National Conference
NESHAMINY 4, COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 0
Brittany Sheenan connected for the hat trick in a game that saw the Redskins explode for three second half goals.
“We’re finally finding the back of the net,” coach Caitlin Koczynski said. “We have been working on trying to finish, and we’re finally connecting.
“This was really good, especially going into the rest of the season. It’s a nice win for us”
It was Sheenan putting the Redskins on the scoreboard in the first half, using an assist from Jackie Koellner.
“I told them at halftime, ‘We need more,’” Koczynski said.
The Redskins responded. Jill Doherty (Annie Kopera assist) opened the second half scoring, and then Sheenan connected on back-to-back goals, using assists from Rachael Rotteveel and Kopera to close it out.
“The whole team worked together,” Koczynski said. “Council Rock South has been playing well, so it’s a great booster for our girls.”
WILLIAM TENNENT 4, BENSALEM 0
The Panthers brought an end to their three-game losing streak with their big win over the Owls on Tuesday. Brittany Mitchell and Taylor Prichett each contributed a goal and an assist in the win.
“I kind of put it to the girls – we’re not on the honeymoon any more,” coach Kaitlyn Rauchut said. “Every team has its ups and downs, but the biggest thing is that every single game we’re learning something new.
“We’ve played a couple of good teams, and we didn’t play the way we played in other contests. I keep reiterating we need to stay focused but at the same time keep morale up.
“We only lost three games and we’ve won six. We’re doing things that have been hard in the past for Tennent. I’m staying very, very optimistic, and for the girls’ sakes, I’m glad we won today. At the same time, we need to keep putting in a lot of hard work.”
Mitchell (Prichett assist) put the Panthers on the scoreboard 14 minutes into the game, and eight minutes later, Prichett connected to send the Panthers into halftime with a 2-0 lead. Jamie Schuk scored six minutes into the second half, and Sam Zajdel (Mitchell assist) found the net to close out the scoring.
Rauchut acknowledged the solid outings of Prichett and Mitchell.
“They played well,” the first-year coach said. “Because they’re such good players, a lot of people put a lot on their shoulders, and I think they’re trying to find their groove again.”
Rauchut pulled sophomore Hannah Chamberlain up from the jayvee, and she played most of the game at left mid.
“She did fantastic,” Rauchut said. “I reiterate to the girls – if people step up, I’m going to play them. She’s definitely one of the girls who’s very up and coming and one to watch.”
The Panthers’ coach also credited the defensive effort of sophomore Megan McCloskey.
“I have a lot of sophomores,” Rauchut said. “I think the underclassmen have been learning so much because they have such outstanding seniors to look up to - like Brittany Mitchell. She has such good stick handling skills. The seniors’ leadership is really influencing the underclassmen.
“It’s hard – our numbers are small and our team is young. The girls are used to the competitiveness, and for a younger team, it’s overwhelming. Some of the girls are handling it very well, but other girls are letting it get to them. I want the girls to keep having fun. I don’t want it to be about the goals and assists. I want the girls to enjoy themselves, enjoy the company of their teammates.”
PENNSBURY 2, ABINGTON 1
Continental Conference
HATBORO-HORSHAM 2, SOUDERTON 1
Souderton saw its 10-game winning streak snapped, thanks to a Hatter squad that pulled off the upset of the day and ensured that the Indians’ stay at the top of the conference standings would last just two days.
Casey Swezey scored both goals for the Hatters, and senior goalie Maddie Wagenfeld provided the defensive spark, turning away 10 Souderton shots.
“We didn’t have as many shots on goal or opportunities, but we capitalized on the ones we had,” coach Laura Swezey said. “The girls are very athletic and are now executing and playing better field hockey.
“The four games we lost during the first half of the season were just by one goal, and in the second half of the season, the girls are starting to really gel and connect. A little tweaking of positions has helped us execute in scoring as well as the midfield transition.”
