Central Bucks East field hockey advanced to the District One 3A semifinals with a 3-0 win over Souderton.
#1-1 CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 3, #1-8 SOUDERTON 0
Just one goal separated Central Bucks East and Souderton in two regular season meetings between the two squads. Twice the Patriots edged the Indians in 1-0 games that could have gone either way.
“Even statistically on paper, it was very even the last two games,” East coach Meghan Spratt said.
Friday’s game was another story entirely. Statistically, the game might sound close – the Patriots held an edge in both shots (9-8) and corners (7-4), but on the field, the Patriots pretty much had their way, controlling play from start to finish.
“I just think we prepared to win, and that’s what we did,” Spratt said. “All 11 players that we played today were the reason won and in such a big fashion. A 3-0 win is a great way to go into our next game, whoever it may be.”
Fourth-seeded Owen J. Roberts – a 4-1 winner over Central Bucks South – is waiting in the wings for the Patriots, who will host Tuesday’s District One 4A semifinal contest. The win punched East’s ticket in the state tournament.
“You have another box you can check off,” Spratt told her players. “If we play East field hockey, the wins will keep coming,”
“As a senior, it’s really important to set goals that are achievable,” senior Molly Eron said. “Going one by one – we check each box, and it gets us fired up for the next box and the next box. It helps us reach our final goal of making it to states and doing the best we can.”
East and Souderton were one-two in the SOL Continental with the Patriots handing the Indians their only two losses of the regular season. The Indians have been shut out three times this season – all three came at the hands of the Patriots.
“We watched our films of Souderton games yesterday, and I just felt across the board we were a better team,” Spratt said. “I felt in the first two games we tried to play more of their game.
“We just kept focusing on playing CB East field hockey, and we never lost sight of that, and I think that was a huge, huge change in the game today.”
Film study undoubtedly was significant but the players say they had added incentive.
“The last game we played them we beat them 1-0, and they said it was just luck, and we wanted to prove to them that we have the skill and the will to beat them,” senior Molly Eron said. “We kind of turned it on and came ready to play.
“Defensively, we just stayed on our person and got everything out that we could, and we had each other’s back, which is really important.”
“We stayed positive throughout the whole thing,” sophomore Phia Mannino added. “We kind of knew the last game we did get lucky since we didn’t play our strongest, and that made us want to play even harder.
“We all had the mindset that we were the more skilled team and we just wanted to prove ourselves and come out with a win.”
Just over four minutes into the game, Kenzie Lever turned an Emma Donnelly pass into a goal and an early 1-0 lead.
“That helped set the pace,” Spratt said. “We didn’t let them score today to get any momentum.
“The defense had their own little film session last night, and I think just seeing it had a huge, huge impact as well.”
Mannino (Eron assist) made it a 2-0 game at the intermission, thanks to a goal with 5:23 remaining. For good measure, Allie Gallant deflected a Kenzie Lever pass into a goal with 18:53 remaining.
The Patriots’ defense and goalie Emily Bullard (eight saves) did the rest, holding the Indians off the rest of the way.
“They were just the better team,” Souderton coach Sue Casciato said of the Patriots. “Their goalkeeping was good – when we had chances, we were denied.
“Our lines were playing a little too far apart. They just beat us to the ball. We just weren’t good enough today.”
Spratt credited the efforts of several players.
“Molly (Eron) just stepped up and played her game,” Spratt said. “She has truly been playing like that.
“Kenzie Lever played amazing, and Emily Bullard played incredible.”
Bullard was credited with eight saves in the shutout.
The Patriots (12-0 SOL) improved to 18-1 on the season.
“We lost our center line – Kenzie Boyle, Riley Donnelly and Isabelle Mannino, and that made us think we wouldn’t do as good,” Mannino said. “It also made us want to do even better and prove that we’re still CB East field hockey and we’re still a hard working strong team and we can accomplish as much.”
“We came in with lower expectations,” Eron said. “We didn’t have as much pressure on ourselves to go as far. When we started seeing how well we meshed as a team, it really came together.”
Souderton (16-3, 10-2 SOL) will host Central Bucks South in a playback game on Tuesday. Four teams will be vying for two state berths.
Souderton 0-0 0
Central Bucks East 2-1 3
#1-4 OWEN J ROBERTS 4, #1-12 CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 1
The Wildcats opened up a 2-0 halftime lead, and although the Titans cut that lead in half, they would get no closer.
“While this was not the result we had hoped for, I am proud of our team for maintaining composure and fighting until the end,” coach Pat Toner said. “We will learn everything we can from this loss and work to improve.
“We are so thankful that we can continue our postseason and still have another chance to compete.”
Casey Reilly scored the Titans’ only goal at the 24:43 mark of the second half, slamming home an Annie Brady feed during corner play. The Wildcats, who held a 15-3 advantage in shots, added a pair of goals in the final 10 minutes.
“CB South was outmatched but fought hard, nearly tying the score when freshman Julia Cooper picked off a misplayed ball by the OJR goalie,” said Toner.
Central Bucks South (11-7-2, 6-4-2 SOL) will travel to Souderton Tuesday for a playback game.
Central Bucks South 0-1 1
Owen J Roberts 2-2 4
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