Check out the recaps for SOL field hockey teams in action Monday. New Hope-Solebury/PW photos provided courtesy of Karla Donohoe. Check back for a gallery of photos. All SOS photo galleries for FIELD HOCKEY can be viewed by clicking HERE.
SOL Patriot/Colonial crossover
NESHAMINY 2, NORTH PENN 0
If the Redskins needed a bounce-back win after Downingtown West handed them their first loss of the season, they got just that with an impressive win over the visiting Knights.
“The girls on the field just jelled really well together,” Neshaminy coach Jamie Pinto said. “I’m really pleased with how they played. They worked really hard.
“The last couple of games were tougher games for us than we’ve been used to, and it’s been taking a little bit of time to get to play faster, to step to the ball quicker. Today the girls just put it together.
“Their passing was good. We were able to use the center and dish it out wide and get the ball down the line. Defensively, we played well. The forwards did a much better job this game cutting back and helping out and getting shots off when we needed to. They played well, they played really hard.”
The game was a far cry from last year’s meeting between the two teams – a 5-0 North Penn win.
“Obviously, when we played North Penn, the game did not go the way we wanted it to,” Pinto said. “We got crushed last year, so the girls had a lot to prove today, and they just played hard.”
Avery McGinty put the Redskins on the scoreboard with 3:44 remaining in the opening quarter, benefitting from a Kasey Rieger assist. That 1-0 score stood until the third quarter when Rieger found the cage with an insurance goal.
“We ended up making adjustments to start the game off, and I think that helped our team,” Pinto said. “The whole team played really well.
“From the back, Brittany Mattoi made some great saves in the goal. Our corner defense played strong, led by Brittany Mattoi, Avery McGinty, Maddy Shtino and Morgan Shaltens.
“Avery McGinty really stepped up today – she was able to get some good balls through, she was really reading the ball well, cutting the ball off and generating offense as well.
“Morgan Shaltens in the back – she was in a new position today, and she stepped up and played well. Olivia Roscoe did well at center mid. Casey Rieger was generating offense with her great stickwork. Ava Arbakov hustled. They really all played well today.”
The Knights, according to coach Shannon McCracken, had a tough time adjusting to playing on grass.
“We were unable to capitalize offensively despite forcing 14 penalty corners,” the Knights’ coach said. “Neshaminy is a quick and aggressive team and made the most of their opportunities in our defensive end.”
Neshaminy (8-1, 7-0 SOL) will travel to Pennridge on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. contest, and North Penn (4-4, 4-3) will be on the road at Council Rock North Wednesday.
North Penn 0-0-0-0 0
Neshaminy 1-0-1-0 2
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 3, COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 1
Coach Dave DeAngelis needed just one word to describe his team’s effort in Monday’s come-from-behind win – resolve
The Bucks, according to their coach, had plenty of it, erupting for three fourth-quarter goals to erase a 1-0 deficit.
“We were down at Souderton, we were down here, but there is no give-up in these student-athletes,” the Bucks’ coach said. “There is just none.
“The resolve and the work ethic from our student-athletes was probably the biggest takeaway. They didn’t panic, they stayed focused, they knew just to hang in there and focus on a couple additional touches here and there, which is what they did, and we did come out with the ‘W,’ but it was a battle. We remember last year South beat us 3-1, and they were just steadfast. We were attacking. It just took a little patience and longer to break through them to get the three goals in the fourth quarter, which ultimately helped us win the match.”
Caroline Martin gave the Golden Hawks a 1-0 lead with a goal in the second quarter, using a Megan Rafter assist.
“We knew Council Rock South is second in their conference just like we are, so we knew it was going to be a battle, for sure,” DeAngelis said. “Yes, they are a very good and a strong fundamental team, and they’ve got skill, but we didn’t help our own cause for the first half.
“The first half it was always just one connection off, always something would break it apart. Some of that credit for sure to South, but some of our open looks we had, it just wasn’t connecting strongly.
