Check out the recaps for SOL girls’ lacrosse teams in action Wednesday. Pennsbury/CR South photos provided courtesy of John Gleeson, and CB East/CB South photos provided courtesy of Tracy Valko. Check back for galleries of both games: https://solsports.zenfolio.com/f1066908596
SOL National Conference
PENNSBURY 10, COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 9
A timeout changed everything.
Although things looked decidedly bleak for the Falcons, who trailed the Golden Hawks 9-5 with 13 minutes remaining
“It’s tough to come back on that,” Pennsbury coach Marguerite Piccolo said.
Tough perhaps, but not impossible. The Falcons proved as much, reeling off five unanswered goals to earn the come-from-behind win in Wednesday’s conference battle between a pair of teams with title aspirations.
“With 13 minutes left, I’m like, ‘We’re winning this’ because we prepared so much for it,” Piccolo said. “After our timeout, the girls came out on fire.
“We’d never been down that much this season. The girls had to really dig deep and find it within themselves. It was all the girls – there was nothing more we as coaches could say to them. They played their game towards the end. We’re so proud of them for being able to come back. I really commend them.”
With 11 minutes remaining, Mia Popovich scored a goal that made it a 9-6 game, and that score stood until 5:47 remained in regulation when Popovich once again found the net with a goal that pulled the Falcons to within two.
Olivia Graebner made it a 9-8 game when she scored with five minutes remaining, and with 3:55 remaining, Grace Holmes connected on the equalizer. The score remained deadlocked until Popovich connected on her third goal with 52 seconds remaining that turned out to be the game-winner.
“It was in our defensive end a couple of times, but they weren’t getting any of the ground balls, and we weren’t allowing them to shoot,” Piccolo said. “We might have held them to one shot in the last 13 minutes.
“South is a gritty team – they’re in it to win it. They play a different kind of defense which teams have to get used to, and South fought to the end.”
Early on in the contest, Pennsbury opened up a 2-0 lead only to see the Golden Hawks rally to take a 5-4 lead into the intermission, scoring the go-ahead goal with 34 seconds remaining in
the half.
“We scored off the draw (to open the second half) with a beautiful goal from Lily Abraham, assisted by Liv Graebner, to tie the game,” Piccolo said of a goal that knotted the score 5-5 early in the second half. “The game was very back and forth. We had a lot of turnovers, which is unlike us, but it happens.
“Our attack started playing their game and working together. Mia (Popovich) helped get the momentum going.”
Popovich’s hat trick led the Falcons. Graebner added two goals and an assist and Abraham had two goals as well. Sasha Dobos added a goal and an assist. Holmes had one goal and 10 draw controls, and her strong play on the draws played a key role in the Falcons’ second half success.
“She was really great – she’s just gotten better over the season,” Piccolo said of Holmes.
Pennsbury (9-3, 6-0 SOL) will travel to Plymouth Whitemarsh on Friday for a non-league game, and Council Rock South (9-2, 5-2) will host Haverford High School in a non-league game on Monday.
Pennsbury 4-6 10
Council Rock South 5-4 9
PENNRIDGE 20, NESHAMINY 3
Fifteen players contributed to the scoring in Wednesday’s conference road win.
Kendall Posey’s six-point game – which included four goals and two assists – led the Rams. She also had a ground ball. Grace Rosica had one goal and four assists for four points. She also had two ground balls and led the Rams with eight draw controls. Leah Verespy added three goals, four ground balls and one caused turnover. Taylor Burkett had two goals, two assists and one caused turnover.
Ava Fantaskey had two goals, one assist and three draw controls. Jordan Feder had two goals and one assist, and Kate Unzicker added one goal, two assists, one ground ball, one caused turnover and one draw control. Kira Shukla contributed one goal, one assist and two caused turnovers, and Madigan Posey had one goal, one assist and one ground ball. Sydney Williams contributed two goals and one draw control while Alexa Bailey had one goal, one assist and one caused turnover.
