Central Bucks West earned a spot in Saturday’s District One AAA title game while Central Bucks East and Council Rock South punched their tickets to the state tournament. CB West/Unionville photos provided courtesy of Christa DeAngelis/CB West Field Hockey. CB East/PW photo courtesy of Keith Clemens Photography. Check the Photo Gallery of the CB East/PW game…CLICK HERE.
It was a good day for SOL field hockey.
While Central Bucks West stole the spotlight with its scintillating upset of top-seeded Unionville in double overtime on Tuesday, Central Bucks East and Council Rock South clinched the final two state playoff berths. Three of the six district spots in the upcoming PIAA Class AAA will be occupied by SOL squads.
#5 CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 4, #1 UNIONVILLE 3 (2 OT).
Everything changed in a heartbeat.
In one dizzying moment, Ryan Murray’s shot from the left baseline was turned away by goalie Lizzie Gaebel, and in the next, Cadera Smith’s shot deflected off the crossbar and fell into the cage for a game winner.
“I was in shock that it went in,” Smith said. “We were all so exhausted, and it was just pure joy. I was so happy. It was insane.
“It wasn’t even so much that I scored – it was that it was a team effort and that we won is what made me the most happy.”
While the Bucks converged around Smith for a celebration they didn’t want to end, the two-time defending district champion Indians – heavy favorites to win their third – walked off the field in stunned disbelief.
“It went in and we all went crazy,” said senior captain Bryn Boylan. “I heard (Cadera) start yelling, ‘It went in, it went in.’ We all couldn’t believe it – it was such a beautiful goal.”
“I didn’t know if it hit the top crossbar and actually went in,” sophomore defender Casey Reichwein said. “It was awesome.”
“I was standing in the back, and I was like, ‘Did it? Did it? It did, it did,’” junior goalie Laura Kubit said.
They replayed the moment again and again. It never got old.
With the win, the Bucks (17-3-1, 9-2-1 SOL) earned a spot in the District One Class AAA title game against second-seeded Conestoga – a 2-1 overtime winner over Downingtown West – at Methacton High School on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.
“We set our goal to get to the district final, and just to think we made it this year – it’s the best feeling in the world,” Kubit said.
Kubit has certainly saved her best for last, following Friday’s dazzling 15- save performance against Methacton with a brilliant 19-save effort on Tuesday night. The Bucks needed every one of them.
“My goalie was lights out,” coach Courtney Lepping said. “They had about six or seven corners in a row (in the second half).
“There was about five minutes where I tried to call a timeout and couldn’t get it because they were just relentless with their pressure, but defensively, we held up. Casey Reichwein played out of her mind today. She was just incredible. Between Casey, Laura and the rest of the defense, they really held tough.”
Kubit and a relentless West defense fought off nine Unionville corners in the second half with the Bucks’ junior goalie delivering one big save after another.
“The defense did a really good job of getting the ball out, especially off my pads,” Kubit said. “You really have to stay focused and not let up for a single second.
“I really focus on getting my clears out as best I can because they were really good on the rebounds in the first half, and just avoiding the rebounds at all cost was essential.”
Making West’s second-half defensive effort so significant was the fact that the Bucks trailed by one after falling behind 3-2 in the first half. Allowing another goal could have and undoubtedly would have sealed their fate.
“I think the key was definitely communication,” said Reichwein. “With a team like that, they’re so quick, and they put the ball right on each other’s sticks, so if you’re not communicating and talking to each other, it just won’t work. I think we did a really good job with that tonight.”
The Indians – every bit as good as their top billing suggests – sent shots on goal on seven of their nine second-half corners but had nothing to show for it. The never-say-die Bucks drew their third corner of the second half with just over three minutes remaining, and they made it count with Murray scoring during what Lepping called a “crazy scrum around the goal.”
“Whenever you have six or seven corners in a row offensively and you don’t score, it’s very frustrating, and I think that takes the wind out of you,” the Bucks’ coach said. “It can get your defense behind you on its heels for that counter attack.
“Just the way we set up the counter attack – the passing was beautiful. I think that’s the best passing we put together, and that’s what set the goal up. It got us out of their defensive end. It wasn’t that (we) were doing anything wrong. They were just doing a great job of controlling play.”
The first 15-minute overtime couldn’t determine a winner, although the Bucks drew their second corner of the period with time expired. With just 8:29 separating the two teams from penalty strokes, Smith delivered the game winner.
“It was just all heart,” Lepping said. “You could tell the kids wanted it. They dug deep.
“Once we got into overtime, I felt like we were in control.”
In the first half, defense was hardly the theme as the two teams combined for five goals. Lauren Newbrough put the Indians on the board at the 24:20 mark, but three minutes later, Dani Dundas scored on the rebound of a goalie save during corner play. The Bucks had sent a message – they were not going to back down.
Taylor Mason’s unassisted goal at the 11:41 mark gave the Bucks a 2-1 lead, but the Indians closed out the half with goals from Madison Miles and Claire Donovan in the final 6:10 to go into halftime with a 3-2 lead.
That set the stage for a riveting stretch of hockey that culminated with Smith’s game winner.
“I think we were all just really excited to play not only a good team but the number one team,” Smith said. “We were so excited for that challenge.
