Check out the results for SOL girls’ lacrosse teams in action Monday.
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 16, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 6
Janique Craig refused to begin celebrating just yet.
Even though – thanks to Monday’s convincing win – the Titans won a share of the conference title with just one game remaining on their schedule.
“One game at a time, never underestimate a team,” the Titans’ coach said. “As you see with all the scores, every game has been competitive. Our league is very strong.
“We knew CB East was going to come out here and give us a tough game, and they definitely did in the first couple of minutes. Once we started getting the draw control, that’s when we stepped it up.”
While Craig wasn’t ready to celebrate, her players were.
“To have that title SOL champs and to know we contributed to (a banner) in the gym is just such a great feeling,” senior co-captain Courtney Dietzel said. “Not everyone can say that.
“This is such a big year for us,” Courtney Taylor added. “I think this is our year.”
Monday’s game pretty much belonged to the Titans after a strong start by the Patriots, who won the first seven draws. The Titans got on the scoreboard first when Krysta Reading – after a hustle play – was awarded the loose ball and immediately found Kristen Berntsen near the crease for a goal.
The Patriots responded with back-to-back goals by Riley Donnelly and Maggie Vetter to go on top 2-1. Three straight goals by the Titans – including back-to-back goals by Tori Wigand – put the Titans on top 4-2 and prompted East coach Kelly White to call a timeout.
East won the ensuing draw, and a goal by Katelyn Stout pulled the Patriots to within one. South was awarded the ball on the draw, and the Titans capitalized when Kasey Dietzel found Courtney Taylor for the score. Courtney Dietzel (Kasey Dietzel assist) connected for a goal that put the Titans on top 6-3. When Wigand (Reading assist) scored with 3.7 seconds on the scoreboard clock, the Titans went into halftime with a 7-3 lead.
“When we got the draw control, we got possession, we settled and we scored,” Wigand said. “That was the most important thing.”
The tide turned after the Titans made a simple adjustment on the draws.
“We moved Kasey (Dietzel) behind the (restraining) line and Krysta Reading up, and I think that threw them off a little,” Taylor added. “After that, we started winning them.”
Berntsen found Taylor for a goal to open the second half, and a Taylor goal was followed by another all-Dietzel goal – this one by Courtney with a pass from Kasey – that gave the Titans a 10-3 lead eight minutes into the second half.
East’s Katelin Cahill broke the Titans’ 6-0 run, and it was a 10-5 game when Mel Burian turned a Donnelly pass into a goal. It was still a five-goal game after Stout connected for her second goal (11-6), but the Titans reeled off five unanswered goals to close it out.
“I don’t think we showed up ready to play 50 minutes today,” East coach Kelly White said. “We were very flat, and the end result when you come out flat against a talented team – you’re going to get yourself in a hole, and you’re not going to be able to come out of that.
“We were not moving off ball offensively to create that space. Their defense packs it in pretty beautifully in the eight and kind of stops those 1v1 challenges. If we’re not moving the defense to create the space, we’re not going to get the scoring opportunities, and we did not do that.”
Wigand and Berntsen led the Titans with four goals each while Courtney Dietzel and Courtney Taylor both added three goals. Dietzel also chipped in an assist. Kasey Dietzel contributed two goals and three assists, and Reading had four assists.
Emily Damico led the defense with four caused turnovers. Kasey Dietzel had five draw controls, and Reading added three draw controls.
For the Patriots, Stout had a pair of goals while Donnelly added a goal and an assist. Vetter, Cahill and Mel Burian each had one goal.
South goalie Erin Putnam was credited with 10 saves while East goalie Lauren Maurer recorded eight.
Central Bucks South (13-1, 9-0 SOL) will host Neshaminy on Thursday afternoon to close out its regular season, and Central Bucks East (8-8, 4-6) will travel to Hatboro-Horsham on Wednesday for its SOL finale. The Patriots will host Kennett in a non-league game on Friday.
Central Bucks South 7-9 16
Central Bucks East 3-3 6
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 9, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 8 (OT)
In the day’s most dramatic contest, it was the visiting Colonials using a goal by sophomore Ali Diamond to eke out a thrilling overtime non-league win in a classic SOL battle.
“In overtime, CB West had a great opportunity, but (we) came up with a turnover and Ali Diamond scored the winning goal,” PW coach Ellen Reilly said.
Both coaches described the game as a back and forth affair that either team could have won.
“I think both teams showed a lot of heart,” West coach Tara Schmucker said. “PW did a nice job of sending and seeing cutters all game.”
Nobody did a better job of seeing the cutters than Rutgers-bound Monica Dresnin, who assisted on five of PW’s goals. Sophie Kolkka led the Colonials with four goals – three in the first half – while Victoria Betterly and Diamond had two each. Maddie Berman connected for a single goal.
“We did a better job of shutting down Kolkka in the second half, but we did not implement enough pressure on Dresnin, and we let her see too many looks,” Schmucker said. “We had some issues with turnovers, especially in the beginning, but once the girls started possessing and moving off the ball, they had some great looks.”
The Bucks took a 4-3 lead into halftime, but that one-goal lead was anything but secure.
“The score went back and forth,” Reilly said. “In the second half, CB West had a two-goal lead, but (we) fought back to tie and then take the lead.
“It went back and forth with each team having opportunities. CB West tied it up with a little over a minute left.”
It was Maddie Maio knotting the scoring with 1:33 remaining in regulation. Casey Reichwein had the assist.
“PW did get a last shot but Lauren (Devlin) saved it with 10 seconds left,” Schmucker said. “She came up huge this evening.”
Possession is everything in sudden death overtime, and it was the Bucks winning the draw. They couldn’t convert it into a goal, and Diamond won it for PW.
