Check out the results for SOL field hockey teams in action Monday. To view photos of the Upper Moreland/Norristown game, please visit the Photo Gallery.
American Conference
WISSAHICKON 6, UPPER DUBLIN 0
The Trojans upped their winning streak to five – their most recent victory avenging a 2-1 loss to the Flying Cardinals on Sept. 17. That loss to Upper Dublin came during a nine-game stretch that saw the Trojans go 3-5-1.
“I’ve been telling them all year that they’re good, that they can really do this, but they had to believe in themselves, and I don’t think they believed it,” Wissahickon coach Lucy Gil said. “They would laugh at me when we would play Gwynedd or a really good team and say, ‘We can’t win.’
“I think they’re starting to believe in themselves. It’s really a nice progression, and it’s really nice to see.”
In Monday’s win, Rachel Zimmerman – who finished with four goals – scored at the 17:29 mark of the first half, using a Kara Miles assist. That would be the extent of the scoring in the half.
“We had been down (in their end) a lot,” Gil said. “It was pretty one-sided, but they have a couple of kids with a lot of speed, so they’re always dangerous.
“We talked about how we were down there and why weren’t we finishing. I said – ‘You guys have to be really intense, this doesn’t make me feel very comfortable.’ They went back out there on fire.”
The Trojans tacked on an insurance goal eight minutes into the second half to go on top 2-0, and they didn’t score again until the 7:53 mark, a goal that opened the floodgates for a four-goal run.
While Zimmerman accounted for four goals – using assists from Kara Miles, Brianna Miles and Sasha Phillips, Ashley Laskowitz added a pair of unassisted goals.
Gil credited Kara Miles, Lashkowitz and Zimmerman for turning in strong performances.
“As far as field was concerned, I thought Kara Miles played amazing,” the Trojans’ coach said. “She’s my left midfielder, and they, of course, were trying to go to the right, and we were stopping them at the midfield. They couldn’t get past her.
“Rachel and Ashley were just crazy when they got to the goal area.”
Upper Dublin goalie Mikayleh Johnson was credited with 13 saves while Wissahickon’s Claire Tarzia had four saves.
Wissahickon upped its conference record to 9-3-1 (9-6-1 overall) while the Cardinals are 8-4-1 in the league (8-8-1 overall). The Trojans will travel to Cheltenham for their regular season finale on Wednesday while the Cardinals will host Springfield.
Upper Dublin 0-0 0
Wissahickon 1-5 6
UPPER MORELAND 4, NORRISTOWN 0
Maura O’Leary connected for the hat trick and assisted on another goal to lead the Golden Bears to the shutout win. O’Leary connected with 12:28 remaining in the first half, using an assist from Alexa Wister. O’Leary’s second goal four minutes later – this one with assists from Jessica Flanagan and Delaney Smith – put the Golden Bears on top 2-0 heading into halftime.
Emily Jeinnings scored less than two minutes into the second half, using an O’Leary assist, and O’Leary’s third goal – assisted by Flanagan – gave the Bears their final margin of victory.
UM goalie Allison Felicetti was not forced to make a save in the shutout. Norristown’s Lauren Whitley was credited with five saves.
The Golden Bears (11-4-1, 9-3-1 SOL) will travel to Upper Merion Wednesday for their SOL finale while the Eagles (0-16, 0-13) will host Plymouth Whitemarsh in their season finale Wednesday.
Norristown 0-0 0
Upper Moreland 2-2 4
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 6, CHELTENHAM 1
The Colonials celebrated Senior Night by sprinting to a 5-1 halftime lead on their way to the big win that clinched the team’s second consecutive conference championship.
“We got off to a strong start, scoring two early goals which was great because it was Senior Night, and we always want to play well, especially on an important night,” coach Marianne Paparone said. “We got goals from five different players which is great to see and created a lot of scoring opportunities.
“Our passing looked really good, especially in the midfield. It was a total team effort and most importantly, clinched the conference championship for the second year in a row. It was a great night for the girls, and I am really proud of them.”
Aurora Mills had a hand in four goals, scoring two goals and assisting on two others. Paige Totten, Shannon McKee, Kerin Bechtel and Alison Spinelli each added one goal. Spinelli also had an assist. Frankie O’Brien also had an assist.
For the Lady Panthers, Meme Holloman scored in the first half, using an Anne McGoldrick assist.
