Check out the results for SOL girls’ lacrosse teams in action Friday.
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 8, ABINGTON 7
CB West and Abington have developed a nice little rivalry. At least if the past two years are any indication.
Last year, the Ghosts fell behind 4-0 early but rallied for an 8-7 win. On Friday, the Bucks returned the favor.
“It was just like last year,” Abington coach Amanda Kammes said. “We just came out on the wrong side.”
On West’s sidelines, coach Tara Schmucker was glad to escape with a win.
“I think we knew how big this game was for us, and I think nerves really got to us in the beginning,” the Bucks’ coach said. “I don’t really think that ever left our system.
“Things got better, but certainly we weren’t really seeing the chemistry we’ve had in the past.”
Kammes, meanwhile, was happy to see her team finish strong after falling behind 6-2 when Finley Ueland scored 70 seconds into the second half to cap a 6-0 West run.
“What changed is that we refocused ourselves and started playing Abington lacrosse,” the Ghosts’ coach said. “The second half was the first time I saw Abington play lacrosse this year. That was our best half of the season, hands down.
“It was clean, we had each other’s backs, we were disciplined on defense, we possessed on attack, and we scored when we had the opportunity. It wasn’t flashy, it was unselfish, it was good lacrosse.”
In a direct reversal from last year’s game when they fell behind early, the Ghosts took a 2-0 lead after back-to-back goals – both on powerful shots – by Sam McGee, who finished with a team-high four goals.
“Once we saw her rip a couple, we knew we had to get out on her and take her strong side away,” West’s Maddie Maio said.
Casey Reichwein’s free position goal at the 20:03 mark ignited a 6-0 West tear that included a pair of goals by Ueland as well as single goals by Liv Fitzgerald (Maio assist), Lucy Varner and Bryn Boylan – after running the length of the field.
“We can’t afford to go on naps in the middle of halves or games,” said Kammes, whose team trailed 5-2 at halftime and saw that deficit grow to four after Ueland’s goal early in the second half. “We have to be able to start putting two halves together.
“We came out great and then we started to not have the punches go our way. We have a lot of young kids out there this year that are still learning how to be on the field for big minutes.”
A rocket across goal by McGee found the net at the 22:10 mark, and that was followed by Kaley Ehnow’s free position goal, trimming the Bucks’ lead to 6-4. Maio (Boylan assist) scored to put the Bucks back on top by three, but with 13:46 remaining, Boylan was lost for the remainder of the game after receiving her second yellow card, and it was gut check time for the Bucks.
McGee scored on a free position, and with 9:20 remaining, a West turnover set the stage for a Casey McCallister goal. The Ghosts appeared to have all the momentum, but after West goalie Lauren Devlin (five saves) turned away an Abington shot, Dani Dundas hit pay dirt of a free position with 5:32 remaining.
“Our catching and throwing was a little bit off fundamentally, but without Bryn for the last 13:46 – for them to keep coming up with the draws the way they did and our defense to keep holding them out and for Dani Dundas to finish that free position when she did, I think that really kept us in the game,” Schmucker said.
McCallister answered with a free position goal for the Ghosts, and after Ehnow came up with possession on the ensuing draw, the Ghosts were in business, working the ball for that all-important shot.
With 25 seconds remaining, McGee sent a screaming low shot on goal that Devlin blocked in a play that was a game saver.
“Lauren is absolutely killing it this year,” Maio said. “Even last year too, she was just so good. She’s been a key for us in goal.
“We all know what Lauren can do. She’s so good in cage. We had no worries.”
The Bucks ran out the clock on the gutsy win.
“Clearly, the outcome was there, even though it wasn’t the play we expected – we wish we could have done a little bit better, but I’m just proud of our team to pull out with a win and still stay undefeated, which is great,” Maio said. “I just think it shows that we can fight and we don’t lose our intensity.
“Even when things don’t go our way, we never stop fighting and we never give up. That’s just playing the West way.”
Schmucker echoed similar sentiments.
“It was not our best day, but they showed grit, and the entire defense should be proud, especially of the last three minutes they played,” the Bucks’ coach said. “Lauren Devlin came up with a huge save as well and made a lasting impression.
