Neshaminy & CB West advanced to the second round of the state soccer tournament while CB East saw its season end. To view photos of the CB West/Archbishop Ryan game, please visit the Photo Gallery.
(1-3) Neshaminy 4, (11-1) Parkland 2
The third-seeded Redskins were determined to start the game by pressuring the Trojans and tucking away a goal early. The ‘Skins were able to accomplish both of those goals, putting one past the District 11 Champion Trojans in the eighth minute.
Megan Schafer was a standout throughout the game and had a part in three of the ‘Skins four goals. Schafer got her team going by blazing down the right side, beating a few Trojan defenders and then placing a through ball to Fran Donato who finished the job. Coach Rachel Clemens called it a typical Schafer play.
“Megan is a playmaker,” the Redskins’ coach said. “She certainly is a very unselfish player. She could take a lot of shots, but she passes the ball off. She wants to make others around her better.”
Eight minutes later, Schafer had a similar play. She cruised down the left side of the field, passed a defender and placed a ball in front of Erin Farrell, who found the back of the net and increased the Redskins’ lead to 2-0.
Schafer continued to dominate the offense, and when she received a 25-yard pass out of the back from defender Amy Heller, she knew it was time to keep one for herself as she tucked one past the Trojans’ keeper.
After going up 3-0, the Redskins experienced one of their only letdowns with two minutes remaining in the half. Sophomore defender Nicole Nisicoccia was sidelined after colliding with one of her opponents. Her absence was felt immediately as Parkland capitalized on Neshaminy’s momentary defensive scramble and scored. The Redskins quickly recovered and answered back as Fran Donato converted a Jamie Mason assist into the team’s fourth goal with 20 seconds remaining in the first half.
According to Clemens, the Redskins continued to control the game and generate scoring opportunities in the second half, but none would come to fruition.
“We realized we are in control and we can do this,” Clemens said.
Schafer had a few shots that missed by inches, and Parkland was able to connect once more in the 53rd minute for the 4-2 final.
Neshaminy’s center midfielders played a key role in the victory as they had the responsibility of shutting down Camille Roberts, Parkland’s towering senior standout in the midfield.
“We were aware of her, and our players knew she was the player to watch,” Clemens said. “Our center midfielders did a good job of trapping her and making sure she wasn’t dangerous.”
Clemens also credited the efforts of senior defender and captain, Sam O’Donnell.
“She definitely helped control the back especially during the (injury) substitution,” the Redskins’ coach said. “She took control of situation.”
Schafer was clearly lethal during Tuesday’s opening round state playoff game, but that is nothing new for the second-year captain. Schafer leads her team in goals, scoring her 27th on Tuesday. She also leads the team in assists, illustrating her leadership and generosity by recording her 22nd and 23rd against Parkland.
“This year we have a lot of offensive threats, and I just want to do whatever I can do to help the team,” says Schafer.
This is Schafer’s first trip to state playoffs, and she wants to do her best to continue what has already been an amazing season.
“We will basically take it one game at a time,” she said. “We don’t want it to be our last. We are a young team and we can’t imagine it’s our last game. It’s crazy to think how far we’ve come and that one shot or one mistake could end it all.”
The Redskins, undefeated in SOL play, boast a dozen shutouts this season. They will take on Central Bucks West, the fourth place team in District One, in Saturday’s quarterfinal round. The game will be a rematch of last Saturday’s district consolation game – a 2-1 Redskin win.
Clemens is hoping her defense will be back to firing on all cylinders.
“Hopefully by Saturday (Nisicoccia) will be good to go,” she said. “Our back four work so well together and are used to each other.”
(1-4) Central Bucks West 1, (12-1) Archbishop Ryan 0’
The chill in the air didn’t stop the Bucks from ending the Ragdolls unbeaten season in the first round of the state playoffs on Tuesday.
West wasted no time getting on the board when Kelsey Horst made her way down the right lane and played the ball to the far post in front of Zoe Traficante who buried what ended up being the game-winning goal.
“I actually didn’t think the ball would go through because there were four girls from their team plus the goalie (in front of the goal),” Traficante said. “Kelsey had a giant run all the way down field. I just wanted to be there to score it for her.”
Traficante, a junior, was prepared to step up and connected on only her second goal of the season.
“We knew there would be very little opportunities and we had to put them in,” she said.
Ryan did have its fair share of chances to tie the game and upped the pressure in the last ten minutes to try and draw overtime, but West keeper Grace Bendon made some key saves, and the Ragdolls watched one of their best chances go flying off the crossbar.
According to coach Chris Freudig, the Bucks controlled a good bit of the play, but his offense left a few scoring chances behind.
Freudig credited senior defender and co-captain Kalin Ojert for her role in the victory. “She played an outstanding game,” the Bucks’ coach said. “She was brilliant. She really helped limit what they wanted to do.”
The Bucks’ game plan against the Ragdolls, according to Freudig, was simple.
“Just go out and play,” he said. “We are not worried about what the other team is doing, we are worried about what we are doing.”
That philosophy has taken the Bucks through the quarterfinals of states in three of the last four years. The Bucks are not only familiar with this level of soccer, but they are also familiar with their opponent in Saturday’s quarterfinal game when they will take on a Neshaminy team that defeated the Bucks in the playback game for third place.
“We’ll be ready for their playing style,” Traficante said. “They have fast girls on the outside who are great distributors. We will have to practice and prepare for them.”
The fourth-seeded Bucks will face the third-seeded Redskins on Saturday at a neutral site.
(3-1) Governor Mifflin 2, (1-5) Central Bucks East 1
The Patriots went down fighting until the last second in the first round of the state tournament, but ultimately, they fell to the first-time District 3 champion Mustangs. The Mustangs got on the board first with 8:30 remaining in the first half off a set piece. The Patriots had their share of chances in the first half as well, but Coach Paul Eisold credited the Mustangs’ keeper with some quality saves, which kept his team scoreless in the first half.
As the second half began, the Patriots dominated possession and within ten minutes knotted the game 1-1 after Shaun Kane served her corner kick to Josie Dutton, who controlled a bouncing ball and scored the equalizer. The game remained tied for a tense 28 minutes while East continued to control possession but was unable to find the net. With only two minutes remaining, a Governor Mifflin midfielder broke through the Patriots’ defense and scored the winning goal. At no point did East let down, however.
“They fought through a lot,” Eisold said. “We fought to the end. We had two decent opportunities to take it into overtime.”
Junior standout Nicole Pannella was once again a force on the field, generating chances for her team.
“She had real good movement in the field of play,” Eishold said. “She played very well.”
Senior co-captain and center back Jess Haug also was outstanding for the Patriots, winning the ball and serving balls out of the back.
According to Eisold, Haug is “a soldier in her tackles.”
East’s coach also praised the play of Kane on attack and Annie Axenroth in the midfield. The Patriots’ (17-6-1) season ends after their loss to Governor Mifflin.
“It wasn’t for lack of opportunities,” Eishold said. “It wasn’t for lack of possession. It wasn’t for lack of heart.
“Everybody knows if you’re lucky enough to go to playoffs - unless you win the (state) championship - your last game will be a loss. They had a valiant effort and we did everything we could.”
Eisold attributed his team’s success to tremendous leadership from the upperclassmen, who thrived in competition and fought for each other throughout the season.
“The best we can do is to reflect on the season and be happy, then turn that into (our) next endeavor,” Eishold said.
Other scores:
Cumberland Valley 1, Strath Haven 0
Lower Dauphin 5, Abington Heights 2
Seneca Valley 2, State College 0
Peters Township 3, Bethel Park 2
Wilson 2, Downingtown West 1
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