Check out the recaps for SOL field hockey teams in action Friday.
SOL Colonial Division
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 3, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 2 (OT)
The Titans don’t have a whole lot of experience, and they lost most of their scoring punch from last season, but they showed they have plenty of heart, battling back on two different occasions and eking out the overtime win.
Sophomore Ella Haag connected on a goal with 12 minutes remaining in OT, propelling the Titans to the dramatic win.
“I was very pleased that we were able to pull out a win against an always strong CB East team,” CB South Pat Toner said. “I am proud of our girls for fighting back after being down 1-0 and 2-1.
“I just took it to a very basic level. I said, ‘Put your back to the goal, don’t let them in. Make it as miserable as you can for them to get in there, and on offense – any time you’re near the circle, everything has to go to goal.’”
East broke a scoreless tie when Alli Troth connected on an unassisted goal with 5:39 remaining in the first half. South senior Marielle Mauri scored the equalizer midway through the third quarter, using a Lily Haag assist.
The two teams were deadlocked 1-1 entering the fourth quarter. Paige Keller’s unassisted goal just over a minute into the frame put the Patriots back on top, but three minutes later, Mauri once again came up big, connecting for an unassisted goal to knot the score and setting the stage for overtime and Ella Haag’s game-winner.
“Senior mid Marielle Mauri was asked to move to a more defensive position and did so without hesitation, so it was especially nice to see her score both goals on corner plays,” Toner said.
The Titans held a 13-7 advantage in shots. East goalie Audra Szymborski was credited with 10 saves while South’s Emma Kraft had five.
“We are somewhat young and inexperienced and we are still trying to figure out our lineup,” Toner said. “We have three freshmen contributing and playing well – Kaeli Van Der Sluis, Avery Tyler and Tessa Walls. I was really pleased with how they played.
“Junior Sam Thomas had a great game on defense. I was really proud of our corner defense – Bella Schute, Lily Haag, Sam Thomas, Ella Haag and our goalie, Emma Kraft.”
Central Bucks South (1-0 SOL) will host Central Bucks West on Tuesday, and Central Bucks East (0-1) will host Pennridge on Tuesday.
Central Bucks East 0-1-0-1-0 2
Central Bucks South 0-0-1-1-1 3
Non-league
SOUDERTON 4, ARCHBISHOP CARROLL 2
Ava Jones collected a hat trick to lead the visiting Indians to the non-league win, and as first weeks of the season go, the sophomore is off to quite a start. Her three-goal effort on Friday came on the heels of a two-goal, one-assist effort in Souderton 3-0 win over Pennridge less than 24 hours earlier.
“It was a long day,” said Souderton coach Sue Casciato, whose team arrived at school at 8 a.m. for pictures, left for Carroll at 9:50, and returned to school at 3:30. “The game was very, very physical. A lot of body checking and stick checking. Maybe that’s how they play in their league – very little of it got called.
“We were definitely taken aback the first half. I said, ‘Has anybody noticed what the other team’s strategy is,’ and they’re all staring at me. I said, ‘It’s chaos – we’re falling prey to that.’ It was very fast-paced, there were lots of cards. It was getting pretty hot, and I didn’t sub a lot. I’m sure both teams were getting gassed by the end, but it was definitely a nice win.”
Jones scored on a corner with 4:10 remaining in the opening quarter, using assists from Ang Borisow and Ava Shaw. The Patriots evened the score with six minutes remaining in the second quarter, and the two teams were deadlocked 1-1 at halftime.
The Indians broke that tie 46 seconds into the third quarter when Jones turned an Ava Shaw pass into a goal. The Indians took that 2-1 lead into the final quarter. Less than three minutes into the frame, Jones gave the Indians an insurance goal, scoring on a breakaway.
“Ava Jones had a little something extra in her tank today because she plays club with some of the girls on the other team,” Casciato said. “There was more on the line for her today. She had something to prove.”
