Check out the recaps for SOL field hockey teams in action Monday. PW/Wissahickon photos courtesy of Kim Supko Photography. William Tennent/Lower Moreland photos courtesy of Tracy Valko. Check back for galleries of both games.
SOL Liberty Division
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 3, WISSAHICKON 2 (OT)
Ava Borkowski is a goal-scoring machine.
The senior standout committed to perennial powerhouse University of North Carolina last fall and surpassed the elusive 100-goal mark as a junior. Through four games this year, Borkowski – who scored the game-winner two minutes into overtime in Monday’s Senior Night thriller – already had 18 goals.
So it’s hardly surprising she had a singular thought when she found herself with the ball on her stick early in overtime.
“Honestly, if I get the ball, my thought is to just get it in the back of the net – that’s the most important part, that’s how you win the game,” Borkowski said. “Our midfield did an amazing job. We used the side to get it up, and our left forward, Alexa DeLucca, received the ball off a great pass and passed it to me. I took it in the circle, and I shot that reverse, and it went in.
“This feels amazing, especially on Senior Night and against our rivals – it is the best feeling. It was very intense, very fun because we finally were able to play against really good competition. That’s the best hockey we’ve seen this year, and I think it really brought out everyone’s full potential. We played as a team. Everyone was able to use their skills. We weren’t playing selfishly. Because they had such a good team, we were able to play together and come out on top.”
The Trojans had early possession in overtime, but the Colonials capped a sequence that began with a free hit into Borkowski’s game-winner.
“She’s always had a good reverse chip,” Halteman said. “What she’s learning now is to really read what they give her. If it’s there and she knows she can get it off, she uses it. It’s a great skill for her.”
The Trojans actually struck first in Monday’s showdown. Sophia Havrilla turned a Kendal Williams pass into a goal with 5:58 remaining in the opening period. Hailey Copestick scored the equalizer on a lift shot four minutes into the second quarter. The teams went into halftime deadlocked.
Alexa DeLucca gave the Colonials a 2-1 lead with a goal less than two minutes into the third quarter.
“Wissahickon put a great deal of pressure on PW in the third quarter as PW struggled to outlet with possession,” Halteman said.
That pressure resulted in a goal at the 10:13 mark of the fourth quarter. Kate Lovensheimer scored, using a Brynne Miller assist. The Colonials earned several corners in the closing minutes of regulation but couldn’t capitalize, setting the stage for overtime and Borkowski’s heroics.
“We lost a lot of key players from last year, and their replacements have done a very good job,” Borkowski said. “We knew Wiss is always a tough game. We expect them to be very aggressive.
“They gave us a run for our money. I don’t think we were expecting them to be that aggressive, but we were definitely expecting a very good game.”
Borkowski wasn’t the only player to excel for the Colonials.
“Kaleigh Missimer, our center midfielder, did a great job helping to control the play,” Halteman said. “She was primarily responsible for Aiden Drabick, who’s a very talented player. Her and Aiden had some battles in the middle – both of them, I thought, played well.
“Hailey Copestick, our left mid, had a solid game, really stepped up and created opportunities. I really felt like it was a team win tonight, so that was important for us.”
Halteman went on to credit the play of the Trojans.
“I felt like this was the best Wiss team as a whole,” the PW coach said. “Their whole unit seemed to work well together. They had good structure and a lot skilled players, and they had some creative corners. They have a really nice team this season.
“We always seem to have a rivalry with them. The girls get up for the game, they’re excited to play this one, no matter what the score ends up being. This was a lot of fun tonight. All of our seniors got to start the game. To come out with a win in overtime is a good stepping stone for our team.”
In their four wins preceding Monday’s win over the Trojans, the Colonials outscored their opponents 40-3.
“Our scores have been very lopsided, and it’s hard to get a sense what your team needs to work on when you haven’t been tested,” Halteman said. “Maybe we were tested once or twice, but you’re already up, so don’t face the consequences necessarily.
“This was good – it was back and forth. We were down, then we were up. We were in different positions throughout the game, and that just teaches the girls a lot. It gives us a lot of information about what we need to work on moving forward. Wiss earned a lot of corners. I thought our defensive corner unit did a pretty nice job holding them, but we want to limit our defensive corners in the future. We got a lot of good information from the game. Wiss has been racking up the scores on their opponents too, so it was, I’m sure, really competitive and fun for both of us.”
