Check out the recaps for SOL girls’ lacrosse teams in action Thursday.
Non-league
PENNSBURY 9, PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 8
The visiting Falcons scored just one goal in the opening half and trailed by a 4-1 score at the intermission, but their offense came to life in the second half as they rallied for the come-from-behind win.
“PW played a great game,” Pennsbury coach Shannon MacPherson said. “They had a lot of talent on their team. Their center did a great job, and they have a really nice goalie as well.
“We came out a little bit flat in the first half, but at halftime, we talked to the girls and told them we needed to make some adjustments. They went out and they started picking things up in the second half.”
Maddy Spratt’s three-goal effort led the Falcons. Her third, which came with 4:07 remaining in regulation, capped a 4-0 Falcon tear that turned a 6-5 PW lead into a 9-6 Falcon advantage. It also was the 100th goal of the American University bound senior.
“I think there’s a lot of pressure on players knowing they’re close to scoring that 100th goal,” MacPherson said. “I think it’s definitely a relief for her scoring it.
“She plays her game how she plays her game. She didn’t do anything differently. We ran our plays, she did what she was supposed to do on the play, and she scored off of it. It was awesome.”
The Colonials scored a pair of goals in the final 3:28, pulling to within one with 1:26 remaining, but they would get no closer.
“PW played a great first half,” PW coach Ellen Reilly said. “(We) controlled the ball on offense and maintained possession, worked hard on defense. Our goalie, Clancy Lynch, had six saves, holding Pennsbury to one goal.
“In the second half, Pennsbury put the ball in the net when it counted. PW turned the ball over, allowing Pennsbury to capitalize.”
“PW fought us to the very end,” MacPherson said. “I give them a lot of credit. They played a great game.
“In the second half, we started winning the draw, we had some really nice turnovers in the midfield, and our girls did a nice job pressuring defensively.”
In addition to Spratt, Maggie Golder and Sarah Walcott both had a pair of goals and one assist. Darrien Furiness also had a pair of goals.
“Defensively, Olivia Pogyor, who’s a junior, has been doing a great job for us,” MacPherson said. “She’s just such a hardworking kid, her slides are always there, and she does a great job communicating defensively. She had a really nice game today.
“My midfield – Darrien Furiness, Maggie Golder and Maddy Spratt – all did a nice job. Sarah Walcott had two goals today, and that definitely helped. Liv Graebner is a sophomore defender, and she’s a really hard worker, and she had a couple caused turnovers that helped us get the ball back as well.”
For the Colonials, Fiona Gooneratne led the way with three goals while Raya Gauntlett and Max Leszczynski both had two goals. Brianna Austin had a goal and an assist.
Pennsbury (3-1, 1-1 SOL) will travel to West Chester East on Saturday for a non-league game. Plymouth Whitemarsh (2-5, 2-1) will host Lower Moreland on Monday.
Pennsbury 1-8 9
Plymouth Whitemarsh 4-4 8
NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 14, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 9
The Lions followed their come-from-behind win over Springfield Township 24 hours earlier with a non-league win over the Patriots.
Kate Dougherty had a huge day for the Lions. The Penn State signee had five goals and three assists, but her contributions didn’t end there.
“Kate dominated at the draw which really set the tone for the game,” NHS coach Betsy Dougherty said. “(We) came out ready to play today. We put everything together to come out strong against a talented and fast East team.”
Also for the Lions, Madie Thistlewaite added three goals and one assist, and Margaret Tressler had a pair of goals. Scoring one goal each were Rylie Hepp, Emma Ives, Rachel Saxton and Lilly Smith.
New Hope-Solebury (4-2, 1-1 SOL) will host Wissahickon on Monday, and Central Bucks East (2-6, 0-3) will travel to Council Rock South on Monday.
Wednesday, April 14
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 15, NESHAMINY 6
The Bucks notched their first win of the young season and first ever under coach Nicole Fisher, who took over the helm last year only to see the season cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It was a much-needed win,” Fisher said. “It helped us build up our confidence and put into action all of the things we have been working on thus far together. It was a great time for the girls to showcase all of the work they’ve been putting in.
“It’s definitely been interesting, especially with the gap year, working with a great deal of girls who have never seen the varsity field. Probably 90 percent of our varsity athletes haven’t seen a varsity game before, so working with a shortened offseason and building up confidence without live play and missing that whole year of a season has been tough for everyone.”
Fisher brings coaching experience to the sidelines, although this is the former Archbishop Wood coach’s first year in the SOL.
“It’s not a league I’m familiar with, and I missed out on a year as well that could have been a potential building year,” the Bucks’ coach said. “Now we’re playing with what we have been given and making the most of each opportunity and practice.
“The girls are doing a great job. While it was not the start of the season we had hoped for or wanted for ourselves, I think sometimes in athletics those hard losses and those biggest struggles are the ones that help us realize what we need to focus in on and help us want to become better and continue to work harder. I think they’ve seen that and now had an opportunity to put some puzzle pieces together and see the reward of the work they’re putting in.”
In Wednesday’s win, senior Paige Gilbert – a College of William & Mary signee – led the Bucks with nine draw controls and also had five goals and one assist.
“She never gives up, and it definitely helps set her teammates up for success,” Fisher said.
Senior Megan Weyer added two goals and two assists, and her sister, freshman Kate Weyer, added three goals and also seven draw controls.
“Both are playing in the midfield, and it’s awesome to see their connection and how they play together,” Fisher said. “They definitely have a very strong presence.”
Senior Jada Reichwein added two goals and one assist.
“She definitely brought a momentum change to our offense and a high positivity,” Fisher said.
Sophomore goalie Margo Harring was credited with seven saves.
“She just had a phenomenal performance on the defensive end,” Fisher said. “She had seven saves, and out of all the possessions, she kept the score lower than it could have been.”
Central Bucks West (1-4, 1-2 SOL) will travel to Bensalem on Monday, and Neshaminy (0-5, 0-3) will be on the road at Quakertown on Friday.
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