Check out the recaps for SOL field hockey teams in action Friday.
SOL Patriot/Colonial Crossover
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 2, PENNSBURY 0
The Bucks scored a pair of second half goals, breaking a scoreless deadlock on their way to an impressive win in crossover play Friday night.
“It was a very competitive and well-played match for both teams,” West coach Dave DeAngelis said. “We were able to create a lot of offensive pressure.
“The Pennsbury goalkeeper was outstanding, making many outstanding saves. It was not until the second half when we put it into the cage with some misdirection in the circle.”
Bella Aulisio put the Bucks on the scoreboard with an unassisted goal in the third quarter, and Nina Mayro turned a Kendall Siegle pass into an insurance goal.
“We were really pleased with our ball movement again across each of our lines,” DeAngelis said. “When we possess and protect the ball the way we did tonight – we know that we can be fiercely competitive.”
The Bucks held a decisive advantage in shots (21-1) and penalty corners (21-6).
Central Bucks West (3-6 SOL) will host Springfield Township in a non-league game on Saturday, and Pennsbury (5-4, 4-4) will be on the road at Central Bucks South on Monday.
Pennsbury 0-0-0-0 0
Central Bucks West 0-0-1-1 2
(Article submitted by Pennsbury field hockey)
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…then it was okay times, and then not so bad times with some great times mixed in. It has been the “tale of two Pennsbury FH teams” this season – the coaching staff’s big question is, “Which one is showing up and how will the ‘times’ be described?”
Tonight, despite the loss, was an awesome showing for PHS under the Friday Night Lights in West’s turf stadium. Set against a beautiful October 1st sunset, the Falcons rose up, brushing the dirt off from Souderton’s shutout and found a way to put a confident foot forward, giving CB West a strong challenge.
Winning is measured by the numbers on the scoreboard, but tonight our Falcon defense had a victory in the stats. The Bucks dominated much of the game, but both teams were hard pressed to score in the first half. The score was 0-0 well into the third quarter, and that is due to Pennsbury’s standout defensive unit and goalkeeper Jordan Vradenburgh.
West scored the first goal of the game with six minutes left in the third quarter off of their 15th penalty corner. Aside from committing the fouls in the circle, the Falcons were a solid brick wall up until that corner play when they went down 1-0. They went on to tally up a total of 21 corners total. The score held 1-0 into the fourth when West added another goal to go up 2-0.
We cannot say enough about our core defensive unit – senior captain, Sophia Curtis, junior captain, Olivia Graebner, and sophomore, Gabby Darling. They work so well together as a cohesive trio and have settled into a rhythm that works. They are lacrosse defenders as well, so it is great to watch them operate in the two environments. Darling had two incredible defensive saves tonight and truly has no fear when going in for a block. She is super strong and as she learns and grows, her timing is perfect. Curtis has the experience to lead the crew and take charge in so many facets including flying on corners (21 times), free hits, and offensive corners as well. Olivia Graebner is one of those kids you just wish you had a thousand of on your team. She does it all and simply leads as a quiet force through her actions on the field. Add a dash of Vradenburgh in the cage, and it is a wonderful homemade recipe for success. Vradenburgh notched 17 saves and the shots came in all forms – high lifts, fast bullets, scuffles, rebounds, and more. She had a rough time against Souderton, and we are extremely proud of the way she bounced back in 24 hours to protect the net like she did. That took mental strength, and we know she worked hard to shake off yesterday’s loss.
Pennsbury had a few breakaway opportunities and earned six penalty corners, which they executed well, but just not well enough. The Bucks are a great team with lots of skill, smarts, and speed. We are working hard to get to that next level and meet these crossover teams where they are. It will take time.
As Coach Taylor would say in the show, Friday Night Lights, “Clear Eyes. Full Hearts. Can’t Lose.” We can honestly say we walked away with full hearts tonight, proud of who we are and how we fought. After a short weekend breather, Pennsbury will travel to CB South on Monday, play North Penn on Tuesday, and finish a five-game run with CB East on Wednesday.
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 5, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 1
The Patriots took a 2-0 lead into halftime and – sparked by a pair of goals from Caroline Suko in the third quarter – added to that lead in the second half.
Sophia Parker opened the scoring with two minutes remaining in the first quarter, turning a Paige Hussie pass into a goal. That lead grew to 2-0 after Paige Keller scored an unassisted goal.
Rock North got on the scoreboard with its only goal in the third quarter, but a pair of Suko goals – the first with a Keller assist and the second assisted by Ally Cenci – gave the Patriots a 4-1 lead heading into the final frame.
“The third quarter was extremely important for us after CR North scored, and we were able to get a fire under our butts to equalize it with a goal from Caroline Suko,” East coach Emma Rosenthal said. “There were great passing combinations and some beautiful goals in today’s win.”