Cheltenham 1-0 1
Plymouth Whitemarsh 5-1 6
Continental Conference
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 3, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 2
The Bucks celebrated Senior Night with a come-from-behind win over their archrivals.
“Our seniors all played, and that was the exciting part,” said coach Courtney Hughes, who has eight seniors on her roster. “Every senior played a role, and it was the seniors setting up our underclassmen at the big moments.”
Senior Kim Hitchcock had a pair of assists, the first on a goal by Bryn Boylan with 5:09 remaining in the first half to send the Bucks into halftime with a 1-0 lead.
The Patriots knotted the score when freshman Riley Donnelly turned a pass from Katelyn Stout into a goal at the 22:42 mark. Five minutes later, East took a 2-1 lead on a goal by Abbey Butler (Rachel Fife assist).
Hughes called a timeout, and shortly thereafter, at the 15:03 mark, the Bucks responded with freshman Taylor Mason scoring the equalizer during a corner scuffle, using a well-placed Hitchcock pass.
Mason connected for the game winner on a strong individual effort with 4:18 remaining in regulation.
“Taylor got a pass from Kim that she took in the circle for the game winner,” Hughes said. “Yes, she did it on her own, but Kim set her up.
“That was the exciting part, seeing our seniors step up and getting the job done. Some of them were not used to the positions they were playing, and that was what was different tonight – after they scored and we called a timeout, we said ‘This is your night. Show everybody that you guys want this. It’s on you guys.’ They went out there, and it was just a gutty effort.
“I don’t care what East’s record is, what our record is – every year I’ve been around that game, it is just always a good game because of the heart that’s out there on the field.”
East coach Brittany Kocis acknowledged the strong play of several players.
“Defenders Sarah Sheehy and Theresa Haug had an outstanding performance tonight,” the Patriots’ coach said. “Forwards Rachel Fife, Rachel Moran and Abbey Butler moved the ball beautifully in the circle.”
The Bucks (13-3-1, 10-3 SOL) will close out their regular season with a showdown against conference champion Central Bucks South at War Memorial Field Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. The Patriots (7-10, 4-9) will host Souderton on Wednesday night in their season finale.
Central Bucks East 0-2 2
Central Bucks West 1-2 3
NORTH PENN 4, SOUDERTON 1
The Maidens stole the spotlight on Souderton’s Senior Night, sprinting to a 4-0 halftime lead on their way to the big win.
“With eight seniors, we have a really close group of girls,” Souderton coach Lauren Whiteside said. “I wish we could have had a better end result for them, but North Penn played a great game against us.
“No matter your skill, it’s hard to come back from a 4-0 halftime score. The team did a great job in keeping their heads up and continuing to put some pressure on North Penn.”
Amanda Lashkevich (Kara Whitman assist) put the Maidens on the scoreboard at the 21:59 mark, and seven minutes later, Amanda Laessig (Casey O’Donnell assist) scored to put the Maidens on top 2-0. Goals by Abbie Roberts and Brianna O’Donnell (Emma Herb assist) gave the Maidens their 4-0 lead.
A goal by Tara Maloney (Erin Saybolt assist) just over five minutes into the second half broke up the Maidens’ shutout bid.
“We stepped up in the second half big time,” Whiteside said. “It was just a case of ‘too little too late.’
“All the seniors played a good game tonight, and it’s been such a pleasure to coach them over the last four years.”
The Maidens held an advantage in shots (14-8) and corners (11-4). Souderton goalie Megan Mehaffey was credited with seven saves while North Penn’s Marissa Elizardo had four.
North Penn 4-0 4
Souderton 0-1 1
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 5, QUAKERTOWN 0
In a contest that saw senior Emily Cliggett connect for the hat trick and teammate Corrine Kenney contribute four assists, the Titans opened up a 2-0 halftime lead on their way to the big win. Lexi Milanesi scored an unassisted goal seven minutes into the game to put the Titans on the scoreboard, and at the 18:24 mark, Cliggett turned a Kenney pass during corner play into a goal.
The senior duo duplicated that feat at the 17:34 mark of the second half to put the Titans on top 3-0. Three minutes later, Lauren Zakrewski turned a Kenney pass into a goal. With 8:36 remaining, Cliggett’s tip of a Kenney pass gave the Titans their final margin of victory.
The Titans held an advantage in shots (24-13) and corners (20-8). South goalie Sarah Zeszotarski had eight saves while Quakertown’s Rylee Lawler had nine.