“Moreover, the defensive unit executed the plan in those last three minutes, albeit a little late, but certainly when we needed it.”
All but lost in the shuffle was the nine-save effort of Abington goalie Kiki Brasher.
“She killed it,” Kammes said. “I’m going to give love to Kiki, and honestly, our defense in general kept us in the game.
“They were so disciplined, which we literally stressed to them all day yesterday in practice. There’s a difference between us preaching it and them doing it. I can’t say enough about that effort. We ran three different defenses today in the game, and we went in and out of them seamlessly.
“The good takeaways from this game are that we’re starting to look more seasoned. We’re getting into late April, and we’re starting to put things together a little bit better and more consistently.”
With the win, the Bucks improved to 9-0.
“(This) is a big one for us,” Schmucker said. “We’re undefeated at this point, and we haven’t really been seeing a ton of competition.
“We’ve had some close games, but we lost to them by one last year, and we knew this was going to be kind of like a redemption game for us.
“I just think the style of play they play is very different, so being able to stay composed and come up with that win is something we need to be proud of.”
“Credit to CB West,” Kammes said. “They are having a fantastic year. They’re one of the best teams we’ve played yet, and we’ve played a really good schedule.
“It’s also cool to see parity in the area.”
Central Bucks West (9-0, 2-0 SOL) will host Council Rock North on Monday, and Abington (6-3, 3-0) will travel to Wissahickon on Wednesday.
EXTRA STATS: In addition to four goals, McGee had a caused turnover. McCallister had two goals, two ground balls and one caused turnover. Jules Greco had two ground balls. Ehnow had a goal, two caused turnovers and two draw controls. Cathy Staerk had two ground balls, two caused turnovers and one draw control. Sam Simon had two caused turnovers, and Maggie Sjoholm, one ground ball and two caused turnovers. Becca Gable and Lauren Van Buren each added one ground ball. Grace Hinkle had one ground ball and one draw control, and Anna Joseph had one ground ball and one caused turnover.
Central Bucks West 5-3 8
Abington 2-5 7
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 7, SOUDERTON 3
The visiting Patriots – buoyed by their defense – opened up a 4-2 halftime lead and then limited the Indians to just one goal in the second half on their way to the important win.
“CB East played a very steady game with minimal mistakes against a very strong Souderton team,” coach David Schlesinger said. “(The win was) very important, but we’re only as good as our next game. We’re striving to play consistently at a high level.”
Goalie Maddie Gresko anchored a stingy East defense, turning away 11 of 15 shots she faced in a stellar performance. Also contributing to the standout defensive effort were Kayla Bartl, Steph Ott, Julia Gleason, Bella Ridolfi and Quinn Ferry.
“The defense was stout and committed zero turnovers,” Schlesinger said.
Whitney Dietz led the Patriots’ attack with four goals and also helped the Patriots to an 8-5 advantage in draw controls. Riley Forman (two goals) and Maggie Vetter (one goal) balanced out the scoring. Brigitte Bishop had one assist.
For the Indians, who were coming off a no-doubt-about-it win over Wissahickon, Maddie Knight and Megan Walbrandt both had one goal and one assist. Kaitlyn Mardi added a single goal.
Souderton goalie Lauren Scott was credited with 11 saves.
Central Bucks East (6-4, 2-1 SOL) will travel to Neshaminy on Monday, and Souderton (6-3, 2-1) will be on the road at Upper Moreland on Monday.
Central Bucks East 4-3 7
Souderton 2-1 3
VILLA JOSEPH MARIE 20, PENNSBURY 15
The Falcons trailed by four at halftime (12-8) and spent the rest of the game playing catch up.
Emelie Curtis and Lily Nolan had big games for the Falcons as both finished with five goals. Curtis also added an assist. Annie Price scored three goals and assisted on three others. Brooke Weaver had two goals and one assist. Sarah Mac Davis and Kyra Snyder each added one helper.
Pennsbury (1-7, 0-3 SOL) will host Central Bucks South on Monday.
Pennsbury 8-7 15
Villa Joseph Marie 12-8 20
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