Check out the recaps for SOL field hockey teams in action Monday. CB East/Neshaminy photos provided courtesy of John Gleeson. Check back for a gallery of photos.
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 2, NESHAMINY 1 (OT)
A goal by sophomore Sophia Parker with an assist from Phia Mannino with 8:58 remaining in overtime brought a dramatic end to Tuesday’s battle between a pair of perennial SOL powers.
“The play evolved outside the 25 – some nice passing occurred,” East coach Meghann Spratt said. “Phia put the ball in, and Parker scored. We were just thrilled.”
To say the Patriots and Redskins have been evenly matched in recent years would be an understatement. For the fourth time in as many years, the game was decided by one goal, and Tuesday’s game was the second time it’s taken overtime to determine a winner. East emerged the winner for the fourth straight year, but it was not easy.
“The game was very, very even,” Spratt said. “Coming off a season-opening loss (to Oley Valley) and having high hopes for the season, it deflated us right off the bat.
“Coming off last season when we were 17-0, it was a hard pill to swallow. I also think it was a reality check. We have a lot of work ahead of us. Coming back with an overtime win 7v7 – it showed my team’s resilience. It showed that their conditioning really paid off. After all the time and effort we put in this preseason and going 7v7 and coming away with a win was huge.”
The Redskins actually took an early lead in the game when – with 23:41 remaining in the opening half – Peyton Ritchey scored with a Jamie Pennington assist. The Patriots knotted the score when Kaylie Schorn (Paige Hussie assist) found the back of the cage with just under four minutes remaining in the half, sending the teams into halftime deadlocked. That tie stood until Parker’s game-winner.
Emily Bullard was credited with 11 saves in goal for the Patriots in the win.
“Emily had a great game,” Spratt said. “She struggled a little bit against Oley Valley, so coming back this strong was such a boost to our defensive end.
“Elizabeth Philipp, my center back, played incredible along with Kenzie Lever, who had an amazing game. Emma Donnelly played great, and Phia Mannino was super strong. Having people off the bench that weren’t used to being in the mix being our scoring leaders and contributing our assists and overall play – I said to the girls at the end of the game, ‘I commend my 7v7, but who I truly commend is the entire team.’ I pretty much had everybody contribute and come away with a win that we really needed before we face our sister schools. If we were going in 0-2, that’s a different mindset, so I thought this one was super important, and I’m glad we came away with it.
The loss was the second of the season for the Redskins, who were in a similar position last year. Coach Jamie Pinto put the loss in perspective.
“Starting off our season with two strong teams and falling short in both has shown us what we need to improve on, especially with league games approaching,” the Redskins’ coach said. “We had our chances today, but will learn from our mistakes and continue to improve.
“Jamie Pennington and Peyton Ritchey did a nice job controlling the center of the field. Asia Barnard stepped up on defense, and Sanaa Hebron worked hard on the forward line.”
Central Bucks East (1-1) will host Central Bucks West on Wednesday (3:15 p.m.) in the SOL opener for both squads. Neshaminy (0-2) will host Bensalem on Wednesday.
Central Bucks East 1-0-1 2
Neshaminy 1-0-0 1
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 2, CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 1
The Golden Hawks notched an important non-league win, opening up a 2-0 lead over the visiting Titans and holding on for the win.
“I’m always telling them how important the non-league games are – they always get up for Neshaminy, Pennsbury and North, and they know CB South is a good team,” Rock South coach Lisa Belz said. “They know some of the players, they played against them at camp, and I know PT (coach Pat Toner) really well.
“I like to play them because I know we’re evenly matched, and it’s a good game.”
Katelyn Cocco put the Golden Hawks on the scoreboard with seven minutes remaining in the first half. They took that 1-0 lead into halftime.
“They came out stronger than us – they were really connecting and got down (on offense) a few times,” Belz said. “They had more shots than we did.
“I did call timeout, we straightened some things out and got momentum. We started getting some passing combinations and got down there a couple of times.”
A goal by sophomore Kerry Kaufman two minutes into the second half upped the Golden Hawks’ lead to 2-0, but the Titans made things interesting when Anna Shirley scored with 24:06 remaining, using a Maddy Connell assist. That 2-1 score held the rest of the way.
“There were a couple of (green) cards – two of my girls actually sat out, and there were a couple of injuries so the second half was long because of that,” Belz said. “It was back and forth.
“They’re a quick team. It took us a little bit to get into the groove, but our seniors are really stepping up. I’m really proud of our senior class – they’re really doing a good job.”
The Golden Hawks’ coach lauded the play of her defense.
“I thought our backs stepped up,” Belz said. “Sophia Mattie is new in the back, and she’s new to varsity. She was stepping up to the ball nicely.
“Lauren Mitchell is playing back there, and she’s doing really well. Rachael Rolle did a really good job today too.”
