Check out the recaps for SOL girls’ lacrosse teams in action Wednesday. Cheltenham/Tennent photos courtesy of John Gleeson, and Pennsbury/CR South courtesy of Darryl Rule of JD Photography. Check back for galleries of both games: https://solsports.zenfolio.com/f683838916
National Conference
Central Bucks East 9, Central Bucks South 6
It all came down to the fourth quarter.
In a hotly contested, low-scoring battle between neighborhood rivals, Central Bucks East posted a 4-goal fourth quarter to snap a 5-5 tie and pull out a 9-6 victory over Central Bucks South in Wednesday’s National Conference game.
“This was an awesome team win,” said East coach Maggie Stella. “Our defense was crashing hard, sending the doubles, and working as a unit. Avery Stephenson, Nicolette Satterfield, and Bella DeHaven were sending key double-teams.
“Our transition improved greatly with our passing and did a great job seeing the field. Kayla Matlack, Paige Dougherty, Paige Keller, and Cece Hayes were all over the midfield when clearing the ball out of the defensive end.
“Our attack was running the plays and working the ball together. McKenna Lynch and Natalie Berndt were making some awesome connections within the 8-meter. Overall, we stuck to the game plan and stayed consistent. I am so proud of my team.”
Natalie Berndt led the Patriots’ attack with 2 goals and 2 assists. McKenna Lynch had 3 goals, Keller scored 2, and Hayes and Emma Weisel each added 1 goal.
Keller added 6 draw controls for the Patriots, Hayes had 3 draw controls and 2 caused turnovers, and Dougherty had 2 draw controls. Satterfield had 4 caused turnovers, Avery Stephenson had 3 caused turnovers, and Natalie Berndt and DeHaven each chipped in with 1 caused turnover.
Abby DiAmico made 4 saves in the cage for the Patriots.
Avery Curtis led South with 2 goals, 3 ground balls, 2 caused turnovers, and 2 draw controls. Brooke Cenci and Addy Geary each added 2 goals.
Gianna Olbrich had 4 saves.
Despite the loss, Titans’ coach Janique Craig had nothing but praise for the efforts of her players.
“It was a tight game and both teams played well,” Craig said. “It was truly a defensive game. At the end of the third quarter, it was tied 5-5. It really came down to 4 draw controls and shot selection. CB East played well the last 6 minutes of the game with winning the draw control and that was the key factor in the game.
“Our defense played amazing tonight – Peyton Ostroff had 2 caused turnovers, 2 ground balls and was our leading force on our transitions. Ella Kim did a great job shutting down CB East’s top scorer Paige Dougherty and had 2 caused turnovers. Erin Burke, Tessa Walls, and Jordan McCartin played fantastic team defense.”
With the victory, Central Bucks East improves to 4-1 in National Conference play, 7-4 overall. The Patriots will visit North Penn at 5:30 pm Friday. South moves to 3-3, 5-8, and will square off against conference frontrunner Pennridge on the road at 7 pm Monday.
Central Bucks East 0-4-1-4 9
Central Bucks South 1-1-3-1 6
Pennsbury 13, Council Rock South 4
Pennsbury maintained its undefeated record in National Conference play, improving to 5-0 (8-4 overall) with a 13-4 victory over Council Rock South on Wednesday.
Six different players scored as the Falcons jumped out to a 7-1 halftime lead.
“Today was full team effort,” said Pennsbury coach Marguerite Piccolo. “Our defense worked well together and executed our game plan while attack moved the ball nicely and made some beautiful shots.”
Mia Popovich scored 4 goals to lead the Falcons. Grace Holmes and Sasha Dobos also had 4-point games with Holmes netting 3 goals and adding 1 assist, and Dobos scoring twice and dishing out 2 assists. Angelina Kenney had 2 goals and 1 assist, while Rylie Borgman and Lily Abraham each chipped in with a goal and an assist.
The Falcons will visit Council Rock North at 11:30 am Saturday. The Golden Hawks (4-2, 7-4) will host nonleague opponent Gwynedd Mercy Academy at 3:30 pm Monday.
Council Rock South 1-3 4
Pennsbury 7-6 13
Pennridge 19, Neshaminy 0
Nine different players registered at least one goal as Pennridge blanked Neshaminy 19-0 in Wednesday’s National Conference game.
