SOL Field Hockey District Preview (10-24-22)

Thirteen SOL field hockey teams will be competing in the postseason. Seven will be in action in Monday’s opening round of the District One 3A Tournament.

DISTRICT 1 CLASS 3A

#2 WISSAHICKON (Bye)

Wissahickon

18-0 overall
16-0 SOL Liberty Division champions
Outscored opponents 104-10
Led by a strong senior class that includes Kendall Crowley (14g,4a), Sophia Havrilla (14g,16a) & Ella Hummel (9g,20a) on offense and Caroline Kirkpatrick (12g,25a), Shaina Possoff & goalkeeper Meredith Walsh (.91 save percentage) on defense
Also playing key roles are sophomores Riley Ball (35g,8a), Kayla Mullin (13g,6a) and defensive standout Faith Jampo (1g,2a)
Wins over Class 3A #14 Abington (6-1, 7-0), #15 Quakertown (6-2, 4-1), #16 Plymouth Whitemarsh (2-0, 1-0), #17 Council Rock South (2-1), #22 North Penn (3-1), Class 2A #9 Upper Dublin (9-1, 2-1) & Class 1A New Hope-Solebury (1-0).

Second round: Will play the winner of #15 Quakertown vs. #18 Spring-Ford

Coach Lucy Gil says: “The Wiss FH team is extremely proud to repeat as SOL Liberty Champions. With the district tournament starting this week, they are hopeful that their efforts will lead them to a state tournament bid. This year’s slogan: One Team/One Dream!”

#6 SOUDERTON (BYE)

Souderton

16-2 overall
15-1 SOL Colonial Division champions
Winners of at least a share of the division title three of the last four years
Led by a strong core of seniors that includes mid Ang Borisow (13g,9a), mid Lauren Frye (5g,9a), defensive back Ashley Magnus & forward Ava Shaw (3g,15a)
Attack led by sophomore forward Ava Jones (32g,8a), a member of the 2022-23 Junior USA Indoor National Team, & Tatum Andrews (5g,10a).
Opened season with 11 straight wins
Shut out for only time all season in final regular season game
Only losses to #7 Central Bucks West (3-0) & #5 Methacton (4-3 OT). Indians defeated CB West 4-3 in early season meeting.
Wins over Class 3A #10 Neshaminy (1-0), #17, Council Rock South (3-1), #20 Central Bucks South (3-0, 1-0), #22 North Penn (6-3, 5-1),

Second round: Will play the winner of #11 Downingtown East vs. #22 North Penn

Coach Sue Casciato says: “We’re going into the postseason with a lot of positivity. We didn’t play our best team hockey late in the season, so the players are excited for the opportunity. Our focus is on ‘perfect effort’ every time we take the field.”

#7 CENTRAL BUCKS WEST (BYE)

Central Bucks West

16-1-1 overall
14-1-1 SOL Colonial Division second to Souderton
Handed #6 Souderton its only division loss of the season in final game of regular season (3-0), avenging a 4-3 loss to the Indians earlier in the season.
“Our conditioning, team speed, and skill across each of our balanced lines will continue to be our emphasis,” coach David DeAngelis said.
Outscored opponents 91-13 with 10 shutouts
Wins over Class 3A #14 Abington (10-0), #17 Council Rock South (3-1), #20 Central Bucks South (3-1, 2-0), #22 North Penn (3-2, 7-0), tied #10 Neshaminy (1-1)

Second round: Will play the winner of #10 Neshaminy vs. #23 Owen J Roberts

Coach David DeAngelis says: “This is a new opportunity for our student-athletes to compete in a highly competitive District-One postseason. Each of our student-athletes will continue to embrace and raise their level of commitment and responsibility that is required to make this a successful – – team postseason.”

