CB West was a winner in Friday’s District One AAA quarterfinals. Check back for a gallery of Keith Clemens’ photos of the CB West/Methacton game.
#5 CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 2, METHACTON 1 (2 OT)
Bryn Boylan brought to a dramatic end Friday night’s District One AAA contest at Methacton, dodging the oncoming corner flier with a move to her right and firing a shot that banged off not one board but all three to propel the Bucks to the exhilarating win.
“Coach said – eliminate, find the goal and see your options, and it was a relief for me to get that shot after a lot of opportunities and corners that we were unable to finish,” Boylan said. “During regulation and in the first overtime, we were working so hard together. We were keeping each other motivated through the entirety of the game.”
Anything less than a complete game effort, and Friday’s game could have had a much different outcome. The Warriors established from the outset that they were a dangerous offensive squad, drawing back-to-back corners in a 30-second span in the first two minutes of the game. West goalie Laura Kubit stonewalled a pair of laser shots, effectively setting the tone.
West’s defense followed Kubit’s lead, refusing to give an inch, and the Warriors’ defense and goalie Addie Frey made life equally difficult for the Bucks.
“Their backfield – especially Julia (Dickinson) their center back has a very hard accurate hit,” Boylan said. “A lot of their players are good with receiving that, and that caused a lot of breakaways for them, but our team really stepped up and stopped them in the midfield, and if they got past us, they were stopped in the backfield, especially by Laura (Kubit). She had so many great stops.”
One of Kubit’s best stops came with just over five minutes remaining in a scoreless tie where she made a glove save of a chip shot by the Warriors that had trouble written all over it, ensuring that the two teams went into halftime locked in a scoreless tie.
“She kept us in the game from the start,” Boylan said. “We had opportunities in our own attacking end, but when they had opportunities, Laura was our wall.”
The Warriors came at the Bucks with a vengeance out of halftime, drawing four corners in the first seven minutes and getting on the board on a goal by Jackie Cerchio at the 19:10 mark. In the opening 11 minutes of the half, the Warriors held a 7-0 advantage in shots.
“They’re dangerous and they’re just so speedy too,” West coach Courtney Lepping said. “They put a lot of great pressure on too. They recover really well even after getting beat. They stay on the ball with our dribblers, and that made it really hard to do a lot of passing.”
The Bucks responded to the Warriors’ go-ahead goal with some pressure of their own, and on their second corner of the half, Taylor Mason (Ryan Murray assist) fired a shot into the cage to knot the score with 7:59 remaining in regulation, setting the stage for overtime.
In the first 15-minute overtime, the Bucks – who drew three corners – mounted all kinds of offensive pressure, and late in the period, Frey delivered back-to-back-to-back saves during a dramatic sequence at the left post.
With the potential for penalty strokes looming, the Bucks took care of business with Boylan delivering the game winner at the 13:47 mark of the second OT.
The win vaulted the Bucks back to the district semifinals for the second time in as many years.
“In the beginning of the year, coach had told us to set goals for ourselves, and we said we wanted to make it to the district finals and make a state run,” Boylan said. “We’ve been really wanting this game, especially since we saw Methacton in a scrimmage, and we weren’t satisfied with how we played. We all felt we played horribly, and we wanted total redemption. We improved so much over the season, and we’ve just really come together.”
Kubit finished the game with 15 saves.
“We do a really good job of getting focused in warm-ups, and it helps me a lot,” the Bucks’ junior goalie said. “Right off the bat, I feel really focused and ready for whatever they’re going to throw at me.
“I’ve done so much training, and all the girls on our team are so great. Practicing with them has prepared me for games like this.”
Central Bucks West (16-3-1, 9-2-1 SOL) will travel to Unionville to take on the two-time defending district champs in a semifinal contest.