The Titans (15-2, 13-0 SOL) will close out their regular season on Tuesday when they will face Central Bucks West. Quakertown (8-8-1, 5-7-1) will travel to Pennridge Wednesday to close out the regular season.
Quakertown 0-0 0
Central Bucks South 2-3 5
National Conference
BENSALEM 2, WILLIAM TENNENT 1
Talk about saving their best for last – the Owls have done just that, earning their third win in their last four games with their exciting win over the Panthers.
“It was such a close game with really nice plays by both teams,” Bensalem coach Amanda Tu said. “The girls worked hard the entire time. They never gave up one second.
“They deserved to win this game. They dominated most of it. It shows how hard they’ve been working.”
The Owls found themselves staring at a 1-0 deficit at halftime after Lexi Frieling (Niyah Rhodes assist) connected with 9:02 remaining in the opening half.
Down but not out, the Owls clawed their way back into the game. Kara Bachman scored the equalizer with 24:40 remaining during corner play, using an Autumn McBride assist. Breanna Buechner scored a goal that turned out to be the game winner with 4:10 remaining, using a Mia Ali assist.
“Usually when we get down, we can never get back,” Tu said. “Not that we hang our heads, but it’s just harder for us to come back.
“Finally, they did. I don’t know if it was playing on the turf in the stadium or finally at the end of the season everything is coming together. It was a great game.”
Tu lauded the performances of several players.
“Breanna Buechner played amazing in the back,” the Owls’ coach said. “She was playing both offense and defense.
“Our corners worked really well today. Autumn McBride and Madison Kubik did well. Our goalie, Selena Lee, did awesome in goal. She had some really nice saves.”
Tu also acknowledged the strong play of Tennent’s Kalisi Taufalele.
“She played defense and played really well,” the Owls’ coach said. “A couple of times she stopped my offensive line.”
The Owls, who will host Council Rock North in their season finale Wednesday, are 2-11 in league play (4-12 overall). With Monday’s win, they have tripled their win total of the last two seasons combined.
“I told them, ‘You’re not just a team that can only beat Truman or beat teams that are similar to us,” Tu said. “You can beat teams that have been competing against Rock North and Rock South. It’s good for them, especially at the end of the season. We’re all happy.”
The win snapped a losing streak to Tennent that extended at least through the 2009 season – and perhaps further. In the 11 games since 2009, the Panthers outscored the Owls 48-7 and have shut out the Owls in eight of those games.
William Tennent is 4-8-1 in conference play (4-11-1 overall) with a game at Pennsbury on Tuesday to close out its SOL season.
Bensalem 0-2 2
William Tennent 1-0 1
Seventh Annual 'Corners for a Cure at Bensalem
The Bensalem field hockey team will be playing its last game of the season and the 7th Annual “Corners for a Cure” on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 4 p.m., in the stadium against Council Rock North.
Each member of the team will wear a colored ribbon and also creatively design a poster (displayed around the stadium) to symbolize a type of cancer. Even though October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, the team wants to spread awareness for all types of cancer.
During the game, refreshments (candy, drinks, pretzels) will be sold, along with orange t-shirts ($12). Donations will be accepted as well. All proceeds will go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Before the game, names will be read in honor and in memory of those who are survivors, battling or lost their battle to cancer. If you would like a name(s) to be read, please send the name to [email protected] with the following information:
Specify in memory or in honor of
First and last name/Type of cancer
Examples:
In honor of Jane Doe, Breast Cancer
In memory of John Doe, Bone Cancer
Please submit any names by noon on Wednesday (Oct. 15).
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 2, PENNSBURY 1
The Golden Hawks scored with time expired in the opening half when Caroline McGovern connected during corner play, using an assist from Jackie Shragher. That 1-0 lead held up until Shragher (Nikki Boyd assist) connected just over eight minutes into the second half.
The Falcons broke up the Hawks’ shutout bid with 12 seconds remaining in the game when Missy Frankil scored during corner play, using a Marguerite Salamone assist.
“It was tough out there with the weather and the (wet) field,” Rock South coach Lisa Belz said. “They came out a little flat at the beginning, but they were able to pull it together.”
The stage has been set for Wednesday’s showdown with a share of the conference title at stake when the Golden Hawks (12-4-1, 11-2 SOL) will travel to Neshaminy. Pennsbury (8-9, 8-5) will host William Tennent Tuesday to close out the conference season.
Council Rock South 1-1 2
Pennsbury 0-1 1
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 8, ABINGTON 0
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