CR South, CB South & CR North were winners in District One 3A Tournament play. CR South/William Tennent photos courtesy of John Gleeson. Check back for a gallery of photos.
#10 COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 5, #23 WILLIAM TENNENT 0
Trying to contain Kaitlyn Cocco has been close to impossible for SOL National conference opponents. Monday’s all-SOL National district opener was no exception.
The senior standout scored on a breakaway just over two minutes into the game. Two minutes later Cocco set up a goal by Cailey Hiscox, and the tone had been set.
“The first five minutes were crucial,” Rock South coach Lisa Belz said. “The last time we played them (a 1-0 Rock South win) we took a lot of shots, but we only scored on a stroke.
“So I was happy. We were working on moving the goalie because their goalie (Sophia Trozzi) is very good.”
Hiscox connected on her second goal 21 minutes into the game, and the Golden Hawks took that 3-0 lead into halftime.
Eight minutes into the second half, Rachael Rolle tipped a shot by Kerry Kaufman into the cage, and with seven minutes remaining, Cocco put the finishing touches on a strong outing with her second goal to close out the scoring.
Rock South was awarded 10 corners while the Panthers had only two. The Golden Hawks held a 17-4 advantage in shots.
Trozzi was credited with 12 saves while Rock South’s Karlie McCloskey had four saves in the shutout win.
“Karlie had a nice game, and two of our backs – Ashley Lackman and Lauren Mitchell – stepped up big time,” Belz said. “They stepped up to the ball and helped generate the offense.”
Council Rock South (14-5, 10-2 SOL) will travel to #7 Neshaminy for Wednesday’s second round game. William Tennent closed out its season with a 7-9-1 record (6-6 SOL).
William Tennent 0-0 0
Council Rock South 3-2 5
#16 CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 4, #17 WEST CHESTER RUSTIN 0
Sophomore Erin Scott made Monday’s playoff debut a memorable one, connecting on a hat trick to lead the Titans to the impressive win.
“I am so proud of this team,” coach Pat Toner said. “There have been so many distractions and difficulties throughout the season with injuries and the fact that we are as young as we are.
“We’ll do pretty well and then Sophia (Wasyliw) got hurt. We were doing well and then Julia (Cooper) got hurt. We are trying to manage the situation the best we can, and these kids just don’t give up. I’m so proud of them that they have gotten on the same page and they’re all working so hard to just try and overcome adversity, and really, that’s all life is about – it’s trying to overcome anything that’s put in your path. You have to rise above it and do the best that you can. More than anything else, I’m so proud of them for that.”
Smith spotted the Titans a 1-0 lead with eight minutes remaining in the first half. Just over a minute into the second, she connected on her second. She completed the hat trick 10 minutes into the half.
Anna Gillard closed out the scoring with a goal midway through the half, using an Anna Shirley assist.
“Erin Smith exploded for three goals on heads up plays in front of the goal,” Toner said. “We have been working on quick release shots in the circle, and Erin did a beautiful job tonight.
“Anna Gillard had an absolutely gorgeous (lifted) goal on a corner, so we were thrilled about that.”
Wasyliw was back on the field after an ankle injury.
“She played great and made an immediate impact with her speed and stick work,” Toner said. “Rustin has some very talented players. We knew that they were young like we are and they had lost a lot of seniors like we did, but they’re very talented with quick sticks.
“While the entire team played well, juniors Braylee Webb and Alyssa Endrick created a lot of scoring opportunities while sophomore Anna Shirley, Grace Haag and Sarah Cooper anchored the defense. Seniors Maddy Cooper, Anna Gillard, Maddie Pierce and goalkeeper Jillian Heilig should be proud that they led a young an inexperienced team into the second round of the playoffs.”
Central Bucks South (11-8, 6-6 SOL) will be on the road at top-seeded Garnet Valley in Wednesday’s second round.
West Chester Rustin 0-0 0
Central Bucks South 1-3 4
#18 COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 2, #15 LOWER MERION 1 (2 OTs)
Corners were golden for both teams in Monday’s district opener. All three goals were score on corners.
Just over two minutes into the second overtime, Rebecca Ripans – on the goalie pads – tipped in a Sarah Scott shot for the dramatic game-winner, propelling the Indians to their first district win since 2015.
“In my career, I’ve never gone into a double overtime, so that was interesting,” coach Heather Whalin said. “Luckily, we practiced overtimes against (CR) South during practice the other day and that helped.
“This group has never moved on from the first round, so they were super, super excited that we were moving on.”
Sarah Scott broke a scoreless tie with 5:04 remaining in regulation when she turned a Lindsey O’Brien pass during corner play into a goal that put the Indians on top 1-0. It looked as though that one-goal lead would stand, but with eight seconds remaining, the Aces capitalized on a corner, scoring the equalizer and sending the game into overtime.
“It was a nice goal – the girl tipped it on the post,” Whalen said. “Luckily, our team never thinks they have a game won, so I think they were not super defeated by it.
