To view photos of the Neshaminy/Pennsbury and Wissahickon/Norristown games, visit the photo gallery at the following link: http://photos.suburbanonesports.com/
Wissahickon 4, Norristown 0
The scoreboard will show that Eliana Gillette and her Eagle teammates allowed four goals in Wednesday’s SOL game against the conference-leading Trojans.
What that stat doesn’t convey is the number of shots Gillette turned away.
The junior goalie established the tone for an impressive 19-save effort early on with several dazzling diving saves. Not only did Gillette turn away the initial shot but batted away multiple shots while on the ground.
The most impressive sequence came midway through the first half when the first-year varsity goalie – while down and the ball all but under her body – never stopped moving, preventing a penalty stroke while not allowing the ball to get over the goal line.
“She didn’t want to get the stroke goal – she must have had seven saves right in a row,” coach Stacie Staufenberg said. “I was a goalie, and I take special care, but during the season, they don’t get as much attention. I depend on what they do in the preseason and offseason to bring them along during the season.
“She had a great game today. She has had a lot of great games. She’s been to all the camps, she has discipline, and she shows up.”
Interestingly, Gillette became the varsity goalie when the projected starter left the team the third day of practice, opting to go out for band instead.
“My varsity goalie left, and Ellie gets the chance of a lifetime to play goalie,” Staufenberg said. “She deserves it because she’s worked so hard. I’m so proud of her, and I hope she can get in at the next level.”
In her spare time, Gillette works with goalies in the community youth league
“The goalie is coming along so nicely in my youth league, and that’s because Ellie is there for every practice,” Staufenberg said. “She’s logged about 20 hours of community service time this year alone and probably over 100 during the three years she’s been with me.”
According to the Trojans’ scorebook, Gillette stopped 19 shots.
“We pummeled her pretty well,” Trojan coach Lucy Gil said. “If it wasn’t for her, the score would have been a different thing.
“She stayed up when she had to stay up, and she went down when she had to go down. She was making all the right decisions, and I think that really kept them in the game.”
Despite Gillette’s heroics, the Trojans led 3-0 at halftime but managed just one second-half goal by Sam Marino (Caroline Kovacs assist). In the first half, Jackie Hibbs scored a pair of goals, using assists from Emily Gallagher and Gretchen Guaglianone. Lauren Becker also scored using an Angela Virtu assist.
“At halftime, I was not happy with some of the things they left happen,” Staufenberg said. “They adjusted and played hard in the second half. I was proud of them.”
The Eagles’ coach lauded the efforts of several players.
“Gabbie Berry played well – every game she brings it,” Staufenberg said. “In the second half, Charmaze Banks – my center mid - played hard.”
While the Trojans improved to 8-0 in conference play, the Eagles fell to 4-4.
Central Bucks South 1, Souderton 0 (OT)
In unquestionably the day’s most exciting contest, the Titans received a goal from Colleen Kempf at the 10:22 mark of overtime to escape with the important win.
“We came out playing okay, and definitely Souderton was ready to go,” Titan coach Christina Ford said. “They were on top of their game and got into our defensive end a couple of times.
“It seemed to be a frustrating game for myself and I think my players on our home grass field. We haven’t played there in a while. We’ve had turf games, and we’ve been on rain schedules where we weren’t allowed on our field and practiced inside. I think that really showed today that we weren’t quite used to grass.”
Neither team had all that many opportunities in overtime until Kempf capitalized.
“In overtime, there’s so much more space and more opportunities for the girls to keep possession,” Ford said. “We were able to capitalize on a ball that got through the defense.
“Colleen Kempf used her speed and composure to get a shot on goal that deflected off the goalie’s stick and in.”
The Indians held a 9-8 edge in corners, but the Titans outshot the Indians 17-8.
“It was a good game,” Ford said. “No one dominated completely.
“Souderton never backed down, we never backed down. It was a battle.”
The Titans improved to 8-0-1 in league play while the Indians fell to 6-3.
Quakertown 2, Central Bucks 0
Courtney Heverly scored a pair of goals – both with assists from Stephanie Zischang, and goalie Amanda Kobryznski turned away 14 shots in a strong outing to lead the Panthers to the big win. The win avenged an early-season 2-1 loss to the Bucks.