“We also had a quasi-breakaway where Mimi (Duffy) did a beautiful pass from the left side all the way over to the right. We touched it, shot it, and it hit the post, so we knew we were getting opportunities. They weren’t always good opportunities where we got a clean look because their defenders were strong.”
Rock South took that 1-0 lead into the fourth quarter when the Bucks received a pair of goals from Mimi Duffy and a single goal from Eve Damsker. Nina Mayro had a pair of assists, and Aida Ierubino was credited with an assist.
“The third quarter we got back to fundamental open passing, more and better connections,” DeAngelis said. “We had some good opportunities, but in the fourth quarter, still being down 0-1, we challenged them. We know that we can score, we know we have the ability to score in bunches, and that’s exactly what we ended up doing.”
“We’re growing up. We’ve grown up pretty well over the last two years of learning how to play the game the way we’d like them to, and our girls are responding. Tonight, they just had to continue to focus on – control what you can control, step to the ball and make a difference.”
For the Golden Hawks, it was a disappointing outcome after a strong start.
“Unfortunately, the score never reflects how our team played,” Rock South coach Kelly Mason said. “We played 56 minutes of great field hockey. Kylee Hager and Caroline Martin did a really nice job at forward for us.
“Clare Morgan and Grace Franchini played solid defense for our team. Losing senior captain Amanda Green to an injury was a big spot to fill, and the Freeman sisters stepped up tremendously. We let a good team hang in the game too long and missed goal scoring opportunities that we must capitalize on in the future.”
The Bucks held an advantage in shots (9-2) and penalty corners (9-2).
“We had some good support tonight, including several CB West field hockey alumni, and they all made a point of coming across the pitch after the game,” DeAngelis said. “It was really nice to see us getting support from the families also some of the alumni being able to come to our matches now.”
Central Bucks West (7-1, 5-1 SOL) will host Bensalem on Wednesday (7 p.m.), and Council Rock South (4-4, 4-3) will host Central Bucks South Wednesday.
Council Rock South 0-1-0-0 1
Central Bucks West 0-0-0-3 3
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 4, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 0
Marielle Mauri turned a pass from Rebecca Zakrezewski into a goal four minutes into Monday’s crossover contest. That goal – the first of three for Mauri – turned out to be the game-winner as the Titans went on to earn the shutout win.
Zakrezewski scored midway through the opening quarter with an assist from Bella Schute to give the Titans a 2-0 lead. Mauri (Lily Haag assist) connected on her second goal of the game with time expired in the second quarter during corner play, sending the Titans into halftime with a 3-0 lead.
Lily Haag also assisted on Mauri’s final goal of the game three minutes into the final quarter.
South controlled play from the opening whistle, taking 16 shots and drawing eight corners while its defense did not allow the Indians any corners or shots on goal. Comprising the Titans defense were Lily Haag, Ella Haag, Sam Thomas and Maddie Orr.
South goalie Emma Kraft was not forced to make a save in the shutout. Paige Matthews was credited with a defensive stop for the Titans.
“Congrats to both teams on a hard-fought game,” South coach Pat Toner said.
Central Bucks South (3-4-1, 2-4-1 SOL) will travel to Council Rock South on Wednesday, and Council Rock North (4-5, 3-4) will host North Penn on Wednesday.
Council Rock North 0-0-0-0 0
Central Bucks South 2-1-0-1 4
PENNRIDGE 5, PENNSBURY 1
Playing on grass fields invariably presents a challenge for turf teams, but the visiting Rams – who took a 1-0 lead in the first quarter – handled the transition to grass just fine, earning the win in crossover play. Payton Muth’s hat trick led the Rams.
“I was nervous about the team adjusting to the grass,” Pennridge coach Becky Spahr said. “But they stepped up, didn’t complain (too much) and just got the job done. I am really impressed and proud of how the team is playing.”
