Quakertown’s ‘Sister Act’ is a story that wrote itself in Monday’s District 1 3A opening round 2-1 overtime win over Central Bucks South. Photo courtesy of Sharon Shipe. (Photo of sisters provided.) Check out the previews for SOL teams in action in Tuesday’s second round of the District 1 3A Tournament.
Quakertown field hockey has its own version of ‘Sister Act,’ and what an act it’s been.
The latest act was also the most dramatic for the three siblings – Katelyn Landis (senior), Cassidy Landis (sophomore) and Cameron Landis (freshman). It came in the Panthers’ District 1 3A opening round game against a pesky Central Bucks South squad that would not go away.
In a scoreless opening quarter, Katelyn uncharacteristically missed a penalty stroke, and one quarter later, sophomore Ella Marchesi scored on a breakaway to spot the Titans a 1-0 lead they took into the final quarter.
That’s when Cassidy Landis delivered a highlight reel goal to knot the score in the win-or-go-home contest. A nice gesture – picking up her sister and all, but instead of the – ‘I did it for my sister’ explanation for her heroics, the sophomore took a decidedly different path.
“For the whole team, it was a great mood boost,” Cassidy said.
No mention of doing it for her sister, although that certainly had to cross her mind, but this is very much about the team for the three siblings. It was appropriate that with the Panthers’ season hanging in the balance, it was Katelyn delivering the game-winner with 57 seconds remaining in overtime.
All three shared their perspectives on the rare opportunity to play on the Panthers’ varsity together.
Freshman Cameron Landis: “One of my favorite parts of playing with my sisters is the amount of time spent with them. Since in the fall field hockey takes up most of our time and Katelyn can drive, we tend to go a lot of places together and spend lots of time together. Another fun part is the competition. My sisters are both very great hockey players and team leaders. In just this season, I’ve learned so much, especially from my sisters. Sometimes it’s yelling on the field and sometimes it’s watching them from off the field, but both of them have improved my hockey play immensely.
“One of the tough parts of playing with my sisters can be the comparison. Like I said, both of my sisters are great hockey players, but that means different tiers of play between the three of us. While I love playing with my sisters, some days I just don’t want to. I wanna play as just me and make a name/reputation for myself. These emotions come and go, and overall, playing with both of my sisters has been a blessing.”
Sophomore Cassidy Landis: “Playing with both my older and younger sisters this year has been such an incredible experience. It has brought us all so close, and we can all agree that we have all enjoyed our time on the field together.
“I would without a doubt say that the toughest part about this will be having to play without Katelyn on the team next year. It is going to be hard for me and Cam but also hard for the entire team. Katelyn is an incredible captain, athlete, leader, sister, and role model. She will be well missed by Quakertown field hockey. She sets an example for me as a person and as a player, I will forever look up to her, which is why playing on the field without her next year will be so hard for me. I can only hope that I will be as good as role model to Cam as Katelyn was to me. For now, we are going to enjoy every last minute of playing together because this is a once in a lifetime kind of season for the Landis sisters.”
Senior Katelyn Landis: “This season is something that’s been talked about and looked forward to in my family for so many years, and to finally get to experience it has been nothing short of amazing. As the oldest and a senior, getting to spend my last year at Quakertown playing alongside two of my sisters has been so special and really brought the three of us so much closer.
“Like anyone, I’ve experienced a lot of success and challenges on and off the field, but as the oldest, I think I’ve really been able to use what I’ve learned to help support Cassidy and Cameron and help them learn and grow as athletes and, most importantly, as people.
“Every time we’ve walked off the field this year it’s felt like we’ve all gotten to represent our family together, and that’s super cool. All that to say, the hardest part for me is definitely going to be leaving my sisters as I go on to play in college – it feels super bittersweet. I can’t wait to see all that they do – because I know it will be amazing, but I also will really miss getting to put on the same jersey as them.”
