Check out the recaps for SOL field hockey teams in action Monday. PW/Boyertown photos provided courtesy of Michael Rice.
Non-league
ABINGTON 4, VILLA JOSEPH MARIE 0
The Ghosts opened their season with a shutout win on the road, turning a 1-0 halftime lead into a decisive win with three second-half goals. Senior Skylar Beal had a hand in three of her team’s four goals, scoring twice and assisting on a third.
“It was a great team effort today with many key contributions from all the players on the team,” first-year coach Janine Beal said.
Beal put the Ghosts on the board with an unassisted goal, breaking a scoreless tie in the second quarter and sending the Ghosts into halftime with the 1-0 lead. The senior forward added her second goal in the third quarter, this one with an assist from senior midfielder Maura Calladonato. Sophomore forward Janice Coonahan made it a 3-0 game with a goal in the third quarter that was assisted by Beal. Coonahan connected on her second goal of the game in the fourth quarter, this one during corner play with an assist from senior midfielder Olivia Dougherty.
“Dougherty and Calladonato were key contributors in setting the tempo of the game and getting the ball down the field for offensive opportunities, along with sophomore midfielder Maeve Link,” coach Janine Beal said. “Seniors Isabel Updyke and Grace Upham stepped up on the defensive end and made many key plays to help keep the ball out of the circle.”
Junior goalie Caitlin Murcar kept the Jems off the board with three shutout quarters, recording three saves. Freshman goalie Keeley Gallagher stepped up in the fourth quarter with two saves to help preserve the shutout.
Abington (1-0, 0-0 SOL) will host Plymouth Whitemarsh in Wednesday’s SOL opener.
Abington 0-1-2-1 4
Villa Joseph Marie 0-0-0-0 0
PENNSBURY 5, CONWELL-EGAN 0
(Article submitted by Pennsbury field hockey)
The 2023 Pennsbury Field Hockey team opened their regular season with a battle of the birds. The Falcons tallied a strong win over the Conwell-Egan Eagles, setting the tone as they head straight into their challenging game schedule.
Head coach Traci Curtis and the entire coaching staff (Lori Riley, Lauren Gerth, Michele Siegel) made sure that Pennsbury’s preparation was laser focused since they united on August 14, including facing tough competition in both scrimmages leading up to today’s victory.
“We purposefully set them up against high level teams during preseason, so they can be forced to dig deep early on,” explained Curtis. “Our theme this season is RAISE THE BAR, and the girls have been applying that mentality along the way and certainly stayed true to the mantra during today’s game.”
Freshman Ryan Burdette and senior Mia Popovich connected in the first quarter for the Falcons’ first goal. Although Pennsbury had many opportunities, that goal stood alone as the only number on the scoreboard until the third quarter.
“Conwell’s goalie did a great job in the cage denying some shots, but we were not doing a great job of moving the ball around her to finish,” Curtis said. “After collecting ourselves and talking through some strategies at halftime, we came out in the third quarter with an improved performance.”
Two minutes into the third, Pennsbury’s Popovich sent the ball across the circle for a tip-in goal by junior Olivia Coen, making the score 2-0. Later in the quarter, Popovich stuck again with a scrappy unassisted goal. The Falcons kept knocking on the Eagles’ door, and with 46 seconds left in the third, junior Sam Nesteruk crossed the ball for a beautifully tipped goal by junior Ava Jordan. Freshman Cailyn Reilly added the final goal of the game in the fourth quarter with a strong unassisted penalty corner shot, making it a 5-0 game.
“The coaches were really pleased with the passing game and improvement in possessing the ball and smart decision making,” said Curtis with some hesitation. “There is still a lot of work to be done.
“Junior Angelina Kenney and senior captains Riley Henderson and Gabby Darling each put in strong performances for the Falcons as well. RAISE THE BAR means we can never be satisfied, and we must constantly be expecting more, doing more, and wanting more. We are excited to put in the work as a field hockey family to see what we are capable of achieving.”
Pennsbury (1-0, 0-0 SOL) will host Neshaminy on Wednesday for its SOL opener.
Pennsbury 1-0-3-1 5
Conwell-Egan 0-0-0-0 0
UPPER DUBLIN 5, UPPER MERION 0
Addison Michalek made sure UD’s season got off to a good start in Monday’s opener. The junior reeled off three straight goals, collecting the hat trick by halftime and sending the Cardinals into halftime with a 3-0 advantage.
Senior Rayla Kratchman found the back of the cage with a goal to make it a 4-0 game, and junior Olivia Burdo’s goal closed out the scoring, giving the Cardinals the convincing win.
“Each goal today was earned by teamwork and creating lots of corners and scoring opportunities,” UD coach Emily Town said. “We have a lot of people in new positions as well as new starters.
“Our scrimmages last week were a slow start getting used to it, and we struggled to score. Today our goal was offensive positioning and getting the ball in the cage. I think everyone took that seriously, and it luckily ended with five goals.”
Upper Dublin (1-0, 0-0 SOL) will host Quakertown in Wednesday’s SOL opener at 4:45 p.m.
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 12, UPPER DARBY 1
The Patriots erupted for 12 goals with nine different players scoring in a non-league contest that saw 35 players get a piece of the action. East led 7-0 at halftime, controlling the game wire to wire.
“It was a total team win,” East coach Emma Rosenthal said. “Ava Firely opened up the scoring with 8:21 left in the first quarter, and that really lit a spark.
“There were lots of first varsity goals today, and Sienna Valenti was excellent in the circle with multiple assists. It’s nice to carry this energy into conference play.”
In addition to Firely, Anna Daly, Paige Keller, Riley Schmidt, Sophia Gerken, Katie Spillane and Jenna Olanday also scored.
Cam Puhalla was credited with one save in goal in the shutout effort.
Central Bucks East (1-0, 0-0 SOL) will travel to Central Bucks West for its SOL opener on Wednesday (7 p.m.).
BOYERTOWN 3, PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 1
The Colonials have opened the season with an ambitious schedule, taking on defending SOL Patriot champion Neshaminy in Friday’s non-league opener and then hosting a strong Boyertown squad that extended Central Bucks West before falling 4-3 in its opener Friday.
The Bears scored a pair of goals in the second quarter to go into halftime with a 2-0 lead. They added a goal in the third quarter before the Colonials got on the scoreboard in the fourth quarter when Gracie Kerns capitalized on a turnover, carried the ball into the circle and fired a hard shot into the cage from the top of the circle.
“Carly Spinner had 19 saves in the game and played well despite lots of pressure from Boyertown,” PW coach Charise Halteman said.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (0-2, 0-0 SOL) will travel to Abington for Wednesday’s SOL opener.
Boyertown 0-2-1-0 3
Plymouth Whitemarsh 0-0-0-1 1
CHELTENHAM 1, POTTSTOWN 0
Owen Farrell scored with time winding down in the fourth quarter, propelling the Lady Panthers to the dramatic non-league win. The visiting Lady Panthers played tough to the very end and won the battle in front of goal.
Cheltenham (1-0, 0-0 SOL) will travel to New Hope-Solebury for Wednesday’s SOL opener.
About the Author
