Central Bucks West field hockey – winners of just four games three years ago - has experienced a remarkable turnaround and will be aiming for its 19th win of the season when the Bucks compete in the opening round of the PIAA 3A State Tournament Tuesday. (Article sponsored by Central Bucks West Field Hockey)
By Mary Jane Souder
Surreal.
It’s a word Kendall Siegle uses often when talking about her senior field hockey season at Central Bucks West. It’s easy to understand why.
Siegle was around for West’s lean years, and lean might be too mild a word to describe her freshman and sophomore seasons that saw the Bucks finish second last and last, respectively, in their
division.
“We had four wins freshman year,” Siegle said of a 4-14 season. “I was hoping at some point to reach the playoffs. I didn’t think it would take all three years, but we finally made it. It’s surreal to know where we were.
“All the emotions we have been through in the past – we’ve been through a lot. It’s been a tough couple of years, and we’re finally at the point where we’re winning. It’s really nice to be here, it’s a change.”
West’s rise from the ashes isn’t quite a worst to first story, but it’s pretty close.
On Tuesday, West will compete in the opening round of the PIAA 3A State Tournament, the sixth seed out of District 1.
It’s validation that the Bucks have indeed arrived on the scene, and perhaps no one appreciates it more than Siegle.
“My sophomore year was a big struggle for me,” she said of the COVID shortened season that saw the Bucks finish last in their division. “I definitely didn’t produce as well as I would have like, so that knocked me down a bit.
“We were 2-8 that year, and that was even worse than my freshman year, so we had a lot of struggles with that. I don’t think our team connection was very good because we were separated with COVID. Just the whole year wasn’t the best. I was pretty close to quitting, but I’m so glad I didn’t. It’s a crazy turnaround to know that I almost quit sophomore year, and now I love it.”
Siegle’s love of the sport is underscored by the fact that she will be continuing her career at Lock Haven University. She hasn’t been alone in her journey with this year’s junior class coming on board a year later for the COVID-shortened season.
“Being a freshman, I was like - everyone is so good, everyone is so much bigger,” junior Nina Mayro said. “Preseason we were only playing with our own team, so it was like, ‘Wow, all these seniors are insane, we’re going to be so good,’ and then we got to the games.”
The Bucks lost five of their first six games and finished with only two wins.
“I kind of went into it really blind,” junior Lily Cosner said. “I didn’t know their past history, so my summer coming in freshman year we had trainings with Coach D (David DeAngelis in his first year at the helm). I think we got a feel after the first couple of games, and we’re like – ‘oh no, is this how it’s going to be?’”
The Bucks were looking to turn the corner last year only to see their season open on a less than promising note.
“My low point was our home opener when we lost to North Penn,” Mayro said of the Bucks’ 10-2 loss to the Knights last year. “That was wrong in so many ways. It felt like our team was falling apart before we even started.”
“We were like – we were going to be so good, and we lost 10-2,” Cosner said.
Despite the shaky start, there were definite signs that the program was heading in the right direction.
“I think the turning point for us was last year’s Pink Out game versus CB East,” Cosner said. “We lost to East (4-0), and in the Pink Out game, which was the second time we played them, we went to overtime. I know we los (2-1), but I think it was a realization we could do it.”
“I think it was almost a David and Goliath situation,” Mayro added. “They had seven committed seniors, and we had two seniors starting, and other than that, it was just underclassmen.
“In the overtime, we had scoring opportunities. I think it showed we could do hard things, and we were better than we thought we were.”
This year, the Bucks added several talented freshmen to an already skilled team, and they were off and running. Their first loss came at the hands of defending SOL Colonial champion Souderton, 4-3.
“It was a pretty big game because – last year I remember Souderton was our last game, and we were like, ‘We have to win this to make postseason,’ and we lost 6-1,” Mayro said. “I just remember coming off that field and being like, ‘This is the last time we’re going to lose like this, this is the last time people are going to step all over us.’
“I think going into games this year we knew we had a lot to put out on the field, and we had a lot of skills, so we just had to do it.”
The Bucks avenged that early season loss to the Indians in the rematch, handing them their first loss of the season (3-0) and setting up a potential tie for the title. A 1-1 tie with Neshaminy in their regular season finale kept the Bucks from the league’s top spot, but they had clearly joined the ranks of the SOL’s elite teams.
West also won its rubber match with Souderton 1-0 in a District 1 3A playback game for a berth in states, although Souderton later rallied to finish seventh and earned the final state spot.
“Last year, the majority of our starting lineup was underclassmen, and we kind of knew going forward that this was going to be our year because compared to many other teams that were losing so many valuable players, the majority of our players (were back),” Cosner said.
With winning came a new attitude.
“The whole team connection is much better this year,” Siegle said. “It definitely helps that we’re winning.
“We’ve had teams in the past that were down, and we’d get frustrated with each other and start yelling. When you have a team that gets along and can produce as well, it’s really nice.”
It’s also been a whole lot of fun, and according to the players, there’s nothing they enjoy more than making TikToks.
“We’re always singing and dancing, especially on the bus,” Cosner said. “We’re a very musical team, even if we’re not good at it.”
“You know it’s going to be a good game when we’re dancing during our warmups,” Siegle said.
The players – although front and center in the Bucks’ success – acknowledge that the turnaround doesn’t happen without their coaches.
“They are the ones that have been teaching us the plays and making sure we are prepared for every game we step into,” Siegle said. “They also have given us the confidence and truly believe that we can win any game, and that means a lot to us.”
Leading the Bucks are head coach David DeAngelis, assistant coaches Lori Ierubino and Bryn Boylan and JV coaches Anna Hall and Chris Hall.
“Having been with this group of student-athletes for three years and just to see their growth – again, it’s academics first, athletics second,” DeAngelis said. “When you see it all coming together – especially with their work ethic, it’s really a privilege to be part of it.”
The Bucks, 14-1-1 in the SOL Colonial, enter the state tournament with an 18-3-1 record overall – a 14-game improvement in three years.
“It’s been a crazy four years,” Siegle said. “Seeing the team transformed – I’ve been with a bunch of different players, a bunch of different leaders. This year we had a bunch of upperclassmen step up, and the underclassmen are putting everything out there. It’s been a team effort.”
On Tuesday, Central Bucks West will face District 3 champion Lower Dauphin at Lower Dauphin Middle School at 5 p.m.
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