Check out the results for SOL field hockey teams in action Thursday.
Continental Conference
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 5, NORTH PENN 4 (OT)
This was a game for the ages.
At least for fans of Central Bucks West field hockey.
The Bucks trailed 4-1 with just over eight minutes remaining, but a goal by Kim Hitchcock on a corner ignited a you-had-to-see-it-to-believe-it comeback. The Bucks knotted the score with 63 seconds remaining in regulation and won it on a Bryn Boylan goal during corner play 45 seconds into OT for the improbable win.
“It was amazing – and against a good team,” coach Courtney Hughes said. “We needed this. We needed to know that you can’t just show up and win, and if you sit back at all, they’re going to score goals, and that’s what North Penn did to us. They were stepping to the ball, which is what got those goals in the second half. We also needed to know we are that good that we can come back. They needed that confidence because they weren’t necessarily confident in what they were yet. This is a game where every aspect of the game we needed to experience and feel, and it was a good thing to go through.”
The Maidens served early notice that they would not back down to the high-powered Bucks when Casey O’Donnell – who finished with the hat trick - turned an Amanda Laessig pass into a goal just 59 seconds into the game. They upped that lead to 2-0 after O’Donnell (Abbie Roberts assist) connected on a nifty reverse stick goal from an impossible angle with 4:45 remaining in the half. The Bucks trimmed that lead in half when Hitchcock (Avery Cox assist) scored with 27 seconds remaining for a 2-1 halftime score.
The Maidens appeared to be in complete command after back-to-back goals by Laessig and O’Donnell (Emma Herb assist) put them on top 4-1 less than four minutes into the second half.
“Their passes were really good, and they were taking what we were giving space-wise and using it effectively,” Hughes said. “That team played well the entire game.”
Fans who left early missed a comeback to remember that began with Hitchcock’s unassisted goal with 8:10 remaining.
“Once Kim scored and they called a timeout and we regrouped, they had the confidence they could score the two goals,” Hughes said. “It was just a matter of whether they would have the time to do it.”
With 4:05 remaining, Cadera Smith scored during a scramble in front of the cage to make it a 4-3 game. Perfect execution on a corner with a minute remaining netted the equalizer when Hitchcock passed to Boylan on the low line, and the sophomore forward slammed it home to knot the score. The drama wasn’t over yet. The Maidens drew a corner as time expired on regulation, but during a scramble, the ball went over the end line, setting the stage for overtime.
“When they dug deep and really believed as a whole offensive group, you could see the energy change,” Hughes said of her team’s comeback. “The midfielders and even the backs were stepping up and not letting anybody beyond our 50, not letting the ball get beyond us so we were right back pounding it in again.”
The Bucks’ coach lauded the relentless play of her squad.
“Kim (Hitchcock) had a lot of opportunities early in the game, and she was getting frustrated with herself, but she stuck with it, and that was huge,” Hughes said. “Kim, Bryn (Boylan), Cadera (Smith), Anna Hall and Emily Halderson, and we had a kid go in as a sub – Ariana Wexler – who has never played right mid, and she was just all over the ball on that right side. We have not practiced her at mid, and she went in for the last 15-20 minutes and didn’t stop.”
The Bucks , who upped their record to 4-0 in league play (6-0 overall), have scored 38 goals in six games. That’s an average of 6.3 per game. They held a 20-7 advantage in shots and a 13-6 edge in corners in Thursday’s dramatic win. Ten of the Bucks’ corners came in the second half while the Maidens managed just one corner in the half.
North Penn goalie Marissa Elizardo was credited with 15 saves while West’s Brianna DeAngelis had three saves.
The Maidens are 2-2 in conference play (3-3 overall).
North Penn 2-2-0 4
Central Bucks West 1-3-1 5
SOUDERTON 2, PENNRIDGE 1
A pair of Gabby Sederas goals put the Indians on top 2-0, and they withstood a late Pennridge comeback.
