Pennsbury, CB East and PW earned important wins to move one step closer to conference titles. Check out Friday’s recaps.
SOL National Conference
PENNSBURY 3, NESHAMINY 1
For a huge high school field hockey game, the necessary math came straight from the elementary school level.
Pennsbury came in with no league losses. Neshaminy came in with one. That simple arithmetic made the importance of this one obvious.
In the end, the numbers favored Pennsbury, on the scoreboard and in the standings. Samie Hackman scored twice and Bev Bozarth added a back-breaking goal to lead the Falcons to a 3-1 win in a game played in front of an overflow crowd at Pennsbury.
"We knew what the challenge was," said Pennsbury coach Jamie Parell. "Neshaminy is a great team. Their coaching is great. We had to be at our best. I think we were ready. We had a great practice yesterday and a great warm-up today. This was a big step for us, but we have a long way to go before we achieve our goals."
The win improved Pennsbury to 9-0 in the Suburban One National Conference, while Neshaminy fell to 7-2. Both teams have three league games remaining.
Prior to this season, Pennsbury hadn't beaten Neshaminy since 2011. The Falcons then won the first meeting between the two, at Neshaminy on Sept. 14, also by a 3-1 to score.
In fact, the two games were extremely similar. As it did the first time, Pennsbury scored three goals in the first half to lead 3-0 at the break and then withstood Neshaminy's second-half push for the 3-1 win.
Pennsbury followed its familiar script of keeping possession with its midfielders and getting scoring from its forwards. The Falcons outshot Neshaminy by eight in the first game; that number was nine in the rematch.
And so as midfielders Maya Geller, Nell Webber, Maddie Hackman, Annie Price and Anna Sharp relentlessly kept the ball in the Neshaminy end, it was the Pennsbury forwards who did the damage in the circle.
Pennsbury scored all three of its goals in the first game in a 6:31 span. This time, the three goals came over a course of 12:30.
Hackman twice deflected feeds from Kate Chesney into the cage, the first with 11:29 gone and the next nine minutes later. Then, with 6:01 left in the half, Bozarth took a cross from Webber on the far post and knocked it in, making it a 3-0 game at the break.
Neshaminy had some good opportunities in the first three minutes of the second half but couldn't score. Pennsbury then continued to maintain possession, and the Redskins couldn't break through until 3:50 was left, when Abby Geisler scored off a rebound. Neshaminy had one more shot after that, but Pennsbury was able to clear and run out the clock.
Both goalies, Neshaminy's Maddie Tiemann and Pennsbury's Michelle Deodati, made four saves.
The Falcons (11-2, 9-0) have a non-league game Saturday morning against Perkiomen Valley. Pennsbury then hosts Council Rock South Tuesday and Council Rock North Thursday. Neshaminy (8-6, 7-2) will be on the road at Council Rock North on Tuesday.
Neshaminy 0-1 1
Pennsbury 3-0 3
ABINGTON 3, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 0
The Ghosts avenged a 1-0 loss to the Indians earlier this season with an impressive shutout win.
“Honestly, I feel like they are now peaking,” coach Katie Small said. “Everything we’re doing in practice, they’re now doing on the field.
“The thing we’ve been working on has always been defensive transitions. Recently, I started saying to the forwards, ‘This is what you need to do – come back and cut to get the release from the defense,’ and today they did it.”
The Ghosts’ first-year coach was especially pleased to see three different players contribute goals. Grace Terrizzi (Aileen Hughes assist) scored a goal that turned out to be the game winner with six minutes remaining in the first half.
“I said that today’s game the key was to get on the board first,” Small said. “The games this week have been so close with Pennsbury and Neshaminy, and we had to get on the board first, and we did.”
The Ghosts took that 1-0 lead into halftime and then seized complete control of the game with second-half goals by Becca Gable and Natalie McNamara.
“We know Natalie scores, but we’re not going to win games if Natalie is the only one we rely on,” Small said of her high-scoring forward. “To get three girls to score today – one of which it’s her first year playing field hockey – it was unbelievable.”
That first-year player – Gable – is a lacrosse player who opted to come out for the hockey team this fall.