“We were just ready. It wasn’t just one person that had a great game and that’s what won it. We all had a great game, and that’s what really makes me proud of my team.”
Central Bucks West 2-1-0-1 4
Unionville 3-0-0-0 3
Playback games
#6 CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 9, #7 PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 1
The Patriots are bound for states, thanks to their no-doubt-about-it win over the Colonials. It is the program’s first trip to the state tournament since 2010.
“It was probably one of the greatest feelings ever,” senior captain Reilly Finegan said. “I honestly thought I’d never get to go to states for high school, especially after my freshman year considering we had four wins.
“My sophomore year we didn’t even make playoffs, and last year, we surprised ourselves when we did make playoffs. We didn’t make it very far, but we made it, and that was exciting. This year we made it to states – I could never have seen that coming.”
With their latest accomplishment, the Patriots have checked yet another goal off their list.
“Our goals for the year were to win the Suburban One League conference, to get to districts, to get to states and to beat West,” coach Michelle Finegan said. “We’ve accomplished all of them, and I’m so proud of all of them. Now we have to set new goals.”
The Patriots set the tone early when Abbey Butler (Whitney Dietz assist) scored 90 seconds into the contest. Emma Donnelly (Butler assist) scored at the 21:20 mark. Kennedy Reardon cut that lead in half with a goal less than a minute later, but Emma Donnelly’s goal at the 18:41 mark put the Patriots on top 3-1.
Cailey Lever scored back-to-back goals to close out the half – the first with a Butler assist and the second – with 12 seconds remaining the half – with a Mackenzie Boyle assist.
“Today I think they really wanted it – they played very well,” said coach Finegan, whose team took a 5-1 lead into halftime. “It was one of our best games of the year.
“We came out strong, we passed well. We caught Plymouth Whitemarsh off guard in the beginning because we scored so fast.”
The Patriots added four more goals in the second half with junior Riley Donnelly scoring three straight – the second with a Boyle assist and the third assisted by Dietz. Allison Herbine closed out the scoring with an assist from Emily Brennan.
“Plymouth Whitemarsh is a very strong reactive team,” coach Finegan said. “They came down a couple of times and looked like they were going to cause some trouble.
“My team really wanted it and they fought really hard. They played together, communicated well on both offense and defense and stayed focused throughout the game. This was the kind of game we needed to move forward in our next district game and states. It was one of our best games this year so far.”
Central Bucks East (15-5-1, 11-1 SOL) will host Council Rock South in the fifth place game on Friday.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (12-0 SOL) closed out its season with a 17-4 record.
“PW fell flat against a talented CB East team,” coach Charise Halteman said. “We didn’t come out sharp in the first half, and CB East was able to gain an early lead, which allowed them to play with momentum and confidence.
“The second half saw some improvements but not enough to change the trajectory of the game. Unfortunately, (we) didn’t play up to our potential, but the team has an overall season to be proud of and a lot of room to grow for next season.”
Plymouth Whitemarsh 1-0 1
Central Bucks East 5-4 9
#8 COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 2, #4 METHACTON 1
The Golden Hawks needed some late game heroics to eke out a win over the Warriors. With 47 seconds remaining, Sarah Womer scored on the rebound of a goalie save during corner play, propelling the Hawks to the win and their first trip to the state tournament since 2004.
“The goalie was on the ground, and I lifted it over her,” Womer said of the game winner. “It was very exciting because we’ve been working all season to get to this moment.
“We haven’t gone to states in 12 years. It was definitely one of our team goals. At the very beginning of the season, we had to write on cards what we wanted to achieve, and I wrote ‘go to states,’ and to be able to get there is amazing.”
The trip to states was hard earned in a contest that saw the winner advance and the loser go home.
“In the beginning of the season, we talked about it being a team goal to get to states,” coach Lisa Belz said. “I think it’s great for the team and for the program.
“I was really pleased. I think the girls are really excited.”
Caroline McGovern put the Hawks on the board when she scored with 19:27 remaining in the first half.
“Caroline actually came out on fire today,” Belz said. “When she does that, she sets the tone early for the team.
“She was able to dribble through a bunch of people and take a really good shot. That kind of put them back on their heels.”
With 6:22 remaining in the half, Olivia Hoover scored the equalizer for the Warriors, and that tie stood until Womer’s late game score.
Both teams managed just three corners – the Hawks collected all three of theirs in the second half, and both had five shots.
“It was low shots and low corners again,” Belz said. “It was between the 25s the majority of the game.
“They were very good at double teaming and jamming you into the corner. We would be outside the circle, and we couldn’t draw corners because they would be double teaming us. We would get free hits into the circle, but we couldn’t do a whole lot. They had a very good press.”
The Golden Hawks’ coach once again tipped her hat to her defensive unit comprised of Mikayla VanAken, Emily Keller, Bianca Bonanni and Tori Wright.
“Overall, our defense has just come up big,” Belz said. “They’re just doing an outstanding job.”
Council Rock South (17-4, 12-0 SOL) will travel to Central Bucks East Friday for the fifth place game.
“It’s not that the game doesn’t matter, but it can be a nice fun, friendly game between two SOL teams,” Belz said. “We both know we’re going to states, and that’s exciting.”
Council Rock South 1-1 2
Methacton 1-0 1
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