Council Rock North clinched the conference crown while Pennridge won a thriller. To view action photos of the CR North/Abington game, please visit the Photo Gallery.
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 18, ABINGTON 5
Molly Doyle had herself a day for Rock North on Thursday, scoring seven goals and contributing a pair of assists. Kara Magley added four goals – including the 200th of a stellar career – as well one assist while Hannah Plappert added four goals and two assists to lead the Indians to a no-doubt-about-it win over their archrivals.
The win clinched sole possession of the National Conference crown for the Indians. It is their third title in as many years.
“We just knew we had to win this game to get leagues,” Doyle said. “Abington is always a tough game. They’re our rivals like (CR) South, so we’re always pumped up for them.
“This game we just knew it was ours to win leagues, and we came out strong right off the bat and put in one after another.”
The Indians sprinted to an 11-2 halftime lead and cruised to the title-clinching win.
“I am very proud of the kids,” co-coach Pat Toner said. “The last time we played them it was a four-goal game, and it’s always kind of a rough game.
“I said to the kids, ‘You have to start embracing the fact that’s the way teams will be playing you.’ I’m most proud of the fact that they didn’t give up. It was close at the beginning, but then we went on a tear. The kids were patient on offense and defense. I’m really proud that we held them to only five goals because they have a pretty high-powered offense.”
Also getting into the scoring column for the Indians were Natalie Maher (two goals, one assist), Erica Green (one goal, one assist) and Tori Lyon (one assist).
The Ghosts were led by the two-goal effort of Allison Rooney. Kelsey Fitzgerald, Jeannie VanBuren and Meredith Cox each had one goal.
Abington goalie Kate Margolis was credited with 11 saves while Taylor Beck had four saves for the Indians, who held a 29-9 advantage in shots.
The Indians are 7-0 in league play (13-2 overall) while the Ghosts fell to 4-3 in the league (5-11 overall).
PENNRIDGE 15, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 14 (OT)
The Lady Rams sprinted to an early 4-1 lead but by halftime found themselves on the short end of an 11-8 score. They trailed the rest of the way until Sarah Wiley connected for the equalizer with 29 seconds remaining in regulation.
“I know our goalie, Danielle Nichols, felt really bad after the first half,” coach Heidi Rimmer said. “It really wasn’t her fault. It was just our defense was struggling a little bit. I don’t know what was happening. They weren’t communicating very well, and they knew it. They just couldn’t get it together, and East has some really good shooters.
“Danielle really pulled it together. The girls saw she was really working hard, so they just started to chip away.”
Wiley, who led the Rams with six goals, is showing a flare for the dramatic. Last week, she scored the game winner against Cheltenham with six seconds remaining.
“Sarah had a terrific game,” Rimmer said. “She and Taylor (Dachowski) are the two captains, and I think they really led by example and just played their hearts out the whole game.”
This time it was Dachowski - who finished with five goals - connecting for the game winner 54 seconds into the first overtime period.
“Once again, they take it down to the wire,” Rimmer said. “They’ve had so many close games. I just think they really decided they were going to dig deep. Every shot they took towards the end of the game was a pretty good shot, pretty dead-on.”
Kelly Lapp and Marissa Glatt led the Patriots with four goals each. Mary Kate Schwartz added the hat trick while Ali Moore had a pair of goals and Sam Axenroth, one goal.
Nichols was credited with 12 saves in goal for the Rams while Madi Steuber had eight saves for the Patriots.
“There were so many close games that they’ve had, so it was really nice for them to come out on top after a lot of times being on the other end of the score,” Rimmer said. “It was really exciting, and it was nice for them.”
The Rams improved to 2-7 in league play (4-10 overall) while the Patriots fell to 0-10 in the league (3-11 overall).
PENNSBURY 10, ARCHBISHOP WOOD 9
Joy Hopkins had another big day for the Falcons, contributing a game-high five goals. Kelsey Gumbert added the hat trick while Jackie Sweeney had two goals and one assist. Alyssa Matthews also had an assist for the Falcons.
Liana Eyre was credited with seven saves in goal for the Falcons in a contest that saw Wood hold a 21-16 advantage in shots.
The Falcons improved to 11-5 overall.
UPPER DUBLIN 18, UPPER MORELAND 3
Kelly Cross, Brooke Callahan and Julie Cross each scored three goals to lead a balanced Upper Dublin attack. Kelly Cross also had five assists while Callahan had one. Taylor D’Ginto had two goals and three assists. Rachel DiFrargia (one assist), Michelle DeVincent (one assist), Kayla Mulin (one assist), Kayla Muller. Rachel Gordon, Shelby Kenny and Erin Russell each added one goal for the Flying Cardinals, who led 13-1 at the intermission.
The Golden Bears received one goal each from Maddie Mauro, Chelsea Mills, Lily Sgro and Brooke Burman.
Upper Dublin goalie Sarah Gallagher had six saves while Upper Moreland’s Kaitlin Taylor had three.
The Flying Cardinals improved to 10-0 in league play (13-1 overall) while the Golden Bears fell to 1-9 in the league (3-12 overall).
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