Check out the recaps for SOL field hockey teams in action Wednesday. (CB East action shots provided courtesy of Debbie Horan, and group shots provided courtesy of Deb Fee.)
SOL National Conference
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 2, WILLIAM TENNENT 0
The Golden Hawks dominated play but managed just two goals, thanks to the stellar showing of Panther goalie Sophia Trozzi, who recorded 17 saves. Trozzi’s performance kept the Panthers in it despite the Golden Hawks 19-3 advantage in shots.
Sophomore Kerry Kaufman scored the only goal the Golden Hawks would need in the closing seconds of the first half. With just over two minutes remaining in regulation, Lauren Mitchell found the cage, using a Rachael Rolle assist for the 2-0 final.
Rock South goalie Karlie McCloskey was credited with three saves in the shutout win.
Council Rock South (5-4, 4-1 SOL) will host Council Rock North at Walt Snyder Stadium on Friday, and William Tennent (3-4, 3-2) will be on the road at Harry S Truman.
Council Rock South 1-1 2
William Tennent 0-0 0
PENNSBURY 9, HARRY S TRUMAN 0
The Falcons used a flurry of goals late in the first half to open up a 4-0 halftime lead on their way to the big win.
“The Pennsbury Falcons had a fire in their gut coming off of a big loss on Monday,” coach Traci Curtis said. “They found a way to unite, connect, and finish with seven different players finding the back of the cage throughout the game.”
Celia Dolan started off the scoring two minutes into the contest, but Truman’s defense kept the Falcons off the board until five minutes remained in the first half when Maddie Spratt, Jaclyn Gorgo and EB Rafferty scored three quick goals to give the Falcons a 4-0 lead at the intermission.
“The Falcons’ focus at the start of the second half was to move the ball on angles, utilize the back ball, manage the clock, take quick free hits, and force corners,” Curtis said. “What we were most proud of was the variety of ways the girls scored and the work they did in utilizing the depth of the entire team.
“As we forge ahead and try to improve, we will continue to capitalize on the opportunity to hone skills and work on finding the most effective formula for success. There is still so much to learn and so much growing to do regarding hockey and mental mindset.”
Scoring goals in the second half were Julianna Martin, Liz Jordan and Kayli Williams.
“Truman continued to play strongly all the way through the game with really nice, big hits and a lot of hustle,” Curtis said.
Truman freshman goalie Stacy Couillard recorded 23 saves.
“The players never gave up despite multiple goals by Pennsbury,” Truman coach Tom Leahy said.
Pennsbury (2-6, 2-3 SOL) will be on the road at Neshaminy on Friday, and Harry S Truman (1-6, 0-5) will host William Tennent on Friday.
Harry S Truman 0-0 0
Pennsbury 4-5 9
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 10, BENSALEM 0
Sophomore Riley Clarke had herself a day, scoring five goals to lead the Indians. Skyler Bayard had a hand in four goals, scoring one goal and assisting on three more. Rebecca Ripans added a goal and two assists while Ellie Tushare had a goal and an assist. Celie Burke and Sarah Everett each added a single goal, and Sarah Scott contributed an assist.
Council Rock North (5-3, 3-2 SOL) will face Council Rock South at Walt Snyder Stadium on Friday. Bensalem (1-6, 1-5) will host Neshaminy on Tuesday.
SOL Continental Conference
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 2, QUAKERTOWN 0
It was a night of welcome firsts for the Bucks.
Grayce Reimel scored her team’s first goal of the season and Em Erickson added an insurance goal in the second half, propelling the Bucks to their first win of the season.
“I’m tremendously proud of the whole team for their nonstop effort, intensity and resilience,” West coach Ginny Moore said.
Both goals, according to the Bucks’ coach, were unassisted and set up by interceptions outside of the circle.
When the game was over, there was plenty of credit to go around.
“Caroline Crecca got the Bucks a handful of offensive corners,” Moore said. “Bryn Spoerl and Emily Hohenleitner showed great speed on the widths.
“Mids Claire Engebreth, Julia Bunch, JL and Grayce Reimel played with amazing ball control and hustle, helping the team maintain possession and advance the ball. Defenders Claire Natolie, Maggie Whalen and Sara Lelii helped keep the game to a shutout by stepping to the ball and playing smart.”
Central Bucks West (1-8, 1-4 SOL) will be on the road at Central Bucks South on Monday. Quakertown (1-7, 0-5) will host Souderton on Friday.
Quakertown 0-0 0
Central Bucks West 1-1 2
NORTH PENN 2, CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 0
Sparked by a pair of first-half goals by Jillian Lampitoc, the Knights rolled to their fourth straight win, turning in what players and coaches agreed was their best outing of the season.
