Check out the results for SOL field hockey teams in action Wednesday.
National Conference
PENNSBURY 1, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 0
Coach Jamie Parell has spent the season trying to convince her players that they have more than enough talent to compete in the SOL National. Her players proved her right on Wednesday, picking up a big win over a Rock North team that entered the game sharing the top spot in the National Conference standings.
“We definitely needed this,” said Parell, who has been puzzled by her team’s inconsistency this season. “I see their potential, and I said, ‘If you would play like this all the time – you beat Wissahickon, you played awesome against North, you played great against Hatboro, and then you come out flat and tied Bensalem 0-0.’
“If that was the talent of the team and we were having a bad year, that’s one thing, but the talent is there, and that’s what drives me crazy.”
The Falcons had their talent on display in Wednesday’s win. Emily Zazzu scored a first half goal, using a Haley Toadvine assist, and that 1-0 lead held up the rest of the way.
“Oh my gosh, they couldn’t do anything wrong today,” Parell said. “They were passing, they were sending it to space, they were working as one unit, and when we work as one unit, that’s when we succeed.
“If we play as 10 individuals, which we did at Bensalem, we’re in trouble. This really could have been 2-0. We had their goalie beat. The ball was in the cage in the air, and the Rock defender came out of nowhere and made the save. It was unbelievable.”
Parell went on to laud the performances of several players – center mid Marguerite Salamone, Emily and Sarah Zazzu, Haley Toadvine, Missy Frankl and Emily Kumpf.
“We were so cohesive, and we played a full 60 minutes,” said Parell. “I feel like I should put it on repeat because I keep telling my girls, ‘You can’t play a good 10 minutes. You can’t play a good 30 seconds. You have to play a good 60 minutes in order to get a ‘W’. I can’t say it enough.
“From the forwards all the way back to the defense, I can’t give them enough praise for how they played. They played completely as one.”
The Falcons (6-5-3, 5-3-2) won’t have long to celebrate. They return to action on Thursday when they will travel to Council Rock South. The Indians (10-3, 8-2) will host Harry S Truman.
Council Rock North 0-0 0
Pennsbury 1-0 0
NESHAMINY 3, WILLIAM TENNENT 0
Marlena Koellner scored a goal and assisted on two others to lead the Redskins to the win. Abby Alexis turned a Koellner assist into a goal with 7:22 remaining in the first half to break a scoreless tie. Then it was Maria Palmieri (Koellner assist) scoring four minutes later to send the Redskins into halftime with a 2-0 lead. A Koellner goal (Josafinne McIlvaine assist) with nine minutes remaining in regulation made it a 3-0 game.
The Redskins held an 18-4 advantage in shots. Tennent goalie Michele Fleming was credited with 13 saves while Neshaminy’s Haille Sheppard had three saves in the shutout.
The Redskins (9-4, 8-1 SOL) return to action on Thursday when they will host Abington. The Panthers (3-7-1, 3-5-1) will travel to Abington on Friday.
William Tennent 0-0 0
Neshaminy 2-1 3
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 9, BENSALEM 0
Continental Conference
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 1, SOUDERTON 0
The Patriots found themselves in yet another 1-0 game – their eighth of the season, and for the fourth time this season, they emerged the winner.
“I’m really proud of them coming off a game yesterday against North Penn,” coach Dipi Bhaya said of her team’s 4-0 loss to the Maidens one day earlier. “The girls worked really hard, and to be able to come off a loss like yesterday and still be positive and still work hard – that was really good.
“We had some key players out with injuries, and it was really nice to have players step up and fill in the shoes of those who weren’t able to play. It was a team effort.”
With 10:01 remaining in regulation, senior Alexa Cusack scored a goal that turned out to be the game winner. It was Cusack’s first goal of the season.
“I was really proud of Alexa,” Bhaya said. “It’s her senior year, and she’s been working hard. It was fun watching her celebrate.”
Bhaya lauded the performances of several players.
“Our goalie, Sam Grzegorczyk, had a good game,” the Patriots coach said. “We had two defensive saves by Sydney Badger and Gabby Hieber, and Maggie Stella had a good game.”
It was the 10th one-goal game of the season for the Patriots, who improved to 2-9 in the conference (4-11 overall).
“When you lose a lot of those one-goal games, it’s hard, but we’re growing and improving and working things out throughout the season,” Bhaya said. “Our record doesn’t reflect how much we’ve grown this season.
