Check out the recaps for SOL field hockey teams in action in Wednesday’s second round of the District One 3A Tournament. Souderton/Neshaminy photos provided courtesy of Tracy Valko. Wissahickon/Avon Grove photos courtesy of Kim Supko Photography. Check back for galleries of both games.
#2 SOUDERTON 4, #15 NESHAMINY 1
There wasn’t a whole lot for coach Sue Casciato not to like about the Indians’ performance in Wednesday’s second round win. Three players – forwards Reiley Knize, Lauren Kenah and Ava Shaw – drew especially high praise from the Indians’ coach, and it actually had nothing to do with the fact that they had accounted for all four of their team’s goals.
“I pulled them over and complimented them,” Casciato said. “I told them all the coaches were standing on the sidelines, and we were just really impressed with the fact that they can all work so hard for 60 minutes, and with two minutes left in the game they were still sprinting – they’re in the offensive circle, and they’re getting all the way back to get in the defensive press. They’re doing 70-yard sprints constantly, and they were still playing well.”
Shaw had a simple explanation for the line’s success.
“I really think we’ve learned how to play as a unit,” the junior forward said. “Also, we had really good hustle, everyone hustles really well and works their butt off every game.”
Wednesday’s game was a rematch of a crossover contest between the two teams – a 6-0 Senior Night win for the Indians. The stakes were much higher this time around since the winner is assured two more games, and the loser went home.
“There definitely were some nerves because it was a gigantic game, but we already knew how they played and we know how we play,” Shaw said. “There was also more excitement than nerves because it’s fun having a playoff game on the turf after school.”
The Indians drew a corner as time expired in the opening quarter and capitalized when Lauren Kenah deflected a drive by Lauren Frye into the cage for a 1-0 lead.
“When we don’t score right away, it’s like, ‘This is too close, we have to stay in it and get one in,’” Shaw said. “But I think it pushes us super hard because when we whack one in at the end of the quarter or the half, it brings us into the next quarter really strong.”
“We always talk about – first goal. momentum, go,” Knize said. “That’s what we look at. After that first goal was scored, I was like, ‘I want another so that we keep rolling from here.’”
Knize made sure that happened, and just over two minutes into the second quarter, the senior forward used some nifty moves to score an unassisted goal.
“There was a foul, and Reiley self-started around the 25, dribbled around a couple of people and up to the goal cage and put it in,” Casciato said.
With five minutes remaining in the half, Knize – on the right post – scored during corner play with an assist from Frye.
That 3-0 score stood until eight minutes remained in the fourth quarter when Kenah scored on a rocket from the top of the circle with an Ang Borisow assist on yet another corner. The Redskins broke up the Indians’ shutout bid when Emily Papeo scored in a wild sequence in front of goal after Tegan Farina came up with a tough save. The 4-1 score stood until the final horn.
“I was nervous today,” Knize said. “Obviously, I was confident because we beat them before, but we had to do it again. We knew we beat them 6-0 the first time, but it doesn’t matter. We had to win this game to move on, and that was the most important thing to us.
“We don’t want this season to end so we were like – don’t even worry what we beat them by last time. It doesn’t matter. We have to win again.”
The Indians held an advantage in shots (13-4) and corners (10-5).
“In the second half, we looked a little weary,” Casciato said. “We weren’t quite as crisp, quite as clean in the second half, and because they were big balling – we had to do a lot of running. Every one of them had a beautiful drive, so there was a lot of transitioning going on in that fourth period.”
Neshaminy (11-5 SOL) closed out its season with a 14-6 record and a share of the SOL Patriot Division title.
“I think we played hard today,” Neshaminy coach Jamie Pinto said. “Playing them twice, we knew they were a strong team. We made some adjustments coming into this game, which I think worked in our favor today.
“We played hard until the very end, which I think is something to be proud of and a good way to end our season.”
Souderton (18-1, 16-0 SOL) will host Garnet Valley in a district quarterfinal game on Friday (3:30 pm).
Neshaminy 0-0-0-1 1
Souderton 1-2-0-1 4
#3 WISSAHICKON 2, #14 AVON GROVE 1
Close games have hardly been the norm for a Trojan squad that rolled to a 16-0 record on their way to the SOL Liberty Division title, outscoring their opponents 80-0 with five goals the average margin of victory.
Wednesday’s second round district contest against the visiting Red Devils was another story entirely, and it took a standout defensive effort for the Trojans to gut out the win.
“I’m so proud of all of them,” Wissahickon coach Lucy Gil said. “After the game, we did our huddle and we cheered, and they started walking away. I said, ‘No, no, no, come back here. I want to tell you how proud I am of you, how you made this game so enjoyable for all of us, and we’re so happy to be on this team.’ It was a good moment for us.”
