Check out the results for SOL boys/girls lacrosse teams in action Thursday.
Boys
Central Bucks South 9, Central Bucks West 3
(Submitted Article)
Defense and Goaltending Help CB South Win Share of First-Ever Continental Division Title
Doylestown, PA: Central Bucks South won a share of the Suburban One Continental Division boys lacrosse title by defeating Central Bucks West 9-3 at War Memorial Field on Thursday night. The Titans beat the Bucks by playing stifling defense, shutting out CB West for three quarters thanks to a standout effort by Kevin Witchey, Tim Ross, Steve Nowelski, Jake Lautt, Dan Shields, Joe Vitelli and goaltender Robbie Richick.
The game featured the intensity of a typical crosstown showdown, with Titan four-year starters Witchey (team leading five ground-balls), Ross and midfielder Jake Henze rising to the occasion and leading the team to the win. They were aided by Richick’s outstanding game (11 saves vs three goals) in the net. Vitelli, Henze and Jaimie Renneisen stood out in the clearing game, while FOGO Ryan Jacobsen had a solid game at the X.
On offense, Evan Falkowski scored three goals and added an assist to lead the Titans. Chris Tanner and Brendan McGrath each added a goal and two assists, while Austin Naessens, Dillon Kelly, Michael Dutkiewicz and Witchey each added a goal.
For CB West, Brandon Gervais, Clark Hawes and Shane Early each had a goal, while Morgan Kratzke added an assist. Goalie Asher Mithoefer, filling in for the injured Steven Hogan, was solid in the net with 13 saves.
With a divisional record of 11-1, CB South shares its first-ever Continental Division title with Central Bucks East. At 13-4 overall, the Titans also finish with their best-ever regular season record, while CB West dropped to 8-9 (6-6 SOL Continental).
With the win and a share of the league title, the Titans assured themselves of a berth in the PIAA District One playoffs for the third year in a row. Seedings and game locations will be announced Sunday. Opening round games will be played on Tuesday.
Central Bucks South 2-2-2-3—9
CB West 0-3-0-0—3
Neshaminy 11, Souderton 6
The Redskins sprinted to a 4-0 lead and never looked back on their way to a non-league win over the visiting Indians.
Senior Matt Magdelinskas led the Redskins with six goals, closing out his stellar high school career with 190 goals. Cole Kitchenman added two goals and was solid at the faceoff X. Masono Zebberlien, Kevin Goetz and Andrew Schwizer each added one goal. Dan Dogba was solid in net with 14 saves.
Garnet Valley 14, Abington 13
The Ghosts played with the Jaguars for four quarters, trailing 5-4 at the end of one quarter and still trailing by only one at the intermission (9-8). Garnet Valley led 13-11 heading into the final quarter and held on for the one-goal win.
Hunter Jones scored five goals and added three assists and Joe Lomady had five goals and one assist to lead the Ghosts. Cameron Leech and Jack Kurtz both had one goal and one assist. Jim Lomady chipped in one assist.
Connor Reed had nine saves in goal for the Ghosts.
Abington 5-3-3-2—13
Garnet Valley 4-5-4-1—14
Harry S Truman 8, Cheltenham 1
The Tigers opened up a 2-0 lead at the end of one quarter and still led by that score at halftime before seizing control of the game in the second half, outscoring the Panthers 6-1.
"At halftime, the team gathered and talked together to discuss how they can come out the next half as a team and not individuals," coach John Lapatchka said. "They played really hard and did an excellent job tonight. For both squads, we had respect for the game and it was great to see that."
Senior Kyle Morris led the attack with a hat trick. Ricky Tran had two goals while Lucas Gray, Josh Eckery and Mike Cox each had one.
"Having my three seniors – Kyle Morris, Mikey Cox and Josh Eckert – scored showed me they wanted it more then anything, and that was really great," Lapatchka said. "I'm very proud of how our team showed respect for the Panthers and played hard against them. It was a nice way to end the season. I feel that once we play as one unit we will make big strides in our game. For the most part, it isn't about winning and losing, and as the coach of a program that was on the downswing for some time, I take pride in my team for stepping up in every game.
