NATIONAL CONFERENCE
Harry S. Truman 2, Council Rock North 1
Georjenna Gatto and her Truman teammates had decidedly modest expectations going into Monday’s SOL game against Council Rock North.
“I was just hoping to not be shut out,” the Tigers’ junior defender said. “I was hoping we could score at least once and keep our heads in the game, and I was just hoping to not be completely blown out as in the past.”
“We never thought we would win,” Nikki Herbert added. “We just wanted to try our hardest, but we didn’t actually think we would win.”
Gatto, Herbert and their Tiger teammates got everything they were hoping for and then some when they did what no Truman field hockey team in history had done before – they defeated Council Rock North. On the Indians’ home field, no less.
“It was a complete shock,” Gatto said. “I was completely floored.
“It was awesome. It was the best feeling in the world.”
Coach Dawn Martesi was equally ecstatic.
“I told my girls in the huddle that I think I was more excited today than I was on my wedding day,” the Tigers’ coach said with a laugh. “It’s been a long time coming.
“These girls have worked really hard and long, and it was Council Rock North – we’ve never beaten them, we’ve never scored off them. It was complete euphoria to know that all their hard work paid off.
“That’s one thing we drive home to the girls – work ethic, work ethic, work ethic. If you want it more and you work hard for it, you can have it. It’s sort of a dream fulfillment – if you work hard, you can win, and it was nice to see it happen.”
A look back to last season alone is a testament to the Indians’ dominance of the Tigers.“The last time we were on that field last year we lost 8-0,” Martesi said. “The next time we played them we lost 3-0, so we’ve chipped away, but we’ve never scored on them, so this was nice.
“Really, our girls played well. We never gave up, and we went to the ball. They did what they know how to do, and they wanted it.”
The Tigers got on the board first with a minute remaining in the first half after Herbert connected for a goal.
“We were pressuring them a lot, and we dominated for a while,” Martesi said of the play leading up to Herbert’s goal. “It was one of those tips – Nikki plays on the outside, and she just banged it into the corner of the cage.”
Four minutes into the second half, the Tigers extended their lead to 2-0 after a goal by Charlotte Coutellier on a penalty corner. The Indians cut that lead in half when they received a goal from Michelle Han with 10 minutes remaining, but the Tigers’ defense held strong.
They simply would not be denied.
“I was nervous at first, and then I was just really confident with my team that we could actually win this game, and we were going to win this game,” Gatto said. “I tried not to have a doubt in my mind that we were going to win.”
And how did Gatto celebrate when the final horn sounded with her team on top 2-1 to notch the historic win?
“I screamed,” she said. “I screamed and ran to my team. We all jumped on each other. It was awesome.”
Ask the players the key to the big win, and they have an immediate response.
“Just going for the ball and staying on the ball,” Herbert said.
“We just outhustled and outplayed them,” Gatto said. “We were always at the ball first.”
Although the win was a team effort, Martesi credited her defense for holding the dangerous Indians at bay.
“Georjenna Gatto stepped up and really controlled the defense very well, and she cleared the ball like she was supposed to,” Martesi said. “Charlotte Coutellier scored, and she just controlled the midfield. She had her stick on the ground, and she went to the ball.”
The win was a shot in the arm for a Truman program that has struggled to compete in the tough National Conference.
“I feel like now I know we can beat anybody because I know Council Rock North was picked as one of the top teams in our league, and we beat them,” Gatto said. “It was a really big accomplishment, but we have to be prepared for our next game. We can’t get too happy.”
Added Herbert, “This gives us a lot of confidence because we know we can go somewhere this season, and we’re just ready for everybody now. We thought we could be good. We have a lot of good people, and we have the confidence.”
The Tigers held an 8-7 edge in shots.
William Tennent 4, Bensalem 0
The Panthers received a pair of goals and an assist from Colleen McCabe, and teammate Kelsey Hiltebeitel contributed a pair of assists. Maya Morris and Lindsay McKenna each contributed single goals.
“I think if you look at who’s scoring for us – we have so much depth,” coach Kate Wyatt said. “Kelsey is on our defense, and she had two assists today – she’s pushing the ball up the field.
“Today we created a lot more opportunities because we were working together. We were passing the ball more, and we were doing everything together.”
The win loomed especially large after last week’s tough overtime losses to Council Rock North and Council Rock South.
“That’s the thing I love about our league – there are so many teams coming up this year that are giving everybody a run for their money, which is great,” Wyatt said. “You have to walk into every game like it’s the playoffs, and you’re going into double overtime.
“We were coming off those two losses that we were in the games, and these girls came out, and they wanted to win today. They just had a fire under them. Our forwards really stepped up, and our defense worked so hard. They were just really working as a unit, and that really showed today.”