“She just has picked the game up,” Small said. “There are times we watch her and say, ‘I don’t even think she knows that what she just did is the most amazing field hockey move you could actually do.’ It’s fun to watch her.
“Going into it today, I was very nervous. In the second half, I knew it was our game because everything was going our way. The girls were playing great. If someone made a mistake, someone was backing them up. It just seemed today that we became a full team, not five players with a couple of supporting cast. We were an 11-person team, and it was awesome.”
The Ghosts drew 10 corners to just three for the Indians and also held an advantage in shots.
“Council Rock North played a great game,” Small said. “There were times when we definitely said, ‘Oh no, oh no.’
“(Goalie) Mackensie Grenier came up big.”
Grenier turned away all five shots she faced. Small also lauded the play of senior defensive back Maria Angiolillo.
“Today was probably her best game,” Small said. “Anytime anything came down into our circle inside the 25, she was on the ball and getting it out to our wings. She just played like a great back today.”
Also earning mention was junior back Elena Swift.
“She’s now playing kind of our stopper position,” Small said. “She was just all over the ball today and had an amazing game.
“It was an overall total team effort. They came out today, and they were ready to roll.”
Abington (6-8, 4-6 SOL) will host Souderton in a non-league game Monday at 3:30 p.m., and Council Rock North (7-6, 5-5) will host Neshaminy on Tuesday.
Council Rock North 0-0 0
Abington 1-2 3
HARRY S TRUMAN 2, BENSALEM 1 (OT)
The Tigers picked up their first conference win, and they did it in dramatic fashion, rallying from a 1-0 halftime deficit to knot the score and then winning it in overtime when Grace Sutton deflected a shot by Grace Pool into the cage for the game winner. The goal came during corner play with 5:55 remaining in OT.
“It’s super exciting,” Truman coach Dipi Bhaya said. “I’m really proud of the girls, and I’m really happy for them. It’s really nice for them to see good things starting to come their way.”
The win avenged a 1-0 loss to the Owls in the initial meeting bewteen the two teams that saw Bensalem score its only goal during corner play with no time on the clock at the end of the first half.
“We’re starting to begin to learn how we want things done differently this year and how they’re really starting to come together,” Bhaya said. “It’s our first conference win, and it was nice because in the past they might not have come back when they were down 1-0 at half, but they came back and tied the game.
“It was nice because not only are we becoming more successful by doing that stuff, it’s starting to reflect in the game and on the scoreboard. That’s what we’ve been working towards.”
The Owls got on the scoreboard three minutes into the game, and Truman knotted the score early in the second half when Jaycee Jones turned a pass from Jalezzia Gibson into a goal with 26:19 remaining in regulation. That score stood until Sutton’s game winner.
Truman goalkeeper Kyra Martin recorded 10 saves, including three clutch stops in OT.
Harry S Truman (2-10, 1-8 SOL) will host Upper Merion in a non-league game on Monday, and Bensalem (3-11, 1-9) will host Norristown in a non-league contest on Monday at 7 p.m.
Harry S Truman 0-1-1 2
Bensalem 1-0-0 1
SOL Continental Conference
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 5, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 2
Cailey Lever was unstoppable.
The Patriots’ junior forward scored four goals and assisted on another, putting an exclamation point on a dazzling offensive performance when she turned a cross from the left by Emma Donnelly into a textbook goal midway through the second half for her fourth and final goal.
“Today I said to myself – ‘It’s West, I really need to focus, I need to take everything my coaches have been telling me,’” Lever said. “We’ve been doing a lot of different things, and I think today was really a pivotal point that I could tie them all together.”
East’s first goal was scored by Phia Mannino during corner play just over two minutes into the game. Lever had the assist.
“We needed to set the stage,” Lever said. “As long as we put it away quickly, we usually end up playing better because we rally behind our confidence and our team, and I think that made a huge difference.”
That early goal set the stage for a win that gave the defending champion Patriots a two-game lead over the Bucks and a one-game edge over North Penn with just two conference games remaining.