It certainly didn’t hurt that they had some added motivation coming into the game against the Titans.
“I think we came out and really wanted to win this game,” Lampitoc said. “CB South has been a really good team the past few years. I know last year our Senior Night was against them, and we ended tied after overtime, and the year before that, we lost to them in district playoffs.
“We were really looking to do something big this game, and I think we came out really eager to start scoring right away. We had our little huddle, and we said – ‘Get on the board as quick as we can and play with the mentality that we’re down by one. Keep pushing through.’ Don’t get too high and don’t get too low is another thing we’ve been focusing on. We focused on what we do best, which is passing and a quick game in the circle. CB South was playing really good defense – they were playing man-to-man, so we had to keep moving. I think we really came together tonight and pushed through it all.”
Wednesday’s win was the Knights’ second straight shutout, and they might well be reaping the benefits of their early season schedule that included three teams in the top 10 of the District 1 6A power rankings – Methacton, Souderton and Central Bucks East.
“I think that helps us a lot,” Lampitoc said. “We have a very competitive conference, and we get a taste of what’s to come. CB East and Souderton are very skilled teams, and playing them (early) made us a lot better.
“We had to focus on not getting too low because we started out with an 0-3-1 record. We were looking to turn that around. Last game we got our first shutout of the season, and we’re looking to keep that going.”
North Penn got on the board early when Lampitoc scored on a broken corner play, giving the Knights a 1-0 lead just over a minute into the game.
“Jillian stayed with the play and got off a shot on her reverse stick,” NP coach Shannon McCracken said.
Midway through the half, Lampitoc connected again with this play starting in the Knights’ defensive backfield.
“Eleni Kountroubis made a nice run with the ball up the right side, then passed to Jillian in the center of the circle,” McCracken said. “The defense closed in on Jillian pretty quickly, but again, she stuck with it and slipped it past the keeper.
“Jillian’s been a nice leader for us on the attack. She’s relentless in the circle, she goes after the ball.”
Neither team scored the rest of the way, and when it was over, McCracken had high praise for her squad.
“We are connecting really well, we’re jelling as a team,” the Knights’ coach said. “We had some inexperience at the varsity level when we started the season and had some young kids playing. We’re starting to see each other on the field, they’re communicating well. It was just a really nice game tonight where it all came together.”
The Knights’ coach credited the play of her midfield.
“Maddie Waldspurger and Katie Blanch led the midfield tonight and did a great job distributing the ball to their outside mids and forwards,” McCracken said. “Megan Albert did a really nice job of leading in the backfield. She’s really talking to her outside backs. Our outside backs, Megan and Maddie Waldspurger, our defensive center mid – what they’re doing really well is their sticks are down, they’re making smart passes out of the backfield.”
South coach Pat Toner was quick to credit the Knights.
“I think Shannon is a great coach – they’re very well coached,” the Titans’ coach said. “Every time we’ve ever played them their passing is beautiful, they spread the field out really well, they have intensity on the ball, they have good goal scorers. I think they’re a very good team.”
The Titans, meanwhile, still have plenty of question marks according to their coach.
“We’re still trying to figure out what our lineup is,” Toner said. “This far into the season we’re still moving people around. Even in the middle of the game, we’re moving people around.
“We’re trying to find what our identity is. I’m not going to use the excuse that we’re young – we are, but we also need to learn to play. We are repeating mistakes over and over again, so we talked about that. It’s okay to make the mistake, but you have to at some point correct it.”
The Knights held an advantage in both shots (10-2) and corners (9-0). Mallory Stowell was forced to make just one save in the shutout. South goalie Jillian Heilig was credited with eight saves.
“I was really impressed with CB South’s defense and their goalkeeper,” McCracken said. “They did a really nice job of protecting their feet in the circle.
“We didn’t get as many corners as I thought we should have got tonight because they had some good sticks in the backfield.
“One of our things we say every day at practice is – every day we want to get better than the day before. We’re focusing on that, and we just keep building on each game, which is awesome.”
North Penn (4-3-1, 3-2-0 SOL) will travel to Pennridge on Friday, and Central Bucks South (4-4, 2-3) will host Central Bucks West on Friday.
Central Bucks South 0-0 0
North Penn 2-0 2
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 3, PENNRIDGE 1
The Patriots celebrated their team’s seven seniors with a win over the visiting Rams. All seven seniors – Marlee Monzon, Julianne Mignon, Elizabeth Philipp, Ana Bassler, Emma Donnelly, Grace Melloy and Alli Gallant – started and saw significant playing time, and appropriately, it was a pair of seniors combining for the game’s final goal when Gallant turned a Donnelly pass into a goal.