“Today we didn’t play our best, but we managed to hold off the offensive challenges of Pennridge,” Souderton coach Lauren Whiteside said. “We always talk about how the goals don’t have to be pretty – we will take an ugly goal over no goal any day.
“Gabby Sederas had a great game with two goals, and Erin Saybolt also played a good game on offense, carrying the ball and creating plays. Our defensive communication is coming along, and Aimee MacFarland really stepped it up today and led our defense. In cage, Shelby (Landes) has been solid. She keeps us in games and is a positive force back there.”
Sederas (Nina Disco assist) scored with 10:57 remaining in the first half to send the Indians into halftime with a 1-0 lead. She added a goal at the 17:16 mark of the second half before the Rams got on the scoreboard, thanks to a goal by Kari Moyer (Kellie Drugotch assist).
The Rams held an advantage in shots (16-13) and corners (9-3). Landes kept the Indians on top with a nine-save effort in the cage.
The win was the first in league play for the Indians (3-3, 1-3 SOL) while the Rams fell to 0-4 in the league (0-5 overall).
Pennridge 0-1 1
Souderton 1-1 2
HATBORO-HORSHAM 6, QUAKERTOWN 3
Gabby Dontonville scored 10 minutes into Thursday night’s game, spotting the Panthers an early 1-0 lead. The Hatters responded with five unanswered goals. Two minutes after the Panthers went on top 1-0, Syd Rausa (Kelsy Hopkins assist) scored the equalizer.
“The quick goal by Dontonville kick started the Hatters into realizing they needed to pick up their game,” coach Laura Swezey said. “Kelsy Hopkins controlled the ball up to the circle and passed the ball to Syd Rausa, who was tenacious in front of the goal to put it home for the first Hatters’ goal.”
When Casey Swezey scored at the 16:34 mark, using a Jenna Cutilli assist, the Hatters had a lead they would not lose. Syd Rausa (Jaime DiQuattro assist), Abby Rusnak (DiQuattro assist) and Swezey (Cutilli assist) scored back-to-back-to-back goals in a deadly two-minute span to give the Hatters a 5-1 lead. With three minutes remaining in the half, Emma McLaughlin connected for the Panthers to make it a 5-2 game at halftime. The Panthers pulled to within two (5-3) after Becky Gerhart (Dontonville assist) connected at the 24:52 mark, but eight minutes later, Swezey answered with a goal that completed her hat trick, again using a Cutilli assist.
The Hatters are 2-2 in league play (3-2 overall) while the Panthers fell to 1-3 in the league (4-3 overall).
Quakertown 2-1 3
Hatboro-Horsham 5-1 6
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 1, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 0 (Wednesday, Sept. 10)
The Titans celebrated an early Senior Night on Wednesday by edging neighboring East at War Memorial Field to remain perfect in conference play. Lexi Milanesi accounted for the game’s only goal, connecting in the first half.
The Titans are 4-0 in league play (4-2 overall) while the Patriots are 2-2 in the league (3-3 overall).
Central Bucks East 0-0 0
Central Bucks South 1-0 1
National Conference
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 3, NESHAMINY 1
In a showdown of two of the National Conference’s top squads, it was the Indians – sparked by a pair of Anna Lehman goals – opening up a 3-0 lead and going on to earn the big win.
“It was a total team effort today,” Rock North coach Heather Whalin said. “This was huge for us. I knew they were going to be good.
“To win 3-1 was significant, but the game was a lot closer than a 3-1 game. They’re good.”
Lehman broke a scoreless tie with her first goal of the game at the 11:46 mark of the first half, using a Devon Mela assist, and she sent the Indians into halftime with a 2-0 lead, this time using a Theresa Delahanty assist with 2:09 remaining in the half. Just over five minutes into the second half, Claire Jarema (Lehman assist) scored her first varsity goal.
“She’s been unbelievable this year, but it definitely was a total team effort today,” Whalin said. “Claire has had a bunch of assists, and I told her yesterday at practice that not scoring in the other games – we didn’t need a goal. I said, ‘You’ll score a goal in a really important game,’ and she happened to do it against Neshaminy, which was huge.”