Taylor Burkett led the Rams with 4 goals, 1 assist, 2 caused turnovers, and 1 ground ball. Cayla Wurz scored 3 goals and added 2 assists as well as 2 ground balls. Ava Fantaskey scored 3 and had 1 assist, 1 caused turnover, 2 ground balls, and 3 draw controls. Kendall Posey scored a hat trick and had 3 caused turnovers, 3 ground balls, and 2 draw controls. Leah Verespy contributed 2 goals and 2 assists as well as 1 ground ball and 2 draw controls. Madigan Posey scored once and racked up 5 assists on the day to go along with 2 caused turnovers, 2 two ground balls, and 3 draw controls. Jordan Feder scored once, assisted on another Rams’ goal, and grabbed 2 GB. Julia Lenox (1 DC) and Colbie Landherr (1 GB, 2 DC) each added 1 goal.
Pennridge remains tied atop the National Conference with Pennsbury at 5-0 in the league (9-3 overall). The Rams will celebrate Senior Night when they host Central Bucks South at 7 pm Monday. Neshaminy falls to 0-5, 1-11, and will host Cheltenham in an SOL crossover game at 3:30 pm Friday.
Neshaminy 0-0-0-0 0
Pennridge 9-5-3-2 19
Council Rock North 18, Souderton 8
(Submitted by CR North lacrosse)
Council Rock North triumphed over Souderton in a 18-8 victory. Led by their senior captains and a standout performance from their midfielders, Council Rock North showcased their prowess and determination in every quarter.
Senior captains Julie Ondria and Charlotte Ondria ignited the scoring frenzy, each netting three goals apiece. Julie also grabbed a crucial ground ball, while Charlotte demonstrated her versatility with three assists to complement her impressive goal tally. Their leadership on the field was undeniable, inspiring their teammates to rise to the occasion.
Adding to the onslaught, senior captain Maddy Mela displayed her scoring prowess with two goals of her own, further solidifying Council Rock North’s dominance on the offensive end. Senior captain midfielder Liza McBride contributed to the scoreboard with a goal and two critical draw controls, showcasing her knack for making plays in the midfield.
However, it wasn’t just the seniors who stole the spotlight. Midfielder Cat McBride, a force to be reckoned with, exhibited her skillset with three goals, an assist, and an impressive four draw controls. Her tenacity and determination fueled Council Rock North’s momentum throughout the game.
Sophomore sensation Gabby Mann also made her mark on the match with two crucial goals, demonstrating her ability to contribute to the team’s success at a young age. Senior attack Taylor Deppi added to the scoring frenzy with a well-executed goal of her own, while freshman Ellie Carney showcased her talent with a goal and an impressive four draw controls, hinting at a bright future for Council Rock North.
Rounding out the scoring for Council Rock North were junior Jordy Zazoff, who contributed two goals to the team’s tally, further highlighting the depth and talent across the roster.
On the defensive end, goalie Lucy Carney provided great support, saving an impressive 60% of the shots on goal. Additionally, Abbey Stedman shone with four ground balls, showcasing her prowess in disrupting the opposition’s offense. Kiely Lyons also made her presence felt with multiple clears, two of which directly led to goals, demonstrating the critical role of the defense in Council Rock North’s victory.
Council Rock North (5-2, 2-1 SOL) will host Bensalem on Friday, and Souderton (4-8, 0-7) will travel to Lansdale Catholic Friday for a non-league contest.
American Conference
Springfield Twp 9, Upper Dublin 7
The game was everything it was expected to be.
The clash of two perennial league contenders, as well as neighborhood rivals, this year’s iteration of the Springfield Twp-Upper Dublin showdown featured both teams entering the game undefeated in league play, with the Cardinals unbeaten on the season.
When the smoke cleared, it was the Spartans who now find themselves alone atop the league standings at 6-0 (8-3 overall) after a 9-7 road victory over the Cardinals.
And keying the Spartans’ first victory over their rivals in three years was the same player who had a key role in the Spartans’ last win over Upper Dublin. Senior goalkeeper Tess Talbot racked up 14 saves – including a few huge stops late in the game – to secure the Spartans’ two-goal victory.
“Tess Talbot gets MVP for this game and stopped them from making a comeback,” said Spartans’ coach Marissa Conover. “Without Tess’s incredible saves in the second half, the score could have been very different.”
