Check out the recaps of games featuring SOL field hockey teams on Friday.
PENNSBURY 4, UPPER DUBLIN 0
Scoring goals has not come easily for the Falcons this season, but their offense came to life in Friday’s non-league game, connecting for a pair of goals in each half on their way to a convincing shutout win.
“This was important for a lot of different reasons,” coach Jamie Parell said. “We’ve been struggling to score goals.
“Even as coaches, we just had a really long talk with our girls the last practice, and said – the hard part this year is that we’re playing really well. It’s not like we look at a game and we’re like, ‘Oh wow, we played awful, and there’s a lot we need to work on.’
“Unfortunately, we’ve been playing well and we’ve been dominating games, but we’re just not coming out on top, so I think that’s been a little discouraging and frustrating for the girls, and I think we really dug ourselves a hole.”
The Falcons took out any frustrations they may have had on the Cardinals. Olivia Mauro scored a pair of goals – the first unassisted and the second with a Kate Chesney assist. Sammie Hackman added an unassisted goal, and Chesney found the cage with Nell Webber assist.
The Falcons led 2-0 at halftime and doubled their lead in the second half. When it was over, Parell credited the play of several players.
“Obviously the goal scorers, but our defense really deserves credit because we had zero goals against,” said the Falcons’ coach, crediting defensive backs Amy Ronin, Gianna Pinto and Lily Nolan. “It wasn’t like they weren’t in our circle – they definitely had their opportunities.
“The defense just really kept it out and they kept pushing the ball back to the mids, who pushed it back up the field.”
Friday’s non-league game was significant for both squads.
“I talk to them about our non-league games all the time,” Parell said. “I said to them – not only was it a win that proved we can score goals but it can be a turning point in the season.
“We’re coming around that second loop, and because our league is so competitive, anything can happen. Sometimes it comes down to the last week. I stressed to the girls that every game matters, and on any given day, we have the talent, but we need to play as one, and we really did today. We couldn’t do anything wrong. We were supporting one another, and it was a full team effort.
“We told them to use this game as a catapult into what’s to come. No game is going to be easy, that’s for sure, but if anything, we have nothing to lose, so why not go out and prove ourselves in the second round.”
UD goalie Sarah Herchenroder recorded 11 saves.
“Their goalie had a nice game,” Parell said. “She definitely saved them from having more goals against, that’s for sure.”
Pennsbury (5-5-1, 3-3 SOL) is off until next Thursday when the Falcons will host Harry S Truman. Upper Dublin (8-3-1, 8-1) will host Wissahickon on Wednesday.
Pennsbury 2-2 4
Upper Dublin 0-0 0
HARRY S TRUMAN 5, CONWELL EGAN 0
In a renewal of a rivalry with their neighboring school, it was the Tigers dominating play on their way to the no-doubt-about-it win.
“We haven’t played Conwell Egan since I played for Truman in 2004,” coach Kayla Kowalick said. “It’s a new rivalry, and it’s always a good game.”
The win came on the heels of a 1-0 loss to William Tennent 24 hours earlier in a game that saw the Tigers unable to finish.
“They all played together,” Kowalick said of the loss to Tennent. “We were crossing the ball across goal, but we just couldn’t get it in.
“Our midfield was working it up, and we were crossing it, but we just couldn’t finish.”
Kowalick changed things up on Friday, deviating from her team’s usual pregame drills.
“I took them out of the shuttle line, and I had them cross the ball over,” the Tigers’ coach said. “They worked together today, and it was my seniors that scored. They just really wanted this game.”
Stephanie Wolf put the Tigers on the board with 13:57 remaining in the first half, and Wolf assisted on a goal by Olivia Jenkins that sent the Tigers into halftime with a 2-0 lead.
Just over two minutes into the second half, Emily Evans turned a Jayda Campbell pass into a goal, and Campbell closed it out with back-to-back goals in a four-minute span late in the game.
“Our defense played well,” Kowalick said. “Lucille Estrella played well on defense and so did Kayla Boltersdorf. All of our seniors stepped up today.”
The Tigers held a 9-1 advantage in shots. Truman goalie Rebecca Laranko recorded one save in the shutout.
Harry S Truman (2-7, 1-5 SOL) will travel to Council Rock South on Wednesday.
Conwell Egan 0-0 0
Harry S Truman 2-3 5
ABINGTON 3, GARNET VALLEY 0
The Ghosts picked up a non-league win over the Jaguars. Junior Grace Terrizzi scored a goal that turned out to be the game winner midway through the first half with an assist from Sam McGee. Ten minutes later, Kaila Brown scored an unassisted goal to close out the half.