#23 OWEN J ROBERTS at #10 NESHAMINY (Monday, Sept. 24, 3:30pm

Neshaminy

14-2-2 overall
13-1-2 SOL Patriot Division champions
Fifth straight year Redskins have won at least a share of the division title
Outscored opponents 91-13
Redskins led by their senior co-captains – defender Avery McGinty (5g,6a) & midfielder Olivia Roscoe (4g,5a)
Standout defensive unit has 10 shutouts and includes senior goalie Brittany Mattoi, McGinty, junior Morgan Shaltens as well as sophomores Alayna Roscoe & Maddy Shtino
Attack led by sophomore forwards Kasey Rieger (16g,11a) & Ava Arbakov (11g,5a)
Wins over Class 3A #16 Plymouth Whitemarsh (8-0), #17 Council Rock South (4-1), #20 Central Bucks South (1-0) & #22 North Penn (2-0. Tied #7 Central Bucks West (1-1) and CR South (1-1) in initial meeting.

Coach Jamie Pinto says: “Going into the postseason, we are going to continue to play and build on what we have been working on throughout the season: strong defense, connecting on passing, being able to finish in the circle, and, most importantly, playing together and work hard as a team. This is a strong and motivated senior group, that want to make it as far as possible into playoffs— we will take one game at a time and continue to play our game.”

Owen J. Roberts

9-9 overall
4-6 Pioneer Athletic Conference Liberty Division
Outscored opponents 43-36
2-6 in last six games
Wins over Class 2A #5 Upper Perkiomen (4-3) & #15 Upper Merion (2-1).

Second round: Winner will face #7 Central Bucks West

#19 WEST CHESTER HENDERSON at #14 ABINGTON (Monday, Sept. 24, 3:30pm at Memorial Field)

Abington

11-6-1 overall
10-5-1 SOL Liberty Division tied for second behind Wissahickon
6-1-1 in last eight games of regular season
First postseason home game since 2018
Led by senior captains Camryn Stewart (Mid,17g,8a) and Maddie Slavin (Defense, 9 defensive saves
Key contributors also include senior forward Erica Devlin (11g,10a) and junior mid Olivia Dougherty.
Wins over Class 2A #9 Upper Dublin (3-0, 4-0), #11 Lower Moreland (5-0). Split with Class 3A #16 PW (0-1, 1-0). Tied #15 Quakertown 0-0 in second meeting after losing first game 4-0.

Coach Katie Small says: “Abington is so excited to be hosting a playoff game this year. We are really hoping to pull out a win over a very good WC Henderson and give everyone something to cheer for!”

West Chester Henderson

10-7-1 overall
4-5 in last nine games of season
Led by seniors Molly DiCampli (Def/2021 first team All-Ches-Mont), Kristina Cobb (Mid/2021 All-Ches-Mont honorable mention) and Rylee Bauer (Mid)
Wins over Class 3A #18 Spring-Ford (3-2), #24 Haverford (2-0), Class 2A #7 Unionville (5-4), #14 Oxford (4-1), tied Class 2A #8 Bishop Shanahan (1-1).

Second round: Winner will travel to #3 Downingtown West.

#18 SPRING-FORD at #15 QUAKERTOWN (Monday, Sept. 24, 6pm)

Quakertown

10-6-1 overall
9-5-2 SOL Liberty Division fourth place
First home playoff game in more than a decade under first-year coach Mackenzie Kramer and assistants Kristin Jacoby & Rebecca Hamel
Led by Alex Bevan-Xenelis (Midfield), Natalie Boyd (Midfield), Kiera Gallagher (Midfield), Katelyn Landis (Midfield) and Megan Roth (Defense).
8-game winning streak after 1-3 start to season
Wins over Class 3A #14 Abington (4-0), Class 2A #11 Lower Moreland (1-0) & Class 1A #1 New Hope-Solebury (2-1). Tied Abington (0-0) in second meeting & Class 2A #9 Upper Dublin in first meeting (1-1)

Coach Mackenzie (Kramer) Moser says: “When we work together as one whole team, we are a powerful force. Passes need to be on point, players need to recover and move seamlessly and the communication between all the players on the field has to be heard. Together, as one, this team can go far.”

