Five members of Central Bucks South’s league and district championship field hockey squad also captured gold at the 2012 National Hockey Festival.
By Mary Jane Souder
It’s been quite a fall for several members of Central Bucks South’s field hockey squad. Not only were Amber Steigerwalt, Megan Hamilton, Mackenzie Harding, Jessica Schmidt and Corrine Kenney members of the Titans’ SOL Continental Conference and District One AAAA championship squad, they also were key contributors on a True North club squad that captured first place in its U19 pool at the 2012 National Hockey Festival in West Palm Beach, Fla., over Thanksgiving break.
“I think my favorite part is just seeing the team come together,” Harding said. “Some of the girls were on my high school team, and I have played with others in years past.
“We had a few new players this year, and it was just really fun. By the last game, I really thought we all came together, and even by the second game, you could see the chemistry happening.”
In addition to boasting nine players from Pennsylvania and one from Maryland, True North’s roster included three players from Canada.
“The Canadian girls were able to come down for a couple of scrimmages at Lafayette College, so there really wasn’t that much practicing together,” Harding said. “When we did practice, it was nice to see it come together.
“We played with Dani (Aviani) last year, but there were two new girls – Rachel (Kho) and Ellie (Cookson), and they were great. It was so much fun meeting them. Since they’re from Canada, none of us would have had this opportunity, so it was good.”
The team celebrated Thanksgiving by having dinner together at their hotel.
“It’s a great experience to be with your team,” Kenney said. “It’s fun, and you get to bond with your team. Especially on Thanksgiving when you’re away from your family, it’s good to be with your team.”
True North rolled to a perfect 6-0 record in Pool N, outscoring its opponents 22-2. Its toughest challenge came in a 1-0 win over State College.
“I love winning as a team and knowing you’re doing well and just growing together,” Kenney said. “This is one of the tournaments that a lot of college coaches come to and evaluate all the players.”
“We played really well,” Harding said. “Going back to where we were staying and hanging out, it was just really good. We came together really nicely.”
This year’s tournament attracted more than 200 teams and more than 3,500 athletes from around the world. The games were played at the International Polo Club in West Palm Beach.
For Kenney, this was her second year of competing in the National Tournament while Harding was at her third.
“The first one was in California, which was beautiful, and then Arizona was equally nice and now Florida, which was a little bit closer,” Harding said. “Every time they do a really great job. The fields are always top notch. They set everything up really nicely, and it’s just a great experience in my opinion.”
The championship was the second consecutive for True North Hockey Club, which is coached by CB South coach Jeff Harding.
Another team that captured gold at the 2012 National Hockey Festival was the Mystx Fierce U16 squad. The squad also compiled a perfect 6-0 record in Pool V and outscored its opponents by a dazzling 28-1 margin. SOL players on the squad were Jenna Cutilli (Hatboro-Horsham), Shannon Talbot (North Penn), Elizabeth Sharp (Pennsbury), Theresa Delahanty (Council Rock North), Casey Swezey (Hatboro-Horsham), Amanda Blum (Neshaminy), Kari Moyer (Pennridge), Meghan McDermott (Souderton), Amrit Ahluwalia (Council Rock North), Emily Braunewell (Hatboro-Horsham) and Emma Rosenthal (Central Bucks East). Hatboro-Horsham coach Laura Swezey was the coach of the high successful squad while Duncan Swezey served as her assistant.
Council Rock North coach Heather Whalin’s Mystx Storm U19 squad – which finished third in its pool - also had a roster loaded with SOL players. The team included Annie Kopera (Neshaminy), Colby Eldridge (Hatboro-Horsham), Madison Gouza (Council Rock North), Alexis Carroll (Council Rock South), Jen Harchut (Upper Dublin), Gabby Tofig (Council Rock North), Carlie Baldus (Hatboro-Horsham), Kristin Donohue (Council Rock South), Marissa Glatt (Central Bucks East), Ginny Moore (Central Bucks West), Kelly Schlupp (Council Rock South) and Sam Grzegorczyk (Central Bucks East).
The FSC Falcons field hockey club team finished second in their pool at the 2012 National Hockey Festival in West Palm Beach, Fla., over Thanksgiving break. The entire team was comprised entirely of SOL athletes, including Robyn Barbell (Hatboro-Horsham), Brianna DeAngelis (Central Bucks West), Alexa Gable (North Penn), Melissa Herd (Pennridge), Kimberly Hitchcock (Central Bucks West), Michelle Holweger (North Penn), Samantha Huttick (William Tennent), Chessa Kownurko (North Penn), Marshall Addison (Pennridge), Emily Ofsa (Central Bucks East), Madison Reiss (Pennridge), Stacie Rocco (Wissahickon), Madison Shields (Central Bucks West), Madeline Steuber (Central Bucks East), Kate Varallo (Central Bucks West) and Stephanie Thompson (Quakertown). The FSC Falcons finished second in Pool R to the Spirit of USA North, extending the pool champions to the limit before falling 2-1 on a penalty stroke at the buzzer. The team was coach by a pair of Division One assistant field hockey coaches – Kelly Driscoll from Temple University and Chelsea Cipriani from St. Joseph’s University.
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