"My job as the coach is to teach them life lessons, teachable moments and overall a better work ethic for them to look back at this moment and say, 'I remember what Coach Lapatchka said.'
"I do want to take this opportunity to thank my coaches, my parents, Coach Mike Elko, Coach Sean Neely, Coach Dean Curtis and Coach Galen Snyder for giving me the confidence and pride they have all taught me not only as an athlete but an individual to walk out into the world with confidence and respect."
Thomas Hipwell scored a goal while Antonio Ringgold added an assist for the Panthers, who were led defensively by Jade Siojo with five ground balls.
Truman goalie Ross Koenig III had six saves. Panthers’ goalie David Friedman had another superb outing, turning away 21 shots.
Cheltenham 0-0-1-0—1
Harry S Truman 1-1-5-1—8
Haverford 10, Plymouth Whitemarsh 5
Archbishop Ryan 16, Pennsbury 6
Archbishop Wood 11, Council Rock South 10
Girls
Wissahickon 9, Abington 8
Julie Silverman has been checking out the championship banners in Wissahickon’s gymnasium. One sport was glaringly absent from the school’s extensive collection.
“I don’t remember a banner (for lacrosse) and I don’t remember a year, and trust me – I’ve looked,” the Trojans’ senior captain said after Thursday’s scintillating win over the Ghosts in a battle of American Conference unbeaten squads.
The Trojans’ journey to the title took a detour when Wednesday’s game was postponed to Thursday, and while first-year coach Patty Kovacs said she was focused on the game and not a title, Silverman had zeroed in on the Trojans’ goal of capturing what is believed to be the program’s first crown in lacrosse.
“I’m a very competitive person,” the senior goalie said. “I knew from the get-go this was a championship game.
“We both were undefeated, we both worked very hard to get here. I’ve been here for four years. It was always Wissahickon and Upper Dublin before Abington and Hatboro came in. With the Upper Dublin rivalry, we would always get beat by Upper Dublin. Last year we finally beat Upper Dublin, but we lost to (Hatboro) Horsham by a goal. The whole year I was like, ‘We could have won the league.’
“This year coming into it, I knew we had a strong team, but to be honest, when we first came into the season, I never really expected anything. These girls are amazing. Everyone has worked so hard. There are so many really young girls that have stepped up. People who have never played lacrosse have stepped up. They honestly amaze me all the time.”
Teammate Lauren Irvine acknowledged that winning a title exceeded her expectations as well.
“Honestly, at the beginning of the season, we would have never thought that this would be a goal for us,” the senior captain said. “It hasn’t hit me yet that we actually did it, but it feels so good.
“I’m sure when I go home, it will sink in, and I’ll be beyond excited.”
While the Trojans celebrated their program’s first title, the emotions were bittersweet on the Abington sidelines. The Ghosts – minus seven players, including three key starters (school issue) – were disappointed to come short of their goal to capture the conference crown, but there was an unmistakable sense of pride after a gutsy performance that extended the Trojans to the limit.
“In my mind, we did win,” coach Mary Kate Lomady said. “I haven’t seen this amount of heart from them all season.
“Our defense really stepped up and played with heart in a way that I’ve never seen them play. They wanted to win this game for their seven teammates who couldn’t be here today. They did their best, and I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
The game started out slowly for both sides, but it was the Trojans turning a 3-2 lead into a 7-3 halftime advantage, sparked by goals from Marie Dickson (Shannon Stagliano assist), Irvine, Lana Doskicz and Mary Matthews (Emily Vervlied assist).
“We came out, and they weren’t playing their game,” Kovacs said. “They worked it out as a team and were able to pull it together – work the double teams on defense and get the shots off on goal.”
Momentum swung in the Ghosts’ favor in the second half, a tone that was set when goalie Claudia Grossi delivered back-to-back stops in the opening minutes of the half. Mikki Raymond, who had four assists, found Emma Garg for a goal, and then it was freshman Izzy Mugnier scoring to make it a 7-5 game. A come-around goal by Casey McCallister, who led the Ghosts with a hat trick, trimmed the Trojans’ lead to one, and the two teams were deadlocked when Raymond found Jules Grecco for a goal midway through the half.
“We started winning the draw,” Lomady said. “I think our offense settled in and started to act like themselves.
