Check out the recaps for SOL field hockey teams in action Friday. CB East/Pennridge photos provided courtesy of Tracy Valko. Check back for a gallery of photos.
SOL Liberty
ABINGTON 1, UPPER DUBLIN 0
Upper Dublin had Abington’s number last season, winning both contests in the abbreviated season, including a come-from-behind 4-3 win in a contest the Ghosts led 3-0. The Ghosts avenged those losses in Friday’s SOL opener with a hard-fought shutout win that also happened to be the 100th win for coach Katie Small.
“This was a great start for the girls this year,” said the Ghosts’ coach, downplaying her career milestone. “I’m not out for that type of thing. It’s more important getting the girls their goals, but it’s nice because it means I’ve been around for a while and making a difference in some of these programs.
“A lot of credit has to be given to my assistant coaches – Jamie Westphal, Janine Larr and Jane Meresol. Without their help, you couldn’t get anywhere, so I’m very appreciative of them as well.”
Erica Devlin turned a pass from Camryn Stewart into the game-winner with just 2:38 remaining in regulation.
“Today’s win was not the prettiest win, by far,” Small said. “But we were able to dig deep and hold off a strong Upper Dublin team. Both UD and Abington had goals called back, but in the end, a pass from Camryn Stewart to Erica Devlin was all we needed to pull out the victory.”
Marilyn Capps stopped all six shots she saved in the shutout.
“Our defense is a stronghold back there,” Small said. “Marilyn is doing great back there. Anything that came at her – she was able to save.”
The Ghosts’ coach also credited the play of several defenders.
“We probably controlled the ball on their half of the field for more of the game,” Small said. “However, their chances were definitely nail biters because they have these fast forwards that get behind the defense, and it ends up being almost a 5v1 and the goalie.
“My backs Tara Hughes and Kyra Malanowski – and I moved Olivia Dougherty, a sophomore, to a back position in this game – the three of them were really able to stop a lot of their fast breaks and prevent them from being able to score, but they definitely have a great forward line and a strong back line as well. They’re going to do well this year.”
Also turning in a standout performance on attack for the Ghosts was Maura Calladanoto.
“She came out of nowhere today and had a great game in the middle of the field,” Small said.
Abington (2-0, 1-0 SOL) will host Wissahickon on Tuesday, and Upper Dublin (0-1) will be on the road at Quakertown Tuesday.
Upper Dublin 0-0-0-0 0
Abington 0-0-0-1 1
SOL Colonial
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 5, PENNRIDGE 2
Emma Rosenthal had a successful debut, notching her first win as the head coach at her alma mater in Friday’s season opener. The two teams were deadlocked 2-2 at halftime, but the Patriots erupted for three unanswered goals in the second half to earn the win.
“It was an all-around team effort with five different players scoring the five goals,” Rosenthal said.
Amelia Wheelan, Sienna Valenti, Paige Keller, Ali Troth and Sophia Parker each scored a goal for the Patriots.
“In the back, there were great defensive efforts by Kiera Lamb, who made a defensive save in the first half, and goalkeeper Grace Gidwani, who had eight saves,” Rosenthal said.
For the Rams, who scored both of their goals in the second quarter to even the score, Brynn Wenger found the cage with a Kaelyn Casper assist, and Payton Muth scored with an assist from Lindsey Campione.
The Patriots held a 19-11 advantage in shots. Pennridge goalie Maia Machado recorded 14 saves in a busy outing.
“Overall, it was an exciting start to conference play,” Pennridge coach Becky Spahr said. “East has a great passing game and executes well in their scoring zone. They have a lot of speed and use that pace to cause corners and create scoring chances.
“Even in the loss, we had moments of great play and showed what we are capable of, especially in the first half.”
Central Bucks East (1-0 SOL) will travel to Souderton on Tuesday, and Pennridge (1-1, 0-1) will host North Penn on Tuesday.
Central Bucks East 1-1-2-1 5
Pennridge 0-2-0-0 2
Non-league
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 3, PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 2 (OT)
In a spirited non-league contest, the Indians – thanks to an overtime goal by Riley Clark with 1:07 remaining – eked out the dramatic non-league win. The OT goal came during corner play.
“Brenna Schoenfeld shot, and Riley did a reverse (stick) while she was sprawled out diving on the ground – it was really nice,” North coach Heather Whalin said. “I have to give Jules Singer, my assistant coach, props in this. She looked at me and called Brenna’s corner as the straight hit. We have Brenna inserting on corners, so we didn’t have her insert on that, and it made a difference.”
Clark finished with a goal and an assist while freshman Brynn Bogle had both goals in regulation. Allie Carpentier chipped in an assist for the Indians.
The game was a back and forth affair with the Colonials taking a 2-1 lead only to see Bogle knot the score.