The Patriots trimmed the Indians’ lead to one with 9:35 remaining in regulation, but three minutes later Borisow connected on a corner, turning a Shaw pass into a goal for the 4-1 final. For the Indians, it is the third goal of the season scored on a corner in just two games.
“We have four people who can really strike the ball well from the top of the circle – we definitely feel good about that,” Casciato said. “I’m letting them call the plays and everything. It’s basically been pretty simple up to this point.”
Both teams had eight corners, and the Indians held a 16-12 advantage in shots. Souderton goalie Meredith DeMarzio was credited with eight saves.
“She had a good game, and one of their goals that went in was an own goal – it went off of one of our sticks,” Casciato said of the Patriots’ fourth-quarter goal. “She was the jayvee goalie last year, and she’s looked really good in practice. I know she worked hard over the summer, and she’s been a very pleasant surprise.”
Souderton (2-0, 1-0 SOL) is staring a three-game week next week, beginning with a road game at North Penn on Tuesday at 7 p.m. On Thursday, the Indians will host Central Bucks East at 7 p.m., and on Friday, Souderton will host Council Rock South (3:30 p.m.).
Archbishop Carroll 0-1-0-1 2
Souderton 1-0-1-2 4
ABINGTON 4, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 0
Camryn Stewart scored three goals and assisted on the fourth to lead the Ghosts to the big non-league win. The Ghosts are rebounding quite nicely after dropping their first two games of the season, winning their second straight to even their record at 2-2.
“Abington came out strong today and controlled most of game,” Abington coach Katie Small said. “North had some great runs causing us to get on our heels and work hard to protect the goal.”
Smith connected on an unassisted goal in the first quarter and upped the Ghosts’ lead to 2-0 with an unassisted goal in the second quarter. Abington took that 2-0 lead into the intermission.
In the fourth quarter, Erica Devlin scored, using a Stewart assist, and Stewart’s unassisted goal in the fourth quarter closed out the scoring.
“Captain Camryn Stewart had great game,” Small said. “Olivia Doughtery and Maddie Slavin continue to control the back field and help to get the ball up the field for the offense.
“Maura Callodanotta, Erica Devlin and Skylar Beal all had great games today. Abington now looks forward to the main part of their season.”
Nina Van Ekelenburg was forced to make just one save in goal in the shutout win for the Ghosts.
Abington (2-2, 1-1 SOL) will travel to Upper Dublin on Tuesday, and Council Rock North (2-1, 2-0) will travel to Council Rock South for Tuesday’s rivalry game.
Council Rock North 0-0-0-0 0
Abington 1-1-0-2 4
PENNSBURY 5, HATBORO-HORSHAM 1
(Submitted by Pennsbury field hockey)
September is off to a great start for Pennsbury field hockey. Today’s home opener against Hatboro-Horsham made it two wins in a row since the calendar flipped to the new month. The game ended with the Falcons on the winning side of the 5-1 final score in contrast to when they played Neshaminy.
“It felt so good to play on our home field today,” said head coach, Traci Curtis. “Both of our scrimmages in addition to our first two games were away for us, so it was a relief to come home and settle into our space.
“We tried some new things today as we work through trial and error, and the girls just clicked and looked great out there. The passing was quick, sharp, and accurate, which resulted in great connections from end to end.”
It took us a little time to get on the board, but we finally put one in at the end of the first quarter as Mia Popovich cleaned up during a penalty corner opportunity. In the second quarter, Rachel Stein added a goal off of an assist from Meg McClure and Popovich notched another on a rebound off of the pads.
“McClure is so solid for us,” Curtis said. “She is selfless and is a difference maker. She creates, encourages, leads, and helps others succeed out there.
“Rachel Stein came back to us the strongest she’s ever been. She is contributing strongly on our offense and working so well with seasoned varsity players. Popovich is improving at warp speed and seems to master something new in every game.”
The Falcons led 3-0 going into the half.