Spring-Ford

11-9 overall
6-4 Pioneer Athletic Conference Liberty Division third place
Lost to Boyertown in PAC Tournament title game after defeating #5 Methacton 3-2 in semifinals
Scored 68 goals and allowed 46
Led by senior Julia Corropolese (Defense), a 2021 first team All-PAC selection
Lost first three games of the season and was 3-6 after nine games
Wins over Class 3A #21 Lower Merion (4-1), #23 Owen J Roberts (2-1, 1-0), Class 2A #5 Upper Perkiomen (4-3) & #15 Upper Merion (5-2)

Second round: Winner plays #2 Wissahickon

#17 COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH at #16 PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH (Monday, Sept. 24, 4pm

Plymouth Whitemarsh

10-7-1 overall
10-5-1 SOL Liberty Division tied for second behind Wissahickon
Success for the Colonials has been the result of a team effort. “We work together as a team and do not have only one or two players to carry us,” coach Jessica Randazzo said. “Without one part, we do not function as a whole, so I hope that everyone comes out ready to play together as a whole Monday.”
Win over Class 1A Lower Moreland (2-0) and split with Class 3A #14 Abington (1-0, 0-1), #15 Quakertown (1-0, 0-1) and Class 2A #9 Upper Dublin (0-2, 2-1)

Coach Jessica Randazzo says: “I’m proud of my team and how far we have come… how resilient these high school female athletes are, and when the odds are against them, they rise to the challenge and fight for each other. I am so proud of them, and I cannot wait to see how we do Monday.”

Council Rock South

11-6-1 overall
10-5-1 SOL Patriot Division second behind Neshaminy
Attack led by senior forward Caroline Martin (21g) and junior forward Kylee Hager (13g,17a)
Defense anchored by junior captain Megan Rafter, senior Grace Franchini and senior goalie Peyton Wright
Wins over #20 Central Bucks South (2-1), #22 North Penn (4-3), #24 Haverford (3-2) and tied #10 Neshaminy 1-1 in second meeting.

Coach Kelly Mason says: “We have grown a lot as a team since the first game. We need to come out and play as a unit and make big plays against tough teams. We have been playing really well in the month of the October, and the goal is to keep that intensity going into the tournament.”

Second round: Winner will travel to #1 Conestoga.

#20 CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH at #13 KENNETT (Monday, Sept. 24, 6:45pm)

Central Bucks South

9-7-2 overall
7-7-2 SOL Colonial Division fourth place
Led by senior captains Lily Haag (Def) and Bella Schute (Mid)
Key contributors also include senior Marielle Mauri (Mid), sophomore Ella Haag (Defense), junior Sam Thomas (Defense), senior Rebecca Zakrzewski (Forward), senior Megan Reilly (Forward), freshman Kaeli VanDerSluis (Forward), freshman Avery Tyler (Mid), senior Maddie Orr (Defense), freshman Tessa Walls (Forward), junior Emma Kraft (goalie), Tessa Walls, freshman (Forward)
Tied #22 North Penn 1-1 after falling to the Knights 5-0 in an early season meeting
Played best hockey late in season and was 4-1-1 in last six games, including three wins in final week of season.

Coach Pat Toner says: “In a rebuilding year, I am so proud of this group for finishing very strong and finding a way, against all odds, to make it into the playoffs. Leadership by our captains and seniors allowed this team to compete in a very difficult league and win out the last week. Congrats and good luck to all of our Suburban One teams who made it into the tournament.”

Kennett

12-5-1 overall
8-2-1 in final 11 games
Returns nucleus of team that advanced to PIAA 3A state tournament in 2021 as District One seventh place team
Led by seniors Maddie Sears (Goalie, Villanova commit), Kaitlyn Stolp (Mid/Forward, JMU commit) and Sarah Burns (Defense)
Wins over Class 3A #12 Avon Grove (3-1), #18 Spring-Ford (4-2), #19 WC Henderson (5-0) Class 2A #4 West Chester East (2-0), #13 Phoenixville (4-0), #14 Oxford (2-0) and tied Class 2A #8 Bishop Shanahan (0-0).

