Check out the recaps for SOL field hockey teams in action Saturday. Upper Dublin raised more than $11,000 at its Corners for Cancer event. (Photos provided by Upper Dublin field hockey.)
Saturday’s 11th Annual Play for the Cure event – “Corners for Cancer” - was an emotional one for senior Shannon DiFulgo.
Granted, it was the fourth Play for the Cure event for the Upper Dublin senior captain, but the last three have been deeply personal. DiFulgo’s perspective changed forever when her mother – Patti DiFulgo - was diagnosed with cancer midway through her freshman year.
“Knowing firsthand the impact of what cancer can do to a family and how terrible it can be to experience that, it means so much for us to try to help prevent it from ever happening to anyone else again by supporting the research,” said DiFulgo. “The first Corners for Cancer, I didn’t have anyone immediately related to me who had cancer or had been suffering through it.
“Dealing with all the surgeries, all the chemo that comes with it, it’s really hard to realize how much of a toll it takes on the family. It’s really, really hard, and it’s hard to keep your spirits up, and it means so much how everyone can come together and fight for this cause. It was just really important to us, and even though we didn’t win today, it doesn’t really matter at the end of the day. We’re all doing it for this great cause.”
The Flying Cardinals were forced to settle for a 1-1 tie with visiting Upper Moreland, but it wasn’t for lack of effort.
“It was great to see how much we all put into this game because obviously, it’s so much more than winning or losing,” said DiFulgo, whose mother is doing well. “It’s about the cause behind it.”
More than $11,000 has already been raised – the second highest in event history - with donations still coming in. The goal of $12,500 is still well within reach. The event was the senior project for the team’s seven seniors. Planning began back at May and culminated with Saturday’s event. In between, the players visit businesses asking for donations or gifts for the raffle baskets.
“The raffle baskets make a lot of money, so whether our teammates have kindly bought the items and donated them to us or businesses donated them, it all means a lot to us, and it’s really great to see how the community can come together to raise money for such an important cause,” DiFulgo said.
The senior captain admitted Saturday’s event felt a whole lot different than the preceding three.
“We’ve put so much work into this project,” DiFulgo said. “It’s bittersweet to know this is our last one, and it means so much more to us than it has in the past because we’ve put blood, sweat and tears into it.
“To see it finally all come together in its final product as this amazing event, it crazy to think that seven girls can lead a community into donating over $11,000.”
Saturday’s event brought the program’s 11-year total to almost $90,000 donated towards cancer research.
UPPER DUBLIN 1, UPPER MORELAND 1 (OT)
The outcome was not what the Flying Cardinals had hoped for in Saturday’s 11th Annual Play for the Cure game.
“Especially when we had what we thought was a goal in overtime,” UD coach Heather Boyer said. “They said it was from outside the circle and only tipped off a defender’s stick.
“As we got excited and started to clear the bench because we thought we won in overtime – they allowed a 16-yard hit going the other way which started a breakaway for them. If the call was that it went off a defender’s stick, it should have been a 25-yard going in.”
The Flying Cardinals’ defense stopped the breakaway, and the two teams settled for the overtime tie.
Earlier, the Cardinals and Bears exchanged second-half goals. Jenn McCarry turned a Lydia Casey assist into a goal with 23:18 remaining to spot the Cardinals a 1-0 lead. With just over four minutes remaining, Taylor Boone scored an unassisted goal to knot the score. That marked the end of the scoring for both squads.
The Flying Cardinals held a 21-9 advantage in shots and a 14-4 edge in corners.
UM goalie Bella Guarengi was credited with 17 saves in a standout effort. Upper Dublin’s Rhianna Gonzalez recorded eight saves in the win.
“To Upper Moreland’s credit, they battled hard,” Boyer said. “They were very, very aggressive and they didn’t quit, so it made for an exciting game, but when you play for this day – especially for our senior class. One of their mom’s is a cancer survivor, and there was a little bit more to it than just hockey. They were upset they didn’t win.
“I admire that so much, seeing that raw emotion. They really wanted to win that game more so than any other, but the importance of the day is bigger than the importance of any hockey game. What they did today was pretty amazing.”
Upper Dublin (2-1-2, 1-1-2 SOL) will travel to Plymouth Whitemarsh on Monday, and Upper Moreland (2-3-1, 1-2-1) will be on the road at Springfield Township Monday.
Upper Moreland 0-1 1
Upper Dublin 0-1 1
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 7, LOWER MERION 2
Ava Borkowski connected on a hat trick to lead the Colonials to their fifth win without a loss.
“The team demonstrated good ball control and decision making in the circle today,” coach Charise Halteman said.
Kaleigh Missimer put PW on the scoreboard with a strong shot into the corner of the cage, and then it was Kayla Link (Missimer assist) scoring on a corner. Borkowski scored her first goal (Lynch assist) to send the Colonials into halftime with a 3-0 lead.
Three minutes into the second half, Borkowski netted her second goal, this one was unassisted. Junior Darcy Miller scored on her first varsity goal with a low shot into the cage that put PW on top 5-0. Livia Truong was credited with the assist.
“We struggled with some defensive transitions and communication resulting in a Lower Merion goal,” Halteman said. “We continued our offensive pressure despite the setback.”
Borkowski scored after a scrum in front of the net with an assist from Hailey Copestick. Senior Julia Roehm closed out the scoring with a goal that was set up by Truong.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (5-0, 4-0 SOL) will host Upper Dublin on Monday.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 3-4 7
Lower Merion 0-2 2
DOWNINGTOWN EAST 1, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST
The Bucks turned in a strong outing against the perennial district power.
“Today’s matchup was the Bucks’ best game so far this season,” coach Ginny Moore said. “The attitude, effort and intensity was phenomenal from start to finish.
“Claire Engebreth had another amazing game of strong tackles, Julia Bunch, Grayce Reimel and JL provided us with many offensive opportunities in the midfield. I’m very proud of their hustle and level of play today.”
Central Bucks West (0-7, 0-3 SOL) will travel to North Penn on Monday.
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