Check out the recaps for SOL girls’ lacrosse teams in action Wednesday. Springfield Twp/Wissahickon photos courtesy of Michael Rice. Check back for a gallery of photos: https://solsports.zenfolio.com/f683838916
SOL American Conference
Springfield Twp 13, Wissahickon 10
The tattoos, in theory, were supposed to be temporary.
Yet a few days later, the CHOP logo on Maddie McDevitt’s left arm looked about as fresh as it did when she applied it. The Springfield Twp senior joked that it just won’t wash off and while several of her teammates have run into similar problems, they aren’t complaining about it.
Whether it’s supporting a teammate – the tattoos a lingering reminder of that, team trips or coming together to claim a title they expected to contend for, the Spartans have done it together.
“We had some freshmen or sophomores that at the start of the season maybe we weren’t as close with, but now I’m excited any time I see them in the hallways,” senior Emma Yoder said.
“I’m so close with every single person on this team and I think that goes for all of us.”
“We went to Florida as a team, which definitely helped so much,” senior Maddie McDevitt added. “Staying up at night talking to each other, going to the beach together, just having that time right at the beginning of the season, we’ve been so close ever since and I think that’s helping us win games because we want to play for each other.”
For their senior night game, the Spartans decided to use it for something else, a cause well worth a few stubborn temporary tattoos. Fiona Rizzo, one of the team’s eight seniors, has been able to play with her younger sister Frankie all year even as Frankie has dealt with a challenging condition.
“She got diagnosed with diabetes in 2021, and she’s one of our best friends,” McDevitt said of the sophomore attacker. “She struggled with it a little at the beginning, having to come out of games or sit out of some practices. So, Friday, for our Senior Night, we played for CHOP to raise money and just to support our teammate because it was a really important cause to all of us.”
Last season, the Spartans were part of a congested top of the SOL American table as part of a tri-championship with Upper Dublin and Upper Moreland. This year, the conference title still had to be split, but it was a much cleaner cut down the middle.
Although the Spartans had lost by a goal to Plymouth Whitemarsh, their 9-7 win over UD on April 24 left the door open to claim an SOL title for a second straight year.
Upper Dublin’s win earlier in the day meant the Spartans had to go out and win against the Trojans, who had their own Senior Night, in order to repeat as SOL American champs. Things didn’t start out great for the visitors, with Wissahickon taking a 2-0 lead and holding a 3-1 advantage after 12 minutes.
“We needed to get used to their zone, we just played against a man against Abington, so we had to get used to what they were doing,” McDevitt said. “Once we found the openings and how their back row was working, we started to get more opportunities to score.”
McDevitt, who had the team’s lone goal in the first quarter, paced the Spartans with four goals while adding two caused turnovers and four ground balls. The senior, who will play at Catholic University, and Yoder also helped control the draw control circle for Springfield Twp, although it took some time for the results to show.
After Wissahickon took a 4-2 lead in the second quarter it was Fiona Rizzo, who finished with a hat trick, getting two goals off assists from Samantha McDevitt to kick off a Spartans run. Maddie McDevitt added the next two goals, capping a 4-0 run for a 6-4 halftime lead.
“We were cutting and when we found the open girl, we were sending her through,” McDevitt said. “She wasn’t always the open cut, but we were finding that second girl and our attackers really worked together.”
Yoder, who has signed with Saint Joseph’s and will play with two Spartan alums in her older sister Maddie and Emily Smith next year, didn’t have a goal in the first half. The senior would get two early in the third as Springfield Twp took the period by a 6-2 margin to seize control of the game.
“We focused on keeping our energy high and to keep looking for the open girl,” Yoder said. “We just kept doing exactly what we had been doing. I think we were 70 percent on the draws in the first half, so we wanted to get that up to 80 percent.”
Both Maddie McDevitt and Yoder highlighted the team’s transition game as a catalyst in getting the goals to flow. It started with the two seniors not cheating toward midfield at the end of defensive possessions and instead coming back to the ball to help goalie Tess Talbot or the defensive unit.
“We needed to help our defense,” Yoder said. “We stayed back more, ran to the ball and even if a defender got to it, we could kick a second pass and that would lead to the fastbreak.”