“Our coaching staff was so excited to see the players applying all of the things we had worked on and talked about at practice,” Curtis said. “They really listen and work hard to implement the skills and strategies. That’s what we love about moving through the season – the growth is happening in real time, and it brings us joy to feel that give and take within our field hockey family.”
The Hatters held Pennsbury scoreless in the third quarter. Curtis gave props to Hatboro’s goalie who had many great saves throughout the game.
“She made it difficult for our third quarter line up to score,” the Falcons’ coach said. “She played really well the entire game.”
Early in the fourth, the black and orange made it 4-0 on a beautiful cross from Siya Patel to Chelsea Todd, who one-timed it right into the cage.
“That was a specific drill we had done at practice, and we could not contain ourselves when Todd connected on that so perfectly,” Curtis said.
Sweeper Gabby Darling closed out the scoring on a corner at the end of the fourth quarter.
“She flubbed the initial shot, but then recovered it, took a few dribbles, and sent it reverse stick into the corner of the cage,” Curtis said. “We loved seeing her navigate the mistake and making something happen without flinching. Darling is a threat in so many ways and still has so much more inside of her. It’s exciting to watch her play.”
The Hatters did not give up even as the game clock ticked towards its final seconds. They earned a penalty corner and slammed one in on a great shot with 23 seconds left in the game to make it a 5-1 final. They walked away denying a shutout, which is a victory in itself. They made us work hard for our goals in every layer.
Other standout performances came from Molly Murray, Isabelle Vazapphilly, Rylie Borgman, Riley Henderson, Reagan Ward, and Ava Jordan.
“We will carry today with us into the weekend and enjoy where we are at the moment,” Curtis said. “It is temporary. Monday starts a new week with different challenges, and we will do all we can to prepare for the games that lie ahead.”
#WORKINPROGRESS
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The Hatters have opened a new chapter this season with the return of veteran coach Marie Schmucker, who takes over the helm of a program that had fallen on hard times.
Friday’s game was the third in four days for the Hatters, whose squad includes a lot of freshmen and sophomores and a number of girls who haven’t play hockey before.
“We got great efforts from Aariyona Winslow and Charlotte Elwell, who kept us within reach, but a fourth quarter goal by Angelina Park wasn’t enough,” Schmucker said.
Pennsbury (2-1, 1-1 SOL) will host Bensalem on Tuesday, and Hatboro-Horsham (0-3, 0-2) will travel to Plymouth Whitemarsh on Tuesday.
Hatboro-Horsham 0-0-0-1 1
Pennsbury 1-2-1-1 5
UPPER PERKIOMEN 6, PENNRIDGE 5
The Rams turned in a gutsy effort against an always tough Indian squad, rallying from a four-goal deficit to knot the score in the fourth quarter. They trailed 4-1 at halftime and 5-2 heading into the final quarter when they rallied with three straight goals to knot the score.
Payton Muth had a monster game, connecting for three goals and assisting on the other two. Hannah Capo added a pair of goals.
Muth kept the Rams in it with single goals in both the second and third quarters – the first with a Keira Horensky assist. Muth’s third goal – also assisted by Horensky – ignited a 3-0 Pennridge tear in the fourth quarter.
Hannah Capo connected on back-to-back goals, both with Muth assists, to knot the score 5-5 before the Indians scored a late goal to escape with the win.
“We played a strong second half and were able to recover from a four-goal deficit,” Pennridge coach Becky Spahr said. “UP scored in the final two minutes to go ahead, but we are happy with the team’s growth and mental toughness.
“Payton obviously had a big day. Her effort and the team’s overall work rate were tremendous in the second half.”
Pennridge (1-3, 0-2 SOL) will travel to Central Bucks East on Tuesday.
Upper Perk 1-3-1-1 6
Pennridge 0-1-1-3 5
MOUNT ST. JOSEPH ACADEMY 3, SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 0
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