“Tess Talbot made some point-blank saves at the end of the game and made it hard for us to score the whole game,” said Upper Dublin coach Dee Cross, whose team falls to 5-1, 11-1. “We were able to come up with the ball on the draw to keep up with Springfield, but could not capitalize on shots.”
The third quarter proved to be key for the Spartans, who trailed 5-3 after a hard-fought first half, but outscored Upper Dublin 5-1 in the third quarter, with Sam McDevitt’s 2 goals sparking the attack.
“Sam had two goals right away in the second half, which really set the tone for our momentum to retie the game 5-5 and continue from there with positive energy,” Conover said.
In addition to McDevitt’s 2 goals, Emma Yoder and Maddie McDevitt each had 2 goals and 1 assist, Frankie Rizzo had a goal and an assist, Amelia Price and Ella McLaughlin each scored once, and Fiona Rizzo dished out 1 assist.
“We really look forward to this game every year,” Conover said. “A lot of girls on both teams are close friends and even family, and the rivalry is fun and good-hearted. The joke for this game is that whichever team is away wins and that is true every year and has been the case for four years. The last time we beat Upper Dublin was this senior class’s freshman year in overtime with a saved shot by Tess as a freshman and a goal by Maddie Yoder.”
Bridget DiMartile led Upper Dublin with 3 goals. Ava Shohen scored twice and had 1 assist, Anna DiMartile scored 1 goal and earned 6 DC, and Shannon Connaughton added 1 goal.
Erin Darcy made 6 saves for the Cardinals.
“It is always a battle with Springfield. The difference today was the third quarter where they outscored us 5-1,” Cross said. “Springfield is fast and controlled and they took advantage of every turnover. We had some great opportunities and we will learn from this game.”
Springfield will look to continue to build on their momentum when they host William Tennent today at 3:30 pm. The Cardinals will look to put the loss in the rear-view mirror quickly as they take to the road to play Quakertown at 3:30 pm today.
Springfield Twp 2-1-5-1 9
Upper Dublin 2-3-1-1 7
Wissahickon 9, Plymouth Whitemarsh 5
Tatum Ruhren made 6 saves and was supported by a strong defensive effort as Wissahickon pulled out a 9-5 victory over Plymouth Whitemarsh in a key American Conference matchup on Wednesday.
The two squads entered the game with identical league records near the top of the standings. But the Trojans scored the first 5 goals of the game – each coming from a different player – to improve to 5-2 in the league (9-3 overall).
“PW is always a tough opponent,” said Trojans’ coach Chuck Wurzbach. “I was really proud today of the entire defensive unit – Ellie Stein, Chloe Acuna, Kaylee Hammond, and Thalia Tsiobikas. They have been working together so well this season.
“We did not have a good practice on Tuesday and I thought as I walked off the field that night that it didn’t bode well for the game. But you could tell in the pregame warmup that the team was loose and excited to play for each other.”
Lila Marciniak led the Wissahickon scoring with 3 goals, 1 assist 3 ground balls, and 1 caused turnover. Emma Greenberg had 2 goals, 1 assist, 6 draw controls, 1 caused turnover, and 1 ground ball. Alexa McCabe had 2 goals, 1 assist, and 1 ground ball, while Maddie Radell and Sophia Stehlik each added 1 goal. Nora Ryan recorded 1 caused turnover, 2 ground balls, 1 interception, and 2 draw controls.
Meghan Wendler led the Colonials with 3 goals. Bri Reynolds had a goal and an assist, and Maite Jayo added 1 goal.
“Wissahickon outhustled us in every aspect of the game and jumped out to a 4-goal lead at the end of the first quarter, and it continued in the second quarter,” said PW coach Ellen Reilly. “We did well at times and then couldn’t capitalize on our opportunities. We had too many turnovers.”
Wissahickon will host Abington at 5 pm Monday. The Colonials (4-3 American Conference, 8-3 overall) will visit conference frontrunner Springfield Twp at 3:30 pm Monday.
Wissahickon 6-3 9
Plymouth Whitemarsh 2-3 5
Upper Moreland 15, Quakertown 5
Upper Moreland bounced back in fine form, rebounding from a week-ending loss to Springfield on Friday to roll past Quakertown 15-5 in Wednesday’s American Conference game.
Willow Taylor scored 5 goals and Annalise Messina had 4 goals, 1 assist, and 5 DC for the Golden Bears.
“It was great to get back in the win column today,” said UM coach Kim Frantz. “Willow Taylor had a really great game today. She was all over the field and helped us control the tempo and control the field.”
