Riley Donnelly connected for a hat trick – including her 100th career goal – to lead Central Bucks East to a 3-2 win over Owen J Roberts in the District One 3A third place game. CB South fell to Unionville in the fifth place game.
Third place game
#1-5 CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 3, #1-7 OWEN J ROBERTS 2
They couldn’t have written a better script for their final home game of the season on a balmy November day.
“We wrapped it up in Patriot Stadium really nicely with our new jerseys, a win and Riley (Donnelly’s) 100th goal,” senior Casey Voglesong said. “It was a fairy tale ending.”
Donnelly found herself front and center after Friday’s District One 3A third place game against the Wildcats, the focal point of an impromptu celebration for the senior standout who finished with a hat trick. Her third and final goal was number 100 of a stellar high school career.
“How cool is that – for her 100th goal, she made the difference in the outcome of the game,” coach Michelle Finegan said. “She’s an incredible athlete. I love having her on the team.
“She’s just coming into her own, if you will, at the end of her high school career.”
Donnelly had 90 goals entering the postseason.
“I said to Mindy (Donnelly), ‘We could go five more games, and she could get two goals a game, and she could actually get this,’” Finegan said. “She had the game with five goals, and then she had 95 and then she had 96. It was like, ‘Oh my gosh, it could actually happen.’”
Donnelly entered Friday’s game needing three goals. She took care of that matter in the first half, propelling the Patriots to a 3-2 lead that stood the rest of the way.
“Owen J Roberts is a good team, so I didn’t know if it was going to happen,” Finegan said. “I heard they were a tough team, and I wasn’t sure we’d be relaxed enough that she could get on a roll, but she’s actually the reason we won the game.”
It is the second time in her high school career Donnelly has reached the 100-goal milestone – she accomplished that feat as a sophomore on the lacrosse team. Scoring 100 goals in the low-scoring sport of hockey is no easy task.
“Going into the postseason, to be honest, it was pretty far away, and I was like, ‘I don’t think I’ll get it, but it doesn’t matter. I just want to do well as a team,’” Donnelly said. “When I had the five-goal game, that’s when I was like, ‘Oh, okay.’ After that, it became more of a goal and motivation.
“It’s definitely really exciting, especially knowing field hockey is my main sport. It’s a little bit easier in lacrosse.”
After the Wildcats took an early lead, Donnelly went to work, scoring the equalizer on the rebound off the goal just over seven minutes into the game. She added two more goals in the next eight minutes – both off rebounds – to put the Patriots on top 3-1. The Wildcats scored a late goal to make it a 3-2 game at the intermission.
Both team threatened in the second half but the respective defenses holding after allowing a combined five goals in the opening 30 minutes.
The Patriots held an edge in shots (12-9) while the Wildcats had a 6-4 advantage in corners.
“We always want to win so we can go into states with a little momentum,” Finegan said. “Last year we won to get fifth and we thought we would have a shot against Emmaus. We didn’t, but it’s nice to go in with a little bit of momentum. I just think they’re more ready.”
“It was very exciting,” Donnelly said. “It puts us in a good place for our first round of states. We were really looking to win this game.”
Central Bucks East (18-4, 11-1 SOL) will face the District 2 or District 6 champion in Tuesday’s opening round of the PIAA 3A tournament.
Owen J. Roberts 2-0 2
Central Bucks East 3-0 3
Fifth place game
#1-9 UNIONVILLE 6, #1-15 CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 1
The high-powered Indians got on the scoreboard when Maggie Lawrence scored on a corner shot eight minutes into Friday’s fifth place game, but three minutes later Kasey Dietzel connected with the equalizer. A goal by Katie Anderson sent the Indians into halftime with a 2-1 lead.
The second half belonged to the Indians, who reeled off four unanswered goals – all four, according to Toner, coming on “spectacular corner shots.”
"This was the most talented offensive firepower we have played against all year,” the Titans’ coach said. “Their corner shots were absolutely amazing and their ability to release a quick rebound shot was excellent. In addition to having quite a few D1 commits on the field, Unionville's goalkeeper, had some unbelievable saves on several CB South point blank shots.
“Although losing is never enjoyable, I am so happy that this group of players will get to experience the PIAA State playoffs. Entering the tournament as the 15th seed, and finishing sixth in District One, is a major step in the right direction in turning CB South's program around. As a coaching staff, we realize that in order to improve we must play the best competition and learn from the experience.
“We are so thankful that we can continue to work together as a team and wish all of our District One teams Good Luck as we enter states!”
Unionville held a 14-9 edge in shots and a 14-4 advantage in corners.
CB South’s Jillian Heilig was credited with eight saves in goal, and Unionville’s Lizzie Gaebel also had eight saves.
Central Bucks South (13-9-1, 6-5-1 SOL) will face the winner of Saturday’s District 3 championship game between top-seeded Penn Manor and Lower Dauphin.
Central Bucks South 1-0 1
Unionville 2-4 6
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