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On a day that saw a number of SOL contests postponed because of the weather, several teams braved the elements – and field conditions – to play. Highlighting the day were several standout performances by a pair of goalies – Cheltenham’s Emily Hawkins and Central Bucks West’s Jess Meisinger-MacDonald. Check out all of Wednesday’s SOL action below.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
PENNSBURY 7, BENSALEM 0
The Falcons exploded for five first-half goals on their way to the big win - this despite playing in conditions that were hardly conducive to playing field hockey.
“I called my athletic director twice to make sure there was no miscommunication that the game was on,” Falcon coach Jamie Parell said. “I was shocked, especially because it’s on grass.
“To be completely honest, it wasn’t that bad when we got there, but right at game time, we got another monsoon, and that just put us under.”
Despite the conditions, the game was played in its entirety, and the wet field didn’t keep the Falcons from scoring early and scoring often.
Kelly Siekierka got the ball rolling with a pair of goals, the second assisted by Ashlyn Stevens. Paige Bayer followed with a goal, again assisted by Stevens, and the Falcons led 4-0 after Allie Brady (Jackie Pollock assist) scored. Another Bayer goal, this time with a Brady assist, sent the Falcons into intermission with a five-goal advantage.
Pollock (Stevens assist) and Julia Vogel closed out the scoring with second-half-goals.
“At halftime, their athletic director, both coaches and the refs talked, and they did consider calling it, but we ended up finishing the game,” Parell said. “It was a crazy, crazy day.
“One thing was funnier than the next. They were doing the best they could, but they just physically couldn’t move. It got comical after a while.”
Parell lauded the effort of Stevens in a supporting role.
“She had a really good game,” the Falcons’ coach said. “She didn’t score any goals but really was a strong asset to our offense today.”
ABINGTON 0, NESHAMINY 0
The two teams were deadlocked 0-0 when the game was called to a halt early in the second half due to poor field conditions after a torrential rainfall. To read PhillyBurbs.com field hockey beat writer Karen Sangillo’s complete article about the game, visit www.PhillyBurbs.com by clicking on the following link: http://www.phillyburbs.com/sports/high_school/.
WILLIAM TENNENT at COUNCIL ROCK NORTH (Postponed)
HARRY S. TRUMAN at COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH (Postponed)
CONTINENTAL CONFERENCE
SOUDERTON 4, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 0
Mary Ann Harris got a glimpse of the Souderton team she expected to see when the season began in Wednesday’s convincing win.
“After our preliminary games, I was wondering when we were going to play the way we were certainly capable of playing,” the Indians’ veteran coach said. “We were certainly capable of more than we had been doing.”
The Indians – who were led by the two-goal effort of senior forward Alayna Brown – might have done even more damage had it not been for the stellar effort of Jess Meisinger-MacDonald in the cage. The senior goalie turned away 16 shots.
“Their goalkeeper kept them in the game,” said Harris, whose team took 25 shots. “We were right up there, and there were so many close ones, but she had so many strong saves.”
In addition to Meisinger-MacDonald’s big day in the cage, a pair of Bucks – Jennie Kamel and Sarah Holloway – also delivered defensive saves.
Brown put the Indians on the scoreboard less than a minute into the game, scoring at the 29:17 mark with an assist from Cait Wetzler. That 1-0 lead held up until halftime.
Rachel Valentine scored at the 25:25 mark of the second half, turning a ball going wide of the net by Brown into a goal. Brown connected on her second goal of the game midway through the half, this time using an assist from Taylor Yoder. Abby Gabriel closed out the scoring with a goal at the 10:11 mark, using an assist from Valentine.
“I’m really happy that all our forwards took a lot of shots,” Harris said. “They were going to the ball better, playing field hockey and playing as a team. It looked like a fun activity to be part of.”
“My experienced players were showing their experience today, and my backfield is new, and they did well. It was an overall team effort. I was pleased with everyone. They played together, and they played hard.”
