Check out the results for SOL boys/girls lacrosse teams in action Friday.
BOYS
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 7, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 5
There’s a logjam at the top of the National Conference standings, and the Golden Hawks made sure that they would be a part of the mix, handing the Indians their first conference loss of the season in a tightly contested battle.
After Friday’s action, Rock South, Rock North and Pennsbury boast identical 3-1 records in conference play.
The two teams spent the first half exchanging goals and went into halftime deadlocked 3-3. South took a 5-4 lead into the final quarter and outscored their archrivals 2-1 in the final frame to earn the win.
Senior Brendan Patterson had a big game for the Golden Hawks, finishing with four goals and one assist. KJ Sweeney added a pair of goals, and Jared Gambino contributed a single goal. Brandon Follis, Evan Gutman, Austin Gambino and Peter Mignacca each added one assist.
Council Rock South (6-4, 3-1 SOL) will be on the road at Neshaminy on Tuesday, and Council Rock North (5-3, 3-1) will travel to Archbishop Wood Monday for a non-league contest.
Council Rock South 1-2-2-2 7
Council Rock North 1-2-1-1 5
PENNSBURY 17, HARRY S TRUMAN 1
WISSAHICKON 11, UPPER MORELAND 7
GIRLS
SOUDERTON 9, GWYNEDD MERCY ACADEMY 8 (OT)
There’s something about dramatic endings that seems to appeal to this year’s Souderton squad.
Three days after earning a win over Council Rock North with a last-second goal by Megan Walbrandt, the Indians needed some serious late game heroics to simply extend Friday’s game to overtime where they won it with 1:40 remaining when Julianna Ofalt hit pay dirt on a free position.
“It was a fantastic finish,” coach Lindsay Walbrandt said. “There were some parts in between that weren’t so great, but they finished great.
“We didn’t lead until we won it in overtime.”
Fantastic finish hardly covers the Indians’ barrage of three goals in 46.2 seconds that was capped when Sarah Goodwin connected on the equalizer with two seconds remaining.
“We had possession of the ball, and I said, ‘Sarah, go,’ and we cleared a lane,” Walbrandt said. “She went around the crease and got fouled.
“Sarah’s normally our go to, but she just wasn’t herself today. They put her on the line, and she fired it home.”
Ofalt was an unlikely candidate to win it, but the Indians’ stalwart defender picked her spot to cross the restraining line and go on the attack. Her timing couldn’t have been better.
“Truly, she could play midfield, and in the beginning of the year, she said, ‘I feel like I’m not being used to my potential,’” Walbrandt said. “I told her, ‘What our team needs is a defensive leader. We don’t have a defensive leader, and you’re a great defender.’
“I’ve been telling her, ‘When the time is right, you’ll get over the line.’ She carried it over the line, got fouled and went to the line. I knew that ball was going in. She was not going to waste her opportunity to be up there. I gave her a hug and said, ‘Well, you went over when it counted, and you put it home when it counted.’”
All but lost in the shuffle of the Indians’ late-game heroics was the standout performance of senior goalie Hannah Schmidt, who recorded 14 saves.
“This win would not have been even possible if it wasn’t for her,” Walbrandt said. “In the first five minutes, I think she had five saves. She was incredible.”
Walbrandt used her powers of persuasion this past winter to convince Schmidt, a four-year starting varsity soccer player, to try her hand at lacrosse goalie.
“I begged and pleaded,” the Indians’ coach said. “It’s been a growing process with her only playing for how long, but she is phenomenal.
“She was incredible. Today was the top game she’s ever brought. She played out of this world.
“Defensively, as a unit, we played really well even with subbing girls in and out. We have a lot of strong defenders. We all made some mistakes, but they made up for it when it counted.”
Goodwin and Carlie Doughty finished with two goals each while Leah Goodwin, Krista Schneider, Maddie Knight, Halteman and Ofalt all added one each on a night that saw the Indians save their best for last.
“Our strength is our fast break, and I told them, ‘We’ve scored goals in under 10 seconds, so why not go out there and do it,’” Walbrandt said. “They went out there and did it. It was incredible.
“I’ve never seen anything like it. We had two free positions and we connected on them.”
Souderton (6-4, 5-0 SOL) will travel to Central Bucks South on Tuesday for a battle of the SOL Continental Conference’s lone unbeaten teams.
Gwynedd Mercy 5-3-0 8
Souderton 3-5-1 9
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 16, UPPER MORELAND 9
The Indians opened up a 7-1 lead on their way to the non-league win.
For the Golden Bears, Delaney Smith scored four goals, and according to coach Pam Remmey, played well on both ends of the field.
“Mel Wittick was dominant on defense,” said the Golden Bears’ coach of her junior defender, who was credited with four forced turnovers and also grabbed three draw controls.
Syd Bachmayer scored two goals and added two assists, and Allison Felicetti scored two goals and had an assist. Jess Flanagan also had a goal.
“The two things that hurt us was CR North’s speed, quick accurate passing on attack and draw controls,” Remmey said. “We usually do well with draw controls, but they got most of them.
“The ball was down on defense too much, and we could not keep possession on attack.”
Emma Hood had nine saves during her stint in goal.
Council Rock North (5-2, 4-1 SOL) will host West Chester Rustin on Saturday in a non-league contest, and Upper Moreland (5-4, 2-2) will be on the road at Upper Dublin on Tuesday.
PERKIOMEN VALLEY 24, NORRISTOWN 2
FREEDOM 12, QUAKERTOWN 6
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