The Red Devils gave the Trojans’ defensive corner unit an immediate test, and they passed with flying colors.
“They had six corners in the first 10 minutes back-to-back-to-back, and my defense came up super big,” Gil said. “Big saves from my goalie (Julianna Thomas), big saves from other kids, just throwing themselves at the ball. I think it put us in a state of ‘All right, we can do this,’ and I think if one goal had gone in, it would have changed the entire game.
“My defense holding fast like that – they proceeded to play that way the rest of the game.”
Comprising the Trojans’ defensive corner unit in addition to Thomas were Brynne Miller, who is the flier on corners, Caroline Kirkpatrick, Julia Schools and Faith Jampo.
“We’re used to dominating the game, and we couldn’t,” Gil said. “They pretty much had the majority of the play for a lot of the game.
“There were times we were down (in their defensive end) for a while, but there was a lot of time we were playing defense. It was back and forth a lot.”
The Trojans got on the scoreboard with 6:48 remaining in the second quarter when Kendall Crowley scored with a Kate Lovensheimer assist.
Just over three minutes into the third quarter, Riley Bell scored with an Ella Hummel assist. Six minutes later, the Red Devils got on the scoreboard when Madison Britton scored on a breakaway to make it a 2-1 game. That score held until the final whistle.
“We did not give up anything until Madison Britton took the ball down the field, dodged everybody and took a giant swing at the goal,” Gil said. “It was a very pretty goal. She deserved it all the way. At times, she seemed like a one-man team, but the other players were pretty nice as well.
“Our defense held fast. They played stellar. Julia Schools, my center back, controls the entire backfield, and she did an amazing job. Today when she was stopping the ball, it would stop dead on her stick. She was on fire today.”
Joining Schools in the Trojans’ defensive unit were right back Danielle Ciliberto and left back Faith Jampo.
“Faith is just a sophomore, but she is so fast, and right now she’s taking a very cautious approach to the game because she’s on a team with some really good seniors, but when she comes alive, she’s going to be amazing,” Gil said. “The three of them really controlled the game.
“Brynne Miller is the defensive center mid, so she’s a defender as well. She had an amazing game. She was all the way up, she was all the way back. I don’t know who lit a fire under her too because she literally was everywhere. She was trying to keep the ball away from number four (Britton), so her job was to not control her but try and keep the ball away from her. She did a good job of containing her.”
Thomas recorded eight saves.
“Julianna Thomas is playing like a pro, like she’s been doing it her whole life,” Gil said. “She is playing so well. She’s cutting down every angle, she’s coming out when she’s supposed to, she’s staying back when she’s supposed to, she’s making really good decisions.”
Wissahickon (18-1, 16-0 SOL) will host #6 Methacton in Friday’s district quarterfinal round. The Warriors edged North Penn 2-1.
Avon Grove 0-0-1-0 1
Wissahickon 0-1-1-0 2
#7 GARNET VALLEY 2, #10 CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 0
The Titans came up short in their bid to keep their season alive, but it wasn’t for lack of effort.
“They played their hearts out, they literally played their hearts out,” South coach Pat Toner said. “I can’t ask anything more. That team was the best one I’ve seen all year, by far. They were very talented, very disciplined, well coached.”
The Jaguars scored an early goal, and that 1-0 lead stood until the fourth quarter when they tacked on an insurance goal.
“We held our own,” Toner said. “Keeping a team like that off the board like that was unbelievable.”
The Jaguars had the advantage in shots (10-7) and penalty corners (9-4).
“We had our opportunities,” Toner said. “They were unbelievable passing, and they controlled the majority of the game. They were the first team we played that was able to control Erin Smith, but she still got in and got some shots. They did a good job slowing everything down.
“They played at a pace we’re not used to, and they played a system that is difficult to play against. They were just extremely well coached and disciplined. I have to give credit to my kids. They played their hearts out. They left nothing out on that field.”
The Titans’ coach credited her players for their team first approach.
“My entire team is offense – every single player on it was an offensive player at some point,” Toner said. “Grace Haag and Lily Haag were willing to play a defensive position, and they’re great at it, they’re excellent at it. I’m really proud of them for doing whatever they were asked to do. They didn’t complain about it.
“Every team has its little bumps in the road, but they fought their way back, and I’m really proud of them for what they accomplished this year.”
Central Bucks South (11-4-1 SOL) closed out its season with a 14-5-1 record.
Central Bucks South 0-0-0-0 0
Garnet Valley 1-0-0-1 2
#6 METHACTON 2, #11 NORTH PENN 1
In the most heartbreaking of finishes, the Knights saw their season come to an end when Methacton’s Elena Snodgrass scored on a penalty corner with time expired in regulation.
