Upper Moreland advanced to Thursday’s second round of the District One AA Tournament. Check back for photos of the Upper Moreland/Lower Moreland game by Kathy Leister Photography.
Photo of Upper Moreland's Delaney Smith provided courtesy of Sarah Durphy.
#5 UPPER MORELAND 4, #12 LOWER MORELAND 0
The Golden Bears took the suspense out of Tuesday’s District One AA opener early. Jenna Getz made certain of that, scoring two goals in a four-minute span and finishing with the hat trick to lead the attack.
Getz’s first goal – set up by a Jess Flanagan crossing pass from the right wing – was all the Bears would have needed, but they added two more in a first half they controlled but were awarded no corners.
“It was really important for us to come out strong,” Getz said. “We were a little disappointed that we didn’t get any corners in the first half, but we were really glad we scored three goals.
“It was weird because we talked about how many corners we wanted to get and where they were going to go, and we didn’t get any, but we really came out and scored.”
Delaney Smith set up the second goal by Getz, and at the 12:24 mark, Delaney converted a penalty stroke into a goal with a powerful shot to send the Bears into halftime with a comfortable 3-0 lead.
“It boosts our confidence,” said senior Emily Jeinnings of the Bears’ quick start. “We feel like when we start strong it picks us up for the rest of the game.”
Quick starts, according to junior Emily Keene, have not been a trademark of the Golden Bears, who tacked on a Getz goal late in the second half for the 4-0 final.
“It’s essential to have a quick start because we tend to start off our games on the lower end of our playing,” she said. “The further we get in the game, especially if we have a lead, all of us collectively tend to pick up our game a lot.“Normally, if we have one player that picks us up, everyone works together as a whole. It’s kind of a whole team feeling. We all play on the same level at once. I also think it shows the other team that we’re not the team we used to be. We have a lot more in us than we used to.”
The Lions found that out firsthand on Tuesday. In last year’s regular season finale, they rolled to a 6-0 win over the Golden Bears. This year, the two teams opted out of their annual regular season meeting – rescheduled for last Friday – when they realized they were meeting in the opening round of districts, and the Bears wasted little time before taking care of business in the high stakes district contest.
Coach Karen Grossi lauded the strong play of Jeinnings and Keene.
“At center back, they were just consistent, and without those two defensively, we could have been in trouble,” the Bears’ coach said. “Jess Flanagan, on the forward line, did an excellent job of cutting back to the ball, and Del (Smith) and Jenna (Getz) getting their stick on the ball.”
As a result of Tuesday’s win, the Golden Bears will make their first trip to the second round of districts since 2008.
“It’s so exciting,” Getz said. “I don’t want the season to end. None of us do.
“The amount of intensity we’re going to have for this next game is insane.”
Upper Moreland (14-4, 11-3 SOL) will travel to fourth-seeded Gwynedd Mercy in a second round game on Thursday.
Lower Moreland 0-0 0
Upper Moreland 3-1 4
#9 VILLA JOSEPH MARIE 2, #8 SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 1
Marley Berger converted a penalty stroke to knot the score 1-1, but the visiting Jems won it when they converted a penalty corner into a goal after time had expired in regulation. Villa Joseph Marie received goals from Sarafina Romalho (Maddy Major assist) and Cat Gibbs (Julia Hagan assist).
Springfield goalie Isabelle Boles was credited with seven saves.
Springfield closed out its season with a 10-9 record (8-6 SOL).
District One AAA Preview Capsules
#14 CENTRAL BUCKS WEST at #3 CENTRAL BUCKS WEST (Thursday, 3:30 p.m.)
Central Bucks West
- 18-0 overall
- 14-0 SOL Continental Conference champions
- Program’s first conference crown since 1999
- Won first meeting against 14th-seeded Central Bucks East 3-1 and second 2-1 on a late goal by Cadera Smith
- Wins over fourth-seeded Neshaminy (2-1), 26th-seeded North Penn (3-2, 4-0) and 27th-seeded Pennridge (6-0, 6-0)
- Scored 83 goals this season this season for an average of 4.6 per game.
- Led by the trio of Bryn Boylan (25 goals, 15 assists), Cadera Smith (21 goals, 11 assists) and Taylor Mason (19 goals, seven assists)
How they got here: Opening round bye
Coach Courtney Lepping says: "We're excited to play CB East for the third time. We don't feel like we've played our best game yet in our previous two meetings, so the preparation this week has been all about getting back to what we do best. The game was postponed until Thursday at 3:30, so for the kids, the excitement keeps building! They're fired up and ready to start the second season!"
Central Bucks East
- 15-4 overall
- 10-4 SOL Continental Conference second place behind Central Bucks West
- Wins over 18th-seeded Council Rock South (3-1), 26th-seeded North Penn (3-1), 27th-seeded Pennridge (4-2, 2-1) and a Gwynedd Mercy squad that is seeded fourth in the District One AA bracket (4-2).
- First trip to district tournament since 2010
- Led by Riley Donnelly (28 goals, 14 assists) and Abbey Butler (11 goals, four assists).
How they got here: In an opening round win over 19th-seeded Wissahickon, the Patriots opened up a 2-0 halftime lead on their way to a 3-0 victory. Riley Donnelly scored a pair of goals while Cailey Lever had a goal and an assist.
Coach Michelle Finegan says: “It’s unfortunate for the Suburban One League that the first and second place team has to play for one spot in states. I just don’t think there’s a fairness there in some ways. I don’t know how it came out that we have to play each other a third time in the season, but at the same time, if that’s the way it is, whoever wins, wins. We have our work cut out, but we’re going to be ready.”