Payton Muth turned a Leah Verespy pass into a first-quarter goal, and in the second quarter Haley Borneman (Lindsey Campione assist) and Hannah Capo (Keira Horensky assist) each added a goal while Pennsbury received a goal from Meg McClure. The Falcons took a 3-1 lead into halftime.
Muth added a pair of goals in the fourth quarter – the first unassisted and the second with a Horensky assist.
“A lot of our scoring chances were created by our center mids, Keira Horensky and Lindsey Campione,” Spahr said. “They both always work the entire game but lately have focused on defining their roles and spacing. These adjustments were critical to our success today.”
Pennridge goalie Maia Machado was credited with seven saves in the win. The Rams held a 7-4 edge in corners.
(Submitted by Pennsbury field hockey)
We have boarded the ride, strapped into our seats, and lowered the safety rail. The only sound we hear on this roller coaster is the clickety clack of the wheels on the old wooden track as we slowly ascend, filled with anticipation of what is to come. The climb is long and slow and the free fall inevitable. We have been here before. It is all too familiar. There are sharp twists and turns and even an unexpected reverse loop. The question is, “How will we handle the twists, turns, drops, and loops that throw us upside down?” Will we scream with a white knuckled grip pushing back and regret getting on at all? Will we hold on tight, but still laugh along the way? Or will we just let go with arms in the air, lean in, and let the ride fill us with the excitement and joy it was meant to give?
Head coach Traci Curtis of the Pennsbury Falcons has definitely leaned in and let the ride take her as her team suffered another loss Monday, this time against the visiting Pennridge Rams.
“Despite the outcomes, we are seeing our girls begin to click and connect, work smarter, and do some great things out there on both sides of the ball,” Curtis explains.
The game was very even from the start, and their first goal did not come until the last six minutes of the first quarter. The ball was not moving fast and just went right through the pads of our goalie, putting them up 1-0 going into the second quarter. We did not flinch and I’m proud of how focused we stayed at the start of the next quarter. We made some lineup changes and went back to the drawing board with what combinations we felt would work. Pennridge did a good job or earning corners and connected on two of them at the 10-minute and 5-minute marks to make it a 3-0 game. The Falcons struck back with three minutes left before the half on a great goal by senior Meg McClure, keeping the orange and black hopeful with a 3-1 score at halftime.
The third quarter was a draw with neither team scoring. We had some opportunities in the circle, including earning corners but just could not make it happen. This has been our story for almost all of our games thus far – we cannot finish and get that little orange ball into the giant cage!
“Our defense has been rock solid, which is helping us to gain possession and create some momentum,” Curtis said. “Riley Henderson has stepped up huge for us this season and embraced her defensive role like a champ. She is solid, smart, and takes control back there when it is necessary. Gabby Darling is another solid defender who builds the brick wall and Reagan Ward has come up big for us lately. She is a converted attacker who is working so hard to make a difference with her unit in the backfield.
“Liv Graebner is such a leader on the field and always the spark we need. Angelina Kenney has contributed defensively for us as well. Graebner is so versatile and today she proved that tenfold. We made a few changes and moved her around and she helped to make a lot of things happen for us. Our forwards and mids did work hard today, but just need the one final step to finish in the circle.”
The score remained 3-1 going into the fourth and the Falcons did not let down. We held them in the fourth and tried our hardest to put the best combination of kids out there to encourage smart and scrappy play in our offensive 25. Pennridge just did such a good job of getting stronger as the game went on. They adjusted to the field well and came out with really strong sticks in the fourth and scored two more to make it a 5-1 final. We held them for more than half of the final quarter and kept fighting, but they were just better able to finish.
“We are seeing progress and doing some really great things on both sides of the ball, but it’s just not enough to win against these recent match ups” Curtis said. “This is the juicy part of the season, and our next two weeks will be an intense gut check experience. It is time for us to have our crossover games and we will be challenged to the highest level every time. We will not be on the kiddie rides, it will be more like riding Kingda Ka at every starting whistle.”
Curtis says she plans on leaning into the ride and enjoying every moment with this amazing group of kids who know the only way is TOGETHER.