The Titans held a 9-4 advantage in shots.
“CR South got the better of (us) in a hard fought game,” Toner said. “Both teams had some nice passing sequences with CB South having more opportunities but only cashing in on one goal due to some strong defensive plays by CR South.”
The Titans’ coach went on to acknowledge the play of several players.
“Anna Gillard had an excellent game along with Sophia Wasyliw, Maddy Cooper, Maddie Pearce and Grace Haag,” Toner said.
For the Golden Hawks, the win came on the heels of a 2-0 loss to New Hope-Solebury in Friday’s opener.
“We were working hard all summer, and I knew we’d have a lot of potential,” Belz said. “It’s just finding the right combination, the right formation and playing around with different people in different spots.
“Our season opener against New Hope was really important. They’re always a good team and well-coached, and CB South is obviously always a good team and well coached too.”
Council Rock South (1-1) will travel to Harry S Truman for Wednesday’s SOL opener, and Central Bucks South (1-1) will be on the road at Quakertown Wednesday.
Central Bucks South 0-1 1
Council Rock South 1-1 2
UPPER MORELAND 6, HARRY S TRUMAN 0
The Golden Bears took a 4-0 lead into halftime, using goals from four different players in the half. They added two more in the second half en route to their first win of the young season.
Taylor Boone put the Bears on the board just over six minutes into the game, using an assist from Moira Olexa, and three minutes later, Olexa found the cage with an assist from Bryanna Gordon. An unassisted goal by Gordon put the Bears on top 3-0 with 10 minutes remaining in the half, and Cayden Wiest scored with a Cassidy Hirsch assist to give the Golden Bears their four-goal advantage.
Olexa – who led the Bears with two goals and an assist – scored her second goal early in the second half, and Annabelle Duncan connected on an unassisted goal to close out the scoring.
UM goalie Isabella Guarenghi recorded five saves in the shutout win. Truman’s goalie had 17 saves in a busy afternoon.
Upper Moreland (1-1) will host Cheltenham in Wednesday’s SOL opener, and Harry S Truman will host Council Rock South Wednesday.
Harry S Truman 0-0 0
Upper Moreland 4-2 6
SOUDERTON 5, HATBORO-HORSHAM 1
Courtney Kenah connected on a pair of goals and assisted on two others, and teammate Anna Gwiazdzinski added a goal and two assists.
Kenah (Gwiazdzinski assist) put the Indians on the board just over two minutes into the contest. Gwiazdzinski turned a Kenah pass into a goal, and Lauren Kenah added her name to the scoring column when she scored with less than five minutes remaining in the first half. The Indians took a 3-1 lead into halftime.
The Indians opened the second half the same way they opened the first with Courtney Kenah scoring with an assist from Gwiazdzinski 2:58 into the half. Riley Knize connected on an unassisted goal 13 minutes into the half for the 5-1 final.
The Indians held an advantage in shots (14-5) and corners (14-3).
Souderton (2-0) will host North Penn for Wednesday’s SOL opener (6:30 p.m.), and Hatboro-Horsham (0-1) will travel to Upper Dublin Wednesday.
Souderton 3-2 5
Hatboro-Horsham 1-0 1
PENNRIDGE 12, LANSDALE CATHOLIC 0
Payton Muth’s varsity career has gotten off to quite a start. The Pennridge freshman erupted for five goals in Tuesday’s non-league rout of the Crusaders. Her five-goal game came on the heels of a three-goal performance in Friday’s opener. In two games, the freshman has eight goals.
Muth, who had plenty of company in the scoring column, once again got the ball rolling for the Rams, scoring the game’s first goal with an assist from Shannon Griffin. Back-to-back goals by Abby Ludlow – the first with a Hayley Borneman assist and the second with an assist from Brynn Wenger – put the Rams on top 3-0. By halftime, Muth had her second hat trick in as many games, turning a Macy Rice pass into a goal and scoring on a rebound for her third goal. Shannon Griffin (Amsden assist) also scored in a half that saw the visiting Rams open up a 6-0 lead.
Not a whole lot changed in the second half. Price scored with an Amsden assist, and then it was Ludlow scoring on a rebound. Borneman (Ludlow assist) connected on a goal before Muth scored back-to-back goals – the first on a rebound and and the second with a Ludlow assist. Borneman scored on a rebound to close out the scoring.
“Another great team win,” coach Becky Spahr said. “Obviously, our offense is clicking, and we enjoyed a lot of circle opportunities.
“Our mids are spreading the field well, and our defense and goalkeepers play strong when called upon.”
Maia Machado and Brielle Yencha combined for the shutout in goal, stopping LC’s only shot. The Rams fired 24 shots on goal.
Pennridge (2-0) will host Quakertown in its SOL opener on Thursday.
Pennridge 6-6 12
Lansdale Catholic 0-0 0
About the Author
