Check out the recaps for SOL field hockey teams in action in the District One Tournament on Tuesday. (File photo provided by Springfield Township field hockey)
CLASS 2A
#4 SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 1, #5 LOWER MORELAND 0
For the third time this season, the SOL Freedom Division rivals did battle, and for the third time, the Spartans earned the win.
“Beating a team a third time is hard to do,” Springfield coach Anita Stum said. “The game was relatively even. They didn’t give up
“They had us in our defensive end in the first quarter, and we had a hard time getting out. I think we were nervous. Once we got over the 50, I think after that, things evened up a little bit for us. It was a lot of back and forth.”
The Spartans scored the game’s only goal with 2:35 remaining in the second quarter, capitalizing on a penalty corner. Annie Coll scored from the top of the circle with an assist from Hailey Lesniak.
Erin Roy was credited with five saves in the shutout win.
“They were decent saves – there were a couple that were straight shots, and they were bullets from Meredith Lutter or Liz Neeld,” Stum said.
The Spartans’ coach credited the strong play of Annie Coll, Emma Yoder and Hailey Lesniak.
“I didn’t sub – I had one sub the entire game,” Stum said. “Today was the best my forward line has done with making sure they were blocking up every hit.
“That was one of the major keys to our success. The three forwards – Anna Jablokov, Stella Nelson and Norah Conlin – hustled the whole game. They knocked down their free hits because they were looking to hit the ball pretty hard upfield, and we were just knocking down their free hits.”
Lower Moreland coach Janet Lutter had nothing but praise for her team’s showing.
“(We) came out strong in the first quarter and controlled most of the play even when forced to play shorthanded,” said the Lions’ coach. “Annie Coll scored in the second quarter with a perfectly placed shot off a corner. (We) did not give up and fought hard the rest of the game. Sadly, we came up just short.
“The girls executed everything we have practiced – moving the ball well, switching fields, and passing to get the ball downfield, but we just could not get it into the net. We have focused all season on working together and making each other better field hockey players and tonight was no different. Although the outcome was not what we wanted, the effort and play tonight by each and every player was a great culmination to a season.
“The Lions will miss seniors Kathleen Chen, Kylie Hopkins, Zoe Karros, and Meredith Lutter next season. Their leadership both on and off the field have been immense. They will look to returners Liz Neeld, Bri Rocha, Carlie Keller, Jessica Shein, Jessica Pachman, Maya Vaisman, Mia Karros, and goalie Sarah Rosala next season to continue the culture we have created this year.”
The Spartans had an advantage in both shots (10-5) and penalty corners (9-4).
Springfield Township (13-5-1, 11-4-1 SOL) will travel to New Hope-Solebury on Thursday for a District One 2A semifinal contest. The two teams met twice during the regular season with NHS winning both. Lower Moreland closed out its season with an 8-10-1 record (6-9-1 overall).
Lower Moreland 0-0-0-0 0
Springfield Twp 0-1-0-0 1
CLASS 3A
#14 AVON GROVE 4, #19 COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 3 (2 OTs)
It took two days and two long, long bus trips to West Grove in Southern Chester County to complete the Golden Hawks’ opening round game. The Golden Hawks, who trailed 2-1 when the game was halted Monday midway through the second quarter, went on top 3-2 in the third quarter, but the Red Devils rallied to knot the score and won it in the second overtime.
“It was a very evenly matched game,” Rock South coach Colette Paprocki said. “I just told them to hold their heads high after the game. They played their absolute hearts out.
“They were exhausted and still managing to sprint down the field. I really could not be more proud of how they played. It was an amazing game, it was an exciting game. We had a lot of odds against us with the long bus trip, it started to rain. It was windy and cold, and in the overtime, it started really raining.”
On Monday, Avon Grove took a 2-0 lead in the opening quarter, but Kerry Kaufman gave the Hawks life when she scored an unassisted goal with three second remaining in the frame to make it a 2-1 game.
