SOL Girls’ Lacrosse District Preview (5-16-17)

Five SOL girls’ lacrosse teams will be in action on Tuesday when the District One 3A Tournament gets underway. Check back for recaps of all the action.

Tara Schmucker was surprised when her Central Bucks West squad received the top seed in the District One 3A Tournament. It’s easy to understand why.

That lofty status is typically reserved for the perennial powers. Last year Conestoga was the number one seed, and National Conference champion Central Bucks South was the SOL’s highest seeded team at eight. In 2015, Conestoga was the top seed, and National Conference co-champion Souderton was the highest SOL seed at 12. In 2014, it was more of the same. Garnet Valley was seeded first, and Souderton was the SOL’s top seed at number 12.

Schmucker expected a similar fate.

“I’m very surprised that we’re number one,” she said. “That’s not to say that we’re not talented and we haven’t worked hard, but we know there are a lot of teams out there that are super competitive.

“The new rankings don’t always reflect how strong some of the teams are. Our focus has never really been on the rankings. It’s been – approach each game as we should, come ready to play, keep working at practice and keep performing on the field.”

The Bucks proved they could hang with the top dogs last year when they upset second-seeded Springfield-Delco in the second round of the District One Tournament and came within a win in the district’s fifth place game of advancing to states.

“I knew coming in we had the majority of our players and starters back,” Schmucker said. “I knew we had a lot of talent, but I certainly couldn’t have imagined having the season we had this year.

“I told the girls back in August, ‘We made a name for ourselves, so we have to make sure we’re working harder than we did last year.’ I have to give them credit – they did. They put a lot of time in during the offseason. With that hard work and working together so early, they created a lot of chemistry, and it’s showing on the field.”

The Bucks cruised to the SOL National title and a 9-0 record, regaining a title they had shared with Souderton in 2015. Equally important to the players was improving on some of their performances.

“There were games we felt we could do a lot better, and this year we showed that,” senior Bryn Boylan said. “Against CB East last year, it went into overtime, and this year we didn’t want that at all, and we’re proud of the way we played against them.

“Last year, against Methacton, it was a Saturday morning game, and we probably played our worst game of the season. This year we played pretty well against them.”

The Bucks won their first 17 games of the season before falling by one goal to Strath Haven in a non-league game.

“I’m really proud of how we’re playing and how it shows in the seedings and the bracket,” Boylan said. “Our last loss (to Strath Haven), like coach said, was very humbling, but it will make us hungrier for playoffs.”

The Bucks – who received a first round bye – hope to build off last year’s strong showing in the playoffs this time around.

“I think they came together as a team and found a strength that (Springfield-Delco) game that has helped carry over the team concept and chemistry this season,” Schmucker said. “And it gave them a fire and desire to want more.

“It gave them a lot of confidence and the belief they can start changing something. They have to have that belief. Our program has improved immensely over the years, but that mindset change has been one of the many things I am proud of most.”

CLASS 3A

#1 CENTRAL BUCKS WEST (Bye)
(Will face the winner of #16 Boyertown vs. #17 Downingtown East)

#7 ABINGTON (Bye)
(Will face the winner of #10 Central Bucks South vs. #23 Downingtown West)

#8 UPPER DUBLIN (Bye)
(Will face winner of #9 Garnet Valley vs. #24 West Chester Henderson)

#23 DOWNINGTOWN WEST at #10 CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH
Central Bucks South

14-3 overall
6-2 SOL National Conference tied for second with CB East & Pennridge behind CB West
Led by offensively by Kasey Dietzel (66 goals, 43 assists), Anna Green (51 goals, 28 assists) and Kristen Berntsen (51 goals, 28 assists). Courtney Taylor (33 goals, 36 assists) leads the defense with 68 caused turnovers.
Regular season wins over #15 Central Bucks East (11-3) and Class AA #2 Gwynedd Mercy (8-7)

Downingtown West

11-7 overall
8-4 Ches-Mont League sixth place
Senior defender Drew McKinney is a West Chester University commit
Regular season wins over #18 Great Valley (13-11) and #24 West Chester Henderson (12-11).

