There were some overtime thrillers in the SOL. Check out all of Monday’s SOL field hockey results.
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 3, WISSAHICKON 2 (OT)
It was a win that was a long time coming.
Ten years to be exact.
That’s the last time Plymouth Whitemarsh walked off the field victorious against archrival Wissahickon, but on Monday, the Colonials’ fortunes – thanks to some very late game heroics – changed.
“It’s kind of like a huge weight lifted off your shoulders,” said PW senior Rachel Konowal, who scored the game winner in OT. “It was a team effort. Everybody stepped up.
“We talked about it before the game – how you can’t be nervous or fearful of what happens. We just had to be determined to do our best. This means a lot to us seniors. We finally got a win over Wissahickon.”
Last year, in the initial meeting between the two teams, the Trojans rolled to a 9-0 win. Wissahickon won the rematch 6-1.
It looked as though the Trojans were on their way to another win, but with 9.5 seconds, the Colonials knotted the score in dramatic fashion when senior Courtney Konowal deflected a drive by junior Allison Spinelli into the cage.
“Allison was carrying the ball, and we had told Courtney to hang up a little bit,” coach Marianne Paparone recalled of the pivotal sequence. “She made a cut into the circle, and the defender and her kind of crashed sticks, and the ball hit their sticks and went into the cage.”
“It was definitely a struggle for us to come back after we were down 2-1,” Rachel Konowal added. “We had a minute left, and we started to push up the field.
“I felt as though we had a chance – anything could happen. Allison Spinelli just sent the ball in, and Courtney was just there to tip it. I guess it was a little luck, and it was a little hard work too, pushing up the ball.”
The Colonials won the game with 5:30 remaining in overtime on a goal by Rachel Konowal.
“Rachel dodged three people right along the end line and then put the ball into the opposite corner,” Paparone said. “In overtime, we have six strong kids, and that really helped us.
“Giving up that goal late – it’s tough going out there in overtime when you think you have the game won. We’ve been on the other end of that sometimes, and it’s hard, hard to do.”
The win was the first for the Colonials over the Trojans since a 3-2 regular season win in 2003. The Trojans avenged that loss with a win in the district semifinal.
Early on, it looked as though the Colonials were pretty much having their way. They took a 1-0 lead on a corner sequence that began with a drive from Spinelli at the top of the circle and culminated with Courtney Konowal deflecting a pass from twin sister Rachel into the cage.
In the opening half, PW held a 7-2 edge in a shots and an equally lopsided 7-1 advantage in corners.
Momentum switched dramatically in the second half, and the Trojans knotted the score when Stacie Rocco (Angela Virtu assist) scored on a reverse stick goal seven minutes into the half. Rocco received a pass from teammate Melanie Fry and gave the Trojans a 2-1 lead at the 13:20 mark when - on a breakaway – she beat the goalie with a nifty move at the top of the circle. That lead held until time had all but expired.
“I kind of apologized to them after the game because I felt like we had lost it,” Paparone said. “We had the momentum for so much of the first half, and we played well. I felt like they had so much adrenaline at the start of the game and had used up too much energy early and the rest of the game were fighting themselves a little bit.
“I don’t feel like we competed well for good portions of the second half. I think they just got in their own heads a little bit. These kids hadn’t beaten Wissahickon before, and they lost to them 6-1 and 9-0 last year. They were thinking of all sorts of things other than playing the game.
“I told them – if you play hard for 60 minutes, good things happen. You have kids like Allison Spinelli, Courtney Konowal and Rachel Konowal who just will play their hearts out every second.”
Paparone acknowledged the improved play of Spinelli as key.
“Her stick skills have gotten so much better, and she just plays with so much confidence now,” the PW coach said. “She’s getting to be more of a vocal leader on the field.
“The three of them (Spinelli and Konowal twins) are best friends. (The Konowals) have an incredible work ethic, and they are so good with each other – they get so excited when the other one scores. They’re awesome kids.”
The Colonials held an 11-5 advantage in corners and a 10-5 edge in shots.
“This definitely does give us confidence,” Rachel Konowal said. “We haven’t beaten them before, and we have a good week coming up, so there are a lot of games to be played, a lot of season, but we’re learning as we go along, and every game we’re getting better.”
While the Trojans fell to 2-1 in league play (2-3 overall), the Colonials remain perfect with a 3-0 record in the league (6-0 overall).
“I think it means a lot to the kids because they took a beating last year,” Paparone said of Monday’s win. “They’re just so proud of themselves, and I just think it means a tremendous amount to them.
“The seniors haven’t beaten Wissahickon before, and it’s a little bit of ‘coming of age’ situation for them that they belong and that they deserve to win games and play well. We haven’t really beaten that many teams that have been notoriously strong.”
