Check out the results for SOL field hockey teams in action Friday.
American Conference
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 4, UPPER DUBLIN 0
In a high stakes American Conference game, it was the defending champion Colonials establishing that they’re not about to give up the title they own. The Colonials scored a pair of goals in each half to take a two-game lead over the Flying Cardinals in the standings with three games remaining.
“Our team talked a lot this week about the fact that Upper Dublin was in a really good place to challenge us, “ PW coach Charise Halteman said. “We kind of felt our first game against Upper Dublin probably wasn’t representative of what we were capable of.
“They beat Wissahickon twice this season and had a good record themselves, so we knew it would be a competitive game. Playing teams more than once in a season is always a tough battle, so I think our kids were excited to play. A win today was definitely a step closer to clinching the league title, so we have to take care of business.”
Midway through the opening half, Julia Fiddler used a Kennedy Reardon assist to put the Colonials on the scoreboard with a goal that turned out to be the game winner. Seven minutes later, Sam Spera scored her first of two goals in a scrum in front of the cage to send PW into halftime with a 2-0 lead.
“I thought the girls showed up and played really well in the first half with nice possession passing,” Halteman said. “Two of our forwards – Julia and Sam – were able to score in the first half, and that was key for us because Frankie (O’Brien) has been scoring a lot of our goals lately.
“Our forwards have been struggling to finish, so it was nice to see our forwards get on the board early today.”
Just under nine minutes into the second half, Spera turned a crossing pass from Frankie O’Brien into a goal to put the Colonials on top 3-0, and with 2:05 left in the game O’Brien tacked on an unassisted goal with a reverse stick shot from the top of the circle.
“In the second half, I didn’t think we played as well,” Halteman said. “I don’t think we stayed as disciplined. A bunch of cards were handed out for fouls and not being five yards, and I think that took us mentally out of the game.
“There were stretches of the game where I thought Upper Dublin was definitely putting pressure on us, and they were working to try to get one in the back of the cage. We found a way to score two more. We called a timeout with maybe 10 minutes left in the game. We talked about being composed and playing our game, possession field hockey, for the last 10 minutes, and I thought they did a good job of that.”
Friday’s four-goal explosion was a welcome return to form for the Colonials, who scored just one goal in Wednesday’s 1-0 win over Springfield Township and a lone goal in a 3-1 loss to Haverford in a game they led.
“We lost to Haverford on Monday, and I thought we played pretty strong,” Halteman said. “Haverford definitely had a different style of play than we were used to, and I thought we did adapt pretty well, but they obviously were able to get goals in the second half.
“We talked about going against Springfield we really needed to turn it around, and the character of our team was how we showed up (Wednesday). Unfortunately, we just didn’t show up that sharp. We scored early and then it was just a battle the rest of the game – getting frustrated with calls, and I think we eventually took ourselves out. That’s also why today was a big game for us because I felt like our kids fixed some of that, and mentally we came out sharp and ready to play today.”
The first-year coach lauded the strong play of center midfielder Sophie Kolkka.
“She played really well today,” Halteman said. “We actually didn’t have her the first time we played Upper Dublin. I thought she really stepped up today and defended really well in the middle, putting pressure on their center players. I thought she was crucial for keeping things together.
“Overall, it was a good team win today, and that was good to see.”
Plymouth Whitemarsh (13-1-1, 11-0 SOL) will be on the road at Hatboro-Horsham on Monday, and Upper Dublin (9-4-1, 9-2) will be on the road at Springfield Township.
Upper Dublin 0-0 0
Plymouth Whitemarsh 2-2 4
UPPER MORELAND 2, SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 0
The Golden Bears fell to the Spartans 2-1 in overtime in the earlier meeting between the two squads, and they made sure there would be no reruns this time around.
Claudia Zanine put the Bears on the scoreboard when she found the cage at the 27:16 mark in the opening half. That 1-0 score stood until halftime.
Madison Casey turned a pass from teammate Maddie Mull into a goal with 23:52 remaining for the 2-0 final.
Coach Karen Grossi credited the strong play of several players in the important win.
“Emily Keene and Becca Miekley both did an excellent job defensively,” the Golden Bears’ coach said. “They executed block tackles to gain control of the ball and were able to speed dribble out of the circle, dodging multiple Springfield players or sending the ball down the field.