“I said, ‘They have all the momentum going into the overtime, so we need to change that momentum back to us.’ Their boys’ soccer team came over, so they were cheering for them, and it started to get a little loud out there. We were trying to calm them down and get them going.”
Neither team scored in the first overtime, but just over two minutes into the second, the Indians scored the game-winner.
Lost in the shuffle of the big win was the performance of the Indians’ defense, most notably on the Aces’ corners. Whalin credited her defensive corner unit comprised of Scott, O’Brien, Sarah Everett – the team’s flier, and Kate McQuarrie.
Rock North goalie Kyra Deehr-Lewis was credited with 11 saves in a strong outing.
“Kyra had a good game,” Whalin said. “She needed to show up, and she showed up at the right time, so that was good.
“Sarah Scott had a really nice game. Sarah Everett and Kate McQuarrie were phenomenal. The fun part was it was a total team effort. We got players in that don’t normally play varsity, but we needed bodies to give people breaks, and they did a really nice job. We had some younger kids in there that really stepped up and did a nice job for us.”
A highlight of the game was a team photo op with Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, whose wife – Kylie McDevitt – is the head coach of Lower Merion.
Council Rock North (10-8, 7-5 SOL) will travel to second-seeded Plymouth Whitemarsh on Wednesday.
Council Rock North 0-1-0-1 2
Lower Merion 0-1-0-0 1
#14 SPRING-FORD 3, #19 NORTH PENN 1
While the outcome wasn’t what they’d hoped for, the visiting Knights gave the Rams their money’s worth and then some. Both teams collected seven penalty corners, and the Rams held a slim 8-7 edge in shots.
The difference? The Rams capitalized on their offensive opportunities and made the most of their corners, scoring two of their three goals on corners.
“I am proud of our team’s efforts tonight as they fought hard against a talented Spring-Ford team,” coach Shannon McCracken said. “They left it all on the field and played some great hockey against a more experienced team.
“We have grown and improved greatly since the first game of the season and put together a great effort tonight. None of the players on our team had ever played in a district playoff game so this was a new experience for our players. I think they dealt with the nerves and pressure that go along with the playoff atmosphere very well and played some of their best hockey all season tonight.”
The Rams took a 1-0 lead into halftime, thanks to a Katelyn Crist goal with 7:29 remaining. Abby Boyer had the assist.
The Rams upped that lead to 2-0 with a goal just over eight minutes into the second half. Midway through the half, the Knights got on the scoreboard, thanks to an Eleni Kountroubis goal.
“Sierra Gee gave Eleni Kountroubis a lead pass into the circle and then Kountroubis eliminated one Spring-Ford defender and got the ball in behind goalie, Ashley Della Guardia, as she and a defender fought for the ball before it went over the end line,” McCracken said. “Kountroubis was able to get her stick on it and finish the ball in the goal.
“Unfortunately, any push to tie up the game was halted by a tough Spring-Ford defense.”
The Rams sealed the Knights’ fate when Makenna Maloney (Crist assist) scored with 5:46 remaining.
North Penn goalie Mallory Stowell recorded six saves.
North Penn (6-6 SOL) closed out its season with an 8-10-1 record overall.
North Penn 1-0 1
Spring-Ford 1-2 3
#13 METHACTON 4, #20 PENNRIDGE 2
The Warriors opened up a 2-0 halftime lead, and although the Rams matched the Warriors with two goals in the second half, they never could dig their way out of that early hole.
“It was a tough loss to end our season,” coach Becky Spahr said. “Methacton is a strong, well-coached team with playoff experience. We struggled with nerves and confidence in the first parts of the game and allowed Methacton to set the tone and pace.
“After going down 2-0, we began to create some offensive opportunities and relieve pressure off our defense. This allowed our team to play at speed and find success in the circle. Thank you to our seniors and captains for a fun season.”
Emily Amsden had a hand in both goals, connecting on a penalty stroke and assisting on a goal by Macy Price.
Freshman goalie Maia Machada recorded 13 saves. Kelcie Mannon and Lexie Dinsmore both were credited with a defensive save.
Pennridge (5-7 SOL) closed out the year with an 8-10-1 record.
Pennridge 0-2 2
Methacton 2-2 4
#9 CONESTOGA 5, #24 ABINGTON 0
The Ghosts trailed by just a 1-0 score at halftime, but the Pioneers closed out the game with a flourish, scoring four goals after the intermission.
Despite the outcome, coach Katie Small lauded the efforts of her squad.
“Marilyn Capps had an amazing game,” the Ghosts’ coach said. “She has developed into a great goalie for her first year behind the pads. She had 16 saves.
“We played great for the first 40 minutes. Conestoga was a very fast, physical team and they wore us down. I have to commend the play of my back line – Mikayla Kizel, Ava Paxson and Jasmine Cubbage, along with midfielder Paige Doyle. They did a tremendous job keeping us in the game. We are losing seven amazing seniors to graduation, but we will look to build on this year’s successes next year.”
Abington (6-7-1 SOL) closed out the season with a 7-11-1 record.
Abington 0-0 0
Conestoga 1-4 5
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