Wissahickon, which was led by four goals and one assist from Sophia Stehlik, made a frantic rally in the fourth quarter. Emma Greenberg added a hat trick for the Trojans and Lila Marciniak netted two for Wiss and Sam Farno had one goal. Goalie Tatum Ruhren gave her all in an eight save effort.
Anticipating they would have a talented team this spring, the Spartans made sure to add some marque games to their schedule. On top of the trip to Florida, they faced perennial District 1 3A powers Springfield Delco and Garnet Valley, plus a Bishop Shanahan team in Class 2A that’s always a contender in the postseason.
It put a couple more losses on the team’s final tally but the team’s veterans know what the idea was as they prepare for the playoffs.
“We’re more ready for it,” McDevitt said. “Last year, our record might’ve said we were 17-1 and this year is worse on paper, but we’re more ready and we’re a stronger team.”
Even with their more challenging schedule, the Spartans find themselves in good standing for the playoffs, holding the No. 2 spot in the Class 2A rankings Wednesday night. In the fall, many of the girls on the team found themselves in the middle of the raucous student sections that followed the boys’ soccer team on its run to the state final.
Now, they’re hoping to spark a run of their own.
“The community at Springfield, it’s such a small school so everyone knows everyone else,” McDevitt said. “The soccer team got so much support going to states and I think they’re excited to come see us and they want us to make it that far because everyone experienced how fun it was going to those games and having that kind of student section.”
For the Trojans, Stehlik also had one interception and one draw control while Greenberg had one draw control. Marciniak led the Trojans with four draw controls and also had one ground ball. Farno had two ground balls while Maddie Radell had one draw control.
“While we didn’t get the result we wanted, I was proud of the way the team fought till the end,” Wissahickon coach Chuck Wurzbach said. “We honored our three seniors tonight-Nora Ryan, Thalia Tiosbikas and Chloe Acuna. I have been very fortunate to have coached all three since they were in fifth grade through the Wiss Lax program, and they have always been great examples of what a great teammate is supposed to be. I, and their teammates, will miss them next spring.”
Springfield (12-5, 10-1 SOL) will close out its regular season at home Thursday with a non-league game against Harriton. Wissahickon closed out its regular season with a 13-4-1 record overall. The Trojans were 8-3 in league play.
Springfield Twp 1-5-6-1 13
Wissahickon 3-1-2-4 10
Upper Dublin 15, Cheltenham 3
The Cardinals made it official, clinching a share of the SOL American Conference title with their road win over the Lady Panthers.
Leading a balanced attack for the Cardinals were Paige Dinkel (3 goals), Anna DiMartile (3 goals, 2 assists, 10 draw controls), Bridget DiMartile (3 goals, 3 assists, 2 draw controls), Shannon Connaughton (2 goals, 2 assists) and Ava Shohen (1 goal, two assists and two draw controls). Adding one goal each were Lily Buckius, Mads McManus and Isabella Nardello. Abby O’Meara had one assist and four ground balls while Olivia Broome was credited with one caused turnover.
Upper Dublin closed out its regular season with a 16-2 record.
Upper Dublin 7-3-2-3 15
Cheltenham 0-0-3-0 3
Abington 14, Quakertown 2
The Lady Ghost had a great team win at home against Quakertown.
The Ghosts had six different scorers, led by sophomore Katie Pennekamp with seven goals. Following her was senior Harper McGinley with three goals. Piper McGinley, Olivia Capps, Madden Murray, Addison Doyle each recorded one goal.
Five different girls provided assists on the Ghosts’ 14 goals. Recording assists were Harper McGinley with four, Piper McGinley with three, Abby Ellner and Charlotte Lowery with two each and Carly Hughes with one.
On the defensive side, the Ghosts caused numerous turnovers led by Jocelyn Pollock, Carly Hughes, Keely Gallagher, and Joanne Duff with two caused turnovers each. Anchoring the defense was Jadyn Bagby with seven saves and one caused turnover. The Ghosts’ midfield had eight draw controls, which were significant.