Mia Sexton (Josafinne McIlvaine assist) connected for the Redskins to make it a 3-1 game with 18:08 remaining, but that would be the extent of the scoring. Whalin, however, insists she never felt comfortable and burned both of her timeouts after the Redskins scored.
“Especially after we scored the third goal – Neshaminy really poured it on,” Whalin said. “They’re so well coached with Lisa (Pennington) being there. They were passing beautifully.
“They scored on a corner, and it was a great corner. They got a tip off a goal – it was beautiful. I know the score says 3-1, but I was panicking. It felt like it was a 3-2 game the entire time. I kept saying, ‘What if we have to go into overtime?’ My assistant coach looked at me and said, ‘It’s 3-1.’ It really felt like a 3-2 game the whole time.”
The Indians, according to Whalin, lost a pair of starters – Alyssa Mangano and Amrit Ahluwalia - to injury in the second half.
“Amrit had a phenomenal game again today,” the Indians’ coach said. “There are just so many weapons on Neshaminy to shut down, and just having that strong defense and midfield, that saved us. They’re such a good team.
“Our goals were phenomenal. Their goalie (Haile Sheppard) is fantastic, but no goalie would have saved them. They were all tipped into the upper part of the cage.”
Sheppard turned away five shots for the ‘Skins while Rock North’s Julia Singer also was credited with five saves.
The Indians are a perfect 4-0 in conference play (6-0 overall) while the Redskins are 3-1 in league play (4-2 overall).
Neshaminy 0-1 1
Council Rock North 2-1 3
ABINGTON 5, BENSALEM 1
Senior captain Maeve Hughes turned a Sarah Boches pass into a goal seven minutes into the game, and the Ghosts were off and running. Back-to-back goals by Kaila Brown sent the Ghosts into halftime with a 3-0 lead. Brianna Jameson and Jess Moretti contributed assists on Brown’s goals.
Jameson (Boches assist) scored to give the Ghosts a 4-0 lead, but 34 seconds later, the Owls answered with a goal by Skylar Bost (Autumn McBride assist) to trim the Ghosts’ lead to three. Freshman Grace Terrizzi, using Moretti and Jameson assists, connected with eight minutes remaining to close out the scoring.
“Jess Moretti has been stepping up for us at center mid, taking on a new role after playing defense,” Abington coach Amanda Deering said. “She has really helped our offensive transitions.”
The win was the first in league play for the Ghosts, who are 1-3 in league play (2-4 overall). The Owls are 0-4 in the SOL (1-4 overall).
Abington 3-2 5
Bensalem 0-1 1
PENNSBURY 6, HARRY S TRUMAN 0 (Wednesday, Sept. 10)
American Conference
UPPER MORELAND 1, SPRINGFIELD (MONTCO) 0
It was another big day for the Golden Bears, who were just two days removed from their first win over Upper Dublin in six years. Thursday’s win over the Spartans was their first since Oct. 18, 2008, and the Bears followed the same blueprint they used in Tuesday’s win over the Flying Cardinals, scoring early and then holding on for the 1-0 win.
“That says a lot about the girls,” coach Karen Grossi said. “They’re just playing well as a team.
“Two days ago it was our defense that was very, very strong. Today they all played well, but our midfield did really well. They’re all stepping up at different times, they’re all playing well together.”
Alexa Wister put the Golden Bears on the scoreboard at the 19:57 mark of the first half, using an assist from Delaney Smith on a corner. The Bears made that lead hold the rest of the way.
UM goalie Alison Felicetti was credited with eight saves.
“Once again, Alison Felicetti did a great job in goal,” Grossi said. “Emily Jeinnings and Delaney Smith did an excellent job in the midfield, and forward Maura O’Leary had great cuts and passes, bringing about many great opportunities.
