Check out the recaps for SOL field hockey teams in action Thursday.
SOL Liberty Division
UPPER DUBLIN 2, ABINGTON 1
The Flying Cardinals won a thriller, scoring the go-ahead goal with time expired in the opening half and then holding on for the 2-1 win.
“It was a pretty quick game on their turf which allowed a lot of players to really showcase their skills,” UD coach Emily Town said. “We’ve been having defensive issues, and after we gave up so many corners to Wiss on Tuesday, we took some time yesterday to look at film and figure out what was happening. It seemed to click, and we only gave up two corners today.
“The teamwork was there working it into the circle, and we were able to get a lot of shots on goal (16) which their goalies did a great job with.”
Abington’s goalies combined for 14 saves to keep the Ghosts within striking distance until the final whistle.
The Cardinals struck first at the 9:41 mark of the opening quarter when junior Addison Michalek deflected home a shot by senior Rayla Kratchman.
The second quarter was hard fought, and with 55 seconds left on the clock, the Ghosts’ Olivia Dougherty scored during corner play.
“My team knew that they needed to get back in the lead before the end of the half, and we were able to take that 55 seconds and earn a corner,” Town said. “With no time left on the clock, Tess Malizia was able to work the ball into the cage off a shot from Olivia Burdo.
“The rest of the game we fought hard for more goals, but their defense had great clears, and on that fast turf, we quickly found ourselves back to square one, having to work the ball back up. It was hot but it was a great game.”
Both Malizia and Burdo are juniors.
The UD coach went on to credit senior Olivia Vitella for feeding the ball to the offense.
“The whole team took their jobs seriously today and worked together better than I’ve seen yet this season,” Town said. “Especially the subs coming off the bench ready and knowing what needed to get done.”
Upper Dublin (2-2, 1-2 SOL) will travel to Plymouth Whitemarsh on Tuesday, and Abington (1-2, 0-2) will be on the road at Wissahickon on Tuesday.
Abington 0-1-0-0 1
Upper Dublin 1-1-0-0 2
SOL Freedom Division
NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 7, LOWER MORELAND 2
Ava Cozza had a hand in five goals – scoring twice and assisting on three others – to lead the host Lions to the big win.
“I was really proud that they came out fast and came out strong,” said New Hope-Solebury coach Gwen Smith, whose team opened up a 6-1 halftime lead. “We were connecting well all the way through the first half, and we were executing our corners. The whole first half – I thought we really did a nice job.”
The host Lions got on the scoreboard just over two minutes into the contest on a goal by Mia Patino. Then Madie Thistlewaite found the cage to give the Lions a 2-0 lead. Lower Moreland’s Mia Torgan used a Jess Pachman assist to score her first goal of the season that cut New Hope’s lead in half.
New Hope put the game out of reach with a four-goal outburst in the second quarter to go into halftime with a 6-1 advantage. Cozza scored a pair of goals in the quarter, Thistlewaite scored her second goal of the game, and Morgan Riggione also scored a single goal in the quarter.
“New Hope came out strong and took advantage of their penalty corners, scoring on a large number of them,” LM coach Janet Lutter said.
In the third quarter, LM senior Reagan Hopkins continued her hot streak, connecting on her seventh goal of the young season. A goal by Olivia Conte in the fourth quarter closed out the scoring and gave New Hope its final margin of victory.
“We definitely dropped off in the third quarter,” Smith said. “We kind of stopped moving, we started playing individual, that kind of thing. Now the challenge for us is to string together a full game of team play.”
The loss was the first of the young season for Lower Moreland.
“After struggling in the first half, the team fought back and played the type of game they are capable of,” Lutter said.
New Hope-Solebury (4-0, 3-0 SOL) will travel to William Tennent on Tuesday for a 5 pm contest, and Lower Moreland (3-1, 2-1) will host Springfield Twp on Tuesday.
Lower Moreland 1-0-1-0 2
New Hope-Solebury 2-4-1-0 7
WILLIAM TENNENT 4, CHELTENHAM 0
The Panthers notched their first win of the young season, and they did it in style, shutting out the visiting Lady Panthers.
Ashley Borkowski led the Panthers’ attack with a pair of goals – the first one with an assist from Haley Everly and the second unassisted. Ava Chebruch scored with an assist from Isabella Foulds, and Everley also added a goal, using an assist from Meghan Kihm.
Freshman goalie Helena Stanley had two saves in the shutout win for the Panthers.
William Tennent (1-4, 1-2 SOL) will host New Hope-Solebury on Tuesday, and Cheltenham (1-3, 0-3) will host Upper Moreland Tuesday.
SPRINGFIELD TWP 7, UPPER MORELAND 0
Bella Navo connected for a hat trick to lead the Spartans in a contest that saw the game halted for a lightning delay after the first quarter with the Spartans on top 3-0. The Spartans opened up a 5-0 halftime lead on their way to the shutout win.
“We did a nice job coming back out after the first quarter and getting right back to work,” Springfield coach Anita Stum said.
Despite the outcome, UM coach Pam Remmey was pleased with a lot of things she saw.
“The Spartans came out very aggressive – especially in our defensive circle,” the UM coach said. “After the lightning delay, Upper Moreland rose their level of play to try to match Springfield’s higher skill level. The Bears learned quickly and got better at challenging the Spartans as play continued. The midfielders and forwards started making great connections in the second half.
“Melissa Torpey, Cambrie Richmond and Ella Gould all played very strong at midfield. The defense held their own when tested in the circle. Defender Kelly Bates had an outstanding game, and Springfield ended up double teaming her whenever she brought the ball out of our defensive end.”
Navo scored a pair of goals in the first quarter to jumpstart the Spartans. She completed her hat trick with a goal in the third quarter. Emma Yoder added a pair of goals while Natalie Rittler and Norah Conlin each added one goal.
“It was obvious that Springfield had worked on scoring in the circle and off of corners,” Remmey said. “Several of their goals were lifted balls over our goalie’s head. Springfield also scored five of their goals off of corners. Many of the corners were called outside the circle because UM was seen to be impeding Springfield’s movement to goal. As a coach and official, the team will continue to work on understanding this higher level of play and these higher level calls.
“Overall, the Bears played with hustle, grit and determination throughout the game and will take this game as a learning experience to improve.”
Springfield goalie Grace Bell made two saves in the shutout win.
“Bella Navo and Emma Yoder did a great job of passing and distributing the ball in the midfield,” Stum said. “Gracie Buchholz was a poised defender and broke up any offensive threat.
“Grace Bell remained alert and was able to come out near the top of the circle for a loose ball that could have been troublesome.”
The Spartans took 25 shots on goal and drew 13 penalty corners.
Springfield Township (3-1, 2-1 SOL) will host Faith Christian Academy in a non-league game Friday, and Upper Moreland (2-2, 1-2) will travel to Cheltenham on Tuesday.
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