For the Panthers, Casey Rosenberger had one goal and 10 ground balls. Maddie Taylor also had one goal. Ciara Mory had five ground balls, and Cass Lamont recorded five saves in goal for the Panthers.
Abington (9-7, 6-5 SOL) will host Jenkintown in a non-league match Thursday.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 16, Hatboro-Horsham 0
Liv Eaton scored five goals and also had two assists, and Meghan Wendler added four goals and two assists to lead the Colonials, who opened up an 11-0 halftime lead on their way to the shutout win. Bri Reynolds (1 goals, 1 assist, 2 draw controls), Soph Gartland (1 goal, 1 assist) and Grace Kerns (1 goal, 1 assist) also contributed multi-point games. Adding one goals each were Liv Reilly, Soph Nagle, Jacque Spinelli and Mia Baron. Kaine Jayo handed out three assists and also had three draw controls.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (13-4, 8-3 SOL) will celebrate Senior Night on Thursday (7 p.m.) when the Colonials host Council Rock North in a non-league contest. Hatboro-Horsham (3-14, 3-8) will travel to Archbishop Wood for a non-league game Thursday.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 11-5 16
Hatboro-Horsham 0-0 0
Upper Moreland 16, William Tennent 0
Fifteen players contributed to the scoring for the Golden Bears, including several players who got their first varsity goal.
Olivia Meakim led a balanced attack with two goals and two assists, Molly Meakim added two goals and one assist, and Willow Taylor had one goal and two assists. Adding one goal each were Molly Meakim, Keiley Hawk, Keira Hess, Addi Hurley, Charlie Clement, Addi Gans, Tierney Hogan, Sophie Perrine, Gianna Brown, Izzy Duncan and Mackenzie Reilly. Avery Adamski added an assist.
Addi Hurley was credited with two saves in the shutout win.
Upper Moreland (14-3, 9-2 SOL) will travel to Central Bucks East for a non-league game on Thursday. William Tennent (0-13, 0-11) will be on the road at Conwell-Egan Thursday for a non-league game.
New Hope-Solebury 17, Lower Moreland 10
SOL National Conference
Pennsbury 18, North Penn 4
With the final standings in the SOL National up in the air until Friday when Pennridge travels to Council Rock South for its league finale, the Falcons took care of their business with a no-doubt-about it win over the visiting Knights.
The win ensured Pennsbury at least a share of the conference crown depending on the outcome of the Pennridge game. A Pennridge win and the two teams will share the top spot, a Pennridge loss, and Pennsbury will be sole champions.
“Going into tonight’s game, we knew that we needed to come out on fire like we did against Pennridge,” said Pennsbury coach Marguerite Piccolo, whose team handed the Rams their first league loss of the season on Tuesday. “The majority of the players experienced our game against North Penn last year, and they did not want to feel that way again especially on our own turf.”
The Knights defeated the Falcons in the final game of the regular season last year, forcing the Falcons to settle for a share of the title. This year, the Falcons needed a big final week of the regular season to get to the top, and sharing the title sounds pretty good.
“Pennridge is a very talented team and coached well,” Piccolo said. “We would be honored to share the title with them.
“We’ve had to deal with a fair amount of adversity this season, but I believe that is the reason we’ve been able to dig deep, learn to deal with being uncomfortable, and begin to trust each other and the process.”
The Falcons seized early control of Wednesday’s game, opening up an 11-2 halftime lead and never looking back.
“We got a four-goal lead in the first four minutes from goals by Mia Popovich, Lily Abraham, Rylie Borgman, and Sasha Dobos from a beautiful pass from Grace Holmes,” Piccolo said. “Tonight became a true team effort, which they all deserve especially the seniors.”
Holmes had a hand in seven goals, scoring three goals and assisting on four others. Abraham added a five-point game with four goals and one assist, and Popovich also had four goals. Borgman added two goals and two assists, and Dobos had a hat trick. Angelina Kenney added a goal and two assists while Jordan Ewart had one assist.
