Check out the results for SOL lacrosse teams in action on Monday.
Girls
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 11, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 2
It’s a whole new world for SOL lacrosse teams this season.
With the conference realignments, teams are facing unfamiliar opponents in league contests, and so far Rock North has got to be feeling good about its new surroundings. The Indians became the first 2-0 team in the SOL National Conference after Monday’s big win over the Patriots on a raw and rainy evening at War Memorial Field, and it didn’t take long to figure out the key to this one.
The Indians won every draw in the opening half en route to a 6-0 halftime lead. They never looked back.
“Today we went a lot harder than we usually do,” Rock North senior captain Laura Kwasnowski said. “It was rainy and it was really nasty, and it’s all about the aggression and just really wanting it and pushing yourself hard.
“We also did a lot better on defense. We’ve been really working on that. We were actually missing a couple of our key defenders today, but I think putting a couple of new people back there – people who might not play as much – they really stepped up.”
Kwasnowski, who took the majority of the Indians’ draws, played a major control in the Indians’ dominance in the circle. When she wasn’t coming up with the ball herself, one of her teammates was.
“The key is to be aggressive and get in there faster than the other team,” said freshman Anna Lehman, who led the Indians with three goals and an assist. “Draw controls usually win games.”
Interestingly, the Indians were on the opposite end of the spectrum in last week’s non-league loss to Wissahickon.
“In the beginning of the second half, Wissahickon won like eight straight draws, and it did us in,” Rock North coach Krista Dayton-Ventresca said. “It’s about possession.
“Our defense did a great job (today). They did a good job of rattling East. I don’t think East played their best game, and it gave us the opportunity to get a leg up, and it’s a momentum swing. I wouldn’t want to play them tomorrow, I wouldn’t want to play them next week.”
The Patriots brought a 5-1 record into Monday’s game but never found their stride against an inspired Indian squad.
“We were not on our game tonight,” East coach Kelly White said. “There were several key players that were not mentally present, and we are not the type of team that can have one player not ready and connected to the game. In order for us to be successful, every player must be connected to this game, and that, clear as day, did not happen offensively or within the midfield, and that’s where the game for us was completely lost.
“I feel very frustrated for my defense. I really think they did overall a great job, but we did not capitalize on their effort.”
The Patriots spent the majority of the opening half playing defense. Rock North’s Devon Mela, who connected for the hat trick, scored off the opening draw, and the Indians led 1-0 just 14 seconds into the game. Back-to-back goals by Lehman on free positions spotted the Indians a 3-0 lead at the 18:53 mark, prompting White to call a quick timeout.
Neither team scored for the next 12 minutes, but the Indians had the better of play and went on top 5-0 when Aubrey Deon found teammate Marina Schreiner for a goal. Kwasnowski controlled the ensuing draw, and the Indians led 6-0 when Claire Jarema converted another free position into a goal.
“I thought my defense did a fantastic job, but you cannot win a game when it’s down there 99 percent of the time,” White said. “I thought we were aggressive, I thought our doubles were good, but we were not taking advantage of those type of possessions offensively.”
A goal by Katy Lehman put the Indians on top 7-0 early in the second half before the Patriots got on the scoreboard when freshman Michaela Daley found senior Julia Norek for a goal at the 20:58 mark. The Indians answered with back-to-back-to-back goals, the first by Mela (Schreiner assist), the second by Taylor Campbell after coming up with the ball on a caused turnover and the third by Mela unassisted to put the Indians on top 10-1.
Maggie Stella broke that run with a goal for the Patriots, but the Indians had an answer with Lehman connecting for her third goal, this one with a Katy Lehman assist for the 11-2 final.
“Everybody did a really nice job with the basics,” Dayton-Ventresca said. “That’s what’s important. When everybody puts together the basics and they know that one good pass sets up another and it becomes a team effort, that to me is more important than anything.”
East goalie Alana Rivas was credited with six saves while the Rock North duo of Abby Kopytko and Margaret D’Auria combined for four saves.
The Indians upped their league mark to 2-0 (3-4 overall) while the Patriots are 1-1 in league play (5-2 overall).
Council Rock North 6 5-11
Central Bucks East 0 2-2
Boys
ALLENTOWN CENTRAL CATHOLIC 12, NORTH PENN 5
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