Check out the results for SOL field hockey teams in action Wednesday. CR South/Truman photo provided courtesy of Darryl Rule of J&D Photography. Check back for a gallery of action photos.
American Conference
UPPER DUBLIN 2, WISSAHICKON 1
There was incentive on both sides when the Trojans travelled to Upper Dublin for a key conference battle Wednesday night – the Cardinals needed a win to stay in the hunt for the SOL American Conference title and the Trojans need every win they can get to keep themselves in the 24-team district playoff field.
“We talked about it a little bit yesterday because we knew Wissahickon would be well coached,” UD coach Heather Boyer said. “We knew having seen the initial (district) power rankings that they were sitting at 24, so we talked about that, saying that they know that every game they play is critical. They need to continue to win to maintain or improve that status.
“Beating us was going to be a top priority for them, and they were going to bring their ‘A’ game, and they did. They played hard tonight.”
It was the Cardinals eking out the hard-fought win, breaking a 1-1 tie when Emma Mead turned a Jess Grodsky pass into a goal at the 19:57 mark of the second half. The Cardinals protected that lead the rest of the way.
Earlier, Grodsky found the cage with 3:07 remaining in the first half, using an Elizabeth Barber assist to score a goal that sent the Cardinals into halftime with a 1-0 lead.
Wissahickon’s Julianna Sutow (Jess Waite assist) scored the equalizer at the 26:31 mark of the second half, a tie that was broken by Mead’s game winner.
"Tonight's game was a high intensity game with it being a night game and Upper Dublin's Senior Night," Wissahickon coach Leah Angstadt said. "Upper Dublin is always a big rivalry game, and tonight you could see it.
"Upper Dublin was able to crowd their defensive circle, and we were not able to get many shots off. They also out-hustled us to every ball and were able to use their speed up front. Our intensity was there, but we did not play our game to the best of our ability."
The win sets the stage for UD’s showdown at Plymouth Whitemarsh on Friday. The Colonials are undefeated in conference play while the Cards have one loss.
“We knew tonight we had to give an all-out effort if we wanted Friday’s game against PW to mean anything, so now it does,” Boyer said. “They did everything I asked of them tonight.
“I said, ‘You have to give 110 percent effort for the entire 60 minutes. Every loose ball has to be an Upper Dublin possession, and you have to put it all on the field,’ and they absolutely did. I couldn’t have asked for a better effort out of these girls tonight. They all played so hard.”
Boyer lauded the strong play of Marlee Siegel, Maddie Templeton and Shannon Reape in the midfield and credited Ryann Kullman, Elizabeth Barber, Emma Kate Powell and Allie DeMichele for an excellent effort on the defensive end.
“Wissahickon brought a high tempo, a much-improved game tonight, and it was a very intense, competitive match on both sides.”
The Trojans held an edge in shots (5-4) and corners (7-2). UD goalie Meghan Muth was credited with three saves in the win, and Wissahickon’s Wumi Popoopola recorded one save.
“Their number five –Grace Ball – had a really good game,” Boyer said. “She was a very dynamic player for them this evening and created some good opportunities.
“(Defensively), we had a similar approach to the last time – I one-on-oned Jess Waite again, trying to minimize her touches on the ball. Elizabeth Barber did that again. She did a very good job, and it really did help break up some of Wissahickon’s transition.”
Upper Dublin (9-3-1, 9-1 SOL) will travel to Plymouth Whitemarsh on Friday, and Wissahickon (8-6, 6-4) will be on the road at Hatboro-Horsham.
Wissahickon 0-1 1
Upper Dublin 1-1 2
HATBORO-HORSHAM 3, QUAKERTOWN 0
The Hatters needed overtime to defeat a pesky Panther squad in the initial meeting between the two teams (2-1). This time around, they took care of business early, scoring a pair of first-half goals and adding a third goal in the opening minute of the second half.
“The Hatters were firing on all cylinders tonight,” Hatter coach Laura Swezey said. “The ball movement up the field and the communication on the field was all in sync.
“There were so many contributions by all players on the field, and guiding our team in the midfield was Gabby Acker and Kaitlyn Wallace, who were instrumental in transition.”
Swezey also lauded center back Brenna Reilly and goalie Liz Wilburn for playing key roles on the defensive end.
“Mariella Spiezio on the HH line was excellent in pressing and keeping the ball in our offensive zone,” Swezey said.
The Hatters got on the board at the 19:04 mark when Kaitlyn Wallace (Spiezio assist) scored during a scramble on the right post. Eight minutes later, Heather Timm slammed home a shot from the top of the circle, and the Hatters took that 2-0 lead into halftime.
If they needed insurance, Acker and Spiezio gave it to them. The highlight reel play began with Acker dodging every defender in her path and hitting a rocket that was deflected into the cage on the left post by Spiezio.
“I looked up before I pulled it, and I saw I had the right side,” said Acker of her drive from just outside the circle that set up the goal. “I knew once I pulled it right I had the shot to the left post, and I saw my left forward, Mariella – she was right behind the goalie.”
Making the convincing win especially significant was the fact that it came on the heels of back-to-back losses to Springfield and Upper Moreland, and according to Acker, the team’s small passing game and communication were key to the turnaround.
“I felt like we really looked up, we were talking and that really helped, and we were passing to open space,” the senior captain said.
The Panthers generated several offensive opportunities, but the Hatters’ defense and goalie Liz Wilburn stood tall.
