PW, Central Bucks East & Central Bucks South will be in action in Tuesday’s District One 3A semifinals. Check back for recaps.
Ava Borkowski uses words like odd and unforgettable when talking about her final high school field hockey season. Not the words the Plymouth Whitemarsh senior captain would typically use to describe her high school season. But in a season like no other, both words aptly describe the COVID-19 pandemic season of 2020.
“It was an odd season,” Borkowski said. “It’s definitely very unforgettable because of all we’ve been through. It’s our senior year. We had to face so many problems, and so far, we’re doing a really good job of overcoming them.”
“They have done a good job,” PW coach Charise Halteman said. “This season has been a weird one. There have been some COVID scares that have created drama and things like that. I think our team has found a way to work through those things and focused on the playing piece.”
While the season has been different, the results were pretty much the same for the Colonials, who notched their program’s eighth straight conference title and upped their conference winning streak to 77.
“We were nervous because Wissahickon had a very good team this year, and we had less practices,” senior co-captain Kaleigh Missimer said. “What I’ve been thinking and what I think everybody else is – we have half the games, but that just means everything is twice as exciting.
“I think my favorite parts were the celebrations because even when we beat teams that weren’t as good, we still celebrated like we beat the best team in the league. After every game, my goalie (Sarah Trask) and I – we do a chest bump just because it’s so much fun, and we’re just so happy to be here. I just think everybody is so much more excited to play this year because we know we can’t take anything for granted.”
The players haven’t forgotten the emotional roller coaster of waiting to see if they would even have a season.
“We have our whole team group chat, and every single day leading up to the season all throughout the summer we were talking about – what can we do to try and get this season?” Borkowski said. “We were still holding these practices – hopefully, that will help get us prepared if we are having a season because we didn’t know anything.
“Honestly, our coaches did so much work, our players did so much work and even our parents – we spoke up at board meetings pushing to have this season, and we talked to all the other athletes in our school, and everybody kind of came together in that moment to push the board to let us have our season.
“When we found out we were having it, our group chats were blowing up. Everybody was so excited – all right, we’re doing this. We had a really good season last year, but we have to make up for our loss in districts and hopefully make a state run. This year the only team advancing to states is the district winner. It’s going to be great if we can do that. It’s something we’re really pushing to do.”
With a shorter preseason and an abbreviated schedule, there was less time for team bonding.
“But I think this year our team bonded more than ever because of all the challenges we had to go through together,” Missimer said. “I think the hardest part was conditioning and just getting used to the chemistry of everyone.
“We would come to practice every day and we would work so hard. Sometimes the team ourselves made our own practices. We got to know each other, we got to know how each other played. I think we’re close to the point we were at last year just because we worked so much harder.”
“Going off of what Kaleigh said, when we would hold our own practices, it was really hard to balance conditioning and practice times because the school would limit us to two-hour practices a day,” Borkowski said. “And that’s really hard to do all our skill work, all our flow drills and conditioning, so we would wake up at six in the morning, go on our long runs, gather the team, go to school and then go to practice. Even on weekends, we would hold our own captain practices.
“We always hype each other up. We wake up for school at 7 a.m. and text our group chat – ‘Game day, get hyped Let’s go girls.’ We are always there to support each other, and that is so important, especially because we haven’t been with each other as long as we usually are so everybody needs that support, and we always have to be lifting each other up.”
Halteman credits her co-captains for bringing the team – which is anchored by its large senior class – together.
“I’m so proud,” the Colonials’ coach said. “Ava and Kaleigh are two really talented players and each have their own unique skill set that has brought a lot to our team. They really have brought everyone else along with them.
“It’s been fun for the whole group to be part of something special like that. I think probably for all fall sports athletes especially at the beginning of the year when everyone is virtual – they had a unique ability to get outside, to be active to be with friends and teammates – I think they had a new appreciation for that.”
#7 METHACTON at #3 PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH (Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020)
Plymouth Whitemarsh
- 12-0 overall
- 10-0 SOL
- SOL Liberty Division champions, eighth straight conference crown
- Extended SOL conference winning streak to 77 games.