“Kylee Bowman was phenomenal in the midfield, cutting to the ball, making nice stops and starting the transition back to attack. Attackers Claudia Zanine, Jess Flanagan and Noelle Woodman pressured the ball and made excellent passes to work the ball into the scoring circle.”
UM goalie Allison Felicetti recorded four saves in the shutout win. Emily Henry (six saves) and Izzy Boles (four saves) combined for 10 saves for the Spartans.
“Springfield’s goalkeepers both made many nice saves,” Grossi said.
Upper Moreland (5-8, 5-6 SOL) will host Quakertown on Monday, and Springfield (4-9, 4-6) will host Upper Dublin Monday.
Springfield 0-0 0
Upper Moreland 1-1 2
WISSAHICKON 2, HATBORO-HORSHAM 1
The Trojans won a hard-fought game against the visiting Hatters. Anna Blackney found the cage, using a Julianna Sutow assist, to send the Trojans into halftime with a 1-0 lead.
“We were able to execute early on a 2v1 breakaway,” Trojan coach Leah Angstadt said.
The Hatters responded with a goal during corner play to knot the score. In the final 10 minutes, the Trojans connected on a corner goal of their own when Jess Waite scored off a Grace Ball insert pass. The Trojans protected that lead to earn the win.
“It was a well-fought game,” Angstadt said.
Wissahickon (9-6, 7-4 SOL) will host Cheltenham on Monday, and Hatboro-Horsham (5-8, 5-6) will host Plymouth Whitemarsh on Monday.
Wissahickson 1-1 2
Hatboro-Horsham 0-1 1
Continental Conference
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 3, WILLIAM TENNENT 0
The Titans celebrated their first game on their new turf field with a shutout win over the visiting Panthers.
Kasey Dietzel put the Titans on the scoreboard just over eight minutes into the first half, benefitting from a Lauren Dougherty assist. With 5:38 remaining in the first half, Dougherty scored with an assist from Erin Chioffe, sending the Titans into halftime with a 2-0 lead.
Megan Weeks closed out the scoring with a goal late in the second half, benefitting from a Chioffe assist.
The Panthers were able to hold a hard-working Tennent squad to no shots (23-0) and no corners (16-0).
South coach Pat Toner lauded the performance of Tennent goalie Tricia McCoy, who recorded 20 saves in a standout performance.
Central Bucks South (6-5-1, 5-5 SOL) will host Harry S Truman in a non-league contest Monday, and William Tennent (2-9-2, 0-8) will host Central Bucks East.
William Tennent 0-0 0
Central Bucks South 2-1 3
National Conference
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 3, ABINGTON 2
The Indians opened up a 3-0 lead before the Ghosts battled back to make it a one-goal game with 6:59 remaining. That score held until the final whistle.
“I’m proud of my Abington team,” coach Amanda McMahon said. “This was our best showing against Council Rock North in my 13 years with Abington.
“The entire team played to win and gave it their best shot. We won the second half, but unfortunately gave up two goals in the first which gave Council Rock North the win.”
North got on the scoreboard on a Claire Jarema goal assisted by Camile Quigley just six minutes into the game. At the 11:37 mark of the first half, Hannah Sullivan scored an unassisted goal to send the Indians into halftime with a 2-0 lead.
Senior Anna Lehman’s unassisted goal with 12:16 left in the game put the Indians on top 3-0, but the Ghosts refused to go down quietly. Two minutes later, Abington senior Kaila Brown turned a pass from Sam McGee into a goal, and with 6:59 remaining, Grace Terrizzi scored with a Brown assist for the 3-2 final.
Goalie Mackenzie Greiner kept the Ghosts in the game with 16 saves.
“Mackenzie came to win today,” McMahon said. “She may not have recorded the win, but she played her heart out, maintained composure and aggressively turned North’s shots away.
“She was a leader on defense and never gave up. Before the game started, I knew she was going to have a good game because she was mentally ready for whatever they threw at her.”
The Indians held a 5-2 advantage in corners.
Council Rock North (7-6, 6-3 SOL) will travel to Neshaminy on Monday, and Abington (5-9, 3-7) will be on the road at Harry S Truman.
Abington 0-2 2
Council Rock North 2-1 3
HARRY S TRUMAN 0, BENSALEM 0 (OT)
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