The Colonials will host Upper Merion on Wednesday while the Trojans will travel to Cheltenham.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 1-1-1 3
Wissahickon 0-2-0 2
NORRISTOWN 1, UPPER MORELAND 0
Natalie Mitchell scored three minutes into the second half, using a Vanessa Fosco assist. The Eagles, who held a 33-10 advantage in shots, made that goal stand. The Eagles also had a 14-6 edge in corners.
Keeping the Golden Bears in the game was goalie Bridget Meade, who turned away 22 shots. Gabby Sawick was credited with a goal line save for the Golden Bears. Norristown goalie Sierrah Slaughter turned away seven shots in the shutout.
The Eagles (2-1 SOL, 2-3 overall), will host Springfield on Wednesday while the Golden Bears (0-3, 0-4) will host Upper Dublin.
Upper Moreland 0-0 0
Norristown 0-1 1
UPPER DUBLIN 2, CHELTENHAM 0
The Flying Cardinals and Lady Panthers battled to a scoreless halftime tie, but Caroline End (Jennifer Harchut assist) scored with 9:38 remaining in regulation, and for good measure, Harchut connected on an unassisted goal for the final margin of victory.
Cheltenham’s Emily Hawkins had 14 saves while Upper Dublin goalie Sara Weinberg was forced to make just three saves in the shutout. The Flying Cardinals held an advantage in shots (15-3) and corners (12-7).
The Flying Cardinals (2-1 SOL, 2-2 overall) will travel to Upper Moreland on Wednesday while the Lady Panthers (0-3, 0-5) will host Wissahickon.
Upper Dublin 0-2 2
Cheltenham 0-0 0
SPRINGFIELD 2, UPPER MERION 0
The Spartans received single goals from Julie Cardamone and Marie Brockman in Monday’s win. Goalie Kim Machalette was credited with two saves in the shutout.
Springfield (2-1 SOL, 3-1 overall) will travel to Norristown on Wednesday while Upper Merion (1-2, 1-5) will travel to PW.
Continental Conference
PENNRIDGE 2, HATBORO-HORSHAM 1 (OT)
The visiting Rams knocked the Hatters out of the unbeaten ranks with their overtime win.
“I’m really proud of them today,” first-year coach Brieann Wolfe said. “We had lost to CB South, and they were a little disappointed with that, but I felt we were still a really strong team and have really good skill players.
“I was nervous to move the lineup around. When we played Quakertown on Friday, I was able to move them around a little bit and try out different formations. I think it worked really well for them because they can switch it around, and it throws the defense off. They did a great job.”
Kari Moyer (Madison Reiss assist) gave the Rams the early lead with a goal at the 26:51 mark, but Syd Rausa scored the equalizer at the 10:40 mark, setting the stage for overtime.
The Rams won it when Melissa Herd scored the game winner at the 7:55 mark of overtime, using an assist from Addison Marshall.
“I talked to them before the game and talked about how we all have to be on our game and work as a team because that’s when we play the best,” Wolfe said. “We just really need to keep it positive on the field. They’re together every day, and some tensions can happen, but they have to shrug that off, and when they’re on the field, they have to play as a team, as a unit, and I think that really struck them.
“They played really well together and did a nice job.”
Wolfe lauded the strong play of her three midfielders – Melissa Herd, Ben Van Pelt and Addison Marshall.
The Rams held an 8-5 edge in corners. Hatboro goalie Emily Braunewell was credited with five saves.
“It was an awesome game,” Wolfe said said. “Both teams played very well with a lot of play on both ends of the field.”
The Rams and Hatters boast identical 2-1 records in SOL play, and both are 4-1 overall.
The Hatters will travel to Central Bucks South on Thursday while the Rams will travel to Central Bucks West on Wednesday for a 5:30 p.m. game at War Memorial Field.
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 3, SOUDERTON 2 (OT)
The two teams exchanged goals in regulation, but it was senior Kim Hitchcock scoring the game winner at the 12:17 mark of overtime.
In the opening half, Erick Fiorelli (Hitchcock assist) put West on the board four minutes into the game, but Souderton’s Ali Casciato (Jess Ziegler assist) connected for the equalizer with 10 minutes remaining in the half.
Fiorelli (Bryn Boylan assist) put the Bucks on top 2-1 at the 26:29 mark of the second half, but again Souderton answered. This time it was Abbey Gabriel (Meghan McDermott assist) knotting the score.
“We knew that CB West is a team that doesn’t give up,” Souderton coach Lauren Whiteside said. “They have had many OT wins, so we were prepared for a possible overtime situation.”
West coach Courtney Hughes coaches many of Souderton’s players on the school’s club team, the Souderton Strikers.
“She knows exactly how many of the girls on my team play,” Whiteside said. “We wanted a good game, and that is exactly what we got. We came back twice from being down, but it wasn’t enough.
“Our defense played a good game today, turning away several corner opportunities and playing tight defense.”
The Bucks held an advantage in shots (15-8) and corners (12-5).