“A playoff loss is disappointing as is, but the sequence of events that led to the loss in the last few seconds of the game were devastating to our team as this team displayed heart, hustle, and a never give up attitude the entire game until the final whistle,” NP coach Shannon McCracken said. “They left everything out on the field tonight.”
The Warriors stunned the Knights when Sammy Fuchs scored 30 seconds into the game.
“I was so proud of how the team responded to the early goal because that can be a punch to the gut allowing your opponent to score 30 seconds into a playoff game where nerves are high,” McCracken said. “We re-organized, settled in and started to connect better on our passes and in the third quarter were able to answer back with forward Catherine McGeehan picking up a rebound in front of the goal to tie the game.”
McGeehan scored with 47 seconds remaining in the third quarter to knot the score heading into the final frame.
The game was evenly played with both teams drawing 10 penalty corners. The Knights held an 11-7 advantage in shots.
“Both defenses and goalkeepers were solid as each team had fast and dynamic attacks,” McCracken said. “Kiera Holt returned to goal after being out for a week with an ankle injury and had a gutsy performance against a speedy Methacton front line.
“Maddie Waldspurger, Linsey Gilbert, Annabelle Smink, and Melissa Sessler had a stellar performance defensively after going down 1-0 in the first 30 seconds of the game.
“I am so proud of our team and what we accomplished this season, and I am especially grateful for our senior class: Mackenzie Czajowski, Bay Detweiler, Linsey Gilbert, Erin O’Donnell, Ella Sanfelice, Aditi Shah, Belle Sparango, and Maddie Waldspurger as they were strong leaders who led with hard work, dedication, and commitment.”
North Penn closed out its season with a 13-6-1 record (10-5-1 SOL).
North Penn 0-0-1-0 1
Methacton 1-0-0-1 2
#5 DOWNINGTOWN WEST 3, #12 CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 1
The Patriots came up short in their bid for an upset of the fifth-seeded Whippets, but coach Emma Rosenthal had a message for her players when it was over.
“We’re all standing on the field and we’re crying as expected, and I said, ‘This loss couldn’t change anything. It doesn’t change the friendships you’ve made, the relationships you’ve built. You contributed to the CB East field hockey program, and this game doesn’t change any of that,’ and that’s what is so special, that’s what lasts,” Rosenthal said.
The Patriots’ coach was pleased with her team’s effort.
“We really stood with them the entire time,” Rosenthal said. “We did not make it easy for them.
“I think they were surprised – we came out of the gate and had control of the ball for the first five minutes at least. They were able to capitalize at the end of the first quarter, and that momentum shift does a lot. After they capitalized once, they really controlled that second quarter.”
The Whippets added a goal in the second quarter and took a 2-0 lead into halftime.
“The story repeats itself that we’re a second half team,” Rosenthal said. “We came out in the second half very strong. We had a goal that was taken back. You don’t want to blame the officiating, but where it could have been a 2-1 game would have been a huge momentum shift for us. When that goal wasn’t counted, I’m really proud of the team for pushing forward.”
Downingtown West added a goal to go on top 3-0 before Paige Keller scored for the Patriots.
Rosenthal credited the effort of her defense against a dangerous Whippet squad.
“The defense hung tough,” she said. “Grace Gidwani was great in goal again. Kiera Lamb stepped up as always, and our offensive pressure was there. They played with so much heart tonight.
“I told them at the end of the game, ‘Yes, this is going to sting, and it really stinks that we weren’t able to walk off the field tonight with a win, but there is no reason for us to hang our heads.’ I’m so proud of each and every one of them for playing 60 minutes of great hockey.”
Central Bucks East closed out its season with a 14-6 record (12-4 SOL), a successful season for Rosenthal – a late hire – in her debut.
“You usually get to know your kids beforehand,” she said. “Everybody else had four years with their seniors, and I had a couple minutes with our seniors before that first practice.
“So, for me, the entire season was spent getting to know our girls. After we had that first loss to Souderton and then (Central Bucks) South, we had a practice that we spent an hour inside doing team bonding and we were only on the field for 30 minutes.
“That practice of team bonding and getting to know everyone so well and getting to know why everybody wants to be here was a momentum shift for us during the season. Through the season, we bonded so well. Downingtown West was a very talented team, but I told them we were playing 11 players, but we can play as one team. I think that was really something special to find playing as one cohesive unit. I tell them a successful team beats with one heart, and that’s what they did. After the game, I told them to be proud of themselves because there’s no other way they should feel.”
Central Bucks East 0-0-0-1 1
Downingtown West 1-1-0-1 3
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