Also contributing for the Rams were Lauren Moylan (2gb, 1a), Maia Machado (1gb, 1cto), Bre Bailey (2gb), Erin Bahry (2gb, 1cto), Natalie Berke (1gb) and Lilly Reilly (1cto).
Pennridge (9-4, 5-2 SOL) will travel to Central Bucks South on Monday for a 7 p.m. contest, and Neshaminy (1-9, 0-7) will host Central Bucks West on Wednesday.
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 11, CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 9
The Patriots received contributions up and down their lineup in Wednesday’s rivalry game win over the Titans.
“The CB sister schools are always good competition,” CB East coach Maggie Stella said. “CB South came out fighting. I am so proud of my team because all the things we have been working on finally clicked for them.”
Paige Dougherty’s five-point game – three goals and two assists – led a balanced East attack. She also had three draw controls and one caused turnover. Ava Delfini added two goals and one assist while Sammy Kishel had one goal, one assist and one caused turnover. Lauren Boylan contributed two goals while Natalie Berndt had one goal and four draw controls. Paige Keller contributed one goal and a team-high six draw controls. Olivia Samkavitz had two caused turnovers while Sierra Buesing and Avery Stephenson each had one.
“My attack mixed up their shooting,” Stella said. “Ava Delfini and Lauren Boylan had great games looking for fast breaks off transition. Sammy Kishel was running the plays and dominating the defensive ride.
“I am also so proud of our defense. We were able to adjust throughout the game and continue to communicate and build each other up. And our goalie Abby (DiAmico) is truly our rock. She shows up for us when we need it most. She had a key save at the end of the game that really put the momentum in our favor. I cannot say enough how proud I am of my team on this great win.”
DiAmico was credited with eight saves in goal in the win.
Central Bucks East (7-6, 3-3 SOL) will host Pennsbury on Monday at 5 p.m., and Central Bucks South (4-8, 3-3) will travel to Hatboro-Horsham for a non-league game on Friday.
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 17, SOUDERTON 9
Charlotte Ondria scored seven goals and assisted on two others in a standout offensive effort to lead Rock North to the convincing win.
Maddy Mela and Julie Ondria each added three goals and two assists. Included in Mela’s hat trick was a goal that vaulted her to the 100-goal milestone.”
“Maddy is one of the best players on the field,” Rock North coach Denise Noseworthy said. “She is calm and controlled. She’s a great teammate and a pleasure to coach.”
Also for Rock North, Cat McBride contributed two goals, one assist and five draw controls. Gabby Mann and Taylor Deppi each added one goal.
Senior Ang Borisow had four goals, two ground balls and nine draw controls to lead the Indians. Carly Gavetti added two goals and an assist, and Tatum Andrews had two goals and one ground ball. Avery Farina contributed one goal while Ella Longacre had two assists. Hannah Cornes had two ground balls and one draw control, and Ava Shaw had one ground ball and one draw control. Ava Jones added one draw control.
Souderton goalie Gabby Hirschmann was credited with 13 saves.
Council Rock North (8-5, 4-3 SOL) will travel to Gwynedd Mercy Academy for a non-league game Monday at 4 p.m. Souderton (2-11, 1-6) will be on the road at Bensalem on Monday.
Souderton 5-4 9
Council Rock North 9-8 17
SOL American Conference
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 6, WISSAHICKON 4
The Colonials took a 3-2 lead into halftime and duplicated that effort in the second half to eke out a win in the hard-fought game.
“It was a good team win with everyone taking part in the win,” PW coach Ellen Reilly said. “My players controlled the first five minutes of the game with good defense and smart offense. We had a 3-0 lead. Then we sort of fell asleep and let Wiss come back. We had some opportunities but again rushed our shots and threw the ball away.
“In the second half, control of the draw was key, along with having smart attacking possessions and smart shots. We are continuing to work thru transitioning the ball when we have good defensive plays.”
Maita Jaya led the Colonials with two goals and an assist while Liv Reilly added two goals. Meghan Wendler and Ella Clark each had one goal.
