American Conference
Upper Dublin 12, Wissahickon 8
Emotions were high … so were the stakes.
In a battle of neighborhood rivals and American Conference contenders, Upper Dublin pulled out a 12-8 victory over Wissahickon on Thursday to remain undefeated on the season.
“It was a great game today for a classic neighborhood rivalry,” said Cardinals’ coach Dee Cross. “It was back and forth for most of the game. The girls stayed calm and worked for good shots against Wissahickon’s zone defense. When we tried to pull away, they would come right back.”
The score was deadlocked at 3-3 after one quarter, and Upper Dublin held a narrow 6-4 lead at halftime.
In addition to Wissahickon’s solid defensive effort, Trojans’ goalkeeper Tatum Ruhren came up big time and again, making 6 saves on the day.
“Tatum Rurhen played her best game of the season, and our defense kept us in the game,” Wissahickon coach Chuck Wurzbach said. “Offensively, we had our chances, but we just couldn’t capitalize on them.”
Paige Dinkel led the Cardinal attack with 6 goals. Bridget DiMartile posted 3 goals, 2 assists and 5 draw controls. Anna DiMartile chipped in with a pair of goals and 8 draw controls while Shannon Connaughton added 1 goal. Ava Shohen dished out 2 assists and Lily Buckius added 1 helper.
“Paige Dinkel was face-guarded and worked hard off the ball to stay involved and free up her teammates,” Cross said. “It was a total team effort today. Bridget DiMartile was able to put the ball in play on the draw to allow her sister, Anna to get 8 draw controls and Bridget also pulled in 5. Shannon Connaughton had a huge caused turnover with a couple of minutes left in the game to allow us get the ball back.
“We have players each game step up when needed. Lily Buckius is a steady ballhandler on the offensive end and does a great job of controlling the ball.”
On the other end of the field, Erin Darcy made 2 saves for the Cardinals, who received a strong effort from their defense to keep the Trojans at bay.
“Abby O’Meara, Olivia Broome, Maeve Hogan and Sophia Sirianni came up with some key stops when we needed it and helped in transition to get us the ball on the attacking end,” Cross said.
Alexa McCabe led the Wissahickon offense with 3 goals. Lila Marciniak had 2 goals to go along with 1 GB, 1 INT and 2 DC. Sam Farno had a goal and 1 CTO, Emma Greenberg scored once and added 3 DC, and Maddie Radell scored once.
Sophia Stehlik dished out 3 assists as well as 3 GB and 1 DC, Chloe Acuna had 2 CTO and 2 INT, and Elle Stein recorded 4 CTO.
Upper Dublin improves to 4-0 in American Conference play, 9-0 overall. The Cardinals will host Harriton at 3:30 pm today in a nonleague tilt. The Trojans move to 3-2, 7-3, and will look to get back to their winning ways when they visit Quakertown at 5 pm Monday.
Upper Dublin 3-3-2-4 12
Wissahickon 3-1-2-2 8
Upper Moreland 11, Cheltenham 1
Annalise Messina put on a show, contributing all over the field in Upper Moreland’s 11-1 victory over Cheltenham on Thursday.
Messina scored 4 goals, picked up 2 assists, had 5 caused turnovers, and also garnered 5 draw controls as the Golden Bears rolled to an American Conference win. Willow Taylor had 3 goals, 1 assist, and 6 draw controls, Olivia Meakim scored 1 goal and assisted on 3 others, Molly Meakim had 1 goal and 1 assist, and Madeline Cox and Maggie Brophy each scored 1 goal.
Keiley Hawk had 5 caused turnovers and Keira Hess picked up 4 caused turnovers.
Addi Hurley made 9 saves in goal to record the victory for the Bears (4-0 in American Conference play, 9-1 overall), who will square off against league frontrunner Springfield Twp on the road at 3:30 pm Monday. Cheltenham (0-5, 0-8) will host Lower Moreland at 3:30 pm Monday.
Noon-league
Abington 10, North Penn 5
Abington goalkeeper Jadyn Bagby made 5 saves to reach the 300-save milestone for her high school career.
Bagby’s 5 stops helped propel the Ghosts to a 10-5 victory over North Penn in Thursday’s SOL crossover game.
“The girls played as a team throughout the whole game and never gave up,” said Abington coach Meg MacClain. “The girls brought composure and energy needed to hold off a talented North Penn team.”
Piper McGinley, Katie Pennekamp, and Nora Luskin each scored 3 goals for the Ghosts. McGinley also added 2 assists, Pennekamp had 1 assist, 5 ground balls, and 7 draw controls, and Luskin added 1 assist and 1 caused turnover.
Harper McGinley scored Abington’s other goal and added 1 assist, 1 caused turnover, 6 ground balls, and 5 draw controls. Carly Hughes chipped in with 1 assist, 1 caused turnover, 4 ground balls, and 3 draw controls.
“In the midfield we had 16 draw controls,” MacClain said. “The girls had exceptional transitions and ball movement across all parts of the field. The defense put up a stellar fight, doubling and coming up with caused turnovers and ground balls.”
The Ghosts also received solid efforts from Jocelyn Pollock (2 CTO, 4 GB), Charlotte Lowery (3 CTO, 2 GB), Addison Doyle (1 CTO, 1 GB), and Elle Pennekamp and Maddie Garry (1 GB each).
Abington improves to 7-4 overall (4-1 in American Conference play) and will visit Plymouth Whitemarsh at 3:30 pm Monday. North Penn (4-3, 1-2 National) hosts Pennridge at 4 pm Monday.
Abington 3-2-4-1 10
North Penn 0-3-0-2 5
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