A coach’s perspective: Coach MacKenzie Moser: “They are quite the trio. I remember Kate coming to me and said, ‘I’m a defender.’ I said, ‘I see way more than defense, I don’t see you back there.’ Cass came to me and said, ‘I’m offense,’ and I’m like, ‘Yes, I don’t have to corrupt another Landis,’ and Cam – I’m slowly trying to let her play defense, but I also want her midfield.
“The way they talk to each other and hype each other up – Kate is the mediator of the group, Cass is the aggressive one. She’s ready to go. Kate’s in between, making sure that nobody’s fighting, and Cam – sometimes she gets overwhelmed, but it pushes her. There’s Kate in the middle saying, ‘Okay, we can do this.’ She’s a great leader for both of them.
“Not only do they all work together so smoothly, but Kate is the communicator in the center. She’s like, ‘Hey, you’ve got me left, you’ve got me right.’ As the older one of the three, that kind of guidance goes far, and you can see it on the field. When they’re all on the field, I always get nervous with siblings – are they going to mesh well or are they going to be at each other’s throats. It’s never been like that. They have meshed day in, day out seamlessly, and they’re all good aggressive players. They work hard, they deserve everything they’ve got. It’s nice.”
Class 3A
18 OWEN J ROBERTS at #2 CENTRAL BUCKS WEST (Opening round bye)
Central Bucks West
–16-2 overall
–10-0 SOL Colonial Division champs
–Second consecutive division title and second straight year with 16-2 regular season record.
–Wins over Class 3A #8 Souderton (3-2, 3-0), #10 Neshaminy (4-1), #17 North Penn (2-1, 3-1), #22 CB South (6-0, 4-1), #23 CB East (3-0, 2-0), Class 2A #2 Wissahickon (8-3) & #10 Gwynedd Mercy (2-1).
–10 straight wins to close out regular season
Coach Lori Ierubino: “We are young, yet playing very well together against tough competition. This team is resilient and flexible because they have needed to be given the various injuries we have had to deal with and life heartbreak. We plan to take it one game at a time and enjoy competing with and for one another.”
CB West senior captain Calista Boos/junior captain Aida Ierubino: “As we head into postseason play, we are reflecting on how far we’ve come this season. We have a variety of talent across all grades, and we have grown to work really well together as a team. We’ve faced challenges, pushed through tough games and grown stronger as a unit since the season began. Our hard work and dedication have brought us to this point, and we’re really excited to see where it takes us. Every practice and game have prepared us for playoffs, and we will continue to support each other and play with the same passion and determination that got us here in hopes to make it further in states compared to the past two years.”
How they got here: Opening round bye
Owen J Roberts
–10-7-1 overall
–7-4-1 PAC Liberty Division
–Led by seniors Sarah Englehardt (Stevenson University), Evie Wolters (Kutztown) & Mira Smolij (West Chester)
–Lost five of six games to open season but have lost just twice since then.
–Wins over Class 3A #24 Perkiomen Valley (3-2, 2-0) & tied #14 Spring-Ford 2-2
–Split season series with Class 3A #7 Boyertown (0-4, 2-1) & Class 2A #6 Upper Perkiomen (2-5, 2-0)
How they got here: OJR defeated #15 Ridley 3-2 iin an opening round game. Freshman Ella Shady scored the game-winner late in the fourth quarter. The Wildcats took a 2-0 lead in the first quarter, thanks to goals from Evie Wolters and Zoe McDonald.
Next up: The winner will face the winner of the #7Boyertown/#10 Neshaminy game.
#9 PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH at #8 SOUDERTON
Souderton
–14-4 overall
–7-3 SOL second place Colonial Division to CB West
–Led on attack by Julia Blair (Sr/Mid, 6g,10a), Syracuse commit Ava Jones (Sr/Def, 19g,5a), Tatum Andrews (Sr/F, 8g,4a) & Gianna Radliffe (Sr/F, 7g)
–Other key contributors are Charlotte McNeill (Jr/Def), Hannah Cornes (Jr/Def), Hannah Fuente (Jr/Mid) & Lydia Lynch (Jr/Mid)
–Sophomore forwards Lexie Yanchunas (6g, 2a) & Autumn Wagner (2a) also have stepped up for the Indians.