“It was a beautiful goal and a beautiful shot,” Paprocki said. “Kerry took the ball in and slammed it in, which really gave us a lot of energy and momentum that we needed. It was a great spark for us.”
It was still a 2-1 game when the skies erupted, and the game was halted with 8:24 remaining in the second quarter. When the Golden Hawks returned Tuesday, they wasted no time at all before Kylee Hager connected on the equalizer, using a Kaufman assist.
“We started the game, and we were on the 18-yard line going in,” Paprocki said “We went down and pretty much scored right away
“We got a corner, Kerry had a direct shot, and Kylee had an amazing tip to put the ball in the net and tie up the score. It was an awesome exciting goal. We said, ‘We’re going to go right in and score,’ and we did that It was amazing.”
The Golden Hawks took a 3-2 lead with 7:18 remaining in the third quarter when Caroline Martin scored with a Hager assist.
“Kylee took on a defender one-on-one, drove the endline and dumped it to the stroke where Caroline Martin knocked it in,” Paprocki said. “
With 2:23 remaining in the third quarter, Isabella Huller knotted the score, setting the stage for overtime. The Red Devils won it with nine minutes remaining on the clock.
“One of the things I told the girls at the end – you always end with a loss unless you end up the state champion,” Paprocki said. “I was just really happy the way they battled throughout the entire season. We had a modified season last year and then jumped into this season this year with all those crossover games. They just kept battling back, which was amazing. Today’s game was heartbreaking for sure, but I’m so proud of them. I felt like everyone had an amazing game. Everybody seemed to be on and playing their best. I’m really proud of the way they were able to come out co-league champs, so they have a lot to be proud of at the end of the day.”
Paprocki recognized her two seniors, who also are captains.
“Kerry Kaufman and Kasey Knapp both played an amazing game,” the Golden Hawks’ coach said. “They left their mark on the program and will be missed.
“I am very fortunate to have coached such an amazing team of girls. They never gave up and had a season to be proud of. I hope they hold their heads high and hold their memories from this season close to their hearts – it was truly a special season.”
Megan Rafter and Grace Franchini both had defensive saves for the Golden Hawks.
Council Rock South closed out its season with an 11-8 record overall. The Golden Hawks earned a share of the SOL Colonial Division title and finished with an 11-5 record in conference play.
Council Rock South 1-1-1-0-0-0 3
Avon Grove 2-0-1-0-0-1 4
#16 DOWNINGTOWN EAST 6, #17 ABINGTON 0
In a game that spanned two days and two trips to Downingtown, the Ghosts – who trailed 1-0 when the game was halted in the first quarter Monday – saw their season come to an end at the hands of the Cougars.
“The score does not reflect how well we played today,” Abington coach Katie Small said. “After driving an hour yesterday, warming up, playing three minutes, waiting an hour in a weather delay, we drove home in the pouring rain.
“We got back on the bus today and played through the rain for one-and-a-half hours and never once did these girls complain. They left it all on the field today. The play was back and forth for a full game. Downingtown East has some of the best corners we have seen all season, and they were able to capitalize on those. We had trouble finding the cage but definitely had our opportunities.”
According to the Ghosts’ coach, some real positives came out of the game.
“Tara Hughes entered the Abington record book with her 18th defensive save,” Small said. “Olivia Dougherty had an excellent game at center back today, stopping their play and helping transition the ball into our offensive end.
“Skylar Beal stepped up and played a great game in the midfield to replace a starter who was unable to attend the game. Erica Devlin and Davan Murray probably had their best games of the season. Both did a great job channeling East’s players to the sidelines and causing turnovers and creating opportunities for us in the offensive end.
“No matter what, these girls defied all odds and finished the season 11-9 and achieving their goal of making districts. We wish our sevens seniors so much luck moving forward and look forward to seeing where this team will go in the future.”
CLASS 5A
WEST CHESTER EAST 5, UPPER DUBLIN 1
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