The win came on the heels of a disappointing 2-1 loss to Upper Perkiomen for an Indian squad that evened its record at 1-1.
“We needed to start believing that we have a nice team this year and that we can play hard, play together, score goals and win,” Harris said.
NORTH PENN 2, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 1
The Patriots got on the scoreboard first after a goal by senior Emily Vasey, but the Maidens responded with a pair of first-half goals by senior Bobby Dougherty. Neither team scored in the second half.
“The pressure was on after they scored their first goal,” Maiden senior captain Carly Pickford said. “They had high intensity, and they didn’t give up.”
Vasey scored after stopping a 16-yard hit by the Maidens, dribbling into the circle and scoring into the left corner of the cage.
The Maidens hit pay dirt on their third corner of the opening half after a passing sequence from Juliamae Marger to Emily Ikeda with Pickford – on the left post – deflecting Ikeda’s drive across goal. East goalie Emily Guthier got a piece of the ball but not enough to prevent Dougherty from depositing it into the cage.
“Honestly, that’s what she’s really good at,” Maiden co-coach Carrie Jankowski said. “She’s good at a lot of things – she’s a great hustler and a very aggressive player, and she’s the type of player – she will fight, fight, and that’s the kind of player you want on the post.”
Dougherty – who admits she enjoys going for balls off the goalie pads – has found a home on the post.
“I hold the past, and as long as I’m holding the post and we make sure Carly has the left – she crossed it over, and I was right there to tip it in,” Dougherty said. “I was ready for the ball. It was a corner, and I expect to get it on the corners.”
Dougherty connected for her second goal at the 3:38 mark of the first half. This time Guthier came up with a stop of her initial shot, but the Maidens’ senior forward pounced on the rebound and put it in the cage.
The Patriots drew three second-half corners after having none in the opening half. Maiden goalie Shannon Keen – who finished with eight saves in the shutout – came up with a kick save of a rocket by Vasey with 10 minutes remaining in the game to preserve the shutout. East drew a corner with three minutes remaining but came up empty. This time Marger broke up the play.
“It was what I could term an ugly win but a win,” Jankowski said. “CB East is a good team. They play well together, but if you play your game, you’re going to win.
“You also could say that if CB East is playing their game, they’re going to win. I felt like we had moments where we played our game but also moments when we were playing frantic and panicked.”
Wednesday’s game was the first season opener in four years for the Maidens without conference MVP Elizabeth Fedele – now playing hockey at the University of North Carolina – anchoring the midfield.
“It’s a big transition not having Buzz,” Pickford said. “We have had her forever. It’s a lot different – we had to realize she wasn’t here, and we had to learn to fit together in a new way.
“This was a good feeling. We’re hoping it means we will continue to improve from here and have a good season.”
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 3, PENNRIDGE 0
Due to unplayable conditions on their field, the Titans played their home game against the Rams’ on the turf at Pennridge. The Titans led 1-0 at the intermission and never looked back.
“Pennridge played well,” Titan coach Jeff Harding said. “Nikki (Thren) is doing a great job. Sarah Yerk played well for them.”
QUAKERTOWN at HATBORO-HORSHAM (Postponed)
AMERICAN CONFERENCE
WISSAHICKON 3, PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 2
In a showdown of two of the American Conference’s top squads, the Trojans and Colonials combined for five first-half goals, and although both teams had chances, neither team scored the rest of the way.
The Trojans were minus a pair of starters – senior Lauren Becker and freshman Ashley Laskowitz – for the entire game and lost starting goalie Rina Lobell at halftime. Senior Zoe Kale moved from center back to center mid to fill in for Becker, last year’s conference MVP. She wasn’t the only player occupying a new spot.
“It put me to the test,” first-year coach Lauren Luft said. “I had to move people around, but they were all able to fill in different positions – these girls are versatile.
“They worked with each other and talked with each other. They all found their way.”