“Additionally, right wing Alexa Wister did a terrific job playing the entire length of the field. She was always one of the first girls to recover and mark up in the circle, yet she was always where she needed to be in the midfield and offensive circle.”
Springfield’s Molly Bauer and Isabelle Boles combined for six saves in goal. Meg Smith delivered a defensive save on the goal line. Both teams had six corners.
“We played a better complete game than we did on Tuesday,” Grossi said. “On Tuesday, Upper Dublin probably played better than us after that goal, but we won. I think we really stayed in it and played a good game against a good team.”
The Golden Bears are 2-1-1 in league play (2-2-1 overall) while the Spartans are 2-2 in the league (2-3 overall).
Upper Moreland 1-0 1
Springfield 0-0 0
CHELTENHAM 5, NORRISTOWN 2
Memi Holloman scored a pair of goals to lead the Lady Panthers to their first conference win.
"We had heard they were fast and scrappy, so for us to score five goals is a really good game for us," coach Elaine McGoldrick said. "We're so close.
"We were actually leading 5-1 with 15 minutes left, and then they scored on us. We didn't want to let down. Just those last 10 minutes - they came back on Springfield and scored three quick goals in a 4-3 game, so I was really kind of worried. It was a really good game."
Adding single goals were Mads Gianelle, Dana Feeney and MaryCait Dorley.
"We're doing some good things," McGoldrick said. "Mads Gianelle is fast. Norristown had some girls that are really, really fast too, and even they couldn't catch her."
The Lady Panthers' coach also commended the performance of sophomore defensive back Dana Feeney.
"She's our center back, and she's very solid," McGoldrick said. "She's a very strong player. She makes great clears, she has all the skills for that position because she has a really strong drive, and she has good field sense and plays smart. She's been playing really, really well for us."
Senior captain and right back Carrie Morgan has also stepped up for the Lady Panthers.
"She's steady on making tackles," McGoldrick said. "She always comes up with the ball, and she's become stronger on her passes. She just plays aggressive. I love an aggressive defender."
Goalie Tegan Dorley was credited with eight saves for the Lady Panthers, who improved to 1-3 in the league (2-4 overall). The Eagles are 0-4 in the league (0-6 overall).
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 4, UPPER DUBLIN 2
The Colonials responded to a 1-1 halftime tie with three second half goals. Aurora Mills had a pair of goals while Alison Spinelli had two assists and Frankie O’Brien added one goal and one assist. Paige Totten added a single goal.
“We started off strong, scored early and were playing well as a team,” said PW coach Marianne Paparone, whose squad got on the scoreboard at the 25:55 mark. “After the first goal, we seemed to let down a bit, and Upper Dublin used their speed in transition very well.
“We got reorganized at halftime and played more consistently in the second half and put in two goals in the first 15 minutes of the half. It was a much-needed and hard fought win, but I would like to see us play more consistently and cut down our errors. Upper Dublin always gives you their best effort, and they fought hard the whole game.”
The Colonials remain alone atop the conference standings with a 4-0 record (4-2 overall) while the Flying Cardinals fell to 2-2 in the league (2-4 overall).
Upper Dublin 1-1 2
Plymouth Whitemarsh 1-3 4
WISSAHICKON 2, UPPER MERION 0 (Wednesday, Sept. 10)
A goal by Ashley Laskowitz (Sophie Hessler assist) sent the Trojans into halftime with a 1-0 lead. Sarah Cammaroto (Marie Dickson assist) scored an insurance goal in the second half for the 2-0 final.
Wissahickon coach Lucy Gil lauded the strong performances of Laskowitz, Dickson and Kara Miles.
Trojan goalie Claire Tarzia was credited with six saves while her counterpart, Upper Merion’s Devyn Antonucci turned away 22 shots in a busy day in the cage.
The Trojans are 2-1-1 in SOL play (2-2-1 overall) while the Vikings are 2-2 in the league (3-2 overall).
Upper Merion0-0 0
Wissahickon 1-1 2
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