“We have been struggling lately with too many turnovers both on the defensive end and in transition,” Reilly said. “Offensively, we get too excited and just shoot, rather than taking a second to see the cage and stick fake.”
The PW coach went on to laud the effort of defenders Kaylin Smyth, Katie Lukens and Kaiane Jayo.
“My midfielders Bri Reynolds, Maita Jayo and Meghan Wendler are our horses who do a lot on both ends of the field,” Reilly said. “And Liv Reilly offensively, she is really playing well and creating her opportunities using her speed.”
For the Trojans, Emma Greenberg led the way with two goals, one assist and three draw controls. Alexa McCabe and Sophia Stehlik both added a
goal and an assist.
“Our defensive unit kept us in the game,” Wissahickon coach Chuck Wurzbach said. “With seven minutes to play, PW tried to run the clock out. Ava Fell made some great saves, but then we turned the ball over as soon as we crossed the restraining line.
“PW did a good job on the draw winning 50/50 ground balls. Maite Jayo was tough to beat to the circle tonight.”Fell, a freshman, had 12 saves in goal, including the 100th of her young career.
“I’m really proud of her and the work she puts in,” Wurzbach said.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (5-6, 4-3 SOL) will host Pennsbury on Friday in a non-league game, and Wissahickon (5-6, 4-3) will travel to Radnor for a non-league game on Saturday at noon.
Wissahickon 2-2 4
Plymouth Whitemarsh 3-3 6
UPPER MORELAND 13, QUAKERTOWN 9
Olivia Meakim delivered a huge offensive effort, scoring five goals and assisting on three others to lead the visiting Golden Bears to the conference win.
“Overall, it was a good game, a very physical game but a good game,” UM coach Kim Frantz said. “Some days you just struggle as a team, and today was that day for us.
“Quakertown did a great job capitalizing on our weaknesses, and they fought hard all the way to the last second of the game.”
Also for UM, Reagan Cummins added three goals and an assist and Belle Leiter also had a hat trick. Adding one goal each were Maggie Morrow and Alexa Marczak. Avery Adamski had two assists, and Molly Meakim, one assist.
Addi Hurley was credited with 11 saves in goal in a winning effort.
Willow Taylor and Avery Adamski both had three draw controls to lead the Golden Bears.
Upper Moreland (11-2, 6-1 SOL) will travel to Hatboro-Horsham on Monday, and Quakertown (4-8, 3-4) will host Allentown Central Catholic in a non-league game Friday at 6 p.m.
Upper Moreland 9-4 13
Quakertown 5-4 9
ABINGTON 14, NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 7
The Lady Ghosts had seven goal scorers in Wednesday’s match at New Hope-Solebury.
Sophomore Haley Hamsher led the way with four goals followed by Piper McGinley with three goals and two assists. Katie Pennekamp and Audrey Silverman each recorded two goals. Avery Sullivan, Madden Murray, and Maddie Garry each contributed one goal.
Abington had 19 caused turnovers, led by Jamie Failing and Jocelyn Pollock with a combined nine. In the midfield, the Lady Ghosts had 15 draw controls – Harper McGinley with five, Katie Pennekamp with four and Madden Murray with three.
Abington (9-4, 6-1 SOL) will host Jenkintown in a non-league game Friday at 7 p.m. New Hope-Solebury (1-8-1-16) will host William Tennent on Monday.
Abington 5-9 14
New Hope-Solebury 3-4 7
Tuesday, April 25
NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 14, HATBORO-HORSHAM 11
The Lions picked up their first conference win of the season Tuesday, defeating the Hatters on their home turf.
Senior Margaret Tresler led the attack with five goals and also had four draw controls. Junior Madie Thistlewaite added four goals and a team-high eight draw controls. Freshman Olivia Conte had three goals, recording her first ever career hat trick. Junior Anna D’Agostino added two goals.
Sophomore goalie Nicole Segler recorded nine saves in the win.
Hatboro-Horsham (1-9, 1-4) will host Central Bucks South on Friday.
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