Five minutes in the second half, McGee scored with an assist from Terrizzi.
Garnet Valley held a 6-2 advantage in shots, but that was negated by the 11-save effort of Abington goalie Mackenzie Greiner.
“Mackenzie stepped up today in goal, kept her composure and had solid blocks and clears,” coach Amanda McMahon said. “Senior defenders Sarah Boches and Jackie Kizel were quick to clear the ball out of the circle and transitioned the ball to offense well. It was an overall team win, but our four starting seniors shined today.”
Abington (5-7, 3-5 SOL) will host Neshaminy on Wednesday.
WISSAHICKON 8, NORRISTOWN 0
The Trojans owned Friday’s non-league contest against their former conference rival, exploding for four goals in each half on their way to the convincing win.
“The weather was not ideal for today’s game, yet we were able to pull out a win,” coach Leah Angstadt said. “We have been struggling the past couple of games with getting shots off and earning corners, yet not being able to score.
“Today we were able to find the net eight times with four different scorers.
Julianna Sutow (Hannah Havrilla assist) put the Trojans on the scoreboard, and then Jessica Waite – who led the Trojans with four goals – connected on back-to-back goals. Meghan Keller assisted on the first after an insert pass by Grace Ball during corner play. The second also was scored on a corner with an assist from Ball. Ellen Kane connected for her first of two goals on the day, this one with an Emily Purnell assist to send the Trojans into halftime with a 4-0 lead.
In the second half, the Trojans received a pair of goals from Waite as well as single goals from Sarah Cammarota on a corner and Kane (Meghan Keller assist). For Cammarota, it was her first goal of the season.
“Our forward line had their best game yet,” Angstadt said. “They finally meshed, and it was nice to see all our shooting attempts transfer to goals.
Wissahickon (7-5, 6-3 SOL) will host William Tennent in a non-league contest.
Wissahickon 4-4 8
Norristown 0-0 0
SPRING-FORD 4, COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 3
The Rams own the top spot in the PAC-10 Liberty Division with a perfect 8-0 mark, and on Friday, they came out strong in the first half, exploding for three goals and a 3-1 halftime lead.
The Hawks were ultimately doomed by a three-minute stretch midway through the opening half that saw Spring-Ford’s Caroline Todd connect for a pair of goals – the first unassisted and the second with an assist from Lexi Nugent. Just like that, the Rams – or more specifically, Todd – had turned a scoreless tie into a 2-0 game. The Hawks had an immediate response, and a minute later, Tori Wright used an assist from Sarah Womer to cut that lead in half, but Katelyn Crist’s goal in the 23rd minute sent the Rams into halftime with a two-goal advantage.
Wright’s goal 11 minutes into the second half pulled the Hawks to within one, and that 3-2 score stood until Clare Kennedy’s goal with five minutes remaining to give the Rams a two-goal advantage. Two minutes later, McGovern connected for her second goal, once again using a Wright assist.
Council Rock South (11-2, 8-0 SOL) will host Harry S Truman on Wednesday.
Spring-Ford 3-1 4
Council Rock South 1-2 3
Thursday, Sept. 29
WILLIAM TENNENT 1, HARRY S TRUMAN 0
Freshman Carly Prichett turned a pass from junior Jessie Betz into a goal that proved to be the game winner.
“It feels wonderful,” Tennent coach Kaitlyn Rauchut said. “To overcome the obstacles set forth with weather and scheduling, I am extremely pleased with the performance and it says a lot about our character.
“A win boosts confidence and re-established our goal to move forward as a team, there’s no question, but for us, we always know there are learning opportunities. Today we continued to learn. We learned we can’t rely on one single goal to solidify the game.
Tennent came out strong, but the two teams were locked in a scoreless tie at halftime as the Panthers could not capitalize on their offensive opportunities.
Rauchut lauded the offensive execution of Prichett, Sarah Starr, Jenna Cragin, Karly Adkins, Liz Sebzda and Erica Luongo.
“Truman was a wonderful opponent,” Rauchut said. “As a hockey enthusiast, I love the growth that has taken place within their program due to tremendous coaching and dedication.
“Our team goal is to put the team first through adversity. We did come out really strong, but we just have to be more productive in the first half.”
Harry S Truman 0-0 0
William Tennent 0-1 1
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