Central Bucks East and Central Bucks South will be in action in the opening round of the PIAA Class 3A State Tournament on Tuesday. Check back for recaps of both games.
Central Bucks East and Central Bucks South will represent the SOL when the PIAA 3A Tournament gets underway on Tuesday.
The Patriots will take on a Delaware Valley squad that upset top-seeded Hazleton Area to win the District 2 title, the program’s first in 17 years. East is riding the momentum of a strong showing in the District One 4A Tournament. The Patriots are coming off a 3-2 win over Owen J. Roberts in the third place game that saw Riley Donnelly connect for the hat trick. Her third goal vaulted her to a milestone – it was the 100th goal of a stellar career.
“Riley Donnelly is an exceptional athlete, and I do believe she’s a big reason why we’re able to take on some of these teams,” coach Michelle Finegan said. “She’s not the only reason, and she’ll be the first to tell you that. She’s just a very humble kid.”
Donnelly, according to Finegan, has elevated her game in the postseason when the Patriots have needed it most.
“She has passed and passed and passed to people when she could have scored many times this season,” Finegan said. “She’s not going to do it now because now it matters. It’s the end of the line, so she’s taking it on her shoulders.
“The rest of the season she was interwoven with the team and working towards the goals, but they always say, when you have someone with that much talent, when the big games come up, the big players step up, and I really believe she has.”
Donnelly is one of seven seniors who anchor this year’s successful Patriot squad. They include – in addition to Donnelly – Mackenzie Boyle, Whitney Dietz, Tara Harper, Sophie Kane, Isobel Mannino and Casey Voglesong.
“They’re really good kids,” Finegan said. “They’re really hard workers.”
Finegan credited assistants Meghann Spratt and Mindy Donnelly for their role in building the program.
“We have one of the parents videotaping the games,” the Patriots’ coach said. “We have a booster club that was created last year.
“They always say – it takes a village. I’m telling you, this community has really supported the field hockey team. I’m the person who is the head coach, but that is nowhere near everything. There are so many people supporting these guys.”
Central Bucks South will face the nation’s top-ranked team in Penn Manor, and whatever the outcome, it’s been a remarkable season for a Titan squad that defied its 15th seed in districts to finish fifth. South the role of giant killer with a second round 2-1 win over second-seeded Methacton, which brought a 20-0 record into the game.
“This season has been one of the most rewarding in my career because we do not have many players who want to continue to play in college, but we do have a singular purpose and a true team,” Toner said. “And with that, we have found a way to compete with teams who most people would not have given us a chance against.
“For our coaching staff, this is less about hockey and more about watching kids achieve something they never thought they could. We are thrilled to have this opportunity and know that as long as you’re still playing, there is always a chance for success.”
#1-3 CENTRAL BUCKS EAST vs. #2-1 DELAWARE VALLEY (at Wyoming Seminary, 5 p.m.)
Central Bucks East
- 18-4 overall
- 11-1 SOL Continental Conference champions
- Second consecutive conference title
- Led offensively by Riley Donnelly (29 goals, 11 assists), Cailey Lever (18 goals, 13 assists) and Phia Mannino (14 goals, 6 assists)
- Won eight of nine games heading into states
How they got here: In Friday’s third place game, Central Bucks East edged Owen J. Roberts 3-2. Riley Donnelly connected for a hat trick.
In a semifinal game, Central Bucks East fell to #1 Downingtown West 3-1. Riley Donnelly scored for the Patriots.
In the quarterfinal round, Riley Donnelly scored with 10:35 remaining in overtime to propel Central Bucks East to a 2-1 win over fourth-seeded Haverford. Mackenzie Boyle scored the tying goal with 4:34 remaining in regulation.
After an opening round bye, Central Bucks East defeated #12 Perk Valley 7-2 in a second round game. Riley Donnelly scored five goals, Phia Mannino and Emma Donnelly both added single goals.
Delaware Valley
- 6-9-1 overall
- First district title for program since 2000
- Second-seeded team is the three-team District 2 Tournament.
How they got here: In the District 2-6 Sub-regional, Delaware Valley defeated District 6 champion State College 3-2. Skyler Padgett scored two goals, including the game winner with 4:05 remaining. Addy Ross added a single goal.
In the District 2 title game, Delaware Valley upset top-seeded Hazleton Area 1-0 in overtime. Eileen Nikles scored on a rebound with 8:39 remaining in OT. Hazletown outshot Delaware Valley 14-3. Freshman Emily Festa recorded 10 saves in the win.
In the District 2 opening round game, second-seeded Delaware Valley defeated third-seeded Lackawanna Trail 2-1. Morgan Gifford scored a first-half goal as the two teams battled to a 1-1 halftime tie. Two minutes into the second half, Eileen Nikles deflected a shot by Morgan Johns into the cage.
#1-6 CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH vs. #3-1 PENN MANOR (at Warwick High School, 7 p.m.)
Central Bucks South
- 12-8-1 overall
- 6-5-1 SOL Continental Conference fourth place
- Led offensively by Casey Reilly (16 goals, 6 assists), Kaitlyn Barnhart (10 goals, 5 assists) and Kasey Deitzel (8 goals, 10 assists)
- 15th seed entering the District One 3A Tournament
How they got here: In Friday’s fifth place game, Central Bucks South fell to #4 Unionville 6-1. Kasey Dietzel scored for the Titans.
In a playback game, Central Bucks South defeated #11 North Penn 1-0 in overtime. Mel Dunton (Ally Fitts assist) scored the game winner on a corner two minutes into the second half.
In a quarterfinal game, Central Bucks South fell to #7 Owen J. Roberts 2-1 in overtime. Meg Gillard scored the tying goal on a corner with a Mel Dunton assist.
In second round action, Central Bucks South pulled off the upset of the tournament, defeating #2 Methacton 2-1 in overtime. Kasey Dietzel converted a penalty stroke with five seconds remaining in overtime to win it. Casey Reilly scored early in the second half to knot the score 1-1 in a game the Warriors dominated statistically.
In an opening round game, Central Bucks South defeated #18 Wissahickon 2-0, using goals by Megan Weeks and Casey Reilly.
Penn Manor
- 24-0 overall
- 12-0 Lancaster-Lebanon Section & League champion
- District 3 champion for the first time since 2012
- Scored 134 goals and allowed just five, never more than one in a game
- 19 shutouts in 24 games with goalie Brit Hook recording just 18 saves in the season
- Led by Ohio State commit Gabby Bitts (31 goals, 21 assists), Maryland commit Emma DeBerdine (24 g/24 a), Bri Harsh (20g/16a), Anna May Barbusca (19g/14 a) and JMU commit Hannah Brown (10 g/10 a).
- State champions in 2008 and 2014.
How they got here: In Saturday’s district title game, Penn Manor defeated seventh-seeded Lower Dauphin 3-0. Gabby Bitts, Anna May Barbusca and Briana Harsh each scored a goal during corner play in a contest that Penn Manor led 2-0 at halftime. Lower Dauphin did not take a shot.
In a district semifinal game, Penn Manor defeated fourth-seeded Hershey 2-0, using second-half goals from Emma DeBerdine and Briana Harsh. Hershey goalie Kit Olmstead, a UNC commit, recorded 10 save in a contest that saw Penn Manor hold a 13-1 advantage in shots.
In district quarterfinal action, Penn Manor – which had an opening round bye – defeated ninth-seeded Palmyra 3-0. Gabby Bitts scored a pair of goals and Briana Harsh also had a goal.
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