Check out the recaps for SOL field hockey teams in action Friday.
SOL National Conference
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 2, PENNSBURY 1
The visiting Golden Hawks took a 2-0 lead and then withstood a Falcon comeback to earn a win that was anything but easy.
“They’re always a great team, they have great players, they’re well coached, and they’re always very aggressive,” Rock South coach Lisa Belz said. “I feel like ever since I’ve been coaching – we’ve generally had a hard time when we play away against Pennsbury.
“It was a good game. It was back and forth between the 25s. We had some opportunities early in the game and put two in.”
Nine minutes into the contest, Katelyn Cocco turned a Kerry Kaufman pass into a goal and an early 1-0 Rock South lead. Cocco assisted on a Bridget Doherty goal in the closing minutes of the half for a 2-0 lead.
It was still a 2-0 game until Maya Geller scored with a minute remaining, setting up a frantic finish that saw the Falcons draw another corner in the game’s closing seconds.
“That was giving me anxiety,” Belz said. “They got a corner at the very end of the game, and they scored on it.
“I told the girls to keep possession, but we didn’t, and they got another corner with 10 seconds. The final whistle was us clearing the ball out of a corner.”
Belz credited the strong efforts of several players.
“I think Bianca Bonanni is doing a really good job at center back,” the Golden Hawks’ coach said. “She’s tough, she’s good.
“Bridget Doherty is an outside midfielder, and she played great. Aspen Handel had some really nice saves. Cocco always has some great runs, and she’s connecting really well with Kerry Kaufman.”
The Golden Hawks held a 10-5 advantage in shots.
Handel recorded four saves in goal for the Golden Hawks in the win. Pennsbury goalie Keira Korzeb had eight saves.
Friday’s meeting was the first of a home and away series between the neighboring rivals, and on Tuesday, Council Rock South (6-5-1, 6-1-1 SOL) will host Pennsbury (5-7, 5-4).
Council Rock South 2-0 2
Pennsbury 0-1 1
SOL American Conference
UPPER DUBLIN 5, CHELTENHAM 1
Five different players recorded goals for the Flying Cardinals in Friday’s win.
Jenn McCarry (Lauren Greene assist) put the visiting Cardinals on the board just over three minutes into the contest, and midway through the opening half, Lauren Greene found the back of the cage to give UD a 2-0 lead. Cheltenham’s Riley Walter (Mattie Ellis assist) scored to make it a 2-1 game, but Allie Rock (Mikayla DeMichaele assist) answered, sending the Cardinals into halftime with a 3-1 lead.
In the second half, Lydia Casey (Emma Kate Powell assist) and Maisie Hanson (Powell assist) each scored a goal for the 5-1 final.
UD goalie Meghan Muth was credited with three saves in the win. Cheltenham’s Nimi Badejoko was credited with 12 saves.
Upper Dublin (7-5-1, 6-4-1 SOL) will host North Penn in a non-league game on Monday, and Cheltenham (0-11) will be on the road at Lansdale Catholic for a non-league game on Monday.
Upper Dublin 3-2 5
Cheltenham 1-0 1
Non-league
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 5, NORTH PENN 1
For one half, it was anyone’s game, but the Colonials erupted for four goals after the intermission to seize control of the non-league contest.
“The Knights couldn’t hold off the fast and dynamic attack of PW,” North Penn coach Shannon McCracken said.
Eleven minutes into the game, Hailey Copestick scored the only goal of the opening half, and early in the second half, Ava Borkowski added another on a reverse stick goal. North Penn’s Jillian Lampitoc (Erin O’Donnell assist) scored to interrupt the Colonials’ run to make it a 2-1 game. But not for long.
Less than a minute later, Kennedy Reardon found the back of the cage, and five minutes later Reardon scored her second goal of the game on a corner shot. Copestick’s second goal gave the Colonials their final margin of victory.
Kayla Link and Meghan DiGiacomo each had an assist for the Colonials.
PW coach Charise Halteman lauded the play of Livia Truong.
“She played a strong game in the backfield, limiting many of North Penn’s opportunities,” the PW coach said.
McCracken also praised the efforts of her players.
“Sophomore goalkeeper Mallory Stowell had a great game, coming up with some big saves,” the Knights’ coach said of Stowell’s 14-save effort.
The Knights received defensive saves from senior Meg Daniels, freshman Madison Waldspurger (2 saves) and sophomore Ali Hoffman.
“However, PW was unstoppable as they put up 30 shots,” McCracken said. “Even though (we) were able to manage nine penalty corners, we were unable to convert our opportunities.”
Plymouth Whitemarsh (14-1, 11-0 SOL) will host Upper Dublin on Tuesday, and North Penn (4-9, 3-6) will host Central Bucks West on Tuesday.
North Penn 0-1 1
Plymouth Whitemarsh 1-4 5
PENNRIDGE 5, DOCK MENNONITE ACADEMY 0
Caitlyn Amsden had herself a day for the Rams, connecting for a hat trick and assisting on another goal in a contest the home team controlled.
“The team did a great job with possession,” coach Becky Spahr said. “We were able to control the pace of play and looked to pass instead of using individual skills.
“Dock played great circle defense and has a very good goalie. Tough play from both sides.”
Emily Amsden scored the game’s first goal with an assist from Caitlyn Amsden, and then Caitlyn went to work, connecting on a pair to send the Rams into halftime with a 3-0 lead. Maddie Bross assisted on the first and Sydney Borneman had an assist on Amsden’s second goal.
Amsden opened the second half with an unassisted goal to complete her hat trick. Borneman turned an Emma Schlotter assist into a goal and the 5-0 final.
Pennridge goalie Mac Bross recorded four saves in the shutout win. Dock goalie Casey Harper had 13 saves.
Pennridge (6-7, 4-5 SOL) will host Souderton on Tuesday.
Dock Mennonite 0-0 0
Pennridge 3-2 5
GWYNEDD MERCY 1, WISSAHICKON 0
In a battle of the neighboring rivals, it was the Monarchs eking out the win.
Wissahickon goalie Meghan Reilly turned away 14 shots in a strong outing.
Wissahickon (8-5,7-4 SOL) will travel to Abington on Tuesday.
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