Central Bucks East (6-3, 6-2 SOL) will host Harry S Truman on Monday, and Council Rock North (3-7, 2-6) will host Central Bucks West on Monday.
Council Rock North 0-0-1-0 1
Central Bucks East 1-1-2-1 5
Non-league
NORTH PENN 7, WISSAHICKON 1
There are good weeks, and then there’s the week the Knights just wrapped up with a no-doubt-about-it win over previously undefeated Wissahickon. Reilly O’Donnell was the offensive hero in this one, scoring four goals in a stellar outing. For the week, the Knights were 3-0 and outscored their opponents 17-2.
Making those numbers even more impressive is the fact that the Knights notched wins over the SOL Liberty leader (Wissahickon), the SOL Patriot first place team (Council Rock South) and defending SOL Patriot champion (Neshaminy).
After back-to-back five-goal games, the Knights served early notice that they were still in their offensive groove when O’Donnell (Maddie Waldspurger assist) scored two minutes into the game on a corner.
“Wissahickon is a good team, but we just got them back on their heels from the start,” NP coach Shannon McCracken said. “We went down quickly, got a couple of corners and then we scored our first goal on a beautifully executed corner. That was key.
“The girls got fired up from that. It’s a very team-first play right now. It’s very much team inspired, and it looks beautiful just the way they’re passing, moving to the ball, communicating, getting rebounds, hustling in the transition game. We were making a lot of stops outside the 25. They didn’t get their first corner until the second half, and they only had two corners. We were making great stops at the midfield.”
O’Donnell followed her early goal with a second score midway through the opening quarter – this one unassisted.
“She had a great game today,” McCracken said. “She was just getting her stick in front of the goalkeeper and two of her four goals were deflections, one was a rebound and the other was a really nice pass from Madison. She’s just playing some really nice hockey in the circle right now – she has her stick down, putting a second and third effort on the ball.”
Catherine McGeehan (Bay Detweiler assist) found the cage with 2:44 remaining in the opening quarter for a 3-0 lead, and the Knights were just getting started.
Eight minutes into the second quarter, Waldspurger scored on a penalty stroke, and O’Donnell completed her hat trick with an unassisted goal with just under three minutes remaining before halftime, sending the Knights into the intermission with a 5-0 lead.
O’Donnell scored her fourth and final goal with 40 seconds remaining in the third quarter, and Ella Sanfelice (Caleigh Sperling assist) closed out the scoring with a goal midway through the fourth quarter before Avery Mullin found the cage with 3:45 remaining for the 7-1 final.
Once again, McCracken tipped her hat to her midfielders – Waldspurger, Sperling, Bay Detweiler and Kerry O’Donnell.
“The midfield is playing really strong, which is so key in the transition,” the Knights’ coach said. “My attackers are spacing themselves really well, so it’s hard to get the ball out of the circle.
“We’re coming up with second and third opportunities, which we were lacking the week before. It was like a shot and then the ball was out, so we really worked on our spacing and making sure that we’re filling the spot so that we layer and keep the ball in the circle.”
North Penn held an advantage in shots (19-2) and corners (11-2).
The win capped a remarkable there-win week on the heels of three straight losses, and no one would blame McCracken if she wanted this week to last forever.
“It’s fun,” the Knights’ coach said. “It’s fun to coach right now, it’s fun to watch the girls play. They’re really having a good time out there together. I’d love for this week to continue. Hopefully, we can keep this going. It’s exciting.”
North Penn (6-3, 4-3 SOL) will be on the road at Bensalem on Monday, and Wissahickon (9-1, 8-0) will travel to Cheltenham Monday.
Wissahickon 0-0-0-1. 1
North Penn 3-2-1-1 7
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 5, ABINGTON 0
The Titans took a 1-0 lead into halftime and then erupted for three third-quarter goals on their way to the convincing win. Erin Smith led the Titans with two goals and two assists.
“After a mix-up in game time, we had a shortened warm-up and a little trouble adjusting to the turf,” South coach Pat Toner said.
Megan Reilly (Erin Smith assist) scored the only goal of the first half, and that came just over four minutes into the opening quarter.
In the third quarter, CB South’s captains –Smith, Anna Shirley and Julia Cooper – combined for four goals to seal the 5-0 win.
Smith got the ball rolling, scoring with a Shirley assist just over a minute into the third quarter. It was the first of three assists in the frame for Shirley. Five minutes later Cooper scored with a Shirley assist, and then it was Smith turning a Shirley pass into a goal and a 4-0 lead.
Five minutes into the fourth quarter, Cooper connected on her second goal with a Smith assist for the 5-0 final.
Central Bucks South (7-2, 6-2 SOL) will host Pennsbury on Monday, and Abington (6-4, 5-3 will host Springfield Township on Monday.
Central Bucks South 1-0-3-1 5
Abington 0-0-0-0 0
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