Check out the recaps for SOL girls’ lacrosse teams in action Wednesday.
SOL National Conference
NORTH PENN 12, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 11
This win did not come easily.
Although it certainly looked as though it might when the Knights opened up an 8-4 halftime advantage and still led 12-8 with four minutes remaining in the game.
“We were just looking to slow things down, take our time to find the right opportunity,” NP coach Heather Mellow said. “We held onto the ball for a while. At some point, we took a shot, and they took the ball and went downfield.
“When we went to play them, we fouled them, and we got carded. With about three minutes left, we were playing a man down. They scored three in the last three minutes. They got it to within one with 59 seconds left.
“The problem was they were winning the draw at that point, and they were just going right to goal. It was kind of hard because we were a man down, and we were focusing on our man players as opposed to focusing on getting into a zone at that point. Somehow, they put one right in after the other. It happened so fast.”
Lacrosse is a game of momentum, and the visiting Indians had it, but the Knights came up with the game’s final draw.
“We were still ahead, and we just held onto the ball and ran the time out,” Mellow said. “I’m pleased that we were able to finish, but at the same time, we’re making mental errors and simple errors that we need to start fixing.”
Kayla Stressman led the Knights with four goals, three assists and three draw controls. Lauren Blanch and Katie Harkins each had a hat trick. Blanch also had six draw controls. Stephanie Gibson had two goals, and Quinn Rodoff handed out three assists and also had three draw controls and three caused turnovers. Grace Macnamara also had three caused turnovers.
Kiera Holt had eight saves in a winning effort in goal.
“We’ve had a lot of close games,” Mellow said. “Of the three games that we lost, two were by a goal, one was in overtime, and the other was by two goals and that was in the last couple minutes of the game.”
The Knights lost nine starters from last year’s squad, and according to Mellow, they’re still learning.
“We’re just not mature with our thought process and how we think about playing the game,” the Knights’ coach said. “We’re not thinking about the long portion of the game. How do we play when we’re up and we need to hold the ball – let’s not take those risky shots or make those risky passes. We’re just not thinking that way, but it will come in time. These guys are young so they’re absorbing everything. Hopefully in the second half of the season, we’ll improve on the mistakes we’ve made in the first half.”
Kat McBride led the Indians with four goals, one assist and a team-high eight draw controls. Julie Ondria added two goals and two assists. Maddy Mela contributed a hat trick. Charlotte Ondria and Olivia Esposito each had one goal, and Taylor Deppi added an assist.
North Penn (3-3, 2-1 SOL) is off until Thursday, April 13, when the Knights will host Plymouth Whitemarsh. Council Rock North (5-4, 1-3) is off until Monday, April 17, when the Indians will host Central Bucks West.
Council Rock North 4-7 11
North Penn 8-4 12
Non-league
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 15, VILLA JOSEPH MARIE 9
Nine different players scored goals for the Patriots, who raced out of the gate to an 11-3 halftime lead and never looked back.
“It was a really great overall team effort,” East coach Maggie Stella said. “I couldn’t be prouder of my team this year. This senior class has developed and put in the work for the team they have always wanted: a unit. I am looking forward to seeing what they do next week.”
Ava Delfini, Paige Keller and Paige Dougherty each had a hat trick. Dougherty also had an assist in a four-point game. Adding one goal each were Sammy Kishel, Lauren Boylan, Natalie Berndt, Emma Weisel, Riley Schmidt and McKenna Lynch. Berndt also had two assists while Schmidt had one helper. Sammy Kishel also had an assist.
Keller led the Patriots with four caused turnovers and also had one ground ball, and Berndt had a team-high four draw controls. Also contributing were Delfini (2 cto, 1 dc), Dougherty (2 cto, 2 gb, 2 dc), Olivia Samkavitz (2 cto), Sierra Buesing (1 cto), Avery Stephenson (1 cto), Savannah Jagoda (1 cto), Bella DeHaven (1 cto), Kishel (1 gb, 1 dc), Megan Fahey (1 gb), Amanda Ries (2 gb), Schmidt (1 gb) and Wiesel (1 dc).
Central Bucks East (4-3, 1-0 SOL) will host Upper Perkiomen in a non-league game Tuesday.
Central Bucks East 11-4 15
Villa Joseph Marie 3-6 9
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 9, GWYNEDD MERCY 6
The Golden Hawks take a perfect record into an extended break, opening up an 8-1 halftime lead over the visiting Monarchs and going on to win for the seventh time in as many games.
“We played a solid first half, lost our way a bit in the beginning of the second half, possessed the ball the last handful of minutes and pulled off the great W,” South coach Madison Hurwitz said “I’m so proud of the girls.”
Zoe Brossman had three goals and two assists in a five-point game to lead the Hawks. Lizzie Hearn also had a hat trick. Kelly Longmore added a goal and an assist, and Meg Rafter had one goal and, according to Hurwitz, two huge plays to keep the ball on attack with the Monarchs battling back.
The Hawks’ coach also credited midfielders Brossman, Longmore and Hearn.
“They played awesome in the midfield and worked hard on the circle to come up with the draws,” Hurwitz said. “Our defense, led by Karissa Smedley and including Emerson Wackowski, Teagan Shay and Grace Franchini, also played great. (Goalie) Kaya Mallon had 14 incredible saves.”
Council Rock South (7-0, 3-0 SOL) is off until Wednesday, April 19, when the Golden Hawks will host Central Bucks South.
Gwynedd Mercy 1-5 6
Council Rock South 8-1 9
RIDLEY 9, PENNSBURY 7
It was a tale of two halves.
The visiting Falcons took a 6-4 lead into halftime, but they were outscored 5-1 in the second half of Wednesday’s non-league game.
Grace Holmes led the Falcons with a hat trick while Mia Popovich had two goals and one assist. Adding one goal each were Sasha Dobos and Angelina Kenney.
Pennsbury (4-3, 2-0 SOL) will host Central Bucks South next Wednesday.
Pennsbury 6-1 7
Ridley 4-5 9
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