Both teams entered the game undefeated.
“It was a very exciting game tonight with both teams playing very well,” said Wissahickon coach Lucy Gil, whose defense was anchored by the glittering 13-save effort of goalie Alli Wood.
The 10 seniors on the Colonials’ roster are Kasey Blake, Ava Borkowski, Kennedy Covington, Alexa DeLucca, Regan Gehman, Haley McCourt, Darcy Miller, Kaleigh Missimer, Shelley Price and Sarah Trask. The team also honored senior manager Clancy Lynch.
Trask recorded four saves in goal for PW.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (5-0) will travel to Quakertown on Wednesday, and Wissahickon (5-1, 4-1 SOL) will host Hatboro-Horsham Wednesday.
Wissahickon 1-0-0-1-0 2
Plymouth Whitemarsh 0-1-1-0-1 3
ABINGTON 2, QUAKERTOWN 1
The Ghosts scored a pair of second-quarter goals and led the rest of the way on their way to the win.
Camryn Stewart found the cage with the first, using an assist from Ysabel Lowry, and then it was Devan DiMaria connecting on an unassisted goal.
Lauren Junker broke up the Ghosts’ shutout bid in the second half, assisted by Kiera Gallagher
“Abington is still working out the kinks that come with a young team,” coach Katie Small said. “Overall, the girls played great for two quarters.
“We saw a ton of great passing sequences, especially between Stewart, Devan DiMaria and Maura Calladonato. Aly Campbell was strong as ever in the backfield. She has really developed into a great defensive back for us, considering she was a starting wing her freshman year. She is really fun to watch back there.
“Ysabel Lowry and Erica Devlin had very good games for us as well. Abington is hoping to take the momentum from these wins into the game Wednesday against Upper Dublin.”
Abington goalie Marilyn Capps recorded eight saves in the win. Quakertown’s Kiley Lerch was credited with six saves.
Abington (2-3) will travel to Upper Dublin on Wednesday, and Quakertown (0-5-1, 0-4-1 SOL) will host Plymouth Whitemarsh on Wednesday.
Quakertown 0-1 1
Abington 2-0 2
UPPER DUBLIN 1, HATBORO-HORSHAM 0
Annabel Coplan scored during corner play at the 10:41 mark in the opening quarter. That would be the extent of the scoring for both sides.
The Cardinals held a 7-3 advantage in corners.
Upper Dublin (3-2) will host Abington on Wednesday, and Hatboro-Horsham (0-4-1) will be on the road at Wissahickon Wednesday.
Upper Dublin 1-0-0-0 1
Hatboro-Horsham 0-0-0-0 0
SOL Patriot Division
PENNSBURY 3, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 1
It was a perfect weather day for field hockey. A complete 360 from the Falcons’ last game in the pouring rain against CR South almost a week ago. Coming off of that big loss to South, Pennsbury was looking to redeem themselves in some way and prove just how capable they are.
That is exactly what they did.
After a very productive week of practice, fine-tuning and focusing on specific changes to their game play, Pennsbury earned an awesome win on their home field as they topped CR North 3-1. They were fired up and ready from the starting whistle, capitalizing on their first penalty corner early in the first quarter. Sophia Curtis inserted a nicely paced ball and Hannah Aker connected with a laser shot giving the Falcons a 1-0 lead. The PHS coaching staff was most impressed early into the game with the application of skills that were discussed throughout the week at practice each day. It was so refreshing to see the girls playing strong, skilled, field hockey as a cohesive unit – it validates the hard work and ignites the confidence that has been simmering for some time in this program. With about one minute left in the first quarter, Pennsbury connected again on heads up circle play from senior forward Maddy Spratt. Starting with a long hit, the Falcons got the ball in front of the goal and after some battling, Spratt caught the goalie leaving a lot of space on one side and scored using a reverse stick dump. The score remained 2-0 for the entire second quarter.
Pennsbury’s forwards and mids were passing beautifully, overlapping and getting rid of the ball quickly, but just could not finish in the circle. North’s goalie played an outstanding game, making us work for every goal. North was pressuring and earning many corners, but the Falcons’ defense stopped every one and it was still 2-0 at the half.