Swezey lauded the performance of midfielder Jenny Cutilli as well as the defensive play of Wagenfeld, Nicole Beck and Jane Henry.
“They have remained strong and consistent, keeping the score low,” Swezey said.
The Indians got on the scoreboard 20 minutes into the game, but Swezey (Colby Eldridge assist) answered with the equalizer five minutes later. Swezey scored the game winner 12 minutes into the second half, again using an assist from Eldridge.
NORTH PENN 2, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 1 (OT)
The Bucks gave the Maidens all they could handle, extending North Penn to the limit before Juliamae Marger scored the game winner on a breakaway with 10:09 remaining in overtime.
The Maidens took a 1-0 lead into halftime, thanks to a dramatic goal by Carly Pickford (Michelle Holweger assist) with five seconds remaining before intermission. The Bucks came back to knot the score at the 7:57 mark of the second half.
“I felt like we played pretty well and dominated the first half,” Maiden co-coach Carrie Jankowski said. “They came out of halftime fired up and ready to win, and they were just going so hard to the ball. They were running by us.
“Shannon Keen made a bunch of really good saves, and our defense stepped up quite a bit, but how much can you expect of them. I thought we played pretty well in overtime.”
Jankowski lauded the strong play of West’s Jennifer Kamel as well as her own center back Laura DeLongis.
“She’s a little bit hurt, but she played strong,” the Maidens’ coach said. “I think West is capable of beating anyone if the ball bounces their way and if they had a little luck on their side. It doesn’t seem like they’ve been very lucky.”
Keen had a big day in goal for the Maidens, turning away 16 shots.
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 7, QUAKERTOWN 1
American Conference
UPPER DUBLIN 1, PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 0
Jennifer Harchut scored the game’s only goal with 3:41 remaining in the first half, leading the Flying Cardinals to the important win.
“PW is a very, very good hockey team with a lot of strengths at a lot of positions,” coach Heather Boyer said. “Honestly, PW had the early game momentum. They came down within the first two minutes and forced a couple of penalty corners. We managed to find ways to clear them out and hold them back a little bit.
“We got two corners, and they stopped them both. On our third corner, we put the ball in the cage, and that was a huge swing, which definitely was a momentum switch because PW had been pressuring us more in our end than we had been in theirs. To come down and score was big.”
The two teams combined for 24 corners with PW collecting 14 of those, but both defenses stood tall. PW goalie Becky Stiteler and Upper Dublin’s Dana Russell both were credited with eight saves.
“Defensively, both teams did really, really well,” Boyer said. “Both goalies responded to some serious shots on goal.
“A couple of our players didn’t have their best days, but they found ways to kind of battle through and found ways to find success. Others kids were able to step up and fill holes.”
Boyer lauded the effort of Harchut at left mid and also pointed to the return of Brooke Callahan to the lineup as significant. It was Callahan’s first game action since spraining her ankle in the initial meeting between the two teams three weeks ago.
“I was able to use her a little bit today,” Boyer said. “She hasn’t really done anything for three weeks, but she didn’t really miss a beat, and I had her out of position.
“Normally, she’s our center back, but I put her in the midfield and even on the forward line simply because I didn’t want her to be in a situation where she had to do a full field sprint back and run a risk of further injury or not be able to do it because she’s still recovering. She really did well.”
The win kept the Flying Cardinals just one game behind conference leader Wissahickon. The two teams are scheduled to meet next Friday.
NORRISTOWN 2, UPPER MORELAND 0
The Eagles used goals by Sammi Kidd and Gina Pellechio to earn the win. The Golden Bears actually held a 17-16 advantage in shots on goal. Upper Moreland goalie Saige Wenik had 14 saves while Norristown’s Eliana Gilette had 10 saves in the shutout.
UPPER MERION 1, CHELTENHAM 0 (OT)
Mia DiBella scored a goal one minute and 37 seconds into overtime, using an assist from Tamahra Sheard. Viking goalie Allison Frymoyer had seven saves.
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