Check out the recaps for SOL field hockey teams in action Monday.
SOL National Conference
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 2, PENNSBURY 1
Listening to Heather Whalin tell it – the Falcons didn’t win Monday’s game, they survived
“We were tired,” said the Indians’ coach, whose team was playing its 10th game in a grueling 14-day stretch. “We were tired. We came off of Friday against (Council Rock South) and Saturday the huge win over Spring-Ford.
“Today I was just trying to drag them through the game. Pennsbury brought it. They played a fantastic game from beginning to end. They put pressure on. The coaches made adjustments. They did a great job, and they should be commended.”
The Indians scored a pair of second-half goals to erase a 1-0 deficit to the Falcons.
“They outplayed us,” Whalin said of the Falcons. “Number 10, Kayli Williams, is fantastic. She’s so fast and has great stick skills. You either have speed or stick skills. She has both.
“Keira Korzeb, their goalie, made a phenomenal split save that people shouldn’t make and she made in the first half. We survived the game today, we didn’t win it.”
For the Falcons, this loss was a hard one to swallow.
“It was a true heartbreaker,” Pennsbury coach Traci Curtis said. “The ultimate battle resulted in a loss, but a loss that in no way reflects the amazing hockey the Falcons displayed throughout the entire game. Pennsbury dominated the first half.
“It was the best hockey we have played all season. The girls played confidently and with strength, intelligence and poise, and we are sure that CR North was not expecting that from us.
“The Falcons’ offensive opportunities were abundant with breakaways, one-on-ones and fantastic ball movement, but we couldn’t connect and were forced to cling to the 1-0 lead.”
The Falcons got on the scoreboard with a goal by Maddy Spratt (Sophia Hitchingham assist) with 9:17 remaining in the first half. It was the only goal of the first half.
“It was a beautiful goal,” Whalin said. “Our team stopped and she just whaled a beautiful shot on goal.”
Just over two minutes into the second half, the Indians evened the score when Sarah Scott turned a Lindsey O’Brien pass into a goal during corner play. Neither team scored the rest of the way, and the stage was set for overtime.
“We continued to dominate offensively led by Kayli Williams and the standout defense by Nicole Joniak, Casey Gylnn, Sammie Tosh and Hannah Aker held North.”
“They really put the pressure on us,” Whalin said of the Falcons. “They played a really great game. They are an intense team.
“I really didn’t think we would pull it out. We just happened to put the pressure on, and we scored at the 12:38 mark of overtime on a corner.”
Riley Clarke turned a Scott pass into the game-winner.
“It happened very fast, and there are still questions surrounding the events of the final moments, but what Pennsbury walked away with was joy about their performance and how far they have come this season,” Curtis said. “We could not be more proud of the team as a whole. We will continue to move forward and take each moment as it comes.”
“Pennsbury is young, but they are up and coming,” Whalin said. “They played a fantastic game from the goalie all the way up, and they had intensity the whole time. They were stepping to the ball the whole time, and they really had that momentum going.
“We were lucky to survive the game. We didn’t win it, we survived it. It was really positive for our league to see how strong they came out today. They’re well-coached, and they played a great game.
“I knew we were exhausted, but I was proud of them that they were able to pull out the win. They put the pressure to us the entire game. There was never a moment where I thought, ‘We got this.’ I thought, ‘We have to survive this.’”
Council Rock North (7-4, 4-3 SOL) will travel to Harry S Truman on Thursday, and Pennsbury (2-8, 2-5) will host Abington in a non-league game Friday. It will be a GOLD OUT game that will be a fundraiser for PHS Mini THON.
Pennsbury 1-0-0 1
Council Rock North 0-1-1 2
SOL Continental Conference
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 6, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 1
Phia Mannino collected a hat trick during a dazzling three-minute span midway through the first half of Monday night’s rivalry game. The Patriots had a lead they would not lose.
West coach Ginny Moore tipped her hat to the Patriots.
“East’s forwards are very talented,” the Bucks’ coach said. “They finished with a variety of shots: sweeps, lifts, tips, etc. They’re very talented and quick. Great hustle from both teams.”
Mannino’s hat trick spotted the visiting Patriots to a 3-0 lead before Julia Bunch scored with a Grayce Reimel assist during corner play with 7:25 remaining in the half.
Allison Gallant scored back-to-back goals in the second half, the second with a Kenzie Lever assist. Miranda Szymborski turned a Mannino pass into a goal with 4:14 remaining to close out the scoring.
“Liz Philipp was a senior leader for the Patriots tonight,” East coach Meghan Spratt said. “Her speed, composure and dominance were huge.
“Kenzie Lever played a beautiful game and deserves more credit than the stats show. Renee Gatto and Grace Bethke came up with big goal line saves that helped keep the Bucks at bay.”
West coach Ginny Moore also had high praise for her team’s effort.
