Central Bucks West was the lone SOL field hockey team to survive the second round of the District 1 3A Tournament on Wednesday. North Penn/Downingtown East photos courtesy of Kadi Schenk. Check back for a gallery of photos: https://solsports.zenfolio.com/f1049091362 (CB West photos courtesy of Marge Bullock: http://www.margebullock.com/ )
CLASS 3A
#3 CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 1, #14 CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 0
Lily Cosner didn’t spare any punches, readily admitting that the Bucks were less than thrilled at the prospect of facing their archrival in Wednesday’s win-or-go-home district game.
“The second that we found out that we were playing East – I think we were nervous from then on,” the senior captain said. “Monday night after seeing that they won, we all were so nervous.
“We knew it wasn’t going to be the same as the last two times we played them (8-0 & 4-0 West wins). We knew that they were going to come out with everything on the line, putting everything out there. Today during school, we would see each other in the hallways, and we could not focus on anything else besides this game. It was the most nervous my whole team has been this whole season.”
Coach Lori Ierubino, filling in for David DeAngelis, understood exactly where Cosner was coming from.
“The mental part of this game was probably the hardest part of this game – knowing that the season is on the line,” Ierubino said. “Whoever loses is done.
“I told them before – they had to show up and not worry about what could happen. They had to be willing to lay their hearts out there and risk having them crushed. For better or for worse, win or lose, we’re going to do it together, and they did it. They came with such fire and energy – it was awesome.”
There was nothing better to calm the Bucks’ nerves than a quick score, and that’s exactly what the Bucks got when Mimi Duffy turned an Aide Ierubino pass into a goal just over a minute into the game.
“I think we came in with the right attitude,” Cosner said. “We scored a minute 14 (seconds) into it, so I think we came out strong.”
The Bucks – who held a decisive 12-1 advantage in corners – had an advantage in time of possession, but they were not able to capitalize.
“They were doing like a half-court press – they were all staying back past the 50, so it was hard to generate a lot of offense,” Ierubino said. “I think we had the ball above the 50 a lot, but that’s why it was a low score. Fortunately, we scored very early in the game and had that lead to rest on.”
The game was not without its anxious moments, and the Bucks’ coach was quick to laud the effort of goalie Kendra Pitts.
“She had the two most critical saves of the game,” Ierubino said. “She probably only had two saves, but they were breakaways, and she was awesome.
“When the game’s never there and all of a sudden you’re peppered, to be locked in and ready for that – it was amazing.”
Also earning high praise from their coach were Cosner and Calista Boos.
“They had awesome games in the midfield,” Ierubino said. “They were like that perfect blend of offense when we needed it but being aware and ready to anticipate and be back on defense when we needed it. They were just all over the field doing great things.”
Ierubino went on to credit the effort of East senior Paige Keller.
“She was a freshman when I coached at East,” the Bucks’ coach said. “She is such a competitor from the start to the end of the game. I was never comfortable with a one-goal lead knowing she was on the field. She’s a worker, and she really is an awesome kid.”
East coach Emma Rosenthal had nothing but good things to say about her squad’s effort and acknowledged she was “crazy proud” of her team.
“They put up one heck of a fight tonight,” the Patriots’ coach said. “It’s sad to see the season come to a close, but we hold our heads high in all that’s been accomplished this year. We exceeded expectations beyond our own. It’s truly a special group of kids.”
While the Patriots saw their season come to an end, the Bucks could breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that seven of the eight teams remaining will advance to the state tournament.
“It feels amazing,” Cosner said. “Honestly, we were nervous for this game, but now we’re enjoying the ride.
“I can’t believe it still – it was one of the most difficult games we have ever played. East came out smoking.”
Central Bucks West (17-2, 14-2 SOL) will host #11 Downingtown East in a District 1 3A quarterfinal game on Saturday. Central Bucks East closed its successful season with a 14-6 record overall (12-4 SOL).
Central Bucks East 0-0 0
Central Bucks West 1-0 1
#11 DOWNINGTOWN EAST 2, #6 NORTH PENN 1
It wasn’t supposed to end this way.
And the tears, the sobs, the hugs underscored just how cruel the second round exit was for a Knights’ squad that was not prepared to see its season end in Wednesday’s second round. And it wasn’t the loss that hurt the most but rather the fact that their season would end.
“We seriously love playing with each other, and we were all saying – this is the best part of our day – coming to field hockey – because we made it such a good environment,” senior Grace McGeehan said. “We love playing with each other, we love being together.”
That much was evident. Few good-byes are this painful, but perhaps few teams possess this kind of bond.
“We were all really supportive of each other,” McGeehan said. “On the field, we’re directional, but we’re never mean. We all want everyone to get better, we all want to help each other and boost each other up, and I think that played a huge part.”