Central Bucks West 0-1-0-1 2
Methacton 0-1-0-0 1
#3 DOWNINGTOWN WEST 2, #6 CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 1
On Sept. 6, the Patriots came from behind to edge the Whippets 3-2 in an overtime thriller. In Friday’s district quarterfinal, the Whippets got their revenge.
The two teams battled to a scoreless tie after 30 minutes of action.
“The scoreless first half was not indicative of the tough battle during the half,” East coach Michelle Finegan said.
The visiting Patriots took a 1-0 lead at the 16:40 mark of the second half when Cailey Lever deflected a Riley Donnelly pass into the circle into a goal. The Patriots held that lead for just two minutes and 34 seconds as West’s Tatum Johnson (Romea Riccardo assist) answered with the equalizer. Just over a minute later, Taylor Orsi scored the go-ahead goal, also using a Riccardo assist.
That 2-1 lead held the rest of the way.
The Patriots held an 8-7 edge in corners, but the Whippets had an 8-3 advantage in shots.
Central Bucks East (14-5-1, 11-1 SOL) will host Plymouth Whitemarsh in a playback game Tuesday. East and PW are two of four teams battling for the final two state berths.
Central Bucks East 0-1 1
Downingtown West 0-2 2
#2 CONESTOGA 5, #7 PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 1
The Colonials took an early 1-0 lead, but the Pioneers had an answer, opening up a 2-1 halftime lead on their way to the quarterfinal win.
Sophomore Sam Spera put the Colonials on the board 32 seconds into Friday’s contest.
“We came out ready to play against Conestoga today,” coach Charise Halteman said. “On the opening play of the game, Sam Spera was able to jab the ball away from a Conestoga defender and take a 1v1 with the goalkeeper.”
Spera won that battle, but the rest of the game belonged to the Colonials.
“Our defense played great today,” Halteman said. “They sustained heavy pressure from talented Conestoga attackers and made some great corner defensive plays.
“Seniors Frankie O’Brien, Sami Mangine, Kolby Bechtel and sophomore Jen Byrne all played outstanding.”
Goalkeeper Katherine Houghton recorded a season-high seven saves.
“Midfielder Sophie Kolkka also made her presence known on the field today with key plays on both sides of the ball,” Halteman said. “Although the result was disappointing, the team showed a lot of heart today.”
Plymouth Whitemarsh (17-2-1, 14-0 SOL) will travel to Central Bucks East for a playback game Tuesday.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 1-0 1
Conestoga 2-3 5
#1 UNIONVILLE 1, #8 COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 0
The Golden Hawks did what few have done this season – they kept the high-powered Indians’ offense under wraps, but Unionville scored a goal at the 22:44 mark of the second half. That proved to be the difference in the game.
“Overall, our defense did outstanding,” coach Lisa Belz said. “There were a couple of big defensive saves.
“Our goalie (Sabrina Masone) did excellent. We were able to get down there and get some opportunities, but we just couldn’t capitalize. Overall, I’m very pleased with how the team played.”
Belz lauded the strong play of senior midfielder Sarah Womer.
“I thought she was a main spark out there today,” the Golden Hawks coach said. “Unionville’s stick work is just outstanding. The ball is glued to their stick, and they just have quick passing and really good sticks. Defensively, they have great sticks.”
Unionville is the first team to keep the Golden Hawks off the scoreboard this season.
For the Golden Hawks, Masone recorded 11 saves in a strong outing in goal. Womer and Emily Keller were both credited with defensive saves. The Indians held a 13-4 advantage in corners.
Earlier this season, the Golden Hawks fell to the Indians 3-0 in a contest that saw Unionville score three goals in two minutes midway through the second half.
“We’re disappointed,” Belz said. “We were hoping to seal the deal to get into states, and now we have to fight a little bit harder to get into states.
“At this point, everybody is so competitive. Every game is a big game, and it’s nice to see the girls playing so well.”
Council Rock South (16-4, 12-0 SOL) will travel to Methacton for a playback game Tuesday.
Council Rock South 0-0 0
Unionville 0-1 1
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