Pennridge (3-5-1, 2-4-1 SOL) will host Neshaminy on Wednesday (7 p.m.), and Pennsbury (3-5, 1-5) will be on the road at Souderton.
Pennridge 1-2-0-2 5
Pennsbury 0-1-0-0 1
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 5, BENSALEM 0
Monday’s game was halted midway through the third quarter due to lightning, and with it past the midway point, the game – which was played in steady rain that began in the second quarter – was called with the Patriots in command.
“Even though this game was cut short due to the weather, I’m really proud of us for getting the job done immediately,” East coach Emma Rosenthal said. “We were hungry to score today, and I think it showed. Credit to Bensalem’s defense for being scrappy in the circle and forcing us to really get creative.
“Excellent job in the midfield today by Caroline Suko, Alli Troth, Paige Keller, Ally Cenci, and Sienna Valenti for seeing the passes and really moving the ball to make plays.”
Alli Toth wasted little time before putting the Patriots on the board, scoring an unassisted goal just over two minutes into the contest. Two minutes later, Paige Keller found the cage.
Sammy Kishel and Keller added goals in the second quarter to send the Patriots into halftime with a 4-0 advantage. Aly McIsasc scored with 8:50 remaining in the third quarter, just before the game was halted.
Central Bucks East (5-4, 5-0 SOL) will host Harry S Truman on Wednesday, and Bensalem (5-3, 2-2) will travel to Central Bucks West for a 7 p.m. game Wednesday.
Bensalem 0-0-0-0 0
Central Bucks East 2-2-1-0 5
SOUDERTON 13, HARRY S TRUMAN
Nine players contributed goals in a contest that saw 28 players see at least one quarter of action.
Sophomore Ava Jones collected a hat trick while Ang Borisow and Savannah Smith – up from jayvee – both had a pair of goals. Adding one goal each were Tatum Andrews, Julia Blair, Lauren Frye, Hannah Fuente, Hannah Cornes and Nina Coll, also a player up from jayvee.
Souderton (8-0, 7-0 SOL) will host Pennsbury on Wednesday at 7 p.m., and Harry S Truman (0-8, 0-7) will travel to Central Bucks East.
Souderton 7-1-5-0 13
Harry S Truman 0-0-0-0 0
SOL Liberty/Freedom crossover
QUAKERTOWN 2, SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 0
The Panthers are on a roll.
After going winless in their first four games of the season, they have won four straight games, adding an impressive road win over the Spartans to the list Monday.
“Tonight’s game was a hard-fought game with the majority of the battle between the 25s of both teams,” Quakertown coach MacKenzie Kramer said. “The perseverance tonight was completely there. It wasn’t one of those games where sometimes we give up after we get burned. It was constant turning around, constant pressure.
“We did get some five-yard calls for pressuring too much, but tonight the pressure was there consistent throughout the entire game, which was huge for us.”
The Panthers got on the scoreboard with 8:18 remaining in the first quarter.
“Our initial goal was executed seamlessly off a corner as Leah Schwalm tipped a cross from Alex Bevan-Xenelis,” Kramer said. “Our corners are looking really good, which is awesome. That’s a big thing.
“In some of the games, we were looking at 14 corners or so or at least 10. Whereas this game we only had five corners, and we executed really well on at least one of them.”
Quakertown added a second goal just over two minutes into the second quarter.
“Our second goal was shot after some give and goes along the left alley displaying solid teamwork,” Kramer said. “Kaitlyn Landis capitalized with a sweep to the opposite post.”
That score stood the rest of the way.
Kramer credited the efforts of her defense, pointing to junior Megan Roth as the undisputed anchor.
“She plays a huge part in pretty much every game with consistent clears, stepping up to the ball,” Kramer said of her center back. “She’s got a hard hit, she’s always looking up – reading left or right. She’s not afraid to switch the field, which is huge sometimes. Springfield was stacked on the right. It wasn’t just getting through one person – it was three or four, so being able to look up, read the field. If there’s a lot of people on the right side, switch it to the left side or vice versa. She is our center defender – I treat her more as a sweeper, but sometimes she has to step up, and she reads that very well. When is it time to come up and when is it time to fall back.