- Led by senior captains Ava Borkowski and Kaleigh Missimer. UNC commit Borkowski is a dangerous forward who surpassed the 100-goal mark as a junior and has 31 goals and three assists (65 points). American University commit Kaleigh Missimer is a midfielder with 13 goals and 15 assists (41 points).
- Other key players include junior midfielder Hailey Copestick (six gaols, seven assists), senior forward Alexa DeLucca (11 goals, one assist), senior forward Regan Gehman (six goals), junior midfielder Molly Lynch (five goals, five assists), senior defender Haley McCourt (a lacrosse commit to Wingate University), junior defender Carly McGee, senior defender Darcy Miller, a Kenyon College commit, senior goalie and Wagner College commit Sarah Trask and sophomore defender Jules Tulio
How they got here: In the second round, Plymouth Whitemarsh defeated #6 Kennett 1-0. Hailey Copestick scored the game-winner with an assist from Ava Borkowski.
In an opening round game, Plymouth Whitemarsh defeated #14 Avon Grove 1-0. Senior midfielder Kaleigh Missimer scored the game-winner with 8:37 remaining in regulation.
Methacton
- 10-1-3 overall
- 8-1-3 PAC second place
- Led by senior midfielder and American University commit Alexa Kratz
- Warriors have three shutouts this season – all three were in the last six games
- Defeated #10 Perk Valley 3-2 in the regular season and also battled the Vikings to a 1-1 tie. Split season series with #15 Owen J Roberts (1-2 & 2-1). Tied Class 2A #2 Upper Perkiomen (2-2 & 1-1).
How they got here: In the second round, Methacton earned a come-from-behind 2-1 overtime win over #2 Neshaminy. Grace Shields scored the game-winner with 4:22 remaining in OT. Bayla Power (Alexa Kratz assist) tied the game with a late goal.
In an opening round game, Methacton defeated PAC rival Perkiomen Valley 2-0, using goals by Bayla Plower and Bene Catoia
The winner will face the winner of the #5 Central Bucks East vs. #16 Central Bucks South.
Patriots win fifth straight conference title
In a season that has had its twists and turns, the Patriots found a way to have fun. A whole lot of fun.
“Honestly, it’s one of the most fun seasons,” senior captain Emily Bullard said.
Granted, winning their program’s fifth title in as many years – and fourth of their varsity careers – added to the fun, but it was much more than that.
“I think because we’re not allowed to be hanging out with other people, hanging out with our other friends outside of sports, we’ve even grown that much closer as a team,” senior captain Kenzie Lever said. “We know even though we can’t hang out with our other friends we still have each other to bond to.”
Making the season especially significant is the fact that it almost didn’t happen.
“I just think the fact that we thought we weren’t going to have a season and that’s the only thing we were hoping would happen – the fact that we got one just makes every single game that much more important because since our regular season was shortened, we want to extend districts and states and get as far as we can,” Lever said. “I think every game matters that much more because we didn’t know whether we would even be able to play.
“We did workout challenges. Our coaches set up workouts so we could all stay connected and keep working.”
Added senior captain Phia Mannino, “I think that helped hold everyone accountable because it kept everyone in shape, it kept everyone involved, and I just think that got everyone that much more excited for the season and the possibility of having one.”
East’s three senior captains – all committed to play at the Division One level – have been starters since they stepped onto the field as freshmen, and winning conference crowns is all they know.
“I think this year meant that much more because we went into it not knowing what was going to happen and even not knowing whether we would be good or not,” Lever said. “I think a lot of underclassmen have been stepping up to the plate and giving it their all.
“As a team, we support each other on and off the field. I feel like this year even more than the others we definitely have a good bond.”
The traditional pumpkin carving and making scarecrows has not been part of the season this year.
“It’s been very iffy with some things because of COVID and the rules,” Mannino said. “We’ve gotten together as much as possible with the regulations, but it’s been hard.”
“We’ve been very careful because there have been other teams in our school that have risked stuff and gotten shut down,” Lever said. “So we have been smart about it.”
