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FRANCONIA TWP – With time winding down in Wednesday’s Continental Conference showdown against Souderton, Central Bucks South was awarded a corner. The Titans’ insertion pass had barely reached the top of the circle when speedy flier Kirstin Russell was there to break up the play.Trailer Olivia Shoemaker did the rest, clearing the ball out of harm’s way to put the finishing touches on the Indians’ 2-0 win over the Titans.
On the sidelines, Souderton coach Mary Ann Harris, who had just watched her team collect its second shutout in as many games, turned to an assistant and said, “This is the best defense we have ever had.”
The veteran coach wasn’t exaggerating.
For the past two games, the Indians’ defense was pretty close to perfect. After forcing North Penn to settle for a 0-0 tie on Monday, the Indians silenced a dangerous Titan squad that had scored 11 goals in its last four wins - this after scoring 12 in its season opener against Lansdale Catholic.
“Souderton played great defense,” South senior Kate Schneider said after the Indians had handed the Titans their first loss of the season. “They were taking a lot of our passes away – they were getting in front of the ball, and they did a great job intercepting.
“As a team, we just need to work on communication because with communication, you can do whatever you want. Communication is the key to field hockey.”
The Indians seemed to be everywhere – flying to the ball and frustrating the Titans at every turn, and when the Titans did manage a shot, sophomore goalie Morgan Brozena, who had 14 saves in a brilliant effort, was there to make the stop.
“We are just coming out really strong, and all of us are working together,” said standout center back Carly Hughes. “Most of us have been playing with each other for a while, and we’re just working better and better together.
“Morgan is coming out awesome and helping us a lot.”
Both squads played superb field defense in a contest that featured end-to-end action, and it was corner play that proved to be the difference. The Indians drew eight corners and scored on two while the Titans, who had 11 corners, had nothing to show for theirs.
“Their defense was pretty strong and prevented us from getting our shots off on corners or penetrating their circle,” South coach Christina Ford said. “Their defense did a good job getting the ball out.“We have been pretty successful on our corners so far. We’re used to getting multiple shots off and getting real dangerous play down there.”
Instead, it was the Indians who were creating dangerous corner play. They got on the scoreboard on their fourth and final corner of the opening half when Hughes’ shot from the top of the circle deflected off a defender’s stick high into the cage, spotting the Indians a 1-0 lead at the 1:47 mark of the half.
“We have been struggling a little bit on our corners, but today we were just focused a little more,” said Shoemaker, who had the assist on Hughes’ goal. “We switched things up a little bit, and it worked a lot better.”
The Indians drew two quick corners to open the second half but came up empty on both. South drew a corner and after the initial shot was turned away by Brozena, Russell came out of nowhere and – with a one-handed tackle – swiped the ball off the stick of the would-be Titan shooter.
The junior defensive back carried the ball past midfield, and the Indians were back in business while the Titans’ frustration on their offensive corners was just beginning.
“In corners your offense is up almost double the amount of people than the other team,” Schneider said. “When you’re up by that many people, there’s no excuse for not scoring. It’s very key because you’re up numbers.”
The Indians got an insurance goal when – on their third corner of the second half – Alex Atiyeh fired a shot that was turned away by goalie Liz Lewallen, but Shoemaker was on the left post waiting for the rebound, slamming it home.
“These games are so much fun,” said Russell, who was everywhere on defense for the Indians. “It’s just a challenge, and it’s really fun to be able to meet that challenge.
“I think today we were just on our game. We were talking, we know what we had to do, and we went out and executed.”
Down but not out, the Titans did not go down quietly.
“This team never gives up,” Schneider said. “Everyone always gives 110 percent. This team is full of heart and passion, and no one ever gives up, not until the last second.”
The Titans drew seven second-half corners and took nine shots on goal, but the Indians’ defense and Brozena were relentless.
“(Assistant coach) Joan (Moser) said they’re coming together as a unit, and we’re getting big hits out of the defensive end,” Souderton coach Mary Ann Harris said of her defense. “They were a skilled team, but by stepping up, we took a place in the game.”
Brozena – who had a dazzling tackle save late in the opening half – turned away nine second-half shots, several on highlight reel saves.
The sophomore goalie was quick to credit her defense.
“I trust my defense fully because they’re always where I need them to be,” Brozena said. “They always know who to mark, and they get the ball out quickly.
“Going into the season, I wasn’t sure because I was so young, and I hadn’t played much before, but after playing, I started realizing I can do this, and the whole team is really coming together.”
The Indians have a tenuous hold on the Continental Conference’s top spot with a 3-0-1 record (5-0-2 overall) while the Titans fell to 2-1-1 (4-1-1 overall), but this season – and the conference race – are a long, long way from over.
“Their heads aren’t down,” Ford said. “This team will come back fighting even harder. You have to take a lesson from every game and improve on it.
“Every game is going to be a blood battle out there. Every team is very talented. Every team has that mentality they have something to prove, and they want to be the best. That’s a spot every team has to fight for.”
And the fight has only just begun.
SOUDERTON 2, CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 0
Central Bucks South 0 0-0
Souderton 1 1-2
Goals/Assists: Souderton – Olivia Shoemaker 1-1, Carly Hughes 1-0.
Shots: CBS-15, S-12.
Corners: CBS-11, S-8
Saves: Liz Lewallen (CBS) 8, Morgan Brozena (S) 14.
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