The Pennsbury halftime huddle was not a celebration, however, it was a more intense talk about how not to let this lead slip out of our hands. PHS knows that feeling all too well and made a pact to not let it happen on this day. Council Rock made their way onto the scoreboard toward the end of the third quarter on a goal by Brenna Schoenfeld. They never gave up the entire way.
With the score 2-1 going in the final quarter, Pennsbury had to dig deep and play solid hockey for 15 minutes. We lost to North twice last season and a win today would show progress – there was intense determination to hold strong to that lead. With the incredible leadership of Sophia Hitchingham, PHS stayed composed and worked as a unit to keep control of the game. Olivia Graebner, Molly Murray, Meg McClure, Maddy Spratt, and Kayli Williams seem to be getting into a comfortable rhythm in the midfield and on the forward line and have become a very talented unit. Stopping about fifteen penalty corners, goalie Jordan Vradenburgh and her defensive team are a solid group in the backfield. Sophia Curtis, Reilly Monach, Hitchingham, and Hannah Aker are a force to be reckoned with on the way to the goal.
The Falcons added another goal in the fourth quarter, going up 3-1 with a free hit from senior Sophia Hitchingham to sophomore Megan McClure. Coach Traci Curtis is most excited about the growth happening each day in everyone.
“We do not rely on one, singular player to do it all – the workload is shared and the responsibility is on every single girl to do their part well and if they can’t that day, then there is another teammate ready to pick up the slack,” the Falcons’ coach said. “It’s a full team effort. It makes me proud to watch the girls take chances, step outside of their comfort zone, and build confidence in themselves as individuals and as a whole. Today we discovered what it feels like to believe in ourselves and one another. What is means to trust and what it feels like to propel a program forward with authority.”
Pennsbury (2-2) will celebrate their seniors on Wednesday at home against Bensalem. Council Rock North (1-3, 2-3 SOL) will host William Tennent on Wednesday.
Council Rock North 0-0-1-0 1
Pennsbury 2-0-0-1 3
NESHAMINY 2, BENSALEM 0
The Redskins scored a pair of goals in the opening quarter and went on to win by that score.
Dylan Beegal scored an unassisted goal with 6:26 remaining in the first quarter, and with time expired, Mia Martin connected, using a Megan Hollenbaugh assist.
Neshaminy (4-0) will host Council Rock South on Wednesday, and Bensalem (1-4, 0-4 SOL) will be on the road at Pennsbury Wednesday.
Neshaminy 2-0-0-0 2
Bensalem 0-0-0-0 0
SOL Colonial Division
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 1, SOUDERTON 0
The corner – and ensuing goal – came out of nowhere for a West team that had spent the better part of the second half playing defense. Senior Claire Engebreth scored the game-winner during corner play with 3:27 remaining, breaking a scoreless tie and propelling the Bucks to their first win of the season.
“We adjusted her from a midfield back to the back line, ”West coach Dave DeAngelis said of Bengebreth. “She scored our second goal of the season on a corner on a rebound where she and another player were kind of muscling for the ball. Claire just got it past the end line.
“To see the joy on their faces and to see at least on this day that their efforts are rewarded, it was very, very humbling to me. They’ve had a couple years that were very difficult.”
The Bucks are three years removed from a 15-win season. They’ve won only four games in each of the last two years since then and dropped their first three games of this shortened season. Monday’s win was a big one for the Bucks.
“Souderton is a really, really skilled group,” DeAngelis said. “What a really well-coach and enjoyable team to watch.
“I think Souderton might have had one billion corners against us today. It’s never incredible when you have to pay huge accolades to your corner defense, but they’ve been doing exceptionally well. Our goalkeeper, Brooke Golbeski, was again standing on her head.”
Engebreth not only scored the game-winner, she also delivered a defensive save on the goal line in the second half when the Indians were pressuring.
“They had just a great ball – it was going into the net, and Claire plucked it out of the air,” DeAngelis said. “It was one of those that was about waist high on a shot, not the initial shot.
“I’m watching it, and out of nowhere, she had a defensive stick save out of the air. West has had it really difficult the last several years, and we still have an incredible amount of inexperienced players. Souderton made some adjustments at halftime, and they basically had us on our heels for the majority of the second half, so credit to Souderton.”
Also earning praise from the Bucks’ first-year coach were seniors Julia Bunch and Meg Weyer.