“Souderton is a conference game and a conference win. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy because we beat them 1-0 on their home field, and I’m sure they really wanted to beat us. It was a battle back and forth. It could have been anyone’s game.”
The Patriots return to action on Thursday when they will host Quakertown at War Memorial Field at 3:15 p.m. The Indians (1-11, 0-10 SOL) will host Pennridge on Friday.
Souderton 0-0 0
Central Bucks East 0-1 1
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 2, PENNRIDGE 0
Momentum is everything in the world of sports, and the Rams, who celebrated Senior Night, seemed to have the better of it early in Wednesday night’s showdown. The Bucks, however, took care of that little matter on their first trip into the circle, scoring on their first corner of the game at the 11:59 mark of the first half.
The goal was of the textbook variety, and they don’t come much prettier than this one. Erick Fiorelli, after receiving the insert pass at the top of the circle, carried the ball to the baseline and deftly found teammate Kim Hitchcock with a laser pass that the junior midfielder redirected into the cage.
“Oh my god, the momentum when we scored – it lifted us a lot,” Hitchcock said. “We came into this game, and it was their Senior Night. We knew they were going to be really crazy, but we matched their spirit and went out there hard. We knew we wanted to come out with a win.
“We play well together as a team. We know where everyone is on the field, and we have a good connection. Our passing lately is awesome.”
Both teams passed well on Wednesday night, and the Rams refused to go down quietly. The Bucks’ defense, however, was relentless. Moments after West got on the scoreboard, Bucks’ goalie Bri DeAngelis turned away a rocket by Ben Van Pelt, and late in the half, Jacq Fitzgerald made a defensive stop in the left alley, preventing a potential Ram breakaway.
“We knew Pennridge would come out strong,” West coach Courtney Hughes said. “Especially on Senior Night – you expect that level of intensity.
“I think we defended well in the first half and took advantage of our opportunities.”
The Bucks put the finishing touches on the win when Fiorelli scored on the rebound of a goalie save with 8:33 remaining.
Despite the loss, the Rams (9-5, 6-5 SOL) are looking to finish strong.
“We just have to work together, make sure our passes are connecting and make sure we’re psyched for every game and supporting each other on and off the field,” Pennridge senior Addy Marshall said.
Thanks to West’s win, the stage has been set for Thursday’s showdown between the conference’s top squads when the Bucks (13-1, 9-1) will take on undefeated Central Bucks South at War Memorial Field at 5:30 p.m.
“I’m really pleased with the way we’re coming together,” Hughes said. “People are starting to click, and we’re really playing as a team. You’re really trying to hit that right moment where you peak at the right time.”
Central Bucks West 1-1 2
Pennridge 0-0 0
NORTH PENN 2, QUAKERTOWN 0
The Maidens avenged an early season loss to the Panthers that marked the beginning of a five-game skid. Wednesday’s win was the Maidens’ fourth in five games since that losing streak. All four wins were shutouts.
“Our captains are doing a really good job of leading the team,” coach Shannon McCracken said of Shannon Talbot and Katrina Marger. “We have goals of where we want to be at the end of the season, and we just kept on working.
“We didn’t sit down and get upset about the games we lost. We just moved forward. I can’t say I had a secret ingredient. I just kept the girls up, kept their confidence up and went back to the drawing board. They kept working hard at practice, and they’re doing all right.”
It was the two captains putting the Maidens on the scoreboard five minutes into Wednesday’s game when Marger turned a Talbot assist into a goal. The Maidens took that 1-0 lead into halftime and then added an insurance goal midway through the second half. Again, it was Marger using an assist from Talbot for the score.
“It was nice to play them on our field – our field adds a quicker speed to the game,” McCracken said. “Our girls remembered that night (a 2-1 loss to Quakertown in overtime), and they kept it tucked in the back of their heads.
“They were really excited going into this game. They knew we just needed to play at a high tempo with a crisp passing game.”
McCracken lauded the performances of forwards Amanda Laessig and Casey O’Donnell, midfielders Marger and Talbot and defender Cassidy Brown.
Maiden goalie Chessa Kownurko was credited with five saves in the shutout. Quakertown’s Maddie Calder turned away 17 shots. The Maidens held an 18-4 advantage in corners.
The Maidens (8-7, 5-6 SOL) will travel to Hatboro-Horsham on Friday while the Panthers (6-9, 3-8) will face Central Bucks East on Thursday.