“They got experience against Quakertown, and at out practice yesterday, we played and scrimmaged with our senior lineup, and they did really well,” coach Meghan Spratt said. “Pennridge has a very disciplined defense. They are fundamentally sound, they stay low to the ground, and they have great block tackles.
“I commend their defense. They did really, really well. They just couldn’t generate offense, but I credit my midfield and my ‘D’ for keeping it above our 25 and continually contributing offensively.”
The Patriots got on the scoreboard with 2:53 remaining in the opening half when Kenzie Lever turned a Phia Mannino pass into a goal that sent East into halftime with a 1-0 lead.
Seven minutes into the second half, Mannino scored with an assist from Sophia Parker, and that 2-0 score stood until Maddie Bross (Payton Muth assist) found the cage for the Rams with 7:51 remaining. Gallant’s goal closed out the scoring for both sides with 4:45 remaining.
“It was nice that two seniors finished out our scoring together with a goal and the assist,” Spratt said. “The seniors came out and played really, really well.
“They played together, they played a nice passing game. They played a good possession game. It was really nice honoring them with a win and a team effort across the board. Everybody contributed, and it was such a nice win for everybody.”
Pennridge goalie Maia Machado was credited with four saves.
“We played a ton of defense today, and our team did a good job of limiting East’s talented attack,” Pennridge coach Becky Spahr said. “We caused a few corners, which allowed them to get on the board. Lots to learn from and grow from.”
Central Bucks East (7-2, 5-1 SOL) will host Upper Perkiomen in a non-league game on Thursday, and Pennridge (4-3, 2-3) will host North Penn on Friday.
Pennridge 0-1 1
Central Bucks East 1-2 3
SOL American Conference
ABINGTON 1, HATBORO-HORSHAM 0
The Ghosts didn’t create a whole lot of offensive opportunities, but they made the most of the chances they had, converting one of their only two shots in the game. Paige Doyle scored the game’s lone goal during corner play four minutes into the second half.
The Hatters held an advantage in shots (7-2) and corners (6-3).
Goalie Marilyn Capps was credited with six saves in the shutout win. Abington’s Jasmine Cubbage recorded a defensive save. Hatboro-Horsham’s Moran Kirby was credited with one save.
Abington (2-4-1, 2-3-1 SOL) will host Cheltenham on Friday, and Hatboro-Horsham (3-5, 3-3) will be on the road at Plymouth Whitemarsh on Friday.
Abington 0-1 1
Hatboro-Horsham 0-0 0
WISSAHICKON 4, UPPER DUBLIN 0
Grace Ball connected on a hat trick to lead the Trojans to their fifth straight win.
Ball got the ball rolling with a goal two minutes into the game, using a Hannah Havrilla assist. Eight minutes later, Ball scored her second goal, this one with a Lauren Donofrio assist. Havrilla connected on an unassisted goal with 10 minutes remaining in the half. The Trojans took that 3-0 lead into halftime.
Ball wrapped up her hat trick just over 11 minutes into the second half for a 4-0 lead that held until the final whistle.
Meghan Reilly was forced to make just one save in the shutout win for the Trojans, who held a decided advantage in shots (22-2) and corners (14-1). UD goalie Rhianna Gonzalez was credited with 17 saves in a strong outing. Shannon DiFulgo also recorded a stick save for the Cardinals.
Wissahickon (6-1-1, 5-1 SOL) will host Upper Moreland on Friday, and Upper Dublin (2-3-2, 1-3-2) will travel to Springfield Township Friday.
Wissahickon 3-1 4
Upper Dublin 0-0 0
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 8, UPPER MORELAND 0
Ava Borkowski erupted for five goals to lead the visiting Colonials to the big win. On the other side of the field, Isabella Guarenghi stole the spotlight, turning away 35 shots in goal.
Borkowski put her team on the board four minutes into the game, using an assist from Kayla Link. Midway through the half, Borkowski connected on an unassisted goal. The Colonials closed out the half with three goals in a two-minute span. Kaleigh Missimer scored with an Alexis Minor assist and sandwiched a pair of goals around Borkowski’s third goal of the half, sending the Colonials into halftime with a 5-0 lead.