Wyatt credited several of her players for their efforts.
“Colleen McCabe is only a sophomore, and she’s filling in a huge spot where Alex Kistner was our right wing last year,” the Panthers’ coach said. “So Colleen is really stepping up her game – she has some big shoes to fill. She is a big asset to the team.
“Brittany Mitchell, one of our forwards, didn’t score today, but she is a big playmaker for us. She made so many smart passes for us today, which is great from a forward.”
While the Panthers are 1-2, the Owls fell to 2-1.
Neshaminy 1, Council Rock South 0
The Redskins received a first-half goal from Rachel Rotteveel (Brittany Calvert assist) in their win over the Golden Hawks. The win came on the heels of a disappointing 1-0 loss to Pennsbury last Thursday.
“After we lost on Thursday, my girls were devastated,” coach Sara Camilli said. “It actually was a good lesson. They needed one more minute to score, and they learned you need to score early. You can’t wait until the end of the game.
“I was so proud of Rachel for scoring in the first half. She actually dove for the ball and put it in the cage. It showed a lot of heart. Now we have two league wins, which is great, and it seems like everyone has one league loss, so we’re all so even. It was such a huge win.”
The Redskins controlled play, amassing a 10-0 advantage in corners and an equally lopsided edge in shots.
As a result of the win, the Redskins are one of five teams with a 2-1 record in National Conference play.
“It’s very exciting for our girls because we had such an off year last year, and everyone was really judging our team,” Camilli said. “It’s nice to have a fresh start and be able to compete with everyone.
“This was a confidence builder for our program.”
Pennsbury 2, Abington 0
The Falcons added their name to the list of teams bunched atop the National Conference standings with 2-1 records.
CONTINENTAL CONFERENCE
North Penn 4, Central Bucks West 0
Two games, 120 minutes.
That’s a lifetime in the sport of field hockey, but that’s how long it’s been since someone took an actual shot on goal against the Maidens.
Last Thursday, the Maidens defeated Pennridge 3-0, and only the 21-save effort of Ram goalie Amanda Perricone kept the score reasonably close as the Maidens held a 33-0 advantage in shots. After the game, Ram first-year coach Nikki Thren declared North Penn the most skilled team her squad had faced this year.
In Monday’s win over West, the Bucks never so much as took a shot on cage, and the Maidens once again rolled to a decisive win. Again, the opposing coach – this time West coach Kit Sinnamon – was singing the Maidens’ praises.
“They excelled in the circle,” Sinnamon said. “We have a little bit more of an advantage than some teams because we also play on turf and have that opportunity, but they really kill in the circle.
“It’s just a fast – one, two three (passes) and goal, and that’s what three of their four goals were. It’s just very hard to mark them.”
Despite her team’s dominance, Maiden coach Carrie Jankowski sees plenty of room for improvement.
“While I can’t commend the offense enough for generating attack – and it all starts with the midfield, I still think we could finish more,” she said. “In closer games, we’re not going to have the luxury of having a scoring percentage of 10 percent.”
All four of the Maidens’ goals came with assists, and three had more than one as the goals were the culmination of textbook passing sequences.
“We have connected well,” senior forward Amy Coughlin said. “We know where each other are on the field to connect with our passes. We have definitely gotten better as the games have gone by.”
Juliamae Marger was involved in all four goals, scoring a pair and assisting on the other two. Coughlin had a goal and two assists while Ines Farre, a foreign exchange student, scored her first varsity goal.
While some may suggest that the Maidens’ defense has not being tested, senior Macie Hauck points to the fact that the defense goes against the Maidens’ high-powered offense every day at practice.
“That’s good because then in the game we’re used to good competition,” the senior standout said. “Our offense is very good, and we’ve improved a lot since the beginning of the season.”
The win sets the stage for North Penn’s eagerly anticipate showdown against defending conference and district champion Central Bucks South on Wednesday. Both teams are undefeated – the Maidens are 5-0 while the Titans are 7-0. Both are 3-0 in conference play.
“We just wanted to get past every game and take every game as it came, day by day,” Hauck said. “Since we got past this game, what we will focus on tomorrow is CB South.
“We’re really excited. We have been waiting for this.”
“We want to come out hard and make sure we’re on our top game,” Coughlin added. “We’re pumped.
“We’ve been waiting for this, and it should be a good game. We’re all excited.”
Last year, the Titans twice defeated the Maidens 2-1 in overtime.
“This game should be a really good gauge for us, but any team expecting to go undefeated in our league and in the regular season – you can’t expect to do that,” Jankowski said. “But this will show how really good we can be if it goes our way or it will show us what we need to do to be that team.”
Stay tuned.
