Check out the results for SOL girls’ lacrosse teams in action Friday.
NESHAMINY 20, NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 11
Senior Fran Donato put on quite an offensive display in Friday’s non-league win over the Lions, scoring 10 goals in a stellar showing. One day earlier freshman Bridget Carrezola scored five goals in a loss to defending SOL National Conference champion Souderton, and there’s no mistaking this is a program on the rise.
“I think what’s happening – we’re getting girls to come up to the team that have experience,” coach Ashley Belmonte said. “Bridget (Carrezola) and Katelyn Dennis are good freshmen, and they have made a huge impact because they’ve been able to bring a lot to the table as freshmen.
“They’ve worked really well with my older girls. I think Fran (Donato) has less pressure on her. She has more girls to work with, and we just worked really hard in the offseason together.”
The Redskins led 7-4 at halftime and then blew the game wide open with a 13-goal explosion in the second half. Friday’s win marked a dramatic improvement over last year’s 13-9 loss to the Lions.
“I have a really good group, and they all just want to win – they believe,” said Belmonte, who is in her fifth year at the helm. “Each year we’ve made progress.
“We used to get beat 20-1, and then we were scoring a couple more goals, but everything was still so far out of reach. Last year we were in games at halftime, but this year they all keep believing. Their skills are getting better, and we’re working on the little things.
“Things are coming together. They’re able to transition down the field, and they all feel comfortable with each other.”
Carrezola added four goals and Katelyn Dennis added a pair while Abigail Geisler, Mia Sexton, Ashley Nicoletti and Elena Donato all contributed single goals to close out the scoring.
Friday’s big win came on the heels of a 19-12 loss to Souderton in a game the Redskins were in late in the second half.
“Souderton is always known as a very good team, and at one point, it was 11-13, and they pulled away at the end,” Belmonte said. “Again, for us to be that close to Souderton – I was proud of the girls for that.”
New Hope-Solebury 4-7 11
Neshaminy 7-13 20
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 9, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 6
It’s always a war when CB East meets CB West, and it’s one of those special rivalries where records are irrelevant as emotions run high on both sides.
On paper, West may have had the advantage heading into Friday’s game, but on the field, East goalie Alana Rivas all but negated any edge the Bucks may have had with an inspired 12-save performance.
“Alana played a phenomenal game,” West coach Tara Schmucker said. “A lot of my players know her, and I’m not sure if that got in their heads. I think in the beginning, we were throwing it right to her, but after that when we were seeing some good looks, she was still stopping them.
“She certainly kept the game close. She was all over the place – stepping to the ball, blocking everything. She has a great long clear as well. She helped control their team and gave them a lot of intensity and lot of fight.”
After the Bucks took an early 1-0 lead on a Bryn Boylan goal, the Patriots reeled off three straight goals by Betty Wesney, Bella Ridolfi and Sara Donnelly. During that span, Rivas turned away four straight shots. Goals by Elle Ueland (free position) and Finley Ueland in a 41-second span knotted the score with 7:37 remaining in the half. Rivas closed out the half with three more saves to keep the tie intact.
“Alana was phenomenal ,” West coach Kelly White said. “I am so proud of her mental aspect of the game. “She has been so strong for us game in and game out, and we have a very strong non-league schedule, so she’s been facing an average of 25-28 shots a game, and she has come up huge for us.”
Early in the second half, Jacq Fitzgerald found Boylan for her second goal and a 4-3 West lead, but East’s Mel Burian had an answer, connecting at the 22:34 mark.
Fitzgerald scored on a come-around goal to put the Bucks on top 5-4 with 21:32 remaining, and that score stood until the Boylan delivered an ‘oh wow’ play, turning a pass from Fitzgerald on the right sideline into a quick stick goal that gave the Bucks momentum they would not lose.
“I think Jacq and I see each other pretty well,” Boylan said. “We saw each other, and she went for it. I tried to see where the open spaces were.”
The Bucks added goals by Fitzgerald and Finley Ueland to go on top 9-5 before Maggie Vetter scored a late goal for the Patriots.
“East came to play tonight, and we looked flat, especially in the first half,” Schmucker said. “We still have a lot to learn and need to start executing what we work on in practice, but a win is a win.”
Meghan Tillger turned in a solid all-around game, finishing with six draw controls, two ground balls, one assist and one caused turnover.
“She was a presence everywhere today and showed a lot of hustle,” Schmucker said.
Boylan and Finley Ueland led the Bucks with the hat trick while Fitzgerald added two goals and two assists. Goalie Lauren Devlin turned away four shots in the second half.
“Lauren had some crucial saves for us as well toward the end of the second half,” Schmucker said. “And Finley Ueland had some great challenges today as well.
“Bryn Boylan had some great catches and shots that certainly took the wind out of their sails in the second half.”
Central Bucks East 3-3 6
Central Bucks West3-6 9
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 20, FRANKLIN TOWNE CHARTER
Nikki Boyd turned in an impressive offensive performance in the Golden Hawks big non-league win, finishing with seven goals and two assists. Neena Culleton had five goals while Becca Daly had three goals and two assists. Caroline McGovern contributed two goals and two assists. Anna DiDonato, Paige Schmid and Sara Womer each added single goals for the Golden Hawks.
SPRINGFIELD (MONTCO) 19, DELAWARE COUNTY CHRISTIAN 3
Meg Chandler led the Spartans with four goals, one assist and three draw controls, and Marley Berger also had a big day, contributing four goals and one draw control. Allison Yoder had three draw controls to go with two goals and one assist. Bailey Krewson and Lindsey Smith both had two goals and one draw control. Caroline Pape had two goals, one assist and one draw control.
SOUDERTON 14, GWYNEDD MERCY 8
Natalie Bulgier scored six goals to lead the Indians to a non-league win over the Monarchs. Brittany Roynan added four goals while Amber Lambeth added one goal and two assists. Krista Schneider, Kristen Gibbs and Carlie Doughty each contributed one goal. Kyra Shank had an assist.
The Indians, who led 6-4 at halftime, won 15-of-24 draws.
Gwynedd Mercy 4-4 8
Souderton 6-8 14
HAVERFORD 15, PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 7
The Fords opened up a 9-3 halftime lead and never looked back on their way to a non-league win over their visitors.
“Haverford had too much speed and command of the ball,” PW coach Ellen Reilly said. “We didn’t play with confidence and created too many turnovers.”
Ali Diamond had a hat trick to lead the Colonials attack. Sophie Kolkka and Kirsten Monte each added a pair of goals.
PW goalie Emily Miller was credited with 11 saves.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 3-4 7
Haverford 9-6 15
MOUNT ST. JOSEPH 9, UPPER DUBLIN 8
The Flying Cardinals took an 8-5 lead into halftime of Friday’s non-league game against the visiting Magic, but they were shut out in the second half as the Mount rallied for the come-from-behind win.
Julie Cross led the Cards with four goals and two assists, and Hannah Reape added two goals and one assist. Both Jess Grodsky and Maddie Templeton added single goals for the Cardinals.
Thursday, April 9
PENNSBURY 15, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 9
Devon Mela scored four goals and Anna Lehman added three goals and an assist to lead the Indians, who also received single goals from Claire Jarema and Aubrey Deon. Goalie Margaret D'Auria was credited with eight saves.
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