The Bucks will host Pennridge on Wednesday in a key SOL contest while Souderton (0-3, 1-4) will travel to Central Bucks East on Tuesday.
Central Bucks West 1-1-1 3
Souderton 1-1-0
NORTH PENN 2, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 0
The Maidens continued their winning ways, using a pair of second half goals to up their league mark to 2-0 (4-1 overall). Casey O’Donnell put the Maidens on the scoreboard, connecting on an unassisted goal 10 minutes into the second half. Emma Herb turned an Amanda Laessig assist into an insurance goal with five minutes remaining in regulation.
The Patriots, according to coach Dipi Bhaya, suffered a setback when senior captain Laura Jackson went down with an injury and was forced to leave the game early in the second half.
North Penn goalie Chessa Kownurko turned away five shots in the shutout while East’s Sam Gregarczck was credited with seven saves.
While the Maidens will travel to Quakertown for a 7 p.m. game on Wednesday, the Patriots (0-3 SOL, 0-5 overall) will host Souderton.
North Penn 0-2 2
Central Bucks East 0-0 0
National Conference
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 3, PENNSBURY 0
The Golden Hawks had the decided advantage in Monday’s key National Conference showdown, using goals by Caroline McGovern and Nikki Boyd to open up a 2-0 halftime lead on their way to the win. Mollie Sheehy (Kristen Meihofer assist) added a goal midway through the second half.
“I think we were very pleased with the way the team played today,” coach Tina Reinprecht said. “Kristen Donahue played well.
“The midfield in general played well. It was a really nice controlled possession game in decent stretches for us.”
Reinprecht acknowledged the solid play of Maddie Keppel as well as left back Jackie Shragher.
“They all did some really nice things today,” Reinprecht said.
The Golden Hawks (3-0 SOL, 4-2 overall) will travel to Bensalem on Wednesday while the Falcons (1-1-1, 2-3) will travel to Council Rock North.
Pennsbury 0-0 0
Council Rock South 2-1 3
WILLIAM TENNENT 5, BENSALEM 0
Jenn D’Angelo scored a pair of goals and assisted on another to lead the Panthers to the win. The Panthers took a 2-0 lead into halftime, thanks to goals by Kendal Brash (D’Angelo assist) and Taylor Skiba.
In the second half, D’Angelo connected for a pair, the first with an assist from Ali Cochran and the second with a Sam Huttick assist. Hannah Chamberlain closed out the scoring, using a Megan McCloskey assist.
The Panthers held an 18-8 advantage in shots on goal. Bensalem goalie Stevi Butler turned away 10 shots while Michelle Fleming had four saves in the shutout.
The Panthers (1-1-1 SOL, 1-2-1 overall) will host Neshaminy on Wednesday. The Owls will host Council Rock South.
William Tennent 2-3 5
Bensalem 0-0 0
NESHAMINY 9, ABINGTON 0
Amanda Binczewski connected for the hat trick on a day that saw eight players contribute to the Redskins’ high-powered attack. It was Binczewski turning a pass from Emily Alexis into a goal to put the Redskins on the scoreboard. By halftime, the Redskins led 5-0, thanks to goals from Amanda Blum (Abby Alexis assist), Maria Palmieri (Abby Alexis assist) and Abby Alexis (Christen Pennington assist) as well as another goal from Binczewski (Marlena Koellner assist).
Binczewski opened the scoring in the second half, using a Palmieri assist, and then it was Abby Alexis (Amanda Blum assist) connecting for her second goal. Jamie Renman (Kenzi Turchi) and Emily Alexis (Palmieri assist) closed out the scoring.
The Redskins improved to 3-0 in the league (3-4 overall) while the Ghosts fell to 0-3 (2-4 overall). Abington will host Harry S Truman on Wednesday, and Neshaminy travels to William Tennent.
Neshaminy 5-4 9
Abington 0-0 0
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 8, HARRY S TRUMAN 1
Madison Gouza scored a pair of goals and assisted on two others while teammate Anna Lehman added a pair of goals to lead the Indians to the win. It was Lehman putting the Indians on the scoreboard with a goal 10 minutes into the game, using an Amrit Ahluwalia assist. Gigi Tutoni (Julianne Mangano assist) followed with a goal, and then Lehman turned a Gouza pass into a goal. Gouza scored to send the Indians into halftime with a 4-0 lead.
In the second half, Kate Keller connected (Gouza assist), and then it was Gouza scoring an unassisted goal. Back-to-back goals by Claire Jarema and Gouza made it a 8-0 game before Truman’s Mikaela Pacheco (Kelsey Hackbart assist) scored to break up Rock North’s shutout bid.
The Indians (3-0 SOL, 4-1 overall) held a 16-2 advantage in shots on goal. Truman goalie Maria Dea was credited with 16 saves.
Rock North will host Pennsbury on Wednesday while Truman (0-3, 1-3) travels to Abington.
Council Rock North 4-5 9
Harry S Truman 0-1 1
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