Quakertown 0-0 0
North Penn 1-1 2
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 2, HATBORO-HORSHAM 1 (OT)
The Titans dominated the game statistically, but the Hatters – sparked by the glittering 20-save effort of goalie Emily Braunewell – extended the conference leaders into overtime where Emily Cliggett (Mackenzie Harding assist) scored the game winner with 6:23 remaining.
“The team did a great job generating 23 attack penalty corners and 20 shots in tonight’s match,” South co-coach Jeff Harding said.
The Titans got on the scoreboard when Cliggett scored with an assist from Megan Hamilton at the 4:57 mark of the first half. Ten minutes into the second half, the Hatters got that goal back when Carlie Baldus scored, using a Syd Rausa assist. That was the extent of the scoring until Cliggett’s overtime goal.
The Hatters, who had just two corners, celebrated Senior Night, recognizing Baldus, Colby Eldridge, Jane Henry and Tori Waddington.
The Titans (15-0, 11-0 SOL) return to action on Thursday when they will take on Central Bucks West at War Memorial Field at 5:30 p.m. The Hatters (9-4-1, 7-4) will host North Penn on Friday.
Central Bucks South 1-0-1 2
Hatboro-Horsham 0-1-0 1
American Conference
WISSAHICKON 7, CHELTENHAM 0
The Trojans received goals from six different players, led by Angela Virtu with a pair. Stacie Rocco, Melanie Fry, Taylor Myers, Ashley Laskowitz and Brianna Miles all added single goals. Fry also had a pair of assists while Myers had one. Rachel Zimmerman, Sophie Hessler and Sarah Cammarota each contributed an assist.
Cheltenham goalie Emily Hawkins was credited with 19 saves while her counterparts, Claire Tarzia and Shayna Chernak, both turned away three shots.
The Trojans (9-5, 9-1 SOL) will travel to Plymouth Whitemarsh on Thursday while the Lady Panthers (1-13-1, 1-9-1) will host Upper Moreland on Friday.
UPPER DUBLIN 3, UPPER MORELAND 0
The Flying Cardinals took a 2-0 lead into halftime on their way to the shutout win over a Golden Bear squad that saw its modest two-game winning streak snapped. Courtney Vincent (Jen Harchut assist) put the Flying Cardinals on the board midway through the first half, and they led 2-0 after Grace Schwabenland scored with 44 seconds remaining in the half, also with a Harchut assist. Harchut, who had a hand in all three goals, scored five minutes into the second half with an assist from Alycia Hildebrand to close out the scoring.
Upper Dublin held a 10-1 advantage in shots and a 10-2 edge in corners. Upper Moreland keeper Bridget Meade was credited with 10 saves while Upper Dublin’s Sara Weinberg was forced to make just two saves in the shutout.
The Flying Cardinals (7-8, 7-4 SOL) will travel to Springfield on Friday while the Golden Bears (3-11, 2-9) will travel to Cheltenham.
Upper Moreland 0-0 0
Upper Dublin 2-1 3
SPRINGFIELD (MONTCO) 3, NORRISTOWN 1
Marley Berger scored a pair of goals, the first with an assist from Julie Cardamone and the second with a Katherine McVeagh assist. Vanessa Fosco scored for the Eagles to make it a 2-1 game at the half. Cardamone’s second half goal gave the Spartans some breathing room as they held on for the win.
Springfield goalie Kim Machalette turned away three shots while Norristown’s Sierrah Slaughter had two saves.
The Spartans (7-6, 6-5 SOL) will host Upper Dublin on Friday while the Vikings (3-11-1, 3-7-1) will travel to Wissahickon
Norristown 1-0 1
Springfield 2-1 3
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 2, UPPER MERION 0
Rachel Konowal scored midway through the first half, using an assist from twin sister Courtney. Morgan Nagy added an insurance goal with three minutes remaining in regulation for the 2-0 final.
PW goalie Tori Byrne earned the shutout in goal with four saves. Sweeper Sierra Spencer also had a defensive save. Coach Marianne Paprone credited Monica Mellon and Grace McGuire for leading a strong defensive effort.
The Colonials (13-1, 10-0 SOL) return to action Thursday when they will host Wissahickon in a key American Conference showdown. The Vikings (3-11-1, 3-7-1) will travel to Wissahickon on Friday.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 1-1 2
Upper Merion 0-0 0
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