“(They are) the heart of our team besides Claire and Brooke in the back,” DeAngelis said. “Meg is a transfer student from Massachusetts, and they really play off each other very, very well. A lot of our opportunities and getting the ball up and through – it’s really through their efforts.
“Brooke and Claire built the wall, and Meg and Julia really, really helped transitioning, navigating it through the middle and trying to get it up for opportunity.”
Souderton held a decisive advantage in shots (18-3) and corners (18-7).
“The first, second and third quarters ended with a corner – we had all 10 people up, and I said, ‘Do not let the ball out of the circle,’” Souderton coach Sue Casciato said. “I think two of the three times we didn’t even get a shot off.”
DeAngelis credited his team’s toughness in the win.
“I honestly tell the kids all the time – my feeling is the typical Central Bucks West field hockey player is tough, they never get outworked, they’re all in,” the Bucks’ first-year coach said. “We may not be the most talented, but we’re going to work as hard as we can as a unit.
“At the end of each quarter, I was sharing with them, ‘It’s a one-touch game.’”
The Indians didn’t go down quietly, drawing three corners in the game’s final minutes.
“When they were coming back to that center start, I’m like, ‘Keep your composure, keep your focus’ because a lot of times in that next minute, the other team comes back with a counterpunch,” DeAngelis said. “Souderton was in full-out attack mode. We were just gutting it out to the very end because they ended up getting a corner (in the closing seconds). We finished it with five seconds left. We got it out, sat on it for three seconds and game over.”
Casciato acknowledged her team is searching for a combination that clicks.
“Again, we had a different lineup,” the Indians’ coach said. “We’re really struggling to score goals. The second half Lauren Fry played well – she was our left back.”
Central Bucks West (1-3) will host North Penn on Wednesday at 7 p.m., and Souderton (3-1-1) will be on the road at Central Bucks South for a 5:30 p.m. contest.
Central Bucks West 0-0-0-1 1
Souderton 0-0-0-0 0
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 4, NORTH PENN 0
The Patriots defeated the Knights by a seemingly convincing margin, but listening to East coach Meghann Spratt tell it, that score is deceiving.
“It was a really good game,” the Patriots’ coach said. “I know the score might not reflect that, but it was 1-0 at the half. They had opportunities, they were threatening – they’re just a really good team.
“Overall, it was just a really good effort across the board. We had probably one of the best passing games we have had all season, which means everyone has touched the ball, and we did it consistently in both halves. Our second half was even stronger with our passing game, and I think that’s what brought us out on top.”
Less than two minutes into the game, Grace Bethke (Emily Horan assist) scored a goal that stood until the third quarter and turned out to be the game-winner. Kenzie Lever turned a Phia Mannino pass into a goal midway through the third period, and the Patriots added a pair in the fourth. Hailey Dooley scored with a Mannino assist, and Mannino – who had a hand in three goals – closed out the scoring with an unassisted goal.
“I’m happy with the outcome, I’m happy we were able to capitalize on different situations and come out on top, but they are another program that is only going to go up. In years to come, they are going to be super strong,” Spratt said of the Knights.
The Patriots’ coach pointed to the O’Donnell trio – junior Erin O’Donnell and freshman twins Kerry and Riley O’Donnell – as three reasons why.
“I’ve coached them, and the three of them on the field at one time – they are just tremendous athletes,” Spratt said. “Kerry and Riley were not intimidated being freshmen.
“I don’t know if it gave them confidence to have a (junior) sister on the field, but whatever it is – that trio is a force. Adding Eleni Kountroubis to it as well as a couple of their veterans. They were the fastest team, without a doubt, we’ve played all year.
“My girls were tired. It was like a run-and-gun basketball team, it was back and forth and not just stuck in the midfield. It would go from one five-yard all the way to the other end line, both sides. It was constant running.”
The Knights held an edge in penalty corners (4-3) while the Patriots had the advantage in shots (11-8).
East goalie Emily Bullard was credited with seven saves in another shutout effort. Renee Gatto and Bethke each had a defensive save.
“I know defensively her name has come up a number of times, but Paige Hussie played a great game,” Spratt said. “Emily Bullard came away with a shutout.
