Pennsbury, Neshaminy and Council Rock South will be in action in the opening round of the PIAA Class 4A Tournament on Tuesday. Check back for recaps of all three games.
Defense has been a trademark of the Pennsbury girls’ soccer team under coach Kaitlyn Battiste, and if the Falcons’ defense needed a test heading into the PIAA Class 4A State Tournament, they got one in Saturday’s district title game against Spring-Ford.
Granted, there was nothing to suggest that would happen as the Falcons – armed with a 2-0 lead – appeared to be cruising toward a District One 4A title. Until the final 12 minutes when everything changed.
A pair of corner kicks seemed to ignite the Rams, and momentum swung completely in their favor when Kelly Franz scored to make it a one-goal game with 8:11 remaining in regulation.
“They were giving us everything they had,” senior captain Riley Young said after Saturday’s 2-1 win over the Rams. “We were just saying the whole time ‘Everyone on a mark.’ We were up, just pack it in – it was crazy.”
“I got a little tightness in my stomach,” senior goalie Kerry Phillips admitted. “I was like – ‘Could they tie it up? Could they tie it up?’
“I have a lot of trust in my teammates. My defense is just amazing, and our team effort was just incredible as a whole.”
The Falcons’ defense was relentless, and the team’s preparation allowed them to negate a Spring-Ford free kick from 18 yards out with 22.2 seconds remaining. Senior Dani Cady deftly broke up the play the Falcons had seen on tape.
“There is a confidence we have,” Battiste said. “We’re fortunate to have really great seniors who work well together both on and off the field.
“I have the best coaching staff. I love working with them. In the last 30 seconds, they got that free kick, and we were fortunate enough to do our job, have the scouting. We watched it before we left. If we weren’t prepared for that, that could have been overtime. It’s easy to play a little more composed and relaxed when you feel prepared.”
The Falcons have 14 shutouts to their credit this season.
“The key for us was to move as a unit and defend together and also just get the ball wide and just play together as a team,” senior captain Hope Dewes said. “We all know how we play, we have great chemistry.”
While the Falcons might have preferred coasting to the finish line in Saturday’s district title game, the fact that they delivered one final defensive stand when it mattered most made the district crown even more memorable.
“Spring-Ford was digging in with whatever they had and was sending numbers forward. Everybody just had to take some responsibility defensively,” Battiste said. “Hope (Drewes) and Riley (Young) are our senior leaders back there in their communication. My two juniors Taylor (Muller) and Ella (Palmieri) are phenomenal. The two of them recovering all over the field – they had each other’s backs.
“We say a lot about our seniors, but for our juniors, this is their first district final and they brought it. From Owen J Roberts until today – they’ve been the difference for us.”
It took a team effort for the Falcons – ranked eighth in the state – to win their second district title in four years. Anything less would not have been good enough.
“The last minutes were crazy,” Muller said. “When they got that direct kick, I froze. I started screaming, telling everybody to mark up and just get it out.
“When the time hit zero, I was just so relieved, I was so happy that we won. It was just a great feeling. Everybody on defense – we just give our all every game. We work so good together. We communicate, and I think that’s why we’re so effective.”
#1-1 PENNSBURY vs. #3-3 CENTRAL DAUPHIN (at Harry S Truman, 5 p.m.)
Pennsbury
- 19-1-2 overall
- 10-1-1 SOL National, co-champion with Council Rock South
- Third seed in the District One 4A Tournament
- Ranked eighth in the PSCA/Angelo’s Soccer Corner poll
- Senior goalkeeper Kerry Phillips and central defender Hope Drewes anchor the back end, with the defense conceding just seven goals all season.
- Outside midfielders Jenna Peters and Dani Cady excel at challenging defenders and winning corner kicks or putting in crosses for finishes. Senior Lizzy Kirk is a pace-setting center midfielder.
- Junior Christina Cataldo-Smith and sophomores Evie Ciaccia and Gabby Zalot have shown poise and composure in front of goal, scoring a number of game-winning or critical goals.
How they got here: In Saturday’s district final, Pennsbury defeated #9 Spring-Ford 2-1. The Falcons opened up a 2-0 lead on goals by Christina Cataldo-Smith and Jenna Peters and then held off a late Spring-Ford surge.
In a semifinal game, Pennsbury edged #2 Owen J Roberts 2-1, rallying from an early 1-0 deficit on goals from Jenna Peters in the 37th minute and the game winner by Christina Cataldo-Smith in the second half.
In the quarterfinal round, Pennsbury defeated #6 Council Rock South 1-0, thanks to a goal by Jenna Peters in the 65th minute.
In second round action, Pennsbury – which had an opening round bye – edged #14 Downingtown West 1-0. Christina Cataldo Smith scored the game-winning goal.
Central Dauphin
- 18-4 overall
- 9-2 Mid-Penn Commonwealth Division, second to Cumberland Valley
- Second seed in District 3 Tournament
- Attack led by Delaware commit Lauren Currey (33 goals, 10 assists), Sydney Adkins (10 goals, 7 assists) and Claire Owens (9 goals, 9 assists).
- First trip to state playoffs since 2007.
How they got here: In the third place game, Central Dauphin defeated #4 Manheim Township 2-1, thanks to a pair of goals by Lauren Currey in the final 13 minutes that erased a 1-0 deficit
In a district semifinal, Central Dauphin fell to #3 Conestoga Valley 2-0.
In a quarterfinal contest, Central Dauphin defeated #10 Central York 1-0. Claire Owens scored the game’s only goal in the first half.
In an opening round game, Central Dauphin downed #15 Cedar Cliff 5-2. Lauren Currey connected for a hat trick while Cami Karnash and Taylar Luckenbill each scored one goal.