“I was so proud of my team for many reasons tonight,” the Bucks’ coach said. “The passion and intensity from start to finish, the corner goal from Julia Bunch (insert Grayce Reimel), the incredible defensive saves from the Claire Natoli (2) and Sara Lelii (3), the amazing hard work from both goalies (Furgiuele and Golbeski) – this entire team played with so much heart and hustle tonight. Coach could not be more proud.
“Everything improved from the last time the Bucks saw East this season. We had more offensive opportunities and even got a stroke – a beautiful shot from Em Erickson and a solid save from Emily Bullard. Our young and developing team put up a great fight.”
Spratt went on to credit the fans who turned out to support the Patriots at War Memorial.
“Playing in an East/West game is something you just can’t describe until you have played in one, so having support from our student section, parents, friends and family at an away game gets as many props as our players,” the Patriots’ coach said. “Thank you for coming out and supporting CBEFH for an away victory.”
Central Bucks East (8-3, 6-1 SOL) will host Central Bucks South on Thursday, and Central Bucks West (1-10, 1-6) will host Villa Joseph Marie in a non-league game Tuesday.
Central Bucks East 3-3 6
Central Bucks West 1-0 1
Non-league
PENNRIDGE 2, DOCK MENNONITE ACADEMY 1
Emily Amsden scored a second-half goal, breaking a 1-1 tie and propelling the visiting Rams to the non-league win.
“Dock played tough defense, kept us from taking high quality shots and frustrated our offense,” coach Becky Spahr said. “We were finally able to break the tie with 5:52 left in the game.
“We are happy with the team win and will continue to focus on our circle play.”
The two teams exchanged goals in the first half. Dock got on the scoreboard first, and the Rams knotted the score when freshman Payton Muth tipped a drive by Abby Ludlow into the cage.
The Pioneers held an 18-8 advantage in shots.
Pennridge freshman goalie Maia Machado was credited with seven saves in the win while Dock’s goalie stopped 15 shots.
Pennridge (6-3, 3-3 SOL) will travel to William Tennent on Tuesday at 5 p.m.
Pennridge 1-1 2
Dock Mennonite 1-0 1
NORTH PENN 7, UPPER DUBLIN 0
Seven different players scored goals and an eighth added an assist in a non-league win that was the very definition of a team effort.
Erin O’Donnell kicked off the scoring just over three minutes into the game, using a Deborah Kim assist. Two minutes later, Elenia Kountroubis scored with a Jillian Lampitoc assist. Lampitoc’s unassisted goal midway through the half put the Knights on top 3-0. Belle Sparango’s unassisted goal at the buzzer sent the Knights into halftime with a 4-0 lead.
Megan Albert turned a Kountroubis pass into a goal just over three minutes into the second half. Bay Detweiler’s goal midway through the second half put the Knights on top 6-0, and Detweiler assisted on a Sierra Gee goal to close out the scoring.
The Knights had an advantage in shots (38-0) and corners (18-0).
North Penn goalie Mallory Stowell was not forced to make a save in the shutout.
North Penn (5-4-1, 3-3 SOL) will host Souderton on Tuesday at 7 p.m., and Upper Dublin (2-5-2, 1-4-2) will be on the road at Hatboro-Horsham on Tuesday.
Upper Dublin 0-0 0
North Penn 4-3 7
UPPER MORELAND 3, INTERBORO 0
The Golden Bears opened up a 2-0 halftime lead and never looked back on their way to the non-league win.
Bryanna Gordon scored six minutes into the game, turning a Moira Olexa assist into a goal that would turn out to be the game-winner. Amanda Knoebel connected on an unassisted goal midway through the half to send the Golden Bears into halftime with a two-goal advantage.
Three minutes into the second half, Isabel Leiter turned a pass from Taylor Boone into a goal. That 3-0 lead held until the final whistle.
UM goalie Isabella Guarenghi was credited with two saves in the shutout win.
Interboro’s Gab McDonald (9 saves) and Mackena Harley combined for 12 saves in goal.
Upper Moreland (3-6-1, 1-5-1 SOL) will be on the road at Cheltenham on Tuesday.
Interboro 0-0 0
Upper Moreland 2-1 3
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 3, LOWER MORELAND 2
The Spartans – who held a 30-6 advantage in shots and 16-3 edge in penalty corners – dominated the game statistically but found themselves locked in a dogfight with the visiting Lions. The two teams were deadlocked 1-1 at halftime,
Lower Moreland opened the scoring in the first half, but Maddie Yoder connected on the equalizer. The Lions took a 2-1 lead early in the second half, but Kate Wojeck converted a penalty stroke to knot the score. Charlotte Henry connected on a goal that turned out to be the game-winner.
“It was a very hot day, but we survived the weather,” assistant coach Anita Stum said. “It was a back and forth game with Lower Moreland’s defense battling.
“Springfield Township offensively prevailed. I’m not sure either team wanted to go to overtime in the heat.”
Springfield goalie Rebecca Berglund was credited with four saves in the win.
Springfield Township (8-2, 5-2 SOL) will travel to Abington on Tuesday.
Lower Moreland 1-1 2
Springfield Twp 1-2 3
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