The unique bond this Knights’ squad shared was not lost on their coach.
“One of these teams comes along every few years,” coach Shannon McCracken said. “The team culture this year, the way they played for each other – it was very selfless, we-before-me play.
“They just connected. That’s something they’re going to take with them. That’s something we talked about after the game.
“I don’t think it was our best performance tonight. Downingtown East played a great game, they were a tough competitor.”
On Wednesday, a Knights’ team that made scoring goals look oh-so-easy suddenly could not find the
cage. The Knights entered Wednesday’s game with 98 goals. Eclipsing the century mark seemed like a no-brainer, but it didn’t happen.
“Tonight doesn’t define this season,” McCracken said. “It was a really unfortunate ending, and it hurts a lot. I don’t think we could have predicted it. To come into the game with 98 goals and be held to one tonight – hats off to Downingtown East. Their goalie had a great night. It’s just such a shame. We out-cornered them, we outshot them. I feel as though it’s a little like the Phillies – we couldn’t do it tonight.”
The Knights’ only goal came when Paige Shearer scored as time expired.
“We played against a really good team,” McGeehan said. “We got in the circle a lot, but our shots just weren’t going in. That happens sometimes.”
The team’s 99 goals for the season were not the result of a roster filled with stars.
“What we accomplished this season was with no ‘stars,’” McCracken said. “We didn’t have the Division 1-bound kids that many of other schools have. The stats were so balanced – so many players contributed to the 99 goals. Kids that just love playing the sport and loved playing together.”
Did the eight days without a game take a toll? Did it break the Knights’ momentum? No one had the answer.
“We had a scrimmage, but it’s not the same environment,” said McGeehan, who will continue her hockey career at Pace University. “It was such a fun season, and it hurts not coming back next year.”
McCracken added one last tribute to her players.
“The biggest thing with this team, and it’s so unique – they play these youth sports and these showcases and all these club teams, but when they came here, it was all ‘we before me,’” the Knights’ coach said. “It was selfless play. They didn’t care about stats, they didn’t care who scored – as long as we put the ball in and we scored, and that’s unique these days.
“I’m just so proud to be a part of this team and what we did this season. They just had an incredible season.”
North Penn closed out its memorable season with a 14-4-1 record overall. The Knights were 12-3-1 in SOL play, finishing second to Central Bucks West in the SOL Colonial.
Downingtown East 1-0-0-1 2
North Penn 0-0-0-1 1
#8 GREAT VALLEY 4, #9 WISSAHICKON 1
The Patriots broke a scoreless tie with a pair of goals late in the first half and then added a pair in the second half on their way to a win over the visiting Trojans in Wednesday’s second round contest.
“It was an interesting game,” Wissahickon coach Lucy Gil said. “I don’t think the score was reflective of how we played.”
The Trojans held an 11-8 edge in penalty corners, but that did not translate into goals.
“They were much more effective than we were,” Gil said. “The shots they took were good shots. We, on the other hand – there were a lot of scrums in front of the net, and we weren’t able to get some good shots off.”
With the Trojans trailing 3-0 and 10 minutes remaining in the contest, Riley Bell scored the Trojans’ only goal, using an Avery Mullin assist. The Patriots added a late goal for the 4-1 final.
Wissahickon’s Ava Fell was credited with 13 saves in goal.
“It was a good season,” Gil said. “The kids were really great, and it was a fun season.
Wissahickon closed out its season with a 14-5-1 record overall and a share of the SOL Liberty Division title with a 13-2-1 record.
Wissahickon 0-0-0-1 1
Great Valley 0-2-1-1 4
#7 AVON GROVE 6, #10 QUAKERTOWN 2
The Panthers scored an early goal but then watched the Red Devils reel off four unanswered goals on their way to the win in Wednesday’s second round game.
“It was a tough fought game, but we didn’t back down,” Quakertown coach Mackenzie Moser said. “We had some strong shots and kept pressuring while on the opposite end of the field, our goalie, Anna Haberle, had herself some incredibly great saves.”
Kiera Gallagher put the Panthers on the board six minutes into the game, connecting on a solid direct shot on the cage.
With Avon Grove on top 4-1 early in the fourth quarter, Kaitlin Calvello redirected a shot by Katelyn Landis into the cage. That was the extent of the Panthers’ scoring.
Quakertown closed out its successful season with a share of the SOL Liberty Division title and a record of 15-4-1 overall (13-2-1 SOL).
Quakertown 1-0-0-1 2
Avon Grove 1-1-2-2 6
#2 DOWNINGTOWN WEST 5, #18 SOUDERTON 0
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