Central Bucks South advanced to Saturday’s PIAA Class AAA quarterfinal round. To view photos of the CB South/Stroudsburg game, please visit the Photo Gallery.
#1-2 CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 2, #11-2 STROUDSBURG 1 (OT)
The Titans aren’t big on displaying emotions.
You won’t see the players exchanging chest bumps or high fives or doing a whole lot of celebrating after a goal or even after a win, but when Corrine Kenney – after a nifty display of stick work – dodged the Stroudsburg flier who had been in her face all night to score the game winner, the Titans converged in the circle for a jubilant celebration.
This was reason to celebrate.
“We’re very excited,” Kenney said. “I’ve been to states since sophomore year, and we never made it past the first round. It’s something different, and it’s very, very exciting.”
It is the first time since 2009 that the Titans have advanced beyond the first round, and for a while, it looked as though another first-round exit was once again a very real possibility. This despite the fact that the Titans had the better of play after Stroudsburg’s Jennifer Bukoswki (Sydney Cramer assist) scored during corner play at the 20:29 mark of the opening half.
The Titans responded to the goal with a vengeance, drawing 10 corners in the final 20 minutes of the half, but they still found themselves staring at a 1-0 deficit at the intermission. The corner count continued to mount in the second half, and still, the Titans could not find the cage and rarely so much as managed a shot.
“They were doing a really good job of shutting down almost every single option on those corners,” coach Brittany Grzywacz said. “The defense they were playing – they had their goalkeeper there to, and she’s a very strong keeper, so anything that was getting past their defense on corners, the keeper was there to clean it up.”
Corners have been money for the Titans this season, but they weren’t on Tuesday. Until, that is, the 20th corner when Kenney turned Emily Cliggett’s insert pass into a goal, one-timing it into the cage to knot the score with 8:06 remaining in regulation.
“It was so hard, but we did keep pushing through on the corners,” junior Steph Litzenberger said. “We’ve been practicing them, and we knew if we kept trying, we would get it at least once, and we did.
“Corrine and Em are just amazing with them. They always know how to adjust and keep it together.”
The Titans drew five more corners in regulation, including a pair in the final minute, but they could not convert, and the stage was set for overtime. It was just the second overtime for the Titans this season.
Stroudsburg took an early shot that was easily turned away by goalie Sarah Zeszotarski, and the Titans saw one of their attempts deflected out of harm’s way by goalie Taylor Ross. It was Cliggett who carried the ball out of South’s defensive end and into her team’s offensive circle, and she admits that drawing a corner was on her mind.
“Because of how much we depend on our corners and because of how much we go over them during practice, we’re almost in the mentality that since we have – in previous league games going in – made such a high percentage of them, why not depend on it,” Cliggett said. “Why wouldn’t you depend on something that’s working so well for your team.”
And it was on the Titans’ 26th corner at the 11:11 mark over the first overtime that Kenney worked her magic, dodging the flier and finding the cage with the game winner.
“Their flier was getting out super fast,” said Cliggett, who makes the insert pass. “Me and Corrine discussed before we went into overtime – we’ve been told to pull on people, to just read what people are doing.
“I think Corrine did a really nice job pulling. My inserts were a little rough in the beginning, but as soon as I got going, it’s easier to make it happen.”
Kenney, meanwhile, was matter-of-fact when asked whether frustration was setting in after 19 corners without a goal.
“The more corners we have, the more possession we have,” the senior midfielder said. “Possession, in the grand scheme of things, is better than having 26 defensive corners.
“I know if we compose ourselves we can get one in. It took a little bit more time than we wished, but it worked out.”
Grzywacz credited her players for their grit and determination against a strong Stroudsburg squad.
“I was pleased with the way that the girls didn’t get frustrated and get down on themselves because when you do have all those opportunities, and each one is coming up short – it’s so easy to let it get into your head,” Grzywacz said. “The way that they just stuck with it – I think everybody knew that one of these was eventually going to hit the back of the cage.
“I’m just really proud of the way they worked through that, and everybody overall came together and played for the entire 60 minutes like I’ve been asking them to do.”
An almost overlooked component in Tuesday’s win was the Titans’ composure even when things weren’t going their way. The players, according to Litzenberger, take their cue from their leaders.
“We do get frustrated, but then we tell each other ‘Come on guys, we’ve got to keep it together,’” the junior forward said. “All the seniors – they know how to keep us together. They tell us we have to keep our composure during the game. We can’t let it get the best of us.
“We try to encourage each other. If someone messes up, the only thing we try to do is encourage each other.”
The Titans (20-3, 14-0) will face District One third place team Downingtown East in Saturday’s second round. The Cougars defeated Cardinal O’Hara 3-1 on Tuesday.
“It’s amazing,” Litzenberger said. “I was on jayvee as a freshman, and I’ve seen us get to states every year. Just making it past the first round of states – it’s a dream come true, honestly.”
Stroudsburg 1-0-0 1
Central Bucks South 0-1-1 2
#2-1 WYOMING VALLEY WEST 2, #1-4 COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 1
The Indians battled the District 2 champions for 60 minutes, rallying to knot the score after the Spartans took a 1-0 lead on a goal by Haley Gayoski with 9:34 remaining in the first half. Anna Lehman scored the equalizer – using a Gigi Tutoni assist – with 14:15 remaining in regulation. The Spartans had an answer, and it was Mercedes Jasterzenski scoring at the 8:45 mark with a goal that turned out to be the game winner.
The Indians (19-5, 12-2 SOL) had their share of opportunities. They held an 18-6 advantage in shots, an advantage that was negated by the 15-save effort of Alicia Moore.
Council Rock North 0-1 1
Wyoming Valley West 1-1 2
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