Olivia Meakim had 2 goals and 2 assists, Charlie Clement scored twice, Maggie Brophy added 1 goal Keiley Hawk scored her first varsity goal in the victory.
“We are very excited to celebrate Keiley Hawk’s first high school goal,” Frantz said. “Overall, I’m super-happy with how we played today. We look connected again.”
Addi Hurley was stellar in goal, making 14 saves for the Bears, who also saw their defense stand tall and deny Quakertown throughout the game.
“Cambrie Richmond, our leader on defense, really helped keep the defense together by communicating and helping control the game at the defensive end,” Frantz said. “Addi Hurley had some really great saves today that kept the momentum in our favor.”
Upper Moreland improves to 5-1 in American Conference play (10-2 overall) and remains in a four-team logjam in second place. The Golden Bears will celebrate Senior Night at 7 pm Monday against local rival Hatboro-Horsham. Quakertown falls to 1-5, 3-8, and will host Upper Dublin at 3:30 pm today.
Abington 12, New Hope-Solebury 5
Abington celebrated its Senior Night with a stellar effort in the midfield leading to a decisive 12-5 victory over New Hope-Solebury in Wednesday’s American Conference tilt.
“We played great defense and were able cause many turnovers in the midfield,” said Abington coach Meg MacClain. “The team came up with a total of 32 ground balls and 22 caused turnovers. Olivia Capps did a great job on the draw and was able to solidify 4 draw controls.”
Piper McGinley led the Ghosts with 5 goals to go along with 1 caused turnover and 3 ground balls. Katie Pennekamp scored 4 goals and also had 2 caused turnovers and 3 ground balls. Madden Murray had a goal and an assist as well as 2 caused turnovers and 5 ground balls. Abby Ellner had 1 goal and 1 ground ball, and Capps scored once and also had 1 ground ball and 4 draw controls. Harper McGinley posted 2 assists, 5 caused turnovers, 9 ground balls, and 5 draw controls, while Erin Ely had 1 assist, 2 caused turnovers and 2 ground balls.
Carly Hughes (3 GB. 3 CTO) and Madden Murray (2 CTO, 5 GB) also provided strong efforts in the midfield to keep the ball in Abington’s possession. Jocelyn Pollock had 2 caused turnovers and 2 ground balls, and Nora Luskin had 1 caused turnover and 3 ground balls.
Jadyn Bagby made 4 saves in goal for the Ghosts.
Abington improves to 5-2 in American Conference play (7-4 overall) and sits in a four-team tie for second place. The Ghosts will visit Central Bucks West at 7 pm Friday. New Hope-Solebury moves to 1-5, 5-7, and will play at William Tennent at 3:30 pm Monday.
Hatboro-Horsham 8, Lower Moreland 2
Mia Fisher scored 5 goals to help lead Hatboro-Horsham to a huge 8-2 win over Lower Moreland in Wednesday’s American Conference game.
Gianna Carr scored twice and Emma O’Riley capped off the scoring with 1 goal as well as 2 assists. Natalie Tocci and Tara Orloski each chipped in with 1 assist.
On the defensive end of the field, Amber MacIntosh made 12 saves to deny Lower Moreland from building any momentum.
The Hatters improve to 3-4 in American Conference play (3-8 overall). They will visit Jenkintown today at 3:30 pm for a nonleague game, then return to league play at 7 pm Monday at Upper Moreland. The Lions fall to 1-6, 7-6, and will visit Upper Dublin at 7 pm Monday.
Cheltenham 13, William Tennent 2
It was a game of firsts for Cheltenham.
Olivia Klebanoff scored her first 2 goals of the season and Vlada Larina netted her first varsity goal as the Panthers earned a 13-2 victory over William Tennent in Wednesday’s American Conference game.
Maggie Leighton led the Panthers with 3 goals, while Carly Gregorio, Maya Schwartz, Morgan Gregorio, Mia Haugen, Brianna Gardner, Daniella Rodriguez, and Helena Urban each added 1 goal.
Cheltenham improves to 2-5 in American Conference play (3-8 overall), and will visit Neshaminy at 3:30 pm Friday. Tennent drops to 0-5, 0-7, and will host George School at 3:30 pm Friday.
Cheltenham 10-3 13
William Tennent 1-1 2
Council Rock North 18, Souderton 8
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