The Colonials got on the scoreboard first, thanks to a goal by Courtney Konowal (Bryn Frankhauser assist) at the 25:13 mark.
The Trojans responded with back-to-back goals by Caroline Kovacs (Gretchen Guaglianone assist) and Emily Gallagher (Melanie Fry assist) in a three-minute span midway through the half to go on top 2-1.
That lead held until the 1:23 mark of the half when Gallagher scored, using an assist from Guaglianone. Meg McCullough (Gab Combs assist) scored with 37 seconds remaining to trim the Trojans’ lead to 3-2 at the intermission. That score held up until the final whistle.
UPPER DUBLIN 5, CHELTENHAM 0
Sparked by a pair of goals by Emily Hitchings, the Flying Cardinals scored four first-half goals and added a single goal in the second half on their way to the convincing win.
“We did a nice job of controlling the ball and distributing it to various players, looking for every player to step up and do well,” coach Heather Boyer said. “One of the things we’ve been trying to emphasize is to play to our composure level and maintaining the tempo we like to be at, and they were able to maintain that today.
“We had different combinations at different times, and they did a really good job of filling those positions and working well together even if they weren’t necessarily used to those positions or playing with a different person in those positions.”
Marie Wheatley (Kelly Cross assist) put the Flying Cardinals on the scoreboard with a goal at the 16:31 mark of the first half. Hitchings scored back-to-back unassisted goals, and that three-goal outburst in a three-minute span gave the Flying Cardinals a commanding lead and control of the game. Cross added a goal, using assists from Jen Harchut and Anna Lauer, to send the Cardinals into halftime with a 4-0 lead.
Alycia Hildebrand (Lily Morreale assist) scored the lone goal of the second half as Cheltenham goalie Emily Hawkins – who finished with 18 saves – was all but impenetrable after the intermission.
“She had an outstanding game,” Boyer said. “She clears accurately with balls at her feet and has really strong clears. It’s not like she’s a one-footed goalie who favors one side.
“She uses both sides of her body very, very well. She has good footwork. Our girls took some really strong shots on her, and she turned a lot of them away. She’s really quick with getting the ball out of the red zone there.”
While the Lady Panthers fell to 0-2, the Flying Cardinals improved to 3-0.
UPPER MERION at NORRISTOWN (Postponed)
LOWER MORELAND at UPPER MORELAND (Postponed)
Tuesday, Sept. 6
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 2, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 1 (OT)
The Golden Hawks know all about playing in overtime. Last year, they were extended to overtime five times and experienced limited success. They are hoping that trend will change this year, and Tuesday night’s win – played in a steady downpour – suggests they are off to a good start.
“It was a really good game even though the weather was horrible,” coach Lisa Belz said. “It was back and forth and exciting. Going into overtime, I was a little nervous because we haven’t practiced it at all. It was really exciting for our team.”
The Patriots actually got on the scoreboard 10 minutes into the game, but Rock South sophomore Kristen Meihofer answered with the equalizer midway through the half. Meihofer, who played hockey in middle school, opted to play soccer last fall but has returned to the hockey field this year.
“I’m so happy she came back to field hockey,” Belz said. “She’s playing center forward and doing a great job for us.”
Kiera McGovern brought an early end to overtime, scoring one minute into the extra period to send the Golden Hawks home with the big win.
“I was really happy that we got the game in,” Belz said. “Sometimes when it’s a non-league game, they don’t make it up, and it was good to cross over.”
Belz acknowledged the strong performances of senior Alex Agasar, who is playing center mid, and junior Alexis Carroll, the Golden Hawks’ center back.
“The two of them are interchanging a lot, and they’re both doing a great job,” the Golden Hawks’ coach said.
To read PhillyBurbs.com field hockey beat writer Karen Sangillo’s complete article about Tuesday’s game, click on the following link: http://www.phillyburbs.com/sports/high_school/courier/quality-start/article_fb565a18-8b30-5749-83e9-64800af21a13.html
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