Winner will face: #7 Abington

#21 METHACTON at #12 PENNRIDGE
Pennridge

14-4 overall
6-2 SOL National Conference tied for second with CB East & CB South behind CB West
Led offensively by trio of Jen Rodzewich, Maddie Dachowski, and Grace Loughery.
Five veteran seniors are the nucleus of squad
Regular season wins over #10 Central Bucks South (15-11) and #22 Hatboro-Horsham (15-3)
Won 10 of 11 to close out regular season

Methacton

10-8 overall
7-6 Pioneer Athletic Conference tied for fourth with Boyertown
Defeated #8 Upper Dublin (9-7)
Split regular season series with #13 Spring-Ford (17-12, 12-15) and #16 Boyertown (15-13, 15-16)
Led by Temple commit Jackie Cerchio

Winner will face: #5 West Chester Rustin

#18 GREAT VALLEY at #15 CENTRAL BUCKS EAST
Central Bucks East

12-6 overall
6-2 SOL National Conference tied for second with Pennridge & CB South behind CB West
Led offensively by Riley Forman (42 goals), Whitney Dietz (25 goals, 16 assists) and Brigitte Bishop (24 goals, seven assists). Dietz also has 72 draw controls, 45 ground balls and 17 caused turnovers.
Quinn Ferry (58 ground balls, 23 caused turnovers, 45 draw controls), Sarah Donnelly (45 ground balls, 17 caused turnovers), Maggie Vetter (40 ground balls, 14 caused turnovers, 30 draw controls) are also major contributors. Goalie Lauren Maurer boasts a save rate of 53 percent.
Regular season wins over #12 Pennridge (10-9), #19 Souderton (7-4) and #22 Hatboro-Horsham (6-5).
Won five of six to close out regular season.

Great Valley

12-6 overall
10-2 Ches-Mont League third place behind West Chester Rustin & Unionville
Led by two-time PA Region All-American Olivia Muscella, who will be continuing her lacrosse career at the University of Massachusetts Amherst
Won four of five to close out regular season, which included wins over #6 Unionville (15-14) and #24 West Chester Henderson (18-9). Also has a win over #5 West Chester Rustin (17-12).

Winner will face: #2 Conestoga

#19 SOUDERTON at #14 HARRITON
Souderton

12-6 overall
6-3 SOL American Conference third place behind Abington & Upper Dublin
Riley McGowan (68 goals, 12 assists) leads a balanced offense that includes Carlie Doughty (35 goals, 15 assists), Maddie Knight (29 goals, 14 assists), Sarah Goodwin (27 goals, 26 assists) and Kaitlyn Mardi (28 goals, 15 assists).
Goodwin’s 31 caused turnovers leads the Indians.
Regular season wins over #17 Downingtown East, #20 Perk Valley and #22 Hatboro-Horsham (15-11).

Harriton

12-6 overall
Won program’s first ever PIAA state championship in 2016
Let by Northwestern commit Greta Stahl
Regular season wins over #9 Garnet Valley (12-8), #11 Strath Haven (16-11), #15 Central Bucks East (15-3) and Class AA #3 Radnor (9-8).

Winner will face: #3 Owen J Roberts

#22 HATBORO-HORSHAM at #11 STRATH HAVEN
Hatboro-Horsham

10-7 overall
5-4 SOL American Conference fourth place
Led by Kaitlyn Wallace (70 goals, 18 assists, 44 draw controls), Gwyn Acker (40 goals, 27 assists) and Gabby Acker (23 goals, 12 assist, 46 draw controls).
Sophomore goalie Arielle Hammer, who was sidelined with an injury late in the season, has turned away 54 percent of the shots she’s faced.
Regular season win over #10 Central Bucks South (14-13).

Strath Haven

12-5 overall
6-5 Central League
Led by Sienna commit Nicole McNeely, who surpassed the 100-goal mark earlier this season.
Regular season wins over #5 West Chester Rustin (10-6) and the only team to defeat #1 Central Bucks West (8-7)
Lost three of four games to close out the season.

Winner will face: #6 Unionville

CLASS 2A
#10 JENKINTOWN at #7 UPPER MORELAND (Wednesday, May 17)
Upper Moreland

11-7 overall
5-4 SOL American Conference sixth place
Attack is led by West Chester commit Sydney Bachmayer, who owns the school record for career goals with 201.
Mel Wittick anchors a defense that includes goalie Cheyanne Grumm. Allison Felicetti, Jessica Flanigan and a strong cast of young players also make important contributions.
Defeated #10 Jenkintown 13-6 in the regular season.
Regular season win over Class 3A #22 Hatboro-Horsham (8-4)

Jenkintown