#13 WEST CHESTER HENDERSON at #4 NESHAMINY (Thursday, 3:30 p.m.)
Neshaminy
- 17-1 overall
- 14-0 SOL National Conference champion
- Wins over eighth-seeded Owen J Roberts (1-0), 11th-seeded Mount Saint Joseph, 16th-seeded Council Rock North (1-0, 4-0), 18th-seeded Council Rock South (2-0, 2-1) and 27th-seeded Pennsbury (4-0, 4-1)
- Only loss of season came at the hands of Central Bucks West (2-1)
- Led offensively by the trio of Christen Pennington (19 goals, 22 assists), Maria Palmieri (15 goals, 12 assists) and Mia Sexton (12 goals, 16 assists)
How they got here: Opening round bye
West Chester Henderson
- 14-4-1 overall
- 8-4-1 Ches-Mont League National Division fourth place
- Wins over 15th-seeeded Perkiomen Valley (5-3) and 22nd-seeded Avon Grove (3-1)
How they got here: Henderson crushed 20th-seeded West Chester East, opening up a 3-0 halftime lead on its way to a 6-1 win. Lexi Dunleavy contributed the hat trick while Maddie Reuther (penalty stroke), Casey Collins and Emily Delor each added single goal.
#10 PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH at #7 METHACTON (Thursday, 3:30 p.m.)
Plymouth Whitemarsh
- 15-3 overall
- 13-1 SOL American Conference champion
- Winners of three consecutive conference titles
- Split conference series with 19th-seeded Wissahickon, falling in the first 4-0 and winning the second 1-0.
- Led on attack by Frankie O’Brien (19 goals, nine assists) and Kennedy Reardon (14 goals, three assists.
- Defeated Lower Merion 3-2 on Oct. 10
How they got here: In Tuesday’s opening round win over #23rd-seeded Lower Merion, the Colonials – thanks to goals from Jess Dixon and Sophie Kolkka – opened up a 2-0 halftime lead. Paige Totten added a second half goal for the 3-0 final
Coach Marianne Paparone says: “We just tell our kids it’s one game – you just have to play well one game and try to limit them but worry about ourselves more and try and execute what we know how to do and just work hard. That’s all any game is about – working hard and being smart.”
Methacton
- 15-3-1 overall
- 9-3-1 PAC-10 Liberty Division third place
- Wins over eighth-seeded Owen J Roberts (2-1), 17th-seeded Spring-Ford (1-0) and 24th-seeded Harriton (4-0),
- Attack led by Olivia Hoover (15 goals, two assists), Emily Sayre (eight goals, nine assists) and Jackie Cerchio (11 goals, three assists).
- Sayre, a first team all-league selection last year, is committed to St. Joseph’s
- Defeated North Penn 4-3 in overtime in season opener on Sept. 4.
How they got here: The Warriors – benefitting from a pair of penalty strokes – defeated 26th-seeded North Penn 3-0. Olivia Hoover scored a pair of goals, and Maddie Alderfer added a single goal.
#16 COUNCIL ROCK NORTH at #1 Unionville
Council Rock North
- 14-5 overall
- 10-4 SOL National Conference third place
- Wins over 11th-seeded Mount St. Joseph (2-0), 18th-seeded Council Rock South (3-1), 19th-seeded Wissahickon (1-0) and 25th-seeded Pennsbury (5-3)
- Won six of seven games to close out regular season with only loss to fourth-seeded Neshaminy (1-0).
How they got here: Council Rock North defeated 16th-seeded Spring-Ford 1-0 in Tuesday’s opening round. Goalie Margaret D’Auria posted her 13th shutout of the season, and Bridget Thompson provided all the offense the Indians would need, scoring a goal just over five minutes into the game.
Coach Heather Whalin: “In the beginning of the season, I don’t think the girls realized they were even going to be this successful this year after such an amazing season last year and losing four very strong players, but they stepped it up this year. They’ve pulled out a season I don’t think any of them expected to have, so everything right now is – let’s go out and see what happens. I know we’re facing a formidable adversary, but you never know.”
Unionville
- 18-0 overall
- 13-0 Ches-Mont American Division champions
- Defending District One AAA champions (defeated Central Bucks South 3-1 in the 2014 title game)
- Defeated second-seeded Downingtown East 2-1 in overtime in a showdown of the district’s top two squads.
- Led by sophomore Erin Matson, a member of the USA U21 National Team who has committed to the University of North Carolina.
#18 COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH at #2 DOWNINGTOWN EAST (Thursday, 5:30 p.m.)
Council Rock South
- 13-6 overall
- 11-3 SOL National Conference second place
- Wins over 16th-seeded Council Rock North (3-2) and 25th-seeded Pennsbury (1-0 & 2-1)
- Led by area’s top goal scorer in junior Caroline McGovern (33 goals, nine assists) while Tori Wright is the team’s assist leader (six goals, 14 assists). McGovern is committed to Boston College.
How they got here: In Tuesday’s opening round, Council Rock South rallied from a 1-0 halftime deficit against 15th-seeded Perkiomen Valley to score a pair of goals and earn a 2-1 road win.
Downingtown East
- 17-1 overall
- 13-0 Ches-Mont National Division champion
- Only loss to top-seeded Unionville, 2-1 in overtime
- Led by seniors Cassie Hunter (JMU), Kallie Green (UNH) and Claire Webb (Syracuse)
How they got here: First round bye
About the Author
