By Alex Frazier
National Conference
The bitter memory lingers.
Last year Council Rock South was seeded third in the District One Tournament and was eliminated by No. 14-seed Wissahickon 2-1 in the first round.
Although the Golden Hawks will enter this year’s tournament with nearly the same record, they are expected to be the top seed.
And they are hoping to live up to their billing.
“It’s solid leadership from seniors and an understanding from those freshmen we had last year,” said coach Tim Keddie. “They have a better understanding of what high school soccer is all about.
“Plus losing the game to Wissahickon last year is a dramatically motivating factor to the entire team. They were genuinely embarrassed, and they have something to prove.”
Council Rock South has only lost twice this year, once to Central Bucks West and once in the first league game to Neshaminy. South is currently ranked sixth in the state.
There are nine seniors on this year’s team and five sophomores, who started as freshmen.
The Hawks are strong all up and down the field.
“We have strong goaltending, we have people that have been consistently putting the ball in the back of the net, we’re solid in the back, we have a skillful midfield,” said Keddie. “It’s fun to win. This team in particular has the drive to want to win. You can’t teach that. That’s something they bring to the table.”
For Keddie, winning is the result of the program.
“One of the things we emphasize is program first,” he said. “I’m ultra conservative when it comes to that. Nobody is more important than the program, not even myself. Nobody is more important to the team than anybody else.”
Junior Mary Kate Callahan typifies that thinking.
“To me she is the quintessential team player,” said Keddie. “She never complains, she never argues. Whatever we ask her to do, she does. She holds others accountable, but you don’t hear much about her.”
Pressed to name his key players, Keddie hesitated but relented.
Alexa Crosier (sophomore), Cara Deola (junior) and Julie Jones (senior) rotate through the midfield.
Jamie Vaniver and Lauren Heath take care of the attack up top. Heath has scored 17 goals.
“I’d be a fool not to say that she is not an impact player for our team,” said Keddie.
Freshman Paige McDowell has already made her presence felt on the team. She can play pretty much anywhere on the field and has scored 16 goals this season.
Seniors Jess Levy and Nicole Ulrich handle goaltending duties.
“I’m afraid to highlight any one particular player because I don’t view it that way,” said Keddie. “Everybody has to be working together for the common good. We’re not going to win or lose a game because of the actions of one player.”
The Hawks are looking for a little redemption for last year. For starters they would like to win a fourth district title as a program.
In reality they’re looking farther than that. The last C.R. South team to win a state title was in 2004.
“We’ve taken care of league play,” said Keddie, “but this is an unproven team in post-season play. Just because we’ve been successful within league play does not necessarily translate into success in playoffs. These players have to prove to themselves that they can compete at that level.”
Continental Conference
Central Bucks South is slowly taking on the same kind of reputation as its sister school West.
Nothing short of league, district or state titles is expected.
Six years ago in their maiden season, the Lady Titans went 6-10.
“It’s nice now to be contending for divisions,” said Bocklet. “At least the bar is that high and the girls have things to shoot for.”
Last year the Titans ran the table in the Continental Conference, a feat even they find hard to believe in light of this year’s 10-2-2 mark (13-3-2 overall).
“If last season never happened, we’d be thinking about this season a lot different,” said Bocklet. “We’ve been consistently in control of most of the games we’ve played. We just make mistakes in both 18s. It’s hurt us on the scoreboard.
“We have a lot of new girls that have stepped in and are playing really well, but we’re not scoring as many goals. That’s the only difference. We’ve lost the ability to shoot from range.”
And that has hurt them down the stretch. A pair of ties against North Penn (2-2) and rival C.B. East (0-0) in the final two league games cost them a Continental title.
Pennridge locked up the crown Wednesday afternoon with a 1-0 win over North Penn. The Lady Rams still have to play West on Thursday, but since West lost to Hatboro-Horsham, the Bucks are also out of the running.
Defensively, Meghan Kamisky has been strong in her first year starting in the net, and in front of her all-state Mel Keer anchors the back line.
Junior Lauren Hensil and senior Kaycee Schaefer play alongside Keer.
The trio has accounted for 12 shutouts this year.
“They’ve done a tremendous job,” said Bocklet.
The Titans midfielders are senior Casey Walsh, junior Cara Armstrong and junior Caitlin Deibler.
“I’m real happy with how they’ve been organized, winning 50/50 balls and being able to connect the offense and defense,” said Bocklet.
Up top, juniors Ashley Saylor and Caitlyn Boyle and outside halfback Molly Grove have accounted for most of the goal production. Lauren Buchanan-Dwyer also provides pressure up top.
“I’m pleased with the play of all my players,” said Bocklet. ‘They have a lot of character. They keep things fun. I enjoy coaching them. When they’re sacrificing themselves running through tackles getting into collisions, it’s flattering they do that much for each other.”
Last year the Titans slipped up against Pennridge in the district finals and then after defeating Cumberland Valley in the first round of states, lost to Emmaus on penalty kicks.
“We’ve drawn from those experiences,” said Bocklet. “I’d like to think they’re anxious to get back into the playoffs and to push past where we were last year. The confidence is there.”