Pennsbury closed out its regular season with a 12-5-1 record, and North Penn finished its season with a 4-14 record overall, 4-6 in the SOL
North Penn 2-2 4
Pennsbury 11-7 18
Central Bucks West 14, Central Bucks South 5
The Bucks took a 5-2 lead into halftime and then seized control of the game in the second half, outscoring their hosts 9-3.
As a team, the Bucks had 13 draw controls and 10 caused turnovers.
The list of contributors was a long one with Chloe Schrandt’s four-goal, one-assist effort leading a balanced effort. Olivia Barrett added three goals, one assist, three caused turnovers and one draw control. Zola Morelli had two goals and five draw controls while Katie Casale had two goals and two assists. Raylin Tulio also had a pair of goals, Kamryn Brownlow had one goal, one assist and a team-high seven draw controls, and Grace Naylor chipped in one goal.
Also for the Bucks, Nina Mayro had two caused turnovers and two ground balls, Eve Damsker had two caused turnovers while Abby Rogers had one caused turnover and one ground ball. Aida Ierubino also had one caused turnover, and Bella Schrandt had one ground ball.
West goalie Kalena Mandeville recorded seven saves and also had one caused turnover.
Central Bucks West (12-4, 8-2 SOL) will host Methacton in a non-league contest for its Senior Night game Friday, and Central Bucks South (10-6, 4-4) will travel to Boyertown for a non-league game Friday.
Central Bucks West 5-9 14
Central Bucks South 2-3 5
Council Rock North 18, Central Bucks East 8
(Game summary provided by CR North lacrosse)
In a pivotal showdown with playoff implications, Council Rock North emerged victorious.
The game was marked by a stellar team effort, with numerous contributors stepping up to secure the crucial victory. Leading the charge was sophomore Catherine McBride, who delivered a remarkable performance with seven goals, two assists, five ground balls, and eight draw controls. McBride’s milestone moment came with her 100th career goal, adding an extra layer of significance to the win.
Senior captains Julie Ondria, Charlotte Ondria, and Maddy Mela also made their presence felt on the scoreboard, combining for six goals and three assists. Liza McBride chipped in with a crucial assist, along with a ground ball and four draw controls.
The underclassmen also made significant contributions, with sophomores Olivia Esposito, and Gabby Mann showcasing their skills on both ends of the field. Esposito’s stellar defensive efforts yielded three ground balls and two draw controls, Mann added a goal, an assist, and four ground balls to the team’s impressive performance.
Freshman Ellie Carney made her mark with three goals, one assist, and three ground balls, proving her worth among the upperclassmen.
Defensively, Council Rock North held strong against a formidable CB East offense, limiting them to just eight goals. Goalkeeper Lucy Carney stood tall between the posts, making numerous crucial saves amidst the onslaught of shots. The defensive unit, led by Abbey Steadman, Olivia Esposito, Kiely Lyons, and Addison Deppi, worked cohesively to thwart CB East’s advances, with each player contributing key stops, ground balls, and defensive clears.
Council Rock North (11-3, 8-2 SOL) will travel to Plymouth Whitemarsh for a non-league game Thursday, and Central Bucks East (8-8, 5-5) will host Upper Moreland in a non-league game Thursday.
Souderton 18, Neshaminy 7
Tatum Andrews scored five goals and assisted on three others to lead the Indians to the league win on Wednesday. The junior also had one draw control. Senior Avery Farina also had a big game, finishing with four goals and one assist.
Carly Gavetti had a five-point game that included three goals and two assists as well as a team-high nine draw controls, and Caroline Kelcy also had a hat trick and one assist with three draw controls. Addie Yost had two goals and one assist and two draw controls.
Also contributing for the Indians were Savannah Smith with one goal and Anah Petrovich with one assist.
Nicolle Kleckner was credited with 12 saves in goal in a winning effort for the Indians.
For Neshaminy, Abby Perkins had a hat trick, Mia Sermani had two goals while Keira Swinski and Jackie Mull each had one goal. Avery Zachke recorded 12 saves in goal for the ‘Skins.
Souderton (7-10, 1-9 SOL) will host New Hope-Solebury on Friday to close out its season. Neshaminy (0-9, 2-15) will host Bensalem on Thursday.
Neshaminy 4-3 7
Souderton 9-9 18
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