Check out the results for SOL field hockey teams in action Thursday.
National Conference
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 4, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 3
Caroline McGovern – using a Tori Wright assist – found the cage during corner play with 6:54 remaining in overtime to propel the Golden Hawks to the hard-fought win in Thursday’s battle of neighboring rivals. It was the senior standout’s third goal of yet another productive afternoon.
“She pulled through – she had one of those rocket shots to the backboard, and that was key that she came through at the end like that,” coach Lisa Belz said.
The game was a back and forth affair. It looked as though the Golden Hawks were in control when they took a 2-0 lead with 11:34 remaining in the first half, thanks to goals from Katelyn Cocco and McGovern (Wright assist). A goal by Bridget Thompson in the closing minutes of the half made it a 2-1 game at the intermission.
In the second half, neither team scored until Rock North’s Claire Jarema found the cage with 8:32 remaining. The goal opened the floodgates. McGovern scored with three minutes remaining to put the Golden Hawks on top 3-2, but Danielle Nelson connected with the equalizer 30 seconds later, setting the stage for overtime.
“The first 20 minutes of the second half was back and forth,” said Belz, whose team held a 6-0 advantage in corners in the second half. “They did get down in our end, and they’re dangerous when they get down in the circle because they have a lot of good girls that can tip the ball.
“The last eight minutes of the second half – the crowd was going nuts. It was exciting but nerve-racking at the same time. North came out very strong today. They could be dangerous for the rest of the season.”
The Golden Hawks – who were without Mikayla VanAken – were forced to adjust their lineup. Belz acknowledged the strong play of several players in the win.
“Sarah Womer had an outstanding game today and an outstanding overtime,” the Hawks’ coach said. “She had a blocked tackle and was able to carry it down in overtime. We got the corner, and we were able to win.
“Emily Keller, one our backs, did really well. She had a really good stick and made some big plays in the back. Tori Wright is a major anchor for our defense right now.”
Council Rock South (11-1, 8-0 SOL) will host Spring-Ford in a non-league game Friday, and Council Rock North (5-6, 4-3) will be on the road at Cardinal O’Hara on Monday.
Council Rock North 1-2-0 3
Council Rock South 2-1-1 4
Continental Conference
NORTH PENN 3, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 2
Bri O’Donnell scored a pair of second half goals to turn a 2-1 halftime deficit into the important win for the Knights, who fell to the Bucks 6-3 in an early season meeting. “Statistically, we were in that game, but they just made the most of their offensive opportunities,” said coach Shannon McCracken, whose team held an advantage in shots in both games. “This was a great win. The weather conditions were tough, but the girls just played so well as a unit tonight.
“The possession passes they made and the quickness of their passes was really key. The whole team just played so well tonight. It was such a team effort. I was so proud of the way the girls came out from the starting whistle.”
The Knights received an immediate lift when Amber Blackshear scored an unassisted goal 53 seconds into the contest. Bryn Boylan got that goal back with an unassisted goal at the 22:15 mark, and Casey Reichwein (Ryan Murray assist) scored six minutes later to give the Bucks a 2-1 lead that held until halftime.
O’Donnell scored the equalizer at the 20:15 mark of the second half and connected on the game winner during corner play with an assist from Julia Scanlon with 6:06 remaining in the contest.
“We were down at halftime, and just the determination in their eyes – it’s exciting at halftime when they talk more than the coaches talk because they’re so focused and so into it, and that’s how they were at halftime,” McCracken said. “In the second half, what made a difference was how we stepped to the ball and how quick we were in transition and how quickly we restarted the ball. We caught them back on their heels.
“They’re a great team, so it was really a fun game to watch and be a part of. Kudos to them as well.”
The Knights held a 14-13 edge in shots but an 8-3 advantage in corners.
“We really were able to convert our offensive corners tonight,” McCracken said. “We out-cornered them 8-3. They’re very dangerous on their offensive corners, and tonight only allowing them three corners was huge.”
North Penn’s Brynne Schoppe and West’s Laura Kubit each were credited with nine saves in goal. Erica Kelly delivered a defensive save for the Knights.
“It was a great game on both sides despite the rain and wind,” West coach Courtney Lepping said.
North Penn (6-5, 5-3 SOL) will host Mount St. Joseph on Saturday in a non-league game at 2 p.m. Central Bucks West (8-3-1, 4-2-1) will host Central Bucks South on Tuesday at War Memorial Field (7 p.m.).
Central Bucks West 2-0 2
North Penn 1-2 3
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 4, PENNRIDGE 1
Ignoring the rain and the elements, the Titans jumped out to a fast start, scoring a pair of goals in just over 10 
minutes. Kasey Dietzel put the Titans on the board at the 23:18 mark, and four minutes later, Casey Reilly found the cage, using an Erin Chioffe assist.
Kelli Drugotch (Caitlyn Amsden assist) cut that lead in half with a goal at the 7:05 mark, sending the two teams into halftime with South on top 2-1. Lauren Dougherty (Chioffe assist) scored at the 25:31 mark of the second half, and Megan Weeks closed out the scoring with just under five minutes remaining, using a Reilly assist.
The win capped a perfect 3-0 week for the Titans.
Central Bucks South (5-4-1, 4-4 SOL) will travel to Central Bucks West Tuesday for a 7 p.m. contest. Pennridge (3-7, 1-6) will host Christopher Dock on Monday in a non-league game.
Central Bucks South 2-2 4
Pennridge 1-0 1
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 5, SOUDERTON 1
Sophomore Cailey Lever and senior Reilly Finegan each scored a pair of goals to lead the Patriots to the convincing win over the visiting Indians.