In the second half, Autumn Luptak found the cage, setting the stage with back-to-back goals by Borkowski.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (7-0, 6-0 SOL) will host Hatboro-Horsham on Friday, and Upper Moreland (2-5-1, 1-4-1) will be on the road at Wissahickon on Friday.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 5-3 8
Upper Moreland 0-0 0
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 5, CHELTENHAM 0
Maddie Yoder, Anya Kochanowicz and Kate Wojeck combined for five goals to steal the spotlight on attack. Cheltenham goalie Megan Boyle turned in a standout effort of her own, fighting off 21 Spartan penalty corners.
Kate Wojeck put the Spartans on the board, and Maddie Yoder turned an assist from Anya Kochanowicz into a goal and a 2-0 Spartan lead. A goal by Kochanowicz sent the Spartans into halftime with a 3-0 lead.
In the second half, Yoder (Wojeck assist) and Kochanowicz each added a goal.
The Spartans held a 25-2 advantage in shots and an equally lopsided 21-2 advantage in corners.
Springfield Township (6-2, 4-2 SOL) will host Upper Dublin on Friday, and Cheltenham (0-6) will be on the road at Abington Friday.
Cheltenham 0-0 0
Springfield Twp 3-2 5
Non-league
SOUDERTON 3, METHACTON 1
The Indians pulled off the improbable, capping Wednesday’s non-league win with a short-handed goal midway through the second half. As the result of a green card, the Indians were down a player when Courtney Kenah scored her team’s third and final goal.
“That was the play of the game,” coach Sue Casciato said. “It started on their corner. Lauren Kenah – who normally isn’t our flyer – had a defensive stop at the top of the circle, and Courtney went the length of the field.”
For the fourth time in their last five games, the Indians found themselves staring at a 1-0 deficit when Methacton’s Nicole Uebele scored with an Elena Snodgrass assist 4:41 into the contest. That lead turned out to be short-lived as the Indians answered a minute later with a goal of their own when Courtney Kenah turned an Anna Gwiazdzinski pass into the equalizer. That 1-1 score stood until halftime.
The Indians came to life in the second half, and eight minutes in, sophomore Reilly Knize scored with a Gwiazdzinski assist.
“I said to Reilly – you probably ran seven miles today because she played the whole game at center forward, and she chases every ball,” Casciato said.
The second half was capped with Kenah’s short-handed goal.
“We made a few changes in the second half, moved people around, and then started opening the field up,” Casciato said. “Our passing got better – we used the right side of the field more.
“In the first half, we kind of got trapped on our left side, and the second half we used the right side more. We did a better job marking. I think everybody’s play came up a notch.”
The Indians held an 11-9 edge in shots while the Warriors had a 12-6 advantage in corners. On one of the Warriors’ second-half corners, the Indians dodged a bullet.
“Two of our players left early, so we were defending a corner with only two people behind the line,” Casciato said. “We kind of had the bend-but-don’t-break defense going tonight.
“In the first half, we were a little ragged, but the second half I thought we played pretty well. Our passing was good. A lot of things are a work in progress. I still don’t have a set lineup. I know who my 10 or 11 players are, but every game we have them in a different position depending on the situation.”
The Indians were without junior goalie Jordan Michalak (injury), but sophomore Tegan Farina stood tall in goal, turning away eight shots. She also received an assist from some outstanding defense that was anchored by Gwiazdzinski, one of the SOL’s most dangerous offensive weapons.
“I do have to give credit to our defense,” said Casciato. “I moved Anna Gwiazdzinski back, and she played sweeper today because I knew we needed some leadership back there. She played great, and I told her that I really appreciate how unselfish she is.
“Two of our three defenders are ninth graders, so against a tough team with an inexperienced goalie, we thought we had to move things around a little bit.”
The Indians coach credited the defensive play of Gwiazdzinski, Taylor Weaver and Kylie Borbeck.
Souderton (8-1, 5-0 SOL) will travel to Quakertown on Friday.
Souderton 1-2 3
Methacton 1-0 1
PERKIOMEN VALLEY 4, NESHAMINY 1
The Vikings took a 1-0 lead into halftime and extended that to 3-0. The Redskins got on the scoreboard with 5:50 remaining in the game when Peyton Ritchey scored with an assist from Madi Neiman.
“Perk Valley is a skilled and fast team, this was good for us— it exposed areas we need to work on and will hopefully help in preparation for the postseason,” coach Jamie Pinto said. “Peyton Ritchey led the offense and worked hard, Dylan Beegal, Asia Barnard, and Brooke Cordisco played strong defensively. We play Pennsbury on Friday, and will work hard tomorrow at practice, and keep preparing for our league games.”
Neshaminy (6-3, 5-0 SOL) will host Pennsbury on Friday.
Neshaminy 0-1 1
Perkiomen Valley 1-3 4
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