“I’m so proud of them for stepping up the way they did.
The Trojans’ answered the Ghosts’ run with back-to-back goals by Vervlied to go on top 9-7 with 10:12 remaining.
Kovacs was understandably pleased with her team’s response.
“That happened in our game on Monday (against Hatboro-Horsham), so I just had to pull them out to see what was going on and find out where the letdown was,” the first-year coach said. “We figured it out, and the girls went out and fought stronger and caught up with a fast Abington team. They’re very good.”
Armed with a two-goal lead, the Trojans slowed things down, content to pass the ball. It was a strategy that proved effective as the Ghosts did not score again until 1:56 remained when Rachel Morris turned a Raymond pass into a goal.
The Trojans won the ensuing draw and once again ran time off the clock. The Ghosts came up with the ball in the game’s closing seconds and had it just outside the Trojans’ crease when the final horn sounded but never managed a shot.
The key, according to Irvine, was the Trojans’ ability to hold the ball on attack.
“We had a few turnovers which allowed them to score a couple of goals,” she said. “Once we got the ball on attack, I think I saw there were six minutes left on the clock, and I said, ‘We need to hold it.’
“We turned it over, and they got a goal, but we worked really hard to get it back, and when we did, we held it for the rest of the game, which is what we’ve been doing the whole season.”
Despite the outcome, the Ghosts had no regrets about their effort. –
“I am proud of everyone,” said Morris, a junior captain. “The bus ride here was crazy. We were all pumped up.
“We were missing three starters, so it was a little different, but we had a freshman starting on attack (Izzy Mugnier), and she really stepped up. We had a sophomore, Katherine Gerhard, and she stepped up on the draw and did really well. People who don’t get a lot of playing time really stepped up, and it was a team effort.”
With the win, the Trojans closed out conference play with a perfect 9-0 record (15-4 overall).
“As a senior, I’m so proud and so happy,” Silverman said. I wanted to win it so badly. I was like, ‘This is my senior year. I want that banner.’ Lacrosse has been so up and down for me personally that this team means everything to me.
“This game – with all the extra stuff – I said, ‘I’m just going to play this game 110 percent.’ Everyone gave that tonight. It hasn’t sunk in yet. I think we just went out and we played like we played any other game. I’m so proud and happy and excited for a banner to get here.”
Silverman turned away eight shots in a strong outing, including several big saves in the second half when the Ghosts had momentum.
Vervlied led the Trojans with two goals and two assists while Carolyn Wilde and Marie Dickson both added a pair.
The Ghosts closed out league play with an 8-1 mark (13-4 overall).
Abington 3-5—8
Wissahickon 7-2—9
Photo provided courtesy of Liz Santucci, Wissahickon girls' lacrosse.
North Penn 13, Council Rock North 7
The Maidens celebrated Senior Night by outscoring the visiting Indians 8-3 in the second half to blow open a close game.
“Our Senior Night was a success,” coach Heather Mellow said. “We started all 12 seniors. Sydney Lear and Emily Schulze took charge of the offense in the second half to finish the night strong.”
Lear led the Maidens with five goals and three assists while Schulze had five goals and one assist. Kaitlyn Phifer had one goal and two assists and Chloe Novak added a goal and an assist. Makayla Bowman added a single goal, and Jenn Delongis had two assists.
Michelle Dyck was credited with 10 saves in goal while Kyra Novak added three for the Maidens (10-7, 6-3 SOL).
Upper Dublin 9, Gwynedd Mercy 8
With 5:12 remaining in regulation, Julie Cross broke an 8-8 tie with a goal that turned out to be the game winner, capping an emotional night for a Flying Cardinal squad that saw coach Dee Cross – after 29 years on the sidelines – coach her final game.
“It was unbelievable that we pulled it out,” the Flying Cardinals’ coach said. “They’re going to districts and West Chester East is going to districts, and we beat both of those teams in the last week, which I think is pretty cool.
“We won our last four games. It was a really, really nice way to go out.”
It didn’t look as though the Cardinals would need any late-game heroics when they opened up a 7-2 lead, a lead that was trimmed to 7-5 by halftime. The Monarchs knotted the score 8-8, but Cross scored the go-ahead goal, and the Cardinals were able to hold on for the win.
