To view action photos of the CB South/Wissahickon game, visit the Photo Gallery.
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 2, WISSAHICKON 1 (OT)
The moment was electrifying.
One minute, the Titans were taking the ball out of the Trojans’ offensive end of the field, and the next, a wide open Kayla Kenney – who broke ahead of the pack – was firing a laser shot on goal that was turned away by Rina Lobell in a brilliant individual effort.
It turned out to be only a temporary reprieve for Lobell and the Trojans as Colleen Kempf pounced on the rebound at the top of the circle and sent another rocket in the direction of the cage where Kenney was waiting to deflect it home, giving the Trojans the dramatic 2-1 overtime win.
“I just grabbed Kayla, and I was like, ‘Thank you,’” Kempf said.
For the Titans – predicted by many to contend for a state title, it was a far cry from their preceding three games, which they won by a combined 17-1 score, and according to both the players and coaches, a close game may have been just what the doctor ordered.
“This is so important,” Kempf said. “This game is our first game that wasn’t a cakewalk – 5-1, 6-0 and 6-0 wins. We were talking today at school and saying how nervous we were.
“A game like this keeps us from getting cocky and keeps us in check. I think it was good for us to have this game early in the season. It was a wake-up call.”
“Having wins where the girls are scoring goals and dominating the entire time, it’s good to give us confidence,” Titan coach Christina Ford said. “But you want a game where you’re going to get the pressure you’re going to see in the league season and the postseason. If you need to have a wake-up call, let’s have it at the beginning, and let’s come out with a win.
“My girls know nothing is a given. They know they have to come out and work, and they’re workers. They’ll work this season, and they’ll earn it.”
As early season matchups go, this one bordered on magical as it pitted the Titans’ high-powered attack against a poised and talented Trojan defense that quite simply refused to break. Throw in a 17-save effort by rookie goalie Lobell, and this was a riveting early-season contest between the SOL powers.
“This is the first game that really tested our ability,” senior Kelly Hamilton said. “We started off a little slow. The turf caught us off guard – we love the turf, and we wanted to play on here, but I think it was a little faster than we expected after playing on grass the last two weeks.
“I guess we were caught a little off guard at first, but as soon as they scored, we picked it up right away.”
The Trojans sent an early message to the Titans that they were a force to be reckoned with when Lauren Becker – in an outstanding individual effort – scored on a reverse stick goal at the 19:02 mark of the first half.
Four minutes later, the Titans got that goal back when Jessie Accurso – stationed on the left post – turned a pass from Kenney into a goal, sending the two teams into halftime deadlocked 1-1.
“We were losing today, and they haven’t experienced that yet,” Ford said. “I was glad that they kept their composure, kept their focus and were able to score right away. I was pleased with their hard work and effort.”
The Titans began to control play in the second half, but their sustained pressure only seemed to increase the resolve of Lobell and the Trojans’ defense, who made one stand after another against the dangerous Titans.
“Even though I don’t want to admit it, I feel like we weren’t expecting much,” Trojan defensive back Zoe Kale said. “It really surprised me to go into overtime.”
“At first I felt a little uneasy,” junior defensive back Lizzie McKenna added. “I was very nervous, but once we got into the swing of things, I was like, ‘All right, this is better.’ I was really surprised.”
With the loss of several key defenders from last year’s squad, Kale moved from midfield to defensive back, and if her effort in Monday’s game is any indication, she has found a home.
“I kind of like it - surprisingly, more than I thought I would,” she said.
When Lobell wasn’t making the stops, Zale, McKenna and company were impenetrable in the Trojans’ backfield
“I’m really pleased with the defense,” Trojan coach Lucy Gil said. “I so wish we had a little more offensive power other than my three midfielders – Lauren (Becker), Gretchen (Guaglionone) and Jackie Hibbs. Gretchen was playing back today because we were playing CB South, but I thought we stayed with them. They looked pretty strong, so it was nice to see.”
The Titans held a 10-1 advantage in shots in the second half but despite their dominance forced only five corners as the Trojans’ defense never lost its composure.
“With all the pressure and all the time we spent in the circle, they didn’t falter or get panicky at all,” Ford said of the Trojans. “They stayed composed and were able to clear the ball out of their circle very well.
“We weren’t getting a second or third shot. We would get one opportunity and then we’d have to work again.”
“They really step up to balls,” Kempf added. “We were talking about it at halftime – how we were losing 50-50 balls because we weren’t stepping up. They do a really good job of hustling to the ball.
“It was definitely great defense.”
The key to great defense, according to McKenna, is simple.
“We communicate, and we know where we want our girls to be,” said the Trojans’ junior defensive back, who repeatedly broke up Titan breaks to goal. “We rely on each other.
“Once we move to one side, we know to shift over, and we back each other up, so it’s a constant wall of defense. We also were very aggressive in the circle. Our one thought is to get on the ball and get it out.”
Midway through the second half, Lobell made a dazzling stop of a rocket by South senior Madison Harding on a corner. It was one of countless big stops she made over the course of the game.
“I was amazed,” Gil said. “Without her back there, it could have been really ugly.”
In overtime, the Trojans took the ball downfield off the opening tap and actually sent a pass across goal, but moments later, Kenney found herself on a breakaway, and the rest is history.
“We have always been good with overtime,” Kempf said. “Last season we did very well. The only overtime game we ever lost was in the state semifinals against Hershey.
“When we know it’s sudden death, we step it up.”
“It feels a lot better to win a game like this because it’s better competition,” Hamilton added. “Plus our team can prove to itself that we can beat other teams that are up to our level and just as good as us.”
While the Titans remain the team to beat in the area, the Trojans showed they could hold their own against the best.
“I really want to go far this year,” Kale said. “Last year we made it to the first round of states, and I think we’re just as capable of doing it this year. This is the beginning of the season, and we’re only going to get better.”
Harry S. Truman 1, Bristol 0
The neighboring rivals endured a one-hour delay due to lightening, but when play resumed to start the second half, the Tigers got on the scoreboard in a hurry as Adadci Ogbonna scored just two minutes into the half. That goal stood as the Tigers held on for their third win of the young season. The Tigers held a 12-2 advantage in shots on goal.
Abington 5, Lansdale Catholic 0
Elle Clark connected for her second hat trick of the season for the Ghosts, which included a pair of unassisted goals. Senior co-captain Christina Geating connected on her first goal of the season (unassisted), and Hanna Sjoholm scored her second goal of the young season. Meredith Cox added two assists, and goalie Faith Geating had her second shutout of the season.
North Penn 4, Central Bucks East 1
Elizabeth Fedele scored a pair of goals and assisted on another as the Maidens notched their third win without a loss. Fedele converted a penalty stroke for her first goal at the 18:03 mark of the opening half. Six minutes later, she turned a pass from teammate Emilie Ikeda into a goal. A goal by Amy Coughlin (Carly Pickford assist) sent the Maidens into halftime with a 3-0 lead.
Marissa Glatt (Emily Vasey assist) broke up the Maidens’ shutout big when she scored at the 17:50 mark of the second half. A goal by Nikki Hill (Fedele assist) closed out the scoring.
The Maidens held an 18-5 advantage in shots. Maiden goalie Shannon Keen turned away five shots while her counterpart, East’s Emily Guthier, had 10 saves.
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