Central Bucks South 7, Quakertown 0
Junior Kayla Kenney scored a pair of goals while Maddy Harding, Casey Haegele, Franny Ryan, Lexi Thompson and Colleen Kempf each scored single goals for the Titans.
The win upped the Titans’ record to 3-0 in conference play (7-0 overall) and sets the stage for Wednesday’s game against undefeated North Penn on the Maidens’ home field at 3:45 p.m.
Souderton 2, Hatboro-Horsham 1
Souderton dominated play but eked out just a one-goal win as the Hatters scored a late goal by Julia McKay (Hannah Vogel assist) to cut the Indians’ lead in half. Alayna Brown (Rachel Valentine assist) scored at the 20:24 mark of the first half, and it was Valentine (Taylor Yoder assist) adding an insurance goal with just over 10 minutes remaining.
“We were down in their end, but we didn’t take a lot of shots,” Souderton coach Mary Ann Harris said. “We had a terrible corner day, so I hope that will improve.”
The Indians held a 9-0 advantage in corners.
Central Bucks East 1, Pennridge 0
Carolyn Remmey scored using an assist from Katt Miller to propel the Patriots to the 1-0 win.
AMERICAN CONFERENCE
Upper Dublin 2, Plymouth Whitemarsh 1
The Flying Cardinals (3-0) remained undefeated in conference play, thanks to their 2-1 win over archrival PW in a game the Cardinals dominated.
“We peppered their goalie pretty good,” said Flying Cardinal coach Heather Boyer. “Becky Stiteler did a really good job. We had a number of close looks, and she turned our shots away.”
The Colonials – thanks to a Gab Fazio goal – took a 1-0 lead into halftime. In the second half, the Flying Cardinals received goals form Sam Boyd (Emily Hitchings assist) and Sarah Carroll (Sam Boyd assist). Carroll scored what turned out to be the game winner with 6:04 remaining in the second half.
The Flying Cardinals were coming off a disappointing 2-1 loss to Methacton last Friday.
“We played a little down, a little flat-footed and let Methacton beat us to the ball,” Boyer said. “We didn’t really play the way we’re capable of playing.
“We had a stern conversation about that on Friday after the game. Today they really did a good job of stepping up, being aggressive to the ball, cutting to the right spots and pressuring the ball when we didn’t have possession to try and force the turnover. They really kept PW on their toes and had them scrambling.”
The Flying Cardinals had 15 corners and nine shots on goal while PW had just four corners and five shots on goal.
“Their two midfielders are outstanding players,” Boyer said. “They both had really good games today. They can do so many things with the ball, and they’re really nice midfielders to watch.
“They have a real nice, steady sweeper, and their goalkeeper did a really nice job. A couple of their forwards have really good speed. I don’t want to say I was nervous, but I knew this was definitely a game we needed to compete with them if we wanted to have a successful season.”
Boyer went on to laud the efforts of several of her players.
“Brooke Callahan had a very strong game at center back,” the Cardinals’ coach said. “She just played a really, good aggressive game in the backfield. She did a good job of stepping up to the ball and getting the clear out to our midfield. She’s our flier on corners, and she did a good job of getting on them.
“Really every player on the field stepped up today, and they all really played well together. Jen Harchut did a really good job on the left back side with her block tackles and slowed down their right forward, who was pretty speedy.
“Stephanie Speese, who scored our goal against Methacton, did an awesome job at the left midfield spot, forcing corner after corner in the offensive circle and getting a lot of turnovers.
“Emily Hitchings didn’t score a goal, but you watch her taking the ball from the 30-yard line in our defensive end, dribbling 60-70 yards, defeating three, four, five defenders and taking it into the circle and forcing a corner. She’s doing a lot in transition for us. A lot of girls are really stepping up and working together.”
While the Flying Cardinals improved to 3-0, the Colonials fell to 2-1.
Upper Merion 5, Cheltenham 0
The Vikings picked up their first conference win of the season on Monday when they received goals from five different players – Madi DiBella, Yulia Khromyak, Dominique Gambone, Sophia Liu and Tamarah Sheard. Amanda McAteer assisted on three of the goals for the Vikings who are 1-2 in conference play (2-5 overall).
Cheltenham goalie Emily Hawkins had a strong effort, turning away 23 shots.
Norristown 5, Upper Moreland 1
The Eagles received a pair of goals from Gina Pellechio and Sammi Kidd. Kidd also had one assist. Kelly Barbish added a goal and two assists for the Eagles, who improved to 2-1 in league play (2-3 overall).
Villa Maria Academy 3, Wissahickon 2
The Trojans received goals from Sam Marino (Emily Gallagher assist) and Gretchen Guaglianon (Gallager assist) in Monday’s non-league battle. Trojan goalie Rina Lobell turned away six shots.
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