“This was huge for us,” Lever said. “Obviously, West is our main rival school, and we wanted to win so badly for the seniors because it was their last time (playing West), and this game meant a lot to us, so I’m really glad that we won.”
Lever began her own personal tear with a pair of goals in the first half. Her first came on a shot from the top of the circle and spotted the Patriots a 2-0 lead seven minutes into he game, and her second – with an Emma Donnelly assist – came with 10:51 remaining in the first half when she eluded West’s goalie who was down. The Patriots took that 3-0 lead into halftime.
Just over a minute into the second half, Lever – on the right post – tipped a Phia Mannino pass into a goal. The Bucks got on the board when Dani Dundas deflected a powerful Taylor Mason corner shot into the cage. Midway through the half Lever scored with an assist from Emma Donnelly to put the Patriots on top 5-1. West’s Casey Reichwein scored on a strong shot from the top to close out the scoring.
Friday’s game was a far cry from the initial meeting between the two teams – a 1-0 East win.
“I think we were getting our shots off quicker today,” East coach Michelle Finegan said. “In the game against West the first time, we were holding onto the ball and looking for the perfect shot.
“Today I think we started to really go after it and get hungry and scrappy and not worry about what kind of shot it was. We’ve been working on that at practice just to recognize when they’re in front of the cage to take the shot, Sometimes we dribble around looking to get away from everybody and get the nice shot off. It was good.”
Finegan acknowledged the strong play of her defense.
“Our backs, Isobel Mannino, Tara Harper and Whitney Dietz stopped West’s offense,” the Patriots’ coach said. “Mackenzie Boyle and Riley Donnelly took a defensive role today to cover and mark in the backfield. Kyleigh Talomie also had a great game.”
Finegan also credited the play of West’s Dundas, Mason, Eva Altadonna, Reichwein and goalies Laura Kubit and Peyton Fischer.
The win allowed the Patriots to cross off their list the goal of beating West in both meetings. This year’s seniors lost to West twice during their freshman year, three times during their sophomore year and then split last year.
“This was huge,” Finegan said. “We have goals every year. On the board in our locker room, we actually put the goal to beat West on 10/6 and on 9/13. Everybody showed up today knowing this was a big win.
“It puts us closer to winning the conference, but we still have two more games. This was a big hurdle.”
Central Bucks East (12-3, 9-1 SOL) will host William Tennent on Tuesday, and Central Bucks West (10-4, 7-3) will host Vila Joseph Marie on Monday at 7 p.m.
Central Bucks West 0-2 2
Central Bucks East 3-2 5
CENTRAL BUCK SOUTH 6, WILLIAM TENNENT 0
The Titans rebounded from a disappointing outing against Central Bucks West to earn the no-doubt-about-it win, opening up a 5-0 halftime lead and rolling to the win.
Mel Dunton (Ally Fitts assist) put the Titans on the scoreboard six minutes into the game. It was her first varsity goal, and it turned out to be the game winner. Back-to-back goals by Casey Reilly in a five-minute span put the Titans on top 3-0 midway through the opening half.
Remy Kelinson got into the scoring column, and then it was Fitts – with 14 seconds remaining in the first half – scoring her first varsity goal with an assist from Kasey Dietzel.
Reilly completed her hat trick with a goal 12 minutes into the second half, using a Dietzel assist.
Jillian Heilig was not forced to make a save in the shutout. Tennent goalie Sophia Trozzi was credited with 13 saves.
“(We) played a balanced game and made the most of our corners and shots on goal against a talented William Tennent goalkeeper,” South coach Pat Toner said.”
Central Bucks South (8-5, 6-4 SOL) will be on the road at Bensalem on Tuesday for a non-league game, and William Tennent (2-11, 0-9) will travel to Central Bucks East on Tuesday.
Central Bucks South 5-1 6
William Tennent 0-0 0
SOL American Conference
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 4, UPPER DUBLIN 0
The Colonials took just a 1-0 lead into halftime but finished the game strong, scoring three unanswered goals to earn a win that takes them one step closer to another conference title.
Freshman Kaleigh Missimer found the back of the cage after a scramble to give the Colonials a 1-0 lead midway through the first half.
