Four SOL field hockey teams will be in action in Wednesday’s second round of the District One 3A Tournament. New Hope-Solebury will compete in the semifinals of the Class A Tournament on Thursday.
“One team, one dream”
It’s a phrase that has been something of a rallying cry for this year’s Wissahickon field hockey squad since way back in March when coach Lucy Gil named Sophia Havrilla, Caroline Kirkpatrick and Ella Hummel captains.
“When I first told them they were captains, they put ‘One team, one dream’ on my bulletin board, and I asked them what that meant,” Gil said. “They said, ‘We haven’t made states in a long time,’ and that was their dream. Now we’re two games away, so it’s getting close.”
“It was one of those things that we were so close to reaching every year,” Kirkpatrick said. “Last year we went into playbacks a few games and just missed it by overtime or a one-goal differential. It’s always been such a close goal.”
The Trojans enter the postseason with a perfect 18-0 record and another SOL Liberty Division title. Ask them the key to their success, and they are unanimous.
I just think we bonded really well together, and we all just really love each other on and off the field, and I think that showed when we played against some of these teams that were a little bit tougher,” Havrilla said.
“We did a lot of team bonding during the preseason,” Hummel said. “We had lots of pool parties, and we played manhunt in the school. Just a lot of things outside field hockey that can help us connect off the field.”
Kirkpatrick added, “One thing we did on the field that was very helpful – after we talk before each game, we huddle with just the starters, and we didn’t even talk strategy.
“It was a lot of just affirmation – play with confidence, play your hardest, and I think going into games with a positive mentality, not even field hockey-wise, but that we’re doing it because we love it and because we’re a family was a big factor with how we played this year.”
That camaraderie is recurring them when talking to the team’s captains, and there’s no mistaking – the bond they share is genuine.
“Honestly, earlier today in one of my classes, someone asked me – what season was your favorite out of all your four seasons,” Hummel said. “I said it’s kind of bittersweet this year because it’s our last season, but by far this season has been my favorite because of the community Sophia talked about.
“While being undefeated is amazing and it shows all of our skills, winning is not necessarily my number one goal. I know sometimes it is Gil’s, but I just love that community, being one team and having that dream together.”
The season has been about more than just field hockey. With the help of assistant coach and Wissahickon field hockey alum Sam Scoma, the players joined up with Alex’s Lemonade Stand to participate in the Million Mile campaign in the fight against Childhood Cancer, dedicating their efforts to the memory of Kellen Ford, the son of a beloved Wissahickon teacher. (https://www.alexslemonade.org/mypage/3004059
“I just think that while also being 18-0, just having another goal and doing good in our community also makes this really enjoyable as well,” Havrilla said. “Not only that, it gave us something to work towards. All the players each had an individual number of miles they wanted to run for the cause, and I think everyone ended up doing that, and we raised a lot of money. I think we’re all just really grateful for that in addition to the awesome winning streak we have this year.”
The Trojans will put that winning streak on the line when they host Spring-Ford in a second round game on Wednesday.
DISTRICT 1 CLASS 3A
#18 SPRING-FORD at #2 WISSAHICKON (Wednesday, Oct. 26, 3:30pm)
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).
Spring-Ford
- 12-9 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 Bucknell commit and 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)
How they got here: Spring-Ford defeated #15 Quakertown 5-2.
Next up: Will play the winner of the CB West/Neshaminy game.
#11 DOWNINGTOWN EAST at #6 SOUDERTON (Wednesday, Oct. 26, 7pm)
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
- Only losses to #7 Central Bucks West (3-0) & #5 Methacton (4-3 OT). Indians defeated CB West 4-3 in early season meeting but were shut out for the first time all season in the rematch in the final regular season game.
- 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)
Downingtown East
- 13-6 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) and Faith Fuqua (Mid).
- 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 9 of 10 games entering Wednesday’s second round
How they got here: In an opening round game, Downingtown East defeated #22 North Penn 7-2, opening up a 7-0 lead before the Knights scored a pair of late goals. Faith Fuqua scored two goals and added an assist, and Bella Beck also had two goals. Nia Massey added a goal and an assist while Rylee Daniels & Megan Latch each had a goal.
Next up: Winner will face the winner of the Downingtown West/West Chester Henderson contest.
#10 NESHAMINY at #7 CENTRAL BUCKS WEST (Wednesday, Oct. 26, 7pm)
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)
Neshaminy
- 15-2-2 overall
- 13-1-2 SOL Patriot Division champions
- Fifth straight year Redskins have won at least a share of the division title
- Outscored opponents 93-14
- Redskins led by their senior co-captains – defender Avery McGinty (6g,6a) & midfielder Olivia Roscoe (4g,6a)
- 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 (17g,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.
How they got here: In an opening round game, Neshaminy defeated #23 Owen J Roberts, opening up a 2-0 lead on its way to a 2-1 win. Kasey Rieger & Avery McGinty each scored a goal.
Next up: The winner will face the winner of the Wissahickon/Spring-Ford contest.
#17 COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH at #1 CONESTOGA (Wednesday, Oct. 26, 6pm)
Council Rock South
- 12-6-1 overall
- 10-5-1 SOL Patriot Division second behind Neshaminy
- Attack led by senior forward Caroline Martin (21g) and junior forward Kylee Hager (14g,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.
How they got here: In an opening round game, Council Rock South defeated #16 Plymouth Whitemarsh 2-1. Megan Rafter and Kylee Hager both scored for the Golden Hawks.
Conestoga
- 16-1 overall
- 11-0 Central League champions
- 2021 District One 3A champion & PIAA 3A State Tournament semifinalist
- Only loss to Class 2A #1 Gwynedd Mercy (3-2) on Sept. 27.
- Wins over #3 Downingtown West (1-0), #4 Garnet Valley (3-2) & #24 Haverford (7-1)
Next up: The winner will face the winner of the Garnet Valley/Boyertown game.
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)
Next up: Will face the winner of #5 Pope John Paul II in a District 1 1A semifinal game on Thursday, Oct. 27
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