CB East, CR South and Souderton were winners in SOL field hockey action Wednesday.
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 4, CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 3 (OT)
Penalty corners were rapidly becoming the Patriots’ biggest ally in Tuesday’s contest against the Bucks.
They had already scored twice on corners during a remarkable second half comeback that saw them rally from a 3-0 deficit to knot the score, so when East was awarded its 14th corner of the afternoon early in OT, it looked like a golden opportunity.
As it turned out, it certainly was.
And credit for this one – which resulted in the game winner by Riley Donnelly with a Reilly Finegan assist – goes directly to the players.
“Coach Michelle (Finegan) told us, ‘I want you and Reilly to call it,” Donnelly said. “I said, ‘You’re taking it.’”
“I was like, ‘Okay, I’ll take it,’” Finegan said. “I went to hit it and they were blocking the entire right side. I was like, ‘All right, (Riley) here,’ and I hit it over to her, and she swept it in. That was probably the best feeling on the field ever.”
The win not only avenged last year’s disappointing 4-0 season-ending loss to Central Bucks West in the second round of the District One AAA Tournament, it also snapped a nine-game losing streak to the Bucks dating back to Oct. 10, 2011, when the Patriots won by an identical 4-3 score.
“There’s nothing better than beating your rival, especially with all the history, Donnelly said.
“Especially after last year, it left a really sour taste,” Finegan said.
The Patriots have kept a low profile since last year’s loss, making sure they gave the Bucks no bulletin board material.
“Unfortunately, social media has a huge presence in pregame, but we did a great job of holding our composure,” Donnelly said. “We didn’t show anything, but we showed it all on the field.”
Added Finegan, “Yesterday after our game, in our group chat, we talked about ‘no beef’ – we’ll just come out and show them what we’re working so hard for. I think we effectively did that.”
The Bucks – who were perfect in SOL play last year – were left to wonder how they let a 3-0 lead slip away.
“East showed a lot of heart,” West coach Courtney Lepping said. “When you have a (3-0) lead, you hate to give that up, but it just looked like East really came out with momentum and took it to us.
“Knowing we played (CB) South and East back-to-back, we knew this was going to be a brutal week for us, this was going to be a good measuring stick. I’m excited knowing this will drive these kids through the season. I think it will be a great reminder going forward just to play that whole 60 minutes.”
The Bucks got on the board just over four minutes into the game on a goal by Cadera Smith (Dani Dundas assist), and even though West took a 2-0 lead into halftime after a Kaci Murray goal set up by a Smith cross, the Patriots – who held a 17-11 advantage in shots a 7-2 edge in corners – looked like a team capable of coming back.
Their comeback chances appeared to take a major hit when – at the 27:56 mark of the second half – Smith deflected a Bryn Boylan shot into the cage to give the Bucks a 3-0 lead.
The Patriots received an immediate lift when – just one minute and 15 seconds after West went on top by three – Finegan’s shot on a corner was deflected into the cage by Cailey Lever to make it a 3-1 game.
“I don’t usually look at the scoreboard,” Donnelly said. “I didn’t really feel like we were losing.
“I didn’t take (the score) into perspective really just because we play our game and focus on our game and do the best that we can do. If we’re playing 100 percent, hopefully the outcome will end in our favor.”
The 3-1 score held until the Patriots drew their third corner of the half after a Donnelly shot was turned away by West goalie Laura Kubit, who came up big for the Bucks with 19 saves.
Finegan was money on the corner, turning Lever’s insert pass into a goal that pulled the Patriots to within one with 5:18 remaining.
“3-2 – that’s the point where I thought everyone turned it on, and we were on the offense or the rest of the game and overtime,” Reilly Finegan said.
The Patriots knotted with 1:54 remaining in regulation on a goal by Lever, and momentum was on their side. Although they lost the coin toss, which gave West possession, things changed in a hurry when Donnelly came up with an interception. Moments later, the Patriots were awarded a corner, setting the stage for the dramatic finish.
“It was a great game,” Lepping said. “It really was. It was what I anticipated. We all knew it was going to be a good game. Whichever team steals that momentum is what it comes down to.”
“It was such a great game where two rivals fought hard against each other for an entire 60 minutes and into overtime,” coach Michele Finegan added. “Riley Donnelly and Reilly Finegan along with Cailey Leaver led the team with great shooting and passing combinations.
“Sarah Sheehy, Isobel Mannino and Mackenzie Boyle were exceptional in the defensivee end.”
The Patriots’ coach went on to laud the outstanding performance of Kubit in goal and noted that Smith and Boylan also played well for the Bucks.
For the Patriots, goalie Sydney Richter was credited with 12 saves and Tylar Aivazian had four.
The two teams will meet again Tuesday, Oct. 4, 7 p.m., at War Memorial Field. Central Bucks East (5-1, 4-0 SOL) will host William Tennent on Monday, and Central Bucks West (4-1, 3-1) will travel to Episcopal Academy on Friday.
Central Bucks West 2-1-0 3
Central Bucks East 0-3-1 4
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 6, HARRY S TRUMAN 0
Paige Schmid scored a pair of goals to lead the Golden Hawks to their sixth win without a loss. It was Schmid putting the Hawks on the board with an unassisted goal four minutes into the contest, and Caitlyn Thornton scored midway through the half to send the visitors into halftime with a 2-0 lead.
Marie Hammer scored three minutes into the second half, and then it was Schmid turning a Caroline McGovern pass into a goal. McGovern (Tori Wright assist) and Wright each scored a single goal for the 6-0 final.
Truman goalie Rebecca Laranko was credited with 25 saves in a contest that saw the Hawks collected 37 shots.
Council Rock South (6-0, 3-0 SOL) will host Pennsbury on Thursday, and Harry S Truman (0-3, 0-2) will host Bensalem on Friday.
Council Rock South 2-4 6
Harry S Truman 0-0 0
SOUDERTON 9, CHELTENHAM 0
Seven different players scored for the Indians, who opened up a 5-0 halftime lead on their way to the shutout win.
In the first half, the Indians received single goals from Rachel Kagarise (Isabella Palde assist), Jess Gabriel (Kagarise assist), Palde (Ashlyn Catto assist), Courtney Kenah and Randi Hess (Kenah assist).
Nino Disco scored to open the second half, using a Hess assist, and then it was Catto finding the cage with a Disco assist. Goals by Gabriel (Emily Kramer assist) and Palde closed out the scoring.
Souderton (3-2, 1-1 SOL) will host Pennridge on Thursday, and Cheltenham (0-5, 0-3) will host Quakertown on Thursday.
Souderton 5-4 9
Cheltenham 0-0 0
EMMAUS 5, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 0
The visiting Green Hornets opened up a 3-0 halftime lead on their way to the non-league win. Meredith Sholder contributed two goals and two assists to lead Emmaus, which improved to 5-0.
Council Rock North (3-3, 2-1) will be at Abington on Thursday.
Emmaus 3-2 5
Council Rock North 0-0 0
About the Author