“Cailey Lever showed her ability to maneuver in the offensive circle with two fantastic goals,” coach Michelle Finegan said. “The first of the game was a rebound off the Souderton goalkeeper and the second was a beautiful lifted shot off a pass from Riley Donnelly at the end of the game.”
Lever gave the Patriots a 1-0 lead with a goal at the 25:22 mark of the first half, and six minutes later, it was freshman Emma Donnelly scoring with an assist from Finegan. Finegan closed out the half with back-to-back goals in the final 12:08 – the first with a Riley Donnelly assist and the second with an assist from Lever to the send the Patriots into halftime with a 4-0 lead.
Souderton’s Courtney Kenah scored with 8:48 remaining, but Lever (Riley Donnelly assist) answered with a goal in the closing minutes.
“Riley Donnelly was amazing today with her impressive ability to read the game, intercept passes and come up with the ball defensively” coach Finegan said. “Souderton was a stronger team than when we played them earlier in the season.
“They had more shots and corners and combined more possession time. The Souderton goalie had some very nice saves.”
East held a 22-15 advantage in shots and an 8-6 edge in corners.
Central Bucks East (10-1, 8-0 SOL) will host Pennridge on Tuesday, and Souderton (6-6-1, 3-4-1) is off until next Thursday when the Indians will travel to Pennridge.
Souderton 0-1 1
Central Bucks East 4-1 4
American Conference
UPPER DUBLIN 3, QUAKERTOWN 1
The Flying Cardinals needed overtime to defeat the pesky Panthers in the initial meeting between the two teams. On Thursday, they finished the job in regulation, opening up a 2-0 lead and never looking back.
“I think the weather was a huge adversity for both teams,” UD coach Heather Boyer said. “It’s not ideal hockey weather right now – it was windy, it was raining, it was damp. We’re used to sunny, nice hockey games.
“We didn’t play our best game today, but we were able to maximize on a couple of opportunities and kind of hold down the fort.”
Emma Mead turned a Jess Grodsky pass into a goal just over 11 minutes into the game, and when Grodsky connected on an unassisted goal, the Cardinals led 2-0 with 7:48 remaining in the half. Less than a minute later, Quakertown’s Anna Thompson (Adriana Alexander assist) put the Panthers on the scoreboard to make it a 2-1 game at the intermission.
Emma Kate Powell closed out the scoring with an unassisted goal with 3:36 remaining.
“Quakertown had some opportunities in the second half,” Boyer said. “It’s important to come out on a day like today in this kind of weather – kind of bear down and figure out a way to win when you don’t have your best game on the field.
“We told them we can’t keep doing that because it’s crunch time, and we have some very important games on the schedule. We have to bring our best game each time, so go home, reset and come back tomorrow and face a good Pennsbury team.”
Quakertown goalies Morgan Craighead and Amanda Tuley combined for nine saves. UD’s Meghan Muth recorded four saves.
Both teams had eight corners, but the Cards held an 11-4 advantage in shots on goal.
Upper Dublin (8-2-1, 8-1 SOL) will host Pennsbury in a non-league game Friday, and Quakertown (2-10, 1-9) will travel to Upper Perkiomen for a non-league game Friday.
Quakertown 1-0 1
Upper Dublin 2-1 3
UPPER MORELAND 4, HATBORO-HORSHAM 2
The Golden Bears avenged a 2-0 loss at the hands of the Hatters earlier this season, opening up an early 2-0 lead and going on to earn the win.
“I'm very proud of my girls,” UM coach Karen Grossi said. “They came out ready to play, as was evidenced by the two goals they scored in the first ten minutes of play.
“Over the past few games, they have struggled to work/play together as a team; that wasn't the case today. They communicated well, knew where their teammates were, and had faith their teammate would be in the right position. They didn't let the weather conditions affect their game.”
Madison Carey jumpstarted the Golden Bears, scoring back-to-back goals in a three-minute span. Kaitlyn Wallace put the Hatters on the scoreboard midway through the half, and it was a 2-1 game at halftime.
The Golden Bears maintained that one-goal lead until Jess Flanagan found the cage with 9:28 remaining. Marielle Spezio scored for the Hatters to make it a 3-2 game, but Flanagan scored her second goal with 4:52 remaining for the 4-2 final.
“The Upper Moreland goalie did a nice job,” coach Laura Swezey said. “She came out far and cut down the angles of the shots.”
Grossi lauded the performances of several players in the win.
Madison Casey and Maddie Mull both played well in the midfield. Forward, Jess Flanagan, who had been struggling during the first half of the season, has started to play like her old self and had a great game.
“Goalkeeper Allison Felicetti played another great game. She wasn't afraid to come out to get the ball and she made many great saves. Becca Miekley was strong defensively, making it difficult for Hatboro to get the ball past her. She had a lot of nice stops in the scoring circle and did a terrific job of starting the transition downfield.”
UM goalie Allison Felicetti was credited with nine saves and Hatter goalie Liz Wilburn had seven saves.
Upper Moreland (3-8, 3-6 SOL) will be on the road at Cheltenham on Wednesday, and Hatboro-Horsham (4-7, 4-5) will travel to Quakertown on Wednesday.
Hatboro-Horsham 1-1 2
Upper Moreland 2-2 4
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 6, CHELTENHAM 0
The Spartans raced to a 4-0 halftime lead on their way to the shutout win over the visiting Lady Panthers. Madison Baer and Ellie Hamilton each scored two goals to lead the Spartans’ attack. Victoria Ebner and Mason DeLarso both added single goals.
Goalie Emily Henry was not forced to make a save in the shutout win that saw the Spartans earn 10 penalty corners.
Springfield (4-6, 4-4 SOL) will be on the road at New Hope-Solebury on Saturday, and Cheltenham (0-10, 0-8) will host Upper Moreland on Wednesday.
Cheltenham 0-0 0
Springfield 4-2 6
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