“We both were throwing the ball away, but we were able to hold the ball for the last two-and-a-half minutes which is very hard to do,” Cross said.
Julie Cross turned in another stellar showing in her final game, finishing with six goals and two assists. Lindsey Schreiber added a pair of goals while Hannah Reape had a goal and an assist.
Goalie Sarah Gallagher had 13 saves in another strong outing.
“The younger girls started to gain main confidence,” coach Cross said of her team’s late-season surge. “Sarah Gallagher in goal every single game gets pummeled. She just has been so big for us this year.
“Gwynedd’s goalie played great today too. She had some point-blank saves. We were just able to put that last shot in.”
The Flying Cardinals closed out league play with a 6-3 record (9-9 overall).
Gwynedd Mercy 5-3—8
Upper Dublin 7-2—9
Upper Merion 15, Upper Moreland 8
The Vikings blew open a close game with a 9-4 second half tear. Julia Reinert led Upper Merion with six goals while Haley O’Malley also had a six-point night, contributing three goals and three assists. Allison Shuster and Natalie Chiapetta both had a pair of goals. Scoring one goal each were Anna Davis and Lizzy Goernemann.
On the defensive end, goalie Jordan Cabahug-Almonte turned away 12 of 20 shots she faced. Francesca Lindelow added an interception.
For the Golden Bears, Delaney Smith scored three goals and had an assist. Sydney Bachmayer added a pair of goals while Brit Dumproff, Jess Flanagan and Allison Felicetti had one goal apiece. Dumproff also had an assist.
Coach Pam Remmey credited the defensive performance of Mel Wittick, who had three draw controls and an assist.
“Melissa Felicetti and Amanda Walker also played well on defense,” Remmey said.
Goalie Emma Hood was credited with 14 saves in goal for the Golden Bears.
Upper Moreland 4-4—8
Upper Merion 6-9—15
Hatboro-Horsham 14, Notre Dame Academy 10
The Hatters earned some value power points in the district rankings with their impressive win over a Notre Dame squad that boasts an 11-3 record.
Morgan Crostorosa had a breakout game for the Hatters, scoring five goals. Casey Swezey had one goal and four assists to go along with 12 key draw controls in a dominant effort. Gabby Acker and Carly Daley both had two goals and two assists while Kaitlyn Wallace had two goals and one assist. Gwyn Acker added a pair of goals, and Syd Rausa had a pair of assists.
“Morgan Crostorosa came up big,” coach Duncan Swezey said. “On defense, Keeley Henry came up with a big caused turnover and ground ball.”
Goalie Maria Sims had nine saves, and Jenna Cutilli had three caused turnovers.
Hatboro-Horsham 7-7—14
Notre Dame Academy 5-5—10
Cheltenham 16, Council Rock South 15 OT
Nikki Boyd and Neena Culleton had big nights for the Golden Hawks, who were edged by the visiting Lady Panthers. Both players scored four goals with Culleton also contributing an assist. Hannah Inchausti had a hat trick while Becca Daly had a pair of goals. Anna DiDonato and Dom Marino both had one goal to close out the scoring for the Hawks.
Rock South goalie Kim Starke was credited with seven saves.
Pennridge 15, Quakertown 3
Maddie Dachowski connected for the hat trick to lead a balanced Lady Ram attack. She also had one assist and one draw control. Jen Rodzewich added two goals, two assists and two draws while Grace Loughery added two goals and five draws. Aimee Beck had a pair of goals while Jess Csaszar, Emily Price and Casey Hefner all had one goal and two assists. Hefner also had a pair of draw controls. Kate Ziegler had one goal, one assist and one draw control while Kelly McNally and Leah Hilton both added single goals.
“We ended the season on a high note,” coach Karen Schnurr said. “It’s been an exciting first season with Pennridge, and I am so happy we finished the season with a winning record.
“All three of our seniors had a great last game and will truly be missed. This team worked hard all season, and I can’t wait to see what the future brings.”
The Lady Rams closed out the year with a 10-8 record (4-5 SOL).
Pennridge 11-4—15
Quakertown 1-2—3
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