“Casey Reichwein got the draw control, and we had some opportunities but we simply couldn’t finish,” Schmucker said. “I know our team is disappointed, but we are still young, and it’s important that we keep our heads up, learn from this game and use it to help us in the playoffs.”
Bryn Boylan led the Bucks with four goals and two assists, but that wasn’t all.
“Bryn had another stellar performance all over the field with eight ground balls, three caused turnovers and six draw controls in addition to her attacking stats,” Schmucker said.
Also for the Bucks, Finley Ueland had two goals while Maio and Reichwein each had one. Dani Dundas had an assist.
PW goal Meghan Ely had six saves in the win while Devlin had eight.
“Both goalies came up with crucial saves,” Reilly said.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (14-2, 8-0 SOL) will host Upper Merion on Tuesday, and Central Bucks West (12-5, 8-1) will close out its regular season at Neshaminy on Wednesday.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 3-5-1 9
Central Bucks West 4-4-0 8
SOUDERTON 16, UPPER DUBLIN 10
The Indians took a tenuous 5-4 lead into halftime of Monday’s non-league game against the visiting Flying Cardinals. Their offense seized control in the second half, outscoring the Cards 11-6.
Leading the charge for the Indians were a trio of underclassmen. Sophomore Carlie Doughty had a breakout offensive performance with five goals and two assists to go along with three draw controls. Sophomore Sarah Goodwin had a coming out party of her own, playing a role in seven goals – scoring four and assisting on three others. She also was dominant in the circle with a game-high seven draw controls. Freshman Riley McGowan added four goals as the young Indians gave fans a glimpse of the future.
Senior Leah Goodwin had one goal and three assists while freshman Megan Walbrandt added one goal, one assist and three draw controls. Senior Krista Schneider contributed a single goal.
Defenders Julianna Ofalt and Katie Wittig both had one caused turnover and one draw control.
For the Cardinals, Caroline Wall finished with the hat trick to go along with one caused turnover, one ground ball and one draw control. Hannah Reape and Lindsey Schrieber both added a pair of goals. Reape also had two assists, one caused turnover and two ground balls, and Schreiber added one assist and three draw controls.
Contributing one goal each for the Cardinals were Jess Grodsky (two ground balls, three draw controls), Maddie Templeton (one caused turnover, one ground ball) and Nancy DeCamara (one draw control). Also contributing for UD were Jess Derr (two caused turnovers, two ground balls) and Becky Browndorf (one caused turnover, two ground balls, one draw control).
Senior goalie Hannah Schmidt was credited 10 saves in the win for the Indians. UD goalie Sarah Herchenroder recorded nine saves and also was credited with two ground balls.
Souderton (8-8, 6-2 SOL) will host North Penn on Wednesday night, and Upper Dublin (9-7, 5-3) will be on the road at Norristown on Tuesday.
Upper Dublin 4-6 10
Souderton 5-11 16
PENNSBURY 18, UPPER MORELAND 10
The Falcons and Golden Bears were knotted at seven at halftime, but the Falcons owned the second half, outscoring their visitors 11-3 to win going away. The win was the fifth in the last seven games for Pennsbury.
"In the second half, the girls just fought hard," coach Christie Cooper said. "They won 50/50 balls and went to the cage with force.
"The defense came up with some great turnovers, and the offense capitalized. Sarah Benzinger took charge, and everyone caught her fire. It was a great team effort in the second half."
Benzinger led the suddenly streaking Falcons with six goals while Lily Nolan added four goals and one assist. Missy Frankil finished with a hat trick to go along with one assist while Annie Price and Brooke Weaver both had two goals and one assist. Camille Mumford had a single goal to round out the scoring for the Falcons.
Amanda Kenrick was credited with three saves in goal for the Falcons.
For the Golden Bears, Delaney Smith and Sydney Bachmayer had four goals each. Allison Felicetti added two more. Bachmayer also had five draw controls.
Pennsbury (5-9, 3-6 SOL) will host Council Rock North on Tuesday in its Senior Night contest, and Upper Moreland (7-8, 3-4) will host Hatboro-Horsham on Tuesday.
Upper Moreland 7-3 10
Pennsbury 7-11 18
UPPER MERION 14, NORRISTOWN 1
Anna Davis had a big game for the Vikings – scoring three goals and assisting on five others. Quinn O’Malley had three goals and two assists while Haley O’Malley added three goals and one assist. Contributing one goal each were Francesca Lindelow, Camille Martorella, Allison Shuster, Riley O’Malley and Andrea Davis.
Kelly Burns, Molly Weygand and Anna Davis each had an interception for the Vikings, who led 9-1 at halftime and never looked back.
Upper Merion (8-7, 4-3 SOL) will be on the road at Plymouth Whitemarsh on Tuesday.
Norristown 1-0 1
Upper Merion 9-5 14
SPRINGFIELD 13, JENKINTOWN 8
Ellie Hamilton and Lindsey Smith both connected for the hat trick to lead a balanced Spartan attack in Monday’s non-league contest. Smith also had three ground balls and five draw controls while Hamilton dished out three assists. Emily Walsh added two goals, one ground ball and three draw controls while Allison Yoder and Marley Berger both had two goals and one ground ball. Meg Chandler added one goal and one draw control.
Gracie Woron had a team-high four ground balls to go along with one draw control, and Fiona Tran added three ground balls. Emily Giampietro had one ground ball and three draw controls. Jameson Krewson had one ground ball.
Springfield goalie Margrethe Leis recorded six saves.
Springfield (4-8, 1-6 SOL) will host Cheltenham on Wednesday.
POTTSGROVE 18, QUAKERTOWN 16
DOWNINGTOWN EAST 18, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 4
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