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By Alex Frazier
Thirteen seems to be a significant number for the Central Bucks South girls soccer team.
Forward Ashley McKenna has worn that number since she was two years old, and coach Joe Bocklet wore the number in high school.
Coincidentally, McKenna scored a goal and added an assist Monday to lead the Titans to their 13th win of the season without a loss, a 4-0 victory over host Hatboro-Horsham.
“Thirteen is my lucky number,” said McKenna. “It’s lucky for me, so hopefully for our team it should be.”
On a day when the temperatures hovered near 90, the Titans were also hot.
“They played well and dominated as they should have,” said Bocklet. “We executed on every level of the game and dealt with the heat. All in all, it was a very good effort by the team.”
And with a deep bench, they had no trouble wearing out the Hatters.
“We can rotate in and not drop in talent level,” said Bocklet. “When you can do that, you can wear anybody out.”
Hatboro-Horsham’s bench, in contrast, was thin. The Hatters were depleted by several injuries, including senior defender Laura Hordis, whose season ended with an ACL tear last Friday against North Penn, and senior captain attacker Colleen Eppinger, who sprained her ankle during warm-ups and had to watch from the sideline.
Refusing to use the injuries and the heat as an excuse, coach Ben Winderman was disappointed with his team’s effort.
“We played them a lot better the first time out (a 2-0 loss),” he said. “We showed a lot of immaturity. We had sluggish warm-ups. We just got exposed today by a lot of good players.”
South struck almost before the game began when Julia Goldsworthy collected a deflection of a shot by Kaycee Schaeffer at the left post and blasted the ball into the net with just 39 seconds elapsed.
“We always seem to have someone that can step up in the very beginning and make those quick runs,” said McKenna. “Julia got a quick one in the beginning, and we played well after that and kept it going. We didn’t have any let downs.”
Goldsworthy notched her second goal in the eighth minute.
Melanie Keer took a direct kick from near midfield and Goldsworthy finished it into the right side of the net.
After Hatboro-Horsham keeper Tina Joyce beat Kaycee Schaeffer to one loose ball in the 13th minute, Schaeffer made sure it didn’t happen again. When McKenna’s shot deflected off a defender to her at the left post in the 18th minute, she drilled it into the back of the net for a 3-0 lead.
The Titans switched keepers in the second half with freshman Meghan Kaminski getting her opportunity. Early in the half, she faced a tough test when the Hatters’ Christina Portelli broke in on her one-on-one. She came out and Portelli sent the shot over the crossbar.
“That got us riled up again and we were able to get our heads back in the game the second half,” said McKenna. “She really does great. She steps up. She also made a great save in the Souderton game too.”
Winderman praised the play of several players, including freshman Kellie McGoldrick, who he said is “real responsible and smart,” senior midfielder Janine Parkinson and Portelli, whose near-miss in the second half could have changed the complexion of the game.
“That was our only clean look,” said Winderman, “but at least she created it. She struck it and didn’t get too careful with it. That would have been nice to make it 3-1 at that point. It feels like a different game.”
The Hatters are hoping to make the playoffs, but they have to do well in their remaining games against North Penn, C.B. East and Quakertown to make that a possibility.
“We’re battling up hill against some injuries and youth (four freshmen start),” said Winderman. “It’s only a loss if we don’t learn from it. Overall in the big picture, these experiences will make us better. You can’t get better until you see what’s good and try to mimic it.”
So far the Titans have been able to handle the pressure of being undefeated and being ranked first in the state, too.
“The pressure is there, but we’re calm because we have been practicing hard and we’re just hoping to keep playing our game and continue into the playoffs and farther. That’s what we’re hoping for,” said McKenna. “This year we have a whole new outlook. We’re a lot more positive and are looking forward to the playoffs.”
While No. 13 is Bocklet’s favorite number, he’s hoping that’s not where it stops.
“If that were the case then I’d want lucky 24 if that’s what it takes to get to the state finals,” he said. “At this point the girls are excited to keep the streak alive.”
And that’s looking like a good possibility.
“Right now we’re a well-oiled machine,” he said.
Central Bucks South 4, Hatboro-Horsham 0
Goals: Julia Goldsworthy (CBS) 2, Kaycee Schaeffer (CBS), Ashley McKenna (CBS)
Assists: Melanie Keer (CBS), Ashley McKenna (CBS), Julia Goldsworthy (CBS)
Shots: Central Bucks South 20, Hatboro-Horsham 6
Saves: Sam Wood (CBS) 2, Meghan Kaminski (CBS) 2, Tina Joyce (HH) 4, Kat Layton (HH) 2
Corners: Central Bucks South 9, Hatboro-Horsham 1
Fouls: Central Bucks South 6, Hatboro-Horsham 5
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