CB East, CB South & Souderton were winners in SOL field hockey action Tuesday. CB South/CR South photos provided by Keith Clemens Photography. CLICK HERE to go to a gallery of photos.
Non-league
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 3, NESHAMINY 2 (OT)
If dealing with the sweltering temperatures for 60 minutes wasn’t enough, the Patriots and Redskins needed overtime to determine a winner in Tuesday’s non-league battle of perennial SOL powers.
Cailey Leaver brought a dramatic end to the game at the 14:20 mark of overtime, turning a pass from Emma Donnelly into the game winner. The senior captain had a hand in all three goals, assisting on the first two.
“I want to compliment both teams for playing in the conditions they did,” East coach Meghan Spratt said. “The fact that we went into overtime – it was back and forth and back and forth.
“We were down and then we’d tie it, we were down and then we’d tie it. To come away with a win in overtime in the amount of heat we played in, I think it just showed so much resilience and so much character of my team. I loved that the entire game every single person gave 100 percent, which was all I asked for from the very beginning, considering the heat and the awful temperatures.”
The Redskins got on the scoreboard just over 10 minutes into the game when Brooke Cordisco scored with assists from Jamie Pennington and Peyton Ritchey. Seven minutes later, East’s Allie Gallant scored the equalizer with an assist from Lever.
It was a pattern that was repeated with Jamie Pennington scoring an unassisted goal to put the Redskins on top 2-1 only to watch Phia Mannino find the cage with a Lever assist, setting the stage for overtime.
Spratt credited the standout play of Neshaminy goalie Maddie Tiemann.
“I have to commend the goalie of Neshaminy – she had an amazing game,” the Patriots’ first-year coach said. “I think we had 20 or 21 corners, and she was an amazing force today.”
Neshaminy coach Jamie Pinto acknowledged the strong play of her defense.
“Our corner defense played strong today, led by goalie Maddie Tiemann, Jamie Pennington, Kayla Connelly, Brooke Cordisco and Sophie Schardt,” the Redskins’ coach said. “Peyton Ritchey led our offensive effort.
“We have played hard in our opening non-league games and will continue to work hard throughout our league games and season.”
The Lever siblings, according to Spratt, were very instrumental in the Patriots’ win.
“In general, it was a great team effort, but the Lever sisters – Cailey Lever was incredible today,” she said. “On the field, she was a leader, and she showed so much resilience, and she was one of the reasons we came out on top.
“Kenzie Lever, her sister who is a sophomore, was absolutely incredible today. I commented to her personally after the game that I don’t know what we would have done without her in the midfield today.”
Central Bucks East (2-0) will travel to Central Bucks West for Wednesday’s SOL opener at 7 p.m. Neshaminy (0-2) will be on the road at Bensalem on Wednesday.
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 5, COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 0
Pat Toner has been on the sidelines for 26 years, and during that time, the veteran coach has done nothing but win. This year Toner opted to go with a new system.
“In the past, a lot people have gone for the – I want to score more goals than you, but I’m more concerned and I get more nervous defensively,” the Titans’ coach said. “I wanted to try a different system where we have a lot more firepower.
“We do give up occasional breakdowns, but I think that’s something we can fix. I asked them to just continue to shoot. We’re trying to surround the other team and just shoot, shoot, shoot.”
And shoot, shoot, shoot is exactly what the Titans did, firing 32 shots in the blistering heat. Only the glittering 27-save effort of Rock South goalie Aspen Handel kept the game reasonably close.
“We are a young team and have some important spots to fill on the field,” said Rock South coach Lisa Belz, who wasn’t interested in bringing an early end to the game when the officials called the coaches together at halftime to discuss that possibility. “We definitely wanted to finish the game out – the more we play, the more we learn what we need to work on.
“CB South is a strong team in a strong division. We’ve had a tough start, but I’m optimistic that we will pull it together.”
Senior captain Mel Dunton put the Titans on the scoreboard when she was money on a penalty stroke eight minutes into the game. Back-to-back goals by Sophia Wasyliw – the second with an Ashley Timby assist – sent the Titans into halftime with a 3-0 lead.
“We work as a team really well, and even though it was something new, we went to Spooky Nook camp and we were practicing it there,” Dunton said of the Titans’ new system. “We have such strong players on our team who are able to push up on offense and drop back on defense – it was a good combination for us, and we were confident in trying. Honestly, it’s working out really well.
“We have so many new players who haven’t played varsity before. For us seniors, it’s something really new to all of us, but I love playing with all the new girls. It’s already a great time.”
Senior Casey Reilly scored on a perfectly-placed lift shot on South’s first corner of the second half, and Timby closed out the scoring midway through the half, using a Megan Weeks assist – her second of the game. Annie Brady also had an assist.
“I was a little bit nervous about the situation because at Hockeyrama we were missing four of our players for SATs, so we didn’t really get to see what we looked like in a scrimmage,” Toner said. “The second scrimmage was so hot. We had really good competition with Abington and New Hope, and we did okay, but I still felt as though we waited a really long time before a game, so I was concerned.”
The Titans, who held a 14-7 advantage in corners, alleviated her concerns rather quickly when Tuesday’s game began, despite temperatures on the turf well above 100 degrees.
“It’s definitely pushing each other to keep going, and knowing your teammates are there to back you up really helps,” Dunton said of playing in the heat.
Katelyn Cooco had Rock South’s best opportunities to get on the scoreboard, and on several occasions found herself on breakaways. Goalie Jillian Heilig and South’s defense were equal to the task.
“Both teams played a hard-fought game in the heat,” Toner said. “Aspen Handel had an excellent game as did CB South goalkeeper Jillian Heilig, who saved all five shots.”
Central Bucks South (1-0) will host Quakertown in Wednesday’s SOL opener, and Council Rock South (0-2) will host Harry S Truman Wednesday.
Council Rock South 0-0 0
Central Bucks South 3-2 5
SOUDERTON 11, HATBORO-HORSHAM 0
Sparked by the four-goal effort of Anna Gwiazdzinski, the Indians scored early and often on their way to a rout of the visiting Hatters. Randi Hess and Alyssa Krady both added a pair of goals while Lauren Kenah, Caitlin Lennon and Lauren Shaugnessy each added single goals.
Souderton (1-0) will travel to North Penn for it’s SOL opener Wednesday.
Hatboro-Horsham 0-0 0
Souderton 6-5 11
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