Central Bucks West, according to coach Courtney Lepping, is looking to “get back to our roots” when the Bucks return to action Tuesday in the PIAA Class AAA Tournament.
The Bucks won 20 straight games but dropped their last two games of the District One AAA Tournament to finish in fourth place. They will face Coughlin in an opening round state game.
The District 2 champions have not lost this season and feature All-American and U19 National Team member Brigid Wood, a three-time all-state selection who is committed to play at Boston College. Central Bucks West will make the road trip to Wyoming Seminary for the 5 p.m. contest.
#1-4 CENTRAL BUCKS WEST vs. #2-1 COUGHLIN (at Wyoming Seminary, 5 p.m.)
Central Bucks West
- 20-2 overall
- 14-0 SOL Continental Conference champions
- Program’s first conference crown since 1999
- Scored 83 goals during the regular season for an average of 4.6 per game.
- Led offensively by the trio of Bryn Boylan, Cadera Smith and Taylor Mason – all three have more than 20 goals.
How they got here:
- Central Bucks West fell to fifth-seeded Conestoga 5-1 in the third place game. Cadera Smith (Bryn Boylan assist) scored a late goal for the Bucks.
- In a district semifinal game, Central Bucks West fell to second-seeded Downingtown East 3-0.
- In a district quarterfinal thriller, Central Bucks West rallied from an early 2-0 deficit to earn a 4-3 win over Mount St. Joseph. Taylor Mason scored late in the opening half to make it a 2-1 game at halftime, and when sophomore Lucy Varner found the cage early in the second half, the score was deadlocked. Bryn Boylan was money on a penalty stroke, and Ryan Murray redirected a Boylan shot into the cage for a 4-2 lead. The Bucks held on for the 4-3 win.
- After an opening round bye, Central Bucks West defeated 14th-seeded Central Bucks East 4-1. Defensive mid Emily Halderson scored a pair of goals in a 10-minute span, and Taylor Mason and Cadera Smith each added single goals.
Coughlin
- 14-0 overall
- Last year’s District 2 runner-up
- 11 seniors are nucleus of team
- Eight of team’s 14 wins are shutouts
- Crusaders have not allowed more than one goal in any game this season
- Led by senior Brigid Wood, a three-time All-State selection and last year a second team NFHCA All-American. Wood, who committed to Boston College as a junior, is a member of the U19 National Team.
- Senior goalie M’Kensie Lee was a second team all-state selection and defender Kalie Reed received honorable mention all-state recognition.
How they got here:
- In the District 2 title game, Coughlin defeated Hazelton 2-0, using goals from Hannah Rushkowki and Kyra Wozniak.
- In a District 2 semifinal, Coughlin crushed Delaware Valley 7-0. Kyra Wozniak, Katie Anderson and Brigid Wood each scored two goals while Kalie Reed added a single goal.
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