“It was Senior Night, and all of our seniors had a good showing,” Quakertown coach Diane Molinaro said. “Our girls played with heart.
“They just have to get a little more confident in themselves. When they’re down a goal or two, they have to continue to still believe in themselves. I think after losing so many games, it becomes hard because they think they’re just going to play into that same scenario. I think it’s more of a mindset that we have to start overcoming. They have to believe in themselves a little bit more. They can be good.”
Hatboro-Horsham (5-7, 5-5 SOL) will host Wissahickon Friday, and Quakertown (2-11, 1-9) will host Cheltenham on Thursday night at 7 p.m.
Hatboro-Horsham 2-1 3
Quakertown 0-0 0
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 1, SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 0
Frankie O’Brien turned a Sam Spera pass into a goal during corner play three minutes into Wednesday’s game. The Colonials maintained that lead for the remainder of the game.
“PW defended a 1-0 lead for 55 minutes today against an aggressive Springfield team,” PW coach Charise Halteman said. “We didn’t play sharp and focused today, and we struggled to capitalize despite 15 shots and eight corner opportunities.”
Playing no small role in the Colonials’ offensive woes was Spartan goalie Emily Henry with 14 saves. PW goalie Katherine recorded two saves in the shutout win.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (12-1-1, 10-0 SOL) will host Upper Dublin in a showdown for the conference’s top spot on Friday, and Springfield (4-8, 4-5) will be on the road at Upper Moreland.
Springfield 0-0 0
Plymouth Whitemarsh 1-0 1
UPPER MORELAND 7, CHELTENHAM 1
Claudia Zanine had two goals and an assist to lead a balanced Golden Bear attack in Wednesday’s win.
Noelle Woodman put the Golden Bears on the scoreboard nine minutes into the opening half, and then it was Jess Flanagan turning a Zanine pass into a goal midway through the half. Back-to-back goals by Zanine in the final 1:42 sent the Bears into halftime with a 4-0 lead.
Cheltenham’s Chloe Hipwell scored an unassisted goal with 7:36 remaining, but the Bears closed it out with back-to-back-to-back goals in the final 6:27 by Flanagan, Woodman and Nicole Caligiuri.
UM goalie Allison Felicetti recorded five saves in the win. Cheltenham’s Uzoya Anebamer was credited with 22 saves in a busy afternoon in the cage.
Upper Moreland (4-8, 4-6 SOL) will host Springfield on Friday, and Cheltenham (0-11, 0-9) will travel to Quakertown on Thursday night.
Upper Moreland 4-3 7
Cheltenham 0-1 1
Continental Conference
NORTH PENN 6, WILLIAM TENNENT 0
The Knights scored three goals in each half with five different players contributing goals.
Mikayla Barrow broke a scoreless tie when she connected on an unassisted goal at the 17:43 mark of the opening half. Less than a minute later, Emily Crawford turned a Bri O’Donnell pass into a goal, and then Crawford returned the favor, setting up an O’Donnell goal with 11:15 remaining in the half to put the Knights on top 3-0.
Just over two minutes into the second half, O’Donnell (Barrow assist) scored her second goal. Madison Stotler found the cage at the 16:49 mark, and Julia Scanlon closed out the scoring with just under five minutes remaining.
Tricia McCoy had another big day in goal for the Panthers, turning away 17 shots. Knight goalies Brynne Schoppe and Anissa Gardizy were not forced to make a save in the shutout.
North Penn (7-6, 6-3 SOL) is off until Monday when the Knights will travel to Souderton, and William Tennent (2-8-2, 0-7) will travel to Central Bucks South on Friday.
William Tennent 0-0 0
North Penn 3-3 6
National Conference
NESHAMINY 5, ABINGTON 1
The Redskins sprinted to a 3-0 halftime lead on their way to the conference road win.
Two minutes into the game, Mia Sexton turned a Peyton Ritchey pass into a goal, and eight minutes later, Emily Alexis (Elayna Curtin assist) found the cage. Kayla Connelly’s goal with an assist from Jamie Pennington midway through the half gave the Redskins their 3-0 halftime lead.
In the opening minutes of the second half, Sam McGee broke the Redskins’ scoring run with a goal, but the Redskins closed it out with back-to-back goals by Elayna Curtin.
Neshaminy (8-4, 6-1 SOL) will host Pennsbury on Saturday at 11:30 a.m., and Abington (5-8, 3-6) will be on the road at Council Rock North on Friday.
Neshaminy 3-2 5
Abington 0-1 1
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 7, HARRY S TRUMAN 0
Caroline McGovern scored four goals – two in each half – to lead the Golden Hawks to the conference win.
Caitlyn Thornton (Katelyn Cocco assist) put the Golden Hawks on the scoreboard six minutes into the contest, and two minutes later, Cocco connected for a goal of her own. McGovern turned a pass from Tori Wright into a goal, and three minutes later found the cage with an unassisted goal for a 4-0 halftime lead.
McGovern added a pair of goals in the second half, and Paige Schmid also added a single goal to close out the scoring.
Truman goalie Rebecca Laranko was credited with 16 saves.
Council Rock South (12-2, 9-0 SOL) will be on the road at Pennsbury on Monday, and Harry S Truman (2-8, 1-6) will travel to Bensalem.
Harry S Truman 0-0 0
Council Rock South 4-3 7
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 9, BENSALEM 0
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