“I thought Upper Dublin’s forwards put good pressure on our mids and backs, and UD’s goalkeeper played a great first half to keep it a tight game going into halftime,” PW coach Charise Halteman said.
Ava Borkowski scored a pair of goals in the second half, and Jess Dixon added a goal and an assist.
The Colonials held an advantage in shots (29-7) and corners (16-6).
PW goalkeeper Katherine Houghton recorded four saves to earn her 12th shutout of the season. UD’s Sarah Herchenroder recorded 23 saves while Meghan Muth had three.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (13-1, 11-0 SOL) will host Hatboro-Horsham on Tuesday at 7 p.m., and Upper Dublin (8-5, 7-4) will host Springfield Township on Tuesday.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 1-3 4
Upper Dublin 0-0 0
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 5, UPPER MORELAND 0
The Spartans raced out of the gate to a 4-0 halftime lead on their way to the convincing win over the visiting Golden Bears.
Ella Marina put the Spartans on the board a minute into the game, and midway through the opening half, Anya Kochanowicz found the back of the cage. Ellie Hamilton scored her first of two goals, and then it was Brigid Roy connecting in the closing seconds of the first half. Hamilton scored two minutes into the second half, and neither team scored the rest of the way.
UM goalie Cassidy Murphy was credited with 11 saves. Springfield’s Emily Henry was forced to make just two saves in the shutout win.
The Golden Bears held a 4-3 edge in penalty corners.
Springfield Township (10-3, 9-2 SOL) will host a 12-0 New Hope-Solebury squad on Monday in a non-league contest. Upper Moreland (6-7, 5-6) will travel to Quakertown on Tuesday.
Upper Moreland 0-0 0
Springfield 4-1 5
QUAKERTOWN 3, CHELTENHAM 0
Two days after connecting on her first goal of the season, Halle Frederick scored a pair to lead the visiting Panthers to the win.
The Panthers thought they’d taken a 1-0 lead on a goal by Laura MacIntyre, but the goal was waved off because it hit the goalie in the facemask. Undeterred, Frederick connected on a goal that turned out to be the game winner, and her second goal – during corner play – sent the visitors into halftime with a 2-0 lead.
A goal by Mackenzie Hadfield closed out the scoring.
“We dominated the game but had a lot of turnovers,” coach Kelly Driscoll said.
Quakertown (4-9, 4-7 SOL) will host Upper Moreland on Tuesday.
Quakertown 2-1 3
Cheltenham 0-0 0
WISSAHICKON 7, HATBORO-HORSHAM 1
The Trojans took a 2-1 lead into halftime and then blew the game wide open with five unanswered second-half goals.
Ellen Kane and Julianna Sutow led a balanced attack with two goals each. Kane also had an assist. Sammi Pak had a hand in four goals, scoring one and assisting on three others. Emily Purnell had a goal and two assists, and Sarah Campbell added a single goal. Grace Ball chipped in an assist.
Wissahickon goalkeeper Meghan Reilly had two saves in the win.
Wissahickon (8-5, 7-4 SOL) will host Council Rock South on Monday in a non-league game, and Hatboro-Horsham (1-13, 1-10) will be on the road at Plymouth Whitemarsh on Tuesday.
Hatboro-Horsham 1-0 1
Wissahickon 2-5 7
Thursday, Sept. 5
SOUDERTON 5, PENNRIDGE 0
Courtney Kenah scored during corner play with assists from Jess Gabriel and Anna Gwiazdzinski to give the Indians a 1-0 lead at halftime.
The Indians took the suspense out of things in the second half, reeling off four unanswered goals. Jess Schmidt got the ball rolling with an unassisted goal, and then it was Kenah scoring her second goal of the game. Gwiazdzinski turned a pass from Liz O’Hara into a goal, and Gabriel connected on an unassisted goal to close out the scoring.
Souderton (5-7, 3-6 SOL) will travel to Abington Monday for a non-league game, and Pennridge (3-9, 1-8) will be on the road at Central Bucks West on Tuesday.
Pennridge 0-0 0
Souderton 1-4 5
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