–Wins over Class 3A #11 Quakertown (3-1), #21 Council Rock South (5-0), #22 CB South (3-1, 3-2), #23 CB East (1-0, 3-0), Class 2A #2 Wissahickon (4-2) & #10 Gwynedd Mercy (4-0).
–Shut out opponents in four of the last five games of the season
Coach Sue Casciato: “At this point in the season, there are no easy games. But we’ve been playing some of our best hockey the last few weeks, so hopefully we can match that effort going forward. Our team defense has been our best asset, and we’ll need that to continue if we’re going to be successful.”
Souderton senior captain Ava Jones: “Not all of our team has played together before, so I feel like as the season progressed, we really jelled, and our communication started working, and I think a big thing is – any time the other team has the ball, we double team and even triple team the ball. We all communicate, and we all work together. As soon as the other team has the ball, we swarm the ball, and I think that’s helped us a lot.”
Souderton senior captain Gianna Radcliffe: “I also think a major thing is – we’re a family. Outside of field hockey, we try to do as much as possible, so we’re all connected. I feel like that is helping us 10 times more on the field. We understand each other on different levels, so we trust each other 10 times more than we did at the beginning of the season, which is very helpful.”
Souderton senior captain Tatum Andrews: “At the end of the day, It’s really fun playing with your best friends. We’re all best friends on this team going into this, so we want to make the most of it.”
Souderton senior captain Julia Blair: “I am extremely proud of the strides this team has made throughout the season. We are coming into districts ready to leave everything on the field.”
How they got here: Opening round bye
Plymouth Whitemarsh
–14-4 overall
–8-2 SOL Liberty Division tri-champions with Quakertown & Wissahickon
–Led by a young but veteran nucleus Emily Dobrowolski (Jr/Mid), Gracie Kerns (Soph/F), Ava Matthias (Sr/Def), Kate Dobrowolski (Jr/Def), Hadley Blake (Sr/Def)
–Wins over #10 Neshaminy (4-3), #17 North Penn (4-2), #19 Council Rock North (3-1), #21 Council Rock South (2-1) and Class 2A #2 Wissahickon (4-1, 5-3).
–Five-game winning streak to close out regular season for the Colonials, who won nine of their last 10 games.
How they got here: The Colonials defeated #24 Perk Valley 6-1 in an opening round game. Gracie Kerns led the way with four goals while Bridget Fullerton & Leah Caucci each had one.
Next up: The winner will face the winner of the #17 North Penn/#1 Villa Maria game.
#10 NESHAMINY vs #7 BOYERTOWN (Wednesday, 4 pm, at Pottsgrove HS)
Neshaminy
–15-4 overall
–10-0 SOL Patriot Division champions
–Seventh straight year Neshaminy has won at least a share of the division title.
–Attack led by University of Delaware commit Kasey Rieger, who surpassed the 200-point mark recently.
–Other key contributors are Ava Arbakov (Sr/Mid), Megan Gonzales (Sr/Goalie), Alayna Roscoe (Sr/Def), Claire Saloky (Sr/Mid), Maddy Shtino (Sr/Def) & Taylor Tenaglia (Soph/Def)
–Wins over #17 North Penn (4-1), #19 Council Rock North (4-0, 6-1) #20 Pennsbury (2-0, 5-0) & #21 Council Rock South (3-0, 1-0).
How they got here: In an opening round game against #23 Central Bucks East, Neshaminy took a 3-0 lead into the fourth quarter and ended up with a 4-2 win. Kasey Rieger had a hand in all four goals, scoring twice and assisting on two other goals. Mia Brooks & Paige Comer each also scored a goal.
Boyertown
–14-4-2 overall
–7-2-1 Liberty Division champions, 10-2-1 PAC overall
–Captured second PAC title in three years with 4-2 win over #5 Methacton
–Players to watch include Iowa commit Peyton Shellaway, Bloomsburg commit Alex Bliss, Emily Ulrich, Kendal Gilbert.