“It’s important since we’re one of the teams going the farthest,” Bullard said. “We have to stay healthy, stay safe.”
“Especially because we don’t know what could be our last game,” Mannino said. “In districts, if we lose, we’re done. None of us really want to take that risk, and we’re taking the right measures.”
Ask them their favorite memory, and it’s not a win or the conference championship or even any of the just-for-fun stuff like dressing up for Decade Day.
“I think just being here as a team, knowing we actually got this opportunity because the seniors from the spring season – we know they didn’t get a season, and that was very likely for us,” Bullard said. “Knowing we could have not had it and we actually do have it now because we’ve been able to safely practice the guidelines is one of the best memories I’ll have. I think most the team can speak to that same degree.”
East coach Meghan Spratt credits the team’s three senior captains for making her transition to head coach three years ago after five years as varsity assistant a smooth one.
“They’ve been the backbone of the program, and it’s been huge having the three of them as leaders,” the Patriots’ coach said. “Coming into the season and the unknown – we were just looking at one game at a time, and it’s the same thing going into districts. We’re just focusing on one game at a time no matter who we’re playing.”
Added Mannino, “Because nothing’s definite, we’re making the most of it that we can because any practice, any game could be the last, so we all want to take away the positive stuff.”
#16 CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH at #5 CENTRAL BUCKS EAST (Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2:30 p.m.)
Central Bucks East
- 11-1 overall
- 9-1 SOL Colonial champions
- SOL Colonial Division champions, program’s fifth straight conference title
- Key players are senior captain Emily Bullard (GK), senior captain Kenzie Lever (M-F), senior captain Phia Mannino (M-F), senior Grace Bethke (D), senior Renee Gatto (D), junior Sophia Parker (M), junior Ella Vlasblom (M), junior Paige Hussie (D), junior Kiera Lamb (D), sophomore Allie Troth (F), freshman Paige Keller (F)
- Attack led by Penn State commit Phia Mannino with seven goals and 10 assists (24 points), Drexel commit Kenzie Lever with 12 goals (24 points) and Sophia Parker with seven goals and five assists (19 points).
- Penn State commit Emily Bullard has been stellar in goal and boasts a 90 percent save rate in goal.
- The Patriots – 5-1 against teams in the District One 3A Tournament, including a pair of wins over Central Bucks South (3-1 & 2-0).
How they got here: In a second round game, Central Bucks East scored five second-half goals on its way to a 6-2 win over #13 Great Valley. Kenzie Lever collected a hat trick. Sophia Parker, Caroline Suko and Paige Keller each added a goal.
In an opening round game, Central Bucks East defeated #12 North Penn 2-1. Sophia Parker scored a goal that tied the game 1-1, and Grace Bethke scored the game-winner.
Central Bucks South
- 6-5-1 overall
- 4-5-1 SOL Colonial fourth place
- Key players: Sophia Wasyliw (12, Mid, Captain), Alyssa Endrick (12, Mid, Captain), Braylee Webb (12 Forward), Gwen DiPrinzio (12, GK), Julia Cooper (11, Def), Sarah Cooper (11 Def), Erin Smith (11 Forward), Anna Shirley (11, Mid), Grace Haag (11 Def), Bella Schute (10, Forward), Lily Haag (10, Def), Megan Reilly (10, Forward), Marielle Mauri (10, Forward)
- Leading a balanced attack are Erin Smith (11 goals, four assists), Braylee Webb (eight goals), Anna Shirley (four goals) and Julia Cooper (two goals, five assists.
How they got here: In a second round game, Central Bucks South upset #8 Wissahickon 1-0. Erin Smith scored the game-winner with a Julia Parker assist. Senior goalie Gwen DiPrinzio recorded 10 saves in the shutout win.
In the opening round, Central Bucks South upset top-seeded Downingtown West 2-1 in overtime. Alyssa Endrick scored the game-winner in OT. Erin Smith also scored for the Titans.
The winner will face the winner of the #3 Plymouth Whitemarsh vs. #7 Methacton game.
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