American Conference
As fate would have it, the year Springfield has one of its strongest SOL lineups is the last year the Spartans will be in the Suburban One League.
“We started out slow at the beginning of the season,” said coach Jen Tomlinson. “We were playing well but just not finishing. As the season has gone on, we’ve built momentum every game. It’s been fun to watch.”
Although Springfield is not challenging for top honors this year, the Spartans have stood tall against the royalty of the league, namely Wissahickon and Upper Dublin.
In two games against the Trojans, Springfield lost 1-0 and tied 3-3. In one of their games against Upper Dublin, the Spartans clung to a 3-3 deadlock for a good part of the game before finally succumbing 5-3.
“To play against Upper Dublin 3-3 is a pretty significant accomplishment,” said Tomlinson. “My team felt good about it. They don’t like to lose, but they felt like they played well and answered goal for goal and never gave up.”
Springfield finished its SOL schedule at 7-6-1, tied for fourth with Plymouth Whitemarsh.
Being one of the smallest schools in the conference, Springfield has just 15 players on the roster.
“The whole team has clicked really well together,” said Tomlinson. “They’re keeping it simple and playing smart. Tactically we’re strong. Defensively there is great communication. Offensively things have really clicked from the back forward.”
The Spartans’ ace is four-year starter Tierney Carabba, who has notched 21 goals.
“She typically gets marked,” said Tomlinson. “Previously she let it get to her, but not this year.”
She’s not the only one contributing goals. Every player but two has scored this year.
“We’ve had a ton of variety,” said Tomlinson.
Carabba has earned a scholarship to Division One Mount St. Mary’s next year.
Teammate Kiersten McLennan, who plays outside midfield, will play at Millersville.
“She’s a great transition player,” said Tomlinson. “She goes from offense to defense so quickly. It’s a natural progression. She has some good skills and is a hustler.”
Senior Molly Wheatley plays center midfield.
“She’s all over the field,” said Tomlinson. “She can run, so she’s always winning the ball and challenging and sacrificing her body.”
The defense consists of junior Taylor Koroncai at sweeper, senior Alexia Tomlinson and sophomore Sarah Thomas at outside back and sophomore Maureen Leis.
Senior Jill Simmons plays defensive midfield.
“She wins the ball out of the air a lot,” said Tomlinson. “The defensive group has been so strong. If one person makes an error, the other person picks up for them. They’ve worked so well together.”
Freshman outside mid Paige Morrison is among the team leaders in assists.
“She’s very composed, consistent, serves the ball really well,” said Tomlinson. “She can take on players. She’s matured every game.”
The Spartans have a pair of goalies, both of whom have had concussions this year.
Jessie Kim is a senior and Julia Goles is a junior.
“One was released as the other got hurt,” said Tomlinson. “I was very fortunate. Both of them have been very consistent. They’re gotten more confident as the season has gone along.”
Up top, in addition to Carabba, are senior Ali Roy and junior Annie Crudele.
“Roy has become a forward that checks for the ball and distributes,” said Tomlinson. “Crudele can run like the wind. She kind of surprises people. She comes from nowhere.”
Springfield will compete in the Class AA District Tournament. The Spartans lost in the finals last year to Christopher Dock, a team they recently beat. In a prelude to the tournament on Friday, Springfield will take on New Hope-Solebury, a team that could be seeded No. 1.
• Last week, the Plymouth Whitemarsh girls were wearing T-shirts that read: "911, we need A.J our trainer." PW's three goalies were out with injuries, and a good part of the team was hurt. However, the Lady Colonials found a good time to snap a large skid by winning their last three games against Norristown (8-0), Cheltenham (3-0) and Springfield (2-1). The Lady Colonials of the Suburban One American division are 7-6-1 in division play, tied with Springfield for fourth place.
SOL Top 5
1. Council Rock South
2. Central Bucks South
3. Central Bucks West
4. Pennridge
5. Upper Dublin
Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association Poll
(May 9)
1. Hershey (3)
2. Cumberland Valley (3)
3. Hempfield (3)
4. Parkland (11)
5. Conestoga Valley (3)
6. Council Rock South (1)
7. Dallastown (3)
8. Governor Mifflin (3)
9. Central Bucks South (1)
10. Central Bucks West (1)
Honorable Mention: Central York (3), Emmaus (11), Lampeter-Strasburg (3), Penn Manor (3), Manheim Twp. (3), Red Land (3), Upper Dublin (1)
NSCAA Region One Rankings
(April 27)
Rank School W-L-T
1. Hempfield (Landisville, Pa.) 11-0-1
2. Padua Academy (Wilmington, Del.) 7-0-0
3. Mechanicsburg (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) 11-1-0
4. Hershey (Hershey, Pa.) 11-1-0
5. Conestoga Valley (Lancaster, Pa.) 8-1-2
6. Neshaminy (Langhorne, Pa,) 8-2-0
7. Cumberland Valley (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) 9-2-1
8. Parkland (Allentown, Pa.) 11-1-1
9. Manheim Twp. (Lancaster, Pa.) 8-2-1
10. Central Bucks South (Warrington, Pa.) 9-2-0
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