#1-3 NESHAMINY vs. #11-1 PARKLAND at (J. Birney Crum Stadium, Allentown 5pm)
- 8-3-1 SOL National, third place
- 12 Seed in the District One 4A Tournament
- Goalkeeper Riley Spingler backs up a tough defense headed by Nicole Palmer, Genna Obringer and Hannah Stonkus.
- Service specialist Jackie Ziegler leads a midfield unit capable of spreading the ball around, setting up chances and chipping in goals when needed. Michaela Boyd, Brianna Tobin, Emily Tantala and Gina Sexton also see plenty of time in midfield.
- Brooke Mullin and Kristin Curley provide the punch up top, and both can beat defenses in more than one way.
How they got here: In Saturday’s third place game, Neshaminy defeated #2 Owen J. Roberts 3-2. Michaela Boyd scored the game winner in the 74th minute, breaking a 2-2 tie. Boyd had a pair of goals and Jackie Ziegler also scored.
In a semifinal game, Neshaminy fell to #9 Spring-Ford 1-0.
In quarterfinal action, Neshaminy upset #4 Unionville 1-0. Emily Tantala scored the game winner in the 60th minute. Riley Spingler had six saves, which included a stop of a penalty kick.
In a second round game, Neshaminy battled #5 Conestoga to 1-1 tie after double overtime. Deanna Lebotesis (Jackie Ziegler assist) scored in the fifth minute only to watch the Pioneers knot the score late in the first half. The Redskins won 3-0 in penalty kicks. Goalkeeper Riley Spingler recorded seven saves.
In an opening round contest, Neshaminy defeated #21 Strath Haven 4-1. The Redskins, who led 3-1 at halftime, received single goals from Jackie Ziegler, Kristin Curley, Michaela Boyd and Nicole Palmer.
Parkland
- 24-0 overall
- 16-0 East Penn Conference Skyline Division champions
- Defeated Easton 2-1 to captured third straight East Penn Conference crown
- Third consecutive District 11 4A title
- 69 straight wins against District 11 competition
- Top-ranked team in Pennsylvania
- 18 shutouts in 24 games
- Led by Duquesne commit and EPC MVP Brooke Schutter, who recently scored her 100th career goal and holds the program record for career goals.
- Veteran squad includes nine seniors.
How they got here: In the district title game, Parkland edged #6 Emmaus 1-0. Helen Flynn scored off a Jocelyn Flower corner kick with less than five minutes remaining in the second overtime.
In a district semifinal, Parkland rolled to a 4-0 win over #5 Pocono Mountain East. Brooke Schutter scored her 100th career goal and also had a pair of assists. Jenna Leonzi had two goals while Tori Maybruck had one.
In a quarterfinal game, Parkland defeated #8 Freedom 4-0. Brooke Schutter had a pair of goals, and Kat Olenwine and Helen Flynn added one each.
#1-5 COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH vs. #3-1 CONESTOGA VALLEY (at Hamburg High School, 5 p.m.)
Council Rock South
- 18-3-1 overall
- 10-1-1 SOL National, co-champion with Pennsbury
- Six seed in the District One 4A Tournament
- Kiera Flanagan and Julie Rebh pace South's attacking unit. Rebh in particular has had a great season but she and Flanagan often set each other up for scores.
- Sammy Jones leads a dynamic and versatile midfield unit with Paige Mikula always finding herself around the ball. Emma Jones, Jordi Rubkah and Sierra Tarantino have also been involved in plenty of action all over the field.
- Grace O'Kane, Callie Deola, Emily Kavash and Carley Hickey are a stout back line playing front of a strong keeper in Emily Helmich.
How they got here: In a battle for the fifth and final state berth, Council Rock South defeated #4 Unionville 1-0 when Julia Goldberg turned a pass from Allie Jones into the game winner with 12 minutes remaining in the first overtime.
In a playback game, Council Rock South rolled to a 5-0 win over #7 Souderton. Paige Mikula scored a pair of goals, and Julie Rebh, Sierra Tarantino and Keira Flanagan each added a goal.
In the quarterfinal round, Council Rock South fell to #3 Pennsbury 1-0. It was the third meeting between the two teams.
In a second round contest, Council Rock South – which had an opening round bye – edged #11 Central Bucks East 1-0 when Paige Mikula turned an Allie Jones cross into the game winner with 50 seconds remaining.
Conestoga Valley
- 21-2-1 overall
- 10-1-1 Lancaster-Lebanon Section 1 champion
- Lost to Manheim Township 1-0 in Lancaster-Lebanon League title game
- Third seed in the District 3 Tournament
- Attack led by Emma Clapper, who scored a goal in each of the team’s four district games.
- Scored 74 goals – with 21 different goal scorers – while allowing five with 19 shutouts in 24 games.
- Ranked sixth in latest PSCA/Aneglo’s Soccer Corner poll
How they got here: In Saturday’s district title game, Conestoga Valley defeated #9 Governor Mifflin 3-2. Emily Clapper, Alexa Spencer and Adalee Broadabent each scored a goal. All of the game’s goals were scored in the second half.
In a district semifinal, Conestoga Valley defeated #2 Central Dauphin 2-0. Emily Clapper and Emma Weirich each scored a goal in the first half.
In quarterfinal action, Conestoga Valley defeated #6 Ephrata 3-1 with Emily Clapper, Madison Delgado and Gabriella Barone each scoring a goal.
In an opening round game, Conestoga Valley downed #14 Carlisle 4-0, scoring two goals in each half. Emily Clapper scored a pair while Allyson Andrews and Megan Stone both added one goal.
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