Whalin credited the effort of her squad.
“We didn’t have Brenna Schoenfeld in overtime in our loss to Abington because of a possible concussion that she didn’t have,” the Indians’ coach said. “Having her in the overtime really made a difference.
“The Carpentier twins (Allie and Bella) are both my backs, and they played a phenomenal game as always. They just hold it down. I have a freshman back, Sierra Kim, who was phenomenal. She’s not flashy, she doesn’t do anything amazing, but she’s just consistent and had another nice game. (PW) had some very strong players, and it was a total team effort today, which I really appreciate. Younger kids stepped up.”
Council Rock North (2-1, 1-0 SOL) will face Council Rock South on Monday, and Plymouth Whitemarsh (1-1, 1-0) will be on the road at Hatboro-Horsham on Tuesday.
PENNSBURY 2, HATBORO-HORSHAM 0
(Article submitted by Pennsbury field hockey)
The entire Pennsbury coaching staff are shaking their heads after walking away with only two goals. Hats off (pun intended) to the Hatboro-Horsham field hockey team for digging deep, listening to their coach, never giving up, and implementing a defensive strategy that held the Falcons to only two notches in the score column.
Despite the Hatters barely crossing the 50-yard line offensively, they stayed strong and kept fighting. Pennsbury was not able to capitalize on opportunities until the fourth quarter. The orange and black severely struggled on the slow grass field to push through ten Hatters packed into the circle along with the goalie to put that little orange ball into the big cage. Horsham’s keeper had some great stops to keep the game tied 0-0 into halftime, and boy, did they fight hard to the very end.
The Falcons made several adjustments throughout the battle in attempts to read and react to the situation at hand, but it seemed that the Hatters’ defensive focus and determination was just enough to continue stopping all Falcon offensive attacks. The Hatters had heart. Nineteen corners for PHS resulted in only one of the goals, and after almost 20 shots, the second goal came, which means we know what PHS will be practicing in the morning and every day moving forward.
Meg McClure scored both goals for Pennsbury – her first was a deflection on a pass from Liz Jordan across the goal, and the second was off of a strong corner shot from Sophia Curtis. McClure picked up the rebound and put it right back in. Games like this, although frustrating in many ways, are vital learning experiences as our team evaluates itself and re-centers in preparation for the next step.
The most glaring fact that came out of this contest is that turf fields are an absolutely necessary part of growing this sport and setting teams of all ability levels up for success in learning and playing the game the way field hockey is supposed to be played. Playing field hockey on grass is archaic and not allowing teams to keep up with the way the game is rapidly changing. Standout players for the Falcons include Meg McClure and Jaclyn Gorgo on attack, Sophia Curtis and Olivia Graebner on defense, and Molly Murray in the center of the field.
Pennsbury (2-0, 1-0 SOL) will travel to face Neshaminy for another grass game on Tuesday for what is historically an extremely intense, hard fought contest. Hatboro-Horsham (0-2, 0-1) will host Plymouth Whitemarsh on Tuesday.
Hatboro-Horsham 0-0-0-0 0
Pennsbury 0-0-0-2 2
UPPER MORELAND 3, BRISTOL 0
The Golden Bears jumped out to a 2-0 lead after one quarter and never looked back on their way to the shutout win, their first of the young season.
“It was a great team win,” UM coach Marissa Elizardo said. “We were able to finish in the circle and generate multiple opportunities on attack.”
Anna Duncan and Taylor Boone each scored a goal in the opening quarter, and that 2-0 lead stood until the third quarter when Maggie Morrow scored for the 3-0 final.
Elizardo had plenty of praise to go around.
“Jenna Piantieri had an excellent game and helped us with our transition to attack,” Elizardo said. “Our backs – Cambrie Richmond, Liz Santry, Cayden Weist and Haleigh Woodman – did a great job stepping to the ball and shutting down Bristol’s attack.”
UM goalie Emma Hurley was not forced to make a save in the shutout win.
Upper Moreland (1-2, 0-1 SOL) will host Cheltenham on Tuesday.
Bristol 0-0-0-0 0
Upper Moreland 2-0-1-0 3
LOWER MORELAND 3, ARCHBISHOP WOOD 1
The Lions won for the third time in as many games, rallying from and early 1-0 deficit to score three unanswered goals.
“It was another fine showing by the Lady Lions, extending their win streak to three games,” LM coach Janet Lutter said. “It was a tough, physical matchup.”
Liz Neeld accounted for all three of her team’s goals, contributing a hat trick with assists from Kylie Hopkins and Mady Link.
“Once again, solid defense helped secure the win,” Lutter said.
Lower Moreland (3-0, 1-0 SOL) will travel to New Hope-Solebury on Tuesday.
Archbishop Wood 1-0-0-0 1
Lower Moreland 0-1-1-1 3
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