“Phia (Mannino) played a great game in the midfield and did a great job distributing as well. Bethke had a goal as my defensive back, and she also had a defensive save, which is pretty cool.”
North Penn goalie Mallory Stowell recorded five saves.
Central Bucks East (4-1) will travel to Pennridge on Wednesday, and North Penn (2-3) will be on the road at Central Bucks West on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. contest.
North Penn 0-0-0-0 0
Central Bucks East 1-0-1-2 4
PENNRIDGE 2, CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 1
Hayley Borneman turned an Emily Amsden pass into a goal 1:20 into the opening quarter.
“I said to them, ‘We’ve played from behind most of our games. We’re going to score first tonight. Let’s start off quickly,’ and they sure did,” Spahr said. “It was a nice cross that Hayley finished.
“I think we caught South by surprise, and they tightened their defense. They would pressure us up high and got us turning the ball over a little bit more.”
South knotted the score midway through the second quarter on a goal by Erin Smith with an assist from Julia Cooper. That 1-1 tie stood until Lexie Dinsmore scored – again with an Amsden assist – four minutes into the fourth quarter. The Titans didn’t go down quietly and drew three corners with time expired.
The Titans held a 15-12 advantage in corners.
“It was a lot of missed corner opportunities from both teams,” Spahr said. “Obviously, the corner defense played really well on both ends – CB South and us.”
Comprising the Rams’ corner defense were Amsden, Dinsmore, Brynn Wenger and Emily Miller.
“I thought our mids and forwards did a really good job of passing tonight and giving us opportunities in the circle,” Spahr said. “South’s defense was really tight on us, and we weren’t able to finish most of the time.”
Pennridge goalie Maia Machado stopped eight of nine shots she faced.
Pennridge (3-2, 2-2 SOL) will travel to Central Bucks East on Wednesday, and Central Bucks South (1-3-1) will host Souderton on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
Central Bucks South 1-0 1
Pennridge 1-1 2
SOL Freedom Division
LOWER MORELAND 9, WILLIAM TENNENT 1
Senior Taryn Mayer scored four goals and assisted on another and sophomore Liz Neeld added a pair in a contest that saw five LM players contribute to the scoring.
“The score doesn’t show the effort put forth by the home team on their Senior Day,” LM coach Shawn Mayer said of the Panthers.
Senior Linda Tang, junior Zoe Karros and sophomore Isabella Gioia each added a single goal. Junior Meredith Lutter chipped in an assist.
“It was a team effort as 17 players were utilized,” coach Mayer said.
Sophomore Sarah Rosala anchored the defense in goal with 19 saves.
“Sarah had a solid performance in goal,” coach Mayer said. “She has been working on being more of a vocal leader to help with marking.”
The Lions had 15 corners while the Panthers had six.
Lower Moreland (2-2) will host Upper Moreland on Wednesday, and William Tennent (1-4, 1-3 SOL) will travel to Council Rock North for a non-league game Wednesday.
Lower Moreland 3-2-3-1 9
William Tennent 0-0-0-1 1
NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 12, UPPER MORELAND 0
Lions raced out of the gate to a 4-0 lead after one quarter and extended that to 6-0 by halftime. Lilly Smith’s five-goal effort led the Lions’ attack. Sophia Cozza added a pair of goals and two assists. Mia Gomolinski handed out three assists and also added a goal.
Cozza opened the scoring with an unassisted goal four minutes into the game, and Kate Dougherty added a pair of goals sandwiched around an Erin Firth score. Avery Mendola, Cozza and Gomolinski each had an assist in the frame.
In the second period, Firth scored with a Cozza assist, and Smith began her offensive onslaught with an unassisted goal. Cozza scored the only goal of the third quarter with an Ellie Buckard assist.
Smith reeled off three straight goals in a five-minute span in the fourth quarter – two with Gomolinski assists. Then it was Gomolinski scoring an unassisted goal before Smith closed out the scoring with a Sarah Morrin assist.
UM goalie Emma Hurley recorded 22 saves in a busy outing while teammate Cayden Wiest was credited with a defensive save.
New Hope-Solebury (3-1) will host Springfield Township in a key division battle Wednesday. Upper Moreland (0-5, 0-4 Sol) will travel to Lower Moreland on Wednesday.
New Hope-Solebury 4-2-1-5 12
Upper Moreland 0-0-0-0 0
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