“We came out really strong,” coach Peach Draper said of her team’s trip to War Memorial Field. “We had not played since we got beat on that same field against CB East. They beat us up pretty badly (5-0), and we had just lost three straight.
“We had a lot of games cancelled, and this was the first time we played since we lost on that field. We had a lot of conversations about that and how that affected us and how we really wanted to turn it around because now we’re at the halfway point of the season. We wanted to start the second half and try to beat everyone in the conference.”
The Panthers scored both of their goals in the first half, with the team’s two captains connecting for their first goal at the 13:47 and the second at the 9:10 mark.
“In the first half, we just passed so well, and we played as a team,” Draper said. “The second half was a little scary. I will definitely give credit to CB West. They were definitely pushing. I think they had 14 or 15 corners against us, but our defense stayed strong the entire time.”
Draper lauded the standout efforts of Kobryznski, Zischang and Heverly and also left defensive back Kelly Camburn and forward Connie Henderson.
The Panthers (2-5) will face neighboring Pennridge in a night game on Thursday.
Council Rock North 3, Abington 0
Sparked by a pair of goals and an assist from senior Becky Ely, the Indians tamed the red hot Ghosts on Wednesday. Alex Kuzma also scored while Amanda Krause posted the shutout in goal.
“The field was a little sloppy today, but the girls are doing very well,” coach Heather Whalin said. “Becky (Ely) is starting to get more and more comfortable playing center mid.
“Everyone was playing a different position at the beginning of the season and had to get comfortable. We just played well as a team.”
Whalin lauded the efforts of her defense which is anchored by Krause in goal as well as Kara Magley, Kara Le, Jacqueline Fagan and Courtney Titus. Fagan is a converted forward while Lee and Titus are varsity newcomers.
“They’re being very stingy as a whole, and that’s really helping us a lot,” Whalin said. “They’ve just been quietly solid back there.
“It’s a whole new defense besides Amanda in goal and Kara Magley, and it’s refreshing to see them starting to get it. They work really hard every practice. I’m really happy with them and what they’re doing. They don’t get a lot of accolades because they don’t put goals in the net, but they’re keeping them out.”
While the Indians improved to 7-1, the Ghosts saw their record fall to 4-4.
“This division is crazy,” Whalin said. “We’re just worried about ourselves, and we’re trying to get better each and every day and do things right.
“The girls are listening and doing what we’re asking them to do, and that’s all we can hope for.”
The Indians have a two-and-a-half game lead over second place Pennsbury and Neshaminy, but Whalin is not taking any team lightly.
“We’re all beating up on each other in the league, which is good because if you’re having close games going into the postseason, you know how to fight,” Whalin said. “Sometimes when you roll over teams and get into the postseason, you don’t know how to play in tough games.
“Every game is a tough game this year, which is very nerveracking. You have to be up for every game, and we don’t take anyone lightly ever. I think that’s part of what’s helping us – we know on any given day anyone can beat anyone else in this league. We just have to keep worrying about ourselves and play tough.”
Central Bucks East 4, Hatboro-Horsham 0
The Patriots rebounded from a tough 1-0 loss to Souderton the preceding day to down the Hatters. Scoring goals for the Patriots were Jamie Schloterer (Melissa Remmey assist), Shannon Devlin (Emily Vasey assist), Brittany Meyer (Sara Kuyz assist) and Shannon Moonan (Margo Magee assist).
Neshaminy 1, Pennsbury 1
Emily Hegner scored an unassisted goal for the Redskins, who found themselves knotted up with the Falcons. Both teams are 5-3-1 in SOL play.
Upper Dublin 5, Upper Merion 0
Sarah Carroll and Emily Hitchings both scored a pair of goals, and Hitchings also had a pair of assists in the Flying Cardinals’ big win. Kelly Cross added a goal and two assists while Sydney Lang and Brooke Callahan each added assists for the Flying Cardinals, who led 3-0 at the half.
Upper Dublin held a 16-5 advantage in corners and a 15-7 edge in shots on goal. The Flying Cardinals are 7-1 in league play while the Vikings dropped to 1-6.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 10, Upper Moreland 0
Bryn Frankhouser connected for the hat trick while teammate Galen Newsum and Ariana Horn each scored a pair. Mollie Getzfread, Meg McCullough and Rachel Konowal each added single goals. McCullough also had an assist for the Colonials, who improved to 5-3 in league play.
- Log in to post comments
0