Second round: Winner will travel to #4 Great Valley.

#22 NORTH PENN vs #11 DOWNINGTOWN EAST at Downingtown West (Monday, Sept. 24, 7pm)

North Penn

8-9-1 overall
8-7-1 SOL Colonial Division third place
Defense anchored by senior goalkeeper Kiera Holt and defensive backs Melissa Sessler (Jr.) and Annabelle Smink (Sr.)
Attack led by sophomore midfielder Laura Albert (19g,4a), junior midfield Caleigh Sperling (11g,7a) and junior forward Grace McGeehan (7g,6a)
Win over #20 Central Bucks South 5-0 and tied second meeting (1-1).

Coach Shannon McCracken says: “The team’s goal from the beginning of the season was to return to district playoffs and we are excited to compete and make the most of our opportunity after facing adversity this season. This team has had a great couple days of practice and are ready to go on Monday.”

Downingtown East

12-6 overall
Led by sophomore midfielder Rylee Dennis, a member of the 2022-23 Junior US National Team.
Team is anchored by a strong junior class that includes Nia Massey (Forward), Faith Fuqua (Mid), Ella Pfizenmayer (Mid), Kristyn Kolinsky (Mid) & Kaitlin Sieczkowski (Defense).
Wins over Class A #12 Avon Grove (3-2), #13 Kennett (3-1), #18 Spring-Ford (5-4), #19 WC Henderson (9-5), #23 Owen J Roberts (4-2), Class 2A #4 WC East (4-1), #7 Unionville (5-2), #8 Bishop Shanahan (4-1) & #14 Oxford (7-2)
Won 8 of 9 to close out regular season

Second round: Winner will travel to #6 Souderton.

CLASS 2A

#9 UPPER DUBLIN at #8 BISHOP SHANAHAN (Tuesday, Oct. 25, 7pm)

Upper Dublin

9-8-1 overall
8-7-1 SOL Liberty Division fifth place
Wins over #11Lower Moreland (2-1), #15 Upper Merion (4-3), Class 3A Quakertown #15 (2-1), split season series with #16 Plymouth Whitemarsh (2-0, 1-2), tied Quakertown 1-1 in first meeting.

Bishop Shanahan

8-7-2 overall
Turnaround season after a 4-13 record in 2021
Anchored by senior goalie Gianna Mastrocola, a St. Francis University commit
Wins over Class 2A Oxford #14 (2-0), #6 Mount St. Joseph (3-0), Class 1A #5 Pope John Paul II (4-0), tied Class 3A #13 Kennett (0-0) & #19 WC Henderson (1-1)
2-5-1 in last 8 games

Second round: Winner plays winner of #1 Gwynedd Mercy/Strath Haven contest.

#11 LOWER MORELAND at #6 MOUNT ST. JOSEPH (Tuesday, Oct. 25, 4pm)

Lower Moreland

10-8 overall
8-8 SOL Freedom Division third place
Attack led by senior Liz Neeld
Win over Class 1A #4 Jenkintown (8-0)

Mount St. Joseph

10-8 overall
Wins over Class 2A #9 Upper Dublin (7-3), #12 Marple Newtown (2-1), #13 Phoenixville (2-1) #16 Strath Haven (2-1), Class 1A #2 Dock Mennonite (4-2), #6 Villa Joseph Marie (7-0, 6-0), split with Class 2A #10 Merion Mercy (1-2, 2-1).
Snapped a five-game losing streak against some tough competition by winning three of last four games against teams advancing to the postseason.

Second round: Winner will face winner of #3 Radnor/#14 Oxford

CLASS 1A

NEW-HOPE-SOLEBURY (Bye)

16-2 overall
14-2 SOL Freedom Division champions
Wins over Class 3A #14 Abington (2-1), #16 Plymouth Whitemarsh (5-1), Class 2A #9 Upper Dublin (3-0), #11 Lower Moreland (3-2, 5-2)
Only losses to Class 3A #2 Wissahickon (1-0) & #15 Quakertown (2-1)