“We have a sophomore, Ember Retter, who is our left defender – again big clears, sticking out wide, stepping up to the ball. Madison Mallery is our right defender.”
Both teams had eight shots on goal with the Panthers holding a 6-4 advantage in penalty corners. Springfield’s Grace Bell was credited with six saves.
“It was a very good game,” Kramer said. “They are very hyped. Going into a four-game win streak is huge. They’re meshing very well.
“I’m a brand new coach this year, and I feel like we’re all clicking right now. We needed to get our feet wet a little bit, but now it seems very consistent. They’re reading me, I’m reading them.”
Quakertown (4-3-1, 4-2-1 SOL) will travel to William Tennent on Wednesday, and Springfield Township (5-4, 5-2) will be on the road at Hatboro-Horsham Wednesday.
Springfield Township 0-0-0-0 0
Quakertown 1-1-0-0 2
LOWER MORELAND 5, HATBORO-HORSHAM 1
The Lions opened up a 2-0 lead after one quarter and added three more goals in the second on their way to the win in crossover play.
Bri Rocha put the Lions on the scoreboard, and then it was Jessica Shein connecting on her first of two goals. Liz Neeld also scored a pair of goals to round out the scoring.
“Mady Link had two assists and was a key in today’s offense,” LM coach Janet Ludder said. “Jess Pachman had one assist and was an important playmaker, moving the ball and being actively involved in most of our offensive and defensive plays.”
Despite the outcome, HH coach Marie Schmucker continued to see growth in her young squad.
“We got a great second-half effort from junior forwards Lauren Steinberg and Molly McKeown,” the Hatters’ coach said. “But Steinberg’s goal with a pass from McKeown with only seconds left in the game was not enough.”
Lower Moreland (5-3, 4-3 SOL) will travel to Plymouth Whitemarsh on Wednesday, and Hatboro-Horsham (0-8, 0-7) will host Springfield Township on Wednesday.
Hatboro-Horsham 0-0-0-1 1
Lower Moreland 2-1-2-0 5
NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 5, PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 1
The Lions improved to 8-0 on the season with Monday’s crossover win.
Ava Cozza spotted the Lions a 1-0 lead with a goal in the first quarter, using a pass from Sophia Cozza. Mia Patino’s goal in the second quarter with an Ava Cozza assist sent the Lions into halftime with a 2-0 lead.
In the third quarter, Ava Cozza connected for her second goal, once against using an assist from her sibling, Sophia Cozza. Patino found the cage for her second goal, also with a Sophia Cozza assist, and Morgan Riggione closed out the scoring, using a Patino assist.
Coach Gwen Smith acknowledged the strong play of Sophia Cozza, who did not score but set up three of her team’s five goals. Patino also had a hand in three goals with two goals and an assist.
Kasey Johnstone scored for PW in the fourth quarter with an assist from Eily Dobrowski.
The Lions held an advantage in shots (10-4) and penalty corners (8-2).
New Hope-Solebury (8-0, 7-0 SOL) will host Abington on Wednesday, and Plymouth Whitemarsh (4-5, 4-3) will host Lower Moreland Wednesday.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 0-0-0-1 1
New Hope-Solebury 1-1-2-1 5
ABINGTON 7, CHELTENHAM 0
The Ghosts overcame some obstacles – including the absence of their starting goalie, but they still managed to put four goals on the board in the opening quarter and never looked back.
“It was a slow day for us with having to play on grass, and it certainly didn’t help when the rain started at halftime,” Abington coach Katie Small said. “We were down our starting goalie today, but Caitlin Murcur did a great job stepping up and keeping the defense in check.
