie Hughes was credited with seven saves in the shutout win. Doyle added a defensive save. Hatboro-Horsham’s Lauren Srveion recorded 11 saves in a contest that saw the Ghosts hold an advantage in shots (19-12) and corners (11-6).
Abington (5-2, 5-1 SOL) will travel to Souderton for a non-league game on Friday, and Hatboro-Horsham (1-5, 1-4) will host Plymouth Whitemarsh on Monday.
Hatboro-Horsham 0-0 0
Abington 3-4 7
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 6, UPPER MORELAND 1
The Colonials picked up their ninth win of the season without a loss, opening up a 4-1 halftime lead and adding a pair of goals in the second half.
“Despite the final score, PW struggled to find a rhythm today against an aggressive Upper Moreland team,” PW coach Charise Halteman said. “We were able to score two early goals in a two-minute span with tallies by Sam Spera and Kaleigh Missimer.
“However, we struggled on transition defense, and Upper Moreland was able to respond with a quick goal.”
Spera scored an unassisted goal at the 22:47 mark and less than a minute later, Missimer found the cage for a 2-0 lead. Phoebe Longstreth (Bryanna Gordon assist) cut the Colonials’ lead in half with a goal at the 19:31 mark, but the Colonials answered with a pair of goals in the final two minutes – one each from Ava Borkowski and Kennedy Reardon for the 4-1 halftime score.
Hailey Copestick and Reardon each added a second-half goal for the Colonials, who, according to Halteman, played a stronger second half.
Copestick also had a pair of assists and Reardon finished with two goals and one assist.
UM goalie Isabella Guarenghi was credited with 16 saves. PW’s Sarah Trask recorded three saves.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (9-0, 6-0 SOL) will be on the road for a non-league game at Haverford on Friday, and Upper Moreland (3-5, 1-3) will host Wissahickon on Monday.
Upper Moreland 1-0 1
Plymouth Whitemarsh 4-2 6
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