A photo gallery of all the game action and post-game celebration will be posted in the Photo Gallery at the following link: http://photos.suburbanonesports.com/
By Alex Frazier
“We are CR, We are CR South,” chanted the Golden Hawks as they mobbed goalkeeper Sam Lawson, after the final buzzer sounded.Council Rock South had just defeated Pennridge 1-0 at Souderton Area High School to claim the District One Class AAA championship, a title that had eluded the Hawks last year when they lost to Central Bucks South in the final on penalty kicks.
“We would have liked it to be a little easier,” said Rock coach John Oberholtzer. “Pennridge deserves a lot of credit. They were a very tough competitor. Now I can se how they battled to be co-champs in that division.”
In the consolation game for third place, Central Bucks West defeated West Chester East 1-0.
During the season, C.R. South’s Lola Buonomo and Lawson split time in the goal in each game. But for the semifinal against C.B. West, Oberholtzer decided to go with Buonomo, which proved brilliant because the senior keeper stopped two penalty kicks.
In the final, however, he went back to platooning his two keepers.
“You only get a chance to play in the championship once in a blue moon,” said Oberholtzer. “I thought both of them earned it. Win, lose or draw, they deserved it.”
Buonomo started the game with the momentum she finished her last one.
“It was such a rush coming off that game and to go into the district finals,” said Buonomo. “I was so excited.”
Lawson replaced her in the second half.
And that also proved brilliant.
With just under 13 minutes remaining, Pennridge’s Carly Henry unleashed a rocket that Lawson just managed to tip over the goal.
“That was a game saver,” said Oberholtzer. “Lola comes up big to get here and Sam comes through like a champ.”
“She was incredible,” said Buonomo.
Rock scored its goal at the 26:04 mark of the first half. Of all players, it was defender Paula Jurewicz that knocked in the game winner.
“That was a huge breakdown in marking,” said Pennridge coach Jorge Rodriguez. “We’re looking at her wide open and we’re screaming for somebody to pick her up, and we just left her open for too long. That’s what it came down to.”
Jurewicz often goes forward on set pieces, which she had done. However, she didn’t have a chance to get back before the ball came to her all alone on the left side of the goal.
“They usually send me up on set pieces,” she explained, “so I can head it back into the flow. I headed it the first time and it went back out and Kelsey (Pressler) hit a great cross, and I was able to turn and shoot. I was full throttle.”
It was Jurewicz’s third goal of the season.
“A goal that exciting for me has never happened,” said Jurewicz. “It was like my dream.”
Ironically, Jurewicz nearly didn’t play at all after injuring her ankle against C.B. West. She wore an ankle boot right up until game time, and then strapped it on following the game.
“We were practicing that the other day, hitting the ball from 25 yards out,” said Oberholtzer. “We want to walk the ball into the net half the time. That ball was hit real well.”
Jurewicz also saved a potential goal in the first half when she ran the Rams’ Natalia Pinkney off a potential breakaway.
“They had a lot more offense than I thought they were going to have,” said Oberholtzer. “They had great outside speed. They used it well. It was their main thrust.”
Oberholtzer was referring to Pinkney, a speedy sophomore, who is the target for passes from the back.
Lawson, in fact, also saved a 50/50 ball from Pinkney five minutes into the second half.
“At halftime I told the girls I was fairly confident that we were going to get a handful of good opportunities to come back,” said Rodriguez. “We did. We just didn’t capitalize.”
The Hawks had two good opportunities to extend their lead in the second half.
Michaela Mikula just missed wide of the left post in the 28th minute, and in the 16th minute Mikula gave Paige McDowell a great cross in front of the goal, but McDowell chipped it over.
“We created enough (chances) to win the game,” said Oberholtzer. “The kids played hard.”
Oberholtzer praised both goaltenders; Alexa Crosier, Cara Deola and Chrissy Vollrath in the midfield; as well as Jurewicz.
Pennridge keeper Ashley Schoellkopf came up big twice midway in the first half, coming off her line to beat McDowell and Mikula to 50/50 balls. And again in the second half she flopped on a ball bouncing around near the goal line.
The state playoffs begin Tuesday. South will face Conestoga in the first round, while Pennridge will play Unionville at places and times yet to be determined.
•••
West has rarely played with the lead this year, so when freshman Sammy Ernst scored at the 31:50 mark of the second half, the Lady Bucks were fairly confident they could hold on for the win.
Ernst combined with another freshman to notch the game winner. Defender Zoe Traficante made a run up the left sideline and served the ball to Ernst, who took it off her body for the score.
“I was just there to knock it in,” said Ernst.” She did all the tough job.”
For the freshman, her first varsity goal couldn’t have come at a better time.
“It was very exciting,” said Ernst. “I can’t describe the feeling. The whole team played really well.”
“The two freshmen did a great job,” said West coach Chris Freudig. “She got a good cross off, and Ernst was in the right position. She didn’t play much during the year, but she’s basically starting now.”
Traficante and Ernst were among five freshmen that started for West.
“We were really young today,” said Freudig. “Whatever grade they’re in, they need to make plays out there whether they’re freshmen or seniors.”
After scoring, West had to survive the last 31 minutes.
“I was confident our defense would be able to hold everything together ‘cause we were playing really well,” said Ernst.
Central Bucks West, which is now 13-1-7, will face District 2 champion Abington Heights on Tuesday, Nov. 9 at a place and time to be determined.
“They’ll be good competition, but I’m just happy to get the win,” said Ernst.
No. 1 Council Rock South 1, No. 7 Pennridge 0
Shots: CR South 4, Pennridge 6
Saves: Lola Buonomo (CRS) 1, Sam Lawson (CRS) 3, Ashley Schoellkopf (P) 3
Corners: CR South 1, Pennridge 2
Fouls: CR South 6, Pennridge 6
Yellow cards: CR South 3, Pennridge 1
No. 4 Central Bucks West 1, No. 11 West Chester East 0
Shots: CBW 5, WCE 6
Saves: Bree Benedict (CBW) 4, Lauren Duguid (WCE) 4
Corners: CBW 1, WCE 2
- Log in to post comments
0