“After a slow start to the first quarter, the team was able to find a way to put four goals in before the end. It was nice to see the attack line of Maeve Link, Erica Devlin and Skylar Beal work the ball around in the circle to create open shots.”
Camryn Stewart scored the game’s first goal with an assist from Erica Devlin. Skylar Beal followed with back-to-back goals – the first unassisted and the second with a Devlin assist. Maeve Link turned a Stewart pass into a goal, and a 4-0 lead after one frame.
In the second quarter, Devlin connected on an unassisted goal, and Maddie Slavin also scored, using an assist from Olivia Dougherty. The Ghosts took that 6-0 lead into halftime and did not score again until the fourth quarter when Devlin found the cage with an assist from Stewart.
“Due to some illness and the lack of JV game, we had some new players step up and do a great job on defense to limit the amount of time the ball was in our defensive end,” Small said. “Keira Kling, Kayla Krestchman and Isabel Updyke worked well together back there today.
“The trio of Camryn Stewart, Olivia Doughtery and Maddie Slavin handled the center for the field and created lots of opportunities for the attack to score. Kudos to Cheltenham. They are much improved from last year and had some great passing sequences up the sidelines causing us to get back on our heels a couple times.”
The Ghosts held an advantage in shots (26-2) and corners (13-0). Caitlin Murcur was forced to make just one save in the win.
Abington (5-4, 4-3 SOL) will travel to New Hope-Solebury on Wednesday, and Cheltenham (0-7) will host Wissahickon on Wednesday.
Abington 4-2-0-1 7
Cheltenham 0-0-0-0 0
UPPER DUBLIN 7, WILLIAM TENNENT 0
Eight different players contributed to the scoring in a contest the Flying Cardinals dominated.
It took less than a minute for Drew Malizia (Olivia Vitella assist) to put the Cardinals on the board, and they took a 2-0 lead when Rayla Kratchman scored in the closing minute of the frame, also using a Vitella assist.
Lilly Gallagher’s unassisted goal in the second quarter sent the Cardinals into halftime with a 3-0 lead.
Five minutes into the third quarter, Ashley MacNeal found the cage with an unassisted goal, and four minutes later, Malizia connected for her second goal with an assist from Olivia Burdo. In the fourth quarter, Ella Lyon turned an Ashley MacNeal pass into a goal off a corner, and Tess Malizia (Burdo assist) scored with six minutes remaining to close out the scoring.
“Mason Kullman and Aviva Kuznits both had very strong games offensively, and their work helped their teammates to score,” UD coach Emily Town said.
Upper Dublin (4-4-1, 3-3-1 SOL) will be on the road at Upper Moreland on Wednesday, and William Tennent (1-7, 1-6) will host Quakertown Wednesday.
William Tennent 0-0-0-0 0
Upper Dublin 2-1-2-2 7
WISSAHICKON 8, UPPER MORELAND 0
The Trojans did all of their damage in the first quarter, erupting for eight unanswered goals on their way to the no-doubt-about-it win.
Sophia Havrilla – who finished with two goals and an assist – scored less than two minutes into the game, using an Ella Hummel assist. Then it was Riley Ball scoring her first of three goals, this one with a Havrilla assist. Kayla Mullin – whose two goals and two assists led the Trojans – added a goal less than a minute later with Hummel’s second assist of the contest. Mullin found the cage with her second goal at the 9:38 mark, this time with a Caroline Kirkpatrick assist, and then it was Ball scoring with a Mullin assist.
Havrilla connected on her second goal with 4:40 remaining in the period, this one with an Avery Mullin assist, and then it was Hummel turning a Kirkpatrick pass into a goal. Ball closed out the scoring with a goal assisted by Kayla Mullin.
Meredith Walsh and Ava Fell (4 saves) combined for the shutout in goal.
Wissahickon (8-0, 7-0 SOL) will travel to Cheltenham on Wednesday, and Upper Moreland (4-5, 2-5) will host Upper Dublin.
Upper Moreland 0-0-0-0 0
Wissahickon 8-0-0-0 8
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