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DOYLESTOWN - They had been waiting for this one for a long time.
No one on Central Bucks West’s side of the field had forgotten what it felt like to see their season end last year in a heartbreaking 2-1 overtime loss to Pennsbury in the second round of the District One Class AAA Tournament.
On Wednesday night, the Bucks finally had a chance to avenge that loss.
They were ready.
“In practice, we were talking – if we win this game, then we know we can celebrate,” West senior Deanna DiCroce said.
The Bucks – propelled by the two-goal effort of DiCroce and a near-perfect defensive effort - had every reason to celebrate, turning in an inspired effort and earning an impressive 3-0 non-league win over the Falcons under the lights at War Memorial Field.
“I told them before the game – ‘You guys can get excited about our season after you win this game,” West coach Alison Stone said. “We did get a lot of pressin the Intel (Intelligencer), and I was a little nervous about it.
“I like them to have confidence but not too much. They showed me today they’re ready.”
The Bucks were operating on all cylinders from the outset, and two minutes into the game, DiCroce missed the cage by inches when she one-timed it from the top of the circle. Twenty-four second later, she didn’t miss, connecting for a goal that gave the Bucks an early lead.
“Deanna has become an amazing threat on attack,” Stone said. “She’s aggressive. She plays through every ball, and she’s got great sense for the goal.”
Speaking of speed – Pennsbury’s Jenna Allen has plenty of speed herself, and moments after the Bucks got on the scoreboard, the junior forward found herself on a breakaway, only to be thwarted by the duo of Maura Hennigan and Jessica Ernst. Hennigan, a captain, is a rock in the backfield for West.
“I have so much confidence in our whole defense, especially Maura,” said senior midfielder Amanda Fleischut said. “She used to play midfield and was put back there last year. She’s achieved so much and grew so much.
“I think our whole team – when she gets the ball, it’s like ‘No worries. She’s got it.’”
Teaming in the defensive backfield with Hennigan is junior Erica Ochsenreither.
“Both of them have this real cool composure,” Stone said. “They’re very smooth players, smooth tackles and powerful, and both of them can carry the ball.”
During play on West’s second corner, Jordan Walls – who was on the left post – deflected a pass from teammate Michelle Pieczynski into the cage for a 2-0 lead less than six minutes into the game.
“That gives you so much confidence, and the other team just puts their heads down,” Fleischut said of jumping on top early.
The Bucks – who controlled play - took that 2-0 lead into halftime, and it looked as though they would need both of those goals when the Falcons came out on the attack.
But if trying to get through Hennigan and company wasn’t enough, the Falcons had to contend with the not-so-little matter of trying to get the ball past senior goalie Emily Summers. After a first half of limited activity, Summers (six saves) found herself in the middle of the action on more than a few occasions in the second half.
“With both of them (Summers and Hennigan) back there – I’d be scared to go up against them,” DiCroce said.
A sequence that summed up the Falcons’ frustration came just minutes into the second half when it looked as though they’d finally broken through only to watch West’s Kelly McDevitt deliver a remarkable stop on the goal line.
“She was a forward who was put back on defense this year,” Fleischut said of McDevitt. “Again, she’s definitely filling the shoes.”
Forty seconds later, DiCroce – who was directly in front of the cage – calmly turned a crossing pass from teammate Phoebe DuBell in the right alley into a goal that all but sealed the Falcons’ fate.
Midway through the half, Allen found herself one-on-one with Summers. The senior goalie came up with a dazzling slide tackle, kicking the ball out of harm’s way and keeping the shutout intact.
The win was the second in as many games for the Bucks while the Falcons saw their record drop to 0-2.
“It’s been a tough start, but what’s good is it is a tough start – we still have plenty of the season to go,” said Arndt, whose team also lost to perennial power Mount St. Joseph. “I just hope the girls have faith in themselves and the work we’ve been doing – they have been working hard.
“We only have three returning starters, so we have eight girls that maybe played a few minutes here and there. I have faith in these girls. I just hope that they gain the faith in themselves and realize two losses does not hurt them.
“In the second half when they worked together, they played well. We just didn’t finish, but at that point, we had backed ourselves into a hole.”
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 3, PENNSBURY 0
Pennsbury 0 0-0
Central Bucks West 2 1-3
Goals/Assists: Central Bucks West – Deanna DiCroce 2-0, Jordan Walls 1-0. Michelle Pieczynski 0-1, Phoebe DuBell 0-1.
Shots: P-8, CBW-15.
Corners: P-2, CBW-8.
Saves: Caty Ritchie (P) 11, Emily Summers (CBW) 6
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