–Wins over Class 3A #2 Central Bucks West (1-0), #14 Spring-Ford (1-0, 6-1), #24 Perkiomen Valley (7-1, 3-2), Class 2A #7 Phoenixville (5-0). Won first game with #5 Methacton 3-1 and tied the second 3-3.
–Split season series with Class 3A Owen J Roberts (4-0, 1-2) & Class 2A #6 Upper Perkiomen (0-1, 4-0).
Up next: Winner will face the winner of the #2 Central Bucks West/#18 Owen J Roberts game.
#11 QUAKERTOWN at #6 AVON GROVE (Wednesday, 6 pm)
Quakertown
–16-3 Overall
–8-2 SOL Liberty tri-champions with PW & Wissahickon
–Sunny Draper (Soph/Mid) leads the attack with 29 goals and 11 assists, Katelyn Landis (Sr/Mid) added eight goals and nine assists, and Paige Longacre (Soph/F) has 11 goals and one assist.
–Emma Retter (Sr/Def) & Penny Longacre (Fr/Def) anchor the defense in front of sophomore goalie Darcy Baxter, who is averaging double-digit saves and had a big save of a penalty stroke earlier this season.
–Wins over #9 PW (3-0, 2-0), #19 Council Rock North (2-0), #20 Pennsbury (3-1), #21 Council Rock South (2-0) & #23 Central Bucks East (2-1).
How they got here: In an opening round game, Quakertown defeated #22 Central Bucks South 2-1 in overtime. The Panthers rallied from an early 1-0 deficit to knot the score on a Cassidy Landis goal in the fourth quarter. Katelyn Landis scored the game-winner with 57 seconds remaining in overtime.
Avon Grove
–16-2 overall
–Led by UNC commit junior Megan O’Donnell
–Wins over Class 3A #9 Plymouth Whitemarsh (4-0), #13 Haverford (2-1), Class 2A #5 Kennett (2-1), #6 Upper Perkiomen (2-1), #8 Bishop Shanahan (3-0), #9 Unionville (4-3), #13 WC Rustin (2-1), #15 WC East (2-0),
How they got here: Opening round bye
Up next: Winner will face the winner of #3 Conestoga/#14 Spring-Ford game.
#17 NORTH PENN at #1 VILLA MARIA ACADEMY (Wednesday, 3:30 pm)
North Penn
–11-8 overall
–6-4 SOL Colonial Division
–Led by senior midfielder and Bloomsburg commit Laura Albert (21g,8a), senior midfielder Ashleigh Barwis (6g,5a) and junior forward Kylie Barwis (6g,13a).
–Wins over #18 Owen J Roberts (4-3), #19 Council Rock North (4-3), #22 CB South (2-0, 2-1) & #23 Central Bucks East (3-2, 3-0).
–Split season series with #8 Souderton (3-2, 0-2).
How they got here: In an opening round game, the Knights took a 1-0 lead into halftime and then blew open a close game with four second-half goals on their way to the 5-1 win over #17 West Chester Henderson. Five different players scored goals with one each from Ashleigh Barwis, Laura Albert, Paige Shearer, Devon Crowley & Kylie Barwis.
Villa Maria Academy
–17-1 overall
–10-0 Catholic Academies Champion
–Only loss to national powerhouse The Hill School (5-0)
–Outscored opponents 137-9 in its 17 wins with 10 shutouts.
–Roster includes a whole lot of college commits: seniors Gabby Balzano (Saint Joseph’s University), Viola Diorio (Lehigh University), Sarah Zamrowski (West Chester University), Lauren Kurek (Lafayette College) & Ella Cellini (University of Delaware) as well as juniors Caitlin Connell (University of Virginia) & Catie Connolly (University of Connecticut).
–Wins over Class 2A #1 Mount St. Joseph Academy (3-2, 4-2), #9 Unionville (11-1) 
 Gwynedd Mercy (4-1, 6-1).
–Winners of 16 in a row to open season before falling to The Hill in the second last game of the regular season.
How they got here: Opening round bye.
Up next: Winner will face the winner of the #8 Souderton/#9 Plymouth Whitemarsh game.
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