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NEWTOWN – As the final seconds ticked off the scoreboard clock in Wednesday’s regular season finale against Council Rock South, the reality that their team had won at least a share of the SOL National Conference title began to sink in for members of Council Rock North’s field hockey team.
“The ball was up at the top, and Michelle (Delahanty) and I were both back deep,” senior Sara Clark said. “I just turned around and looked at her, and we both had tears in our eyes.”
“I was tearing up,” teammate Kara Magley added. “I looked at the clock, and I just watched it count down. We have been talking about this for so long.”As the players recounted those magical final seconds of Rock North’s electrifying 1-0 win over its neighboring archrival, the intense emotions resurfaced.
“We knew we had the potential,” Clark said. “At the beginning of the season when we started out a little rough, we kind of lost a little confidence, but this proves to everyone that we’re capable of coming back.”
The win was the 11th straight for the streaking Indians, and anything less would not have been enough to earn a share of the title with Pennsbury, which - thanks to its 3-0 win over Neshaminy – captured a share of its first conference crown since 1992.
“Two years ago when we were sophomores, we saw that year’s team go really far, and we’re like that now,” Delahanty said. “We won the league. It’s the greatest thing ever.”
“Especially as seniors,” Clark added. “We have been working so hard all four years. I can’t find words to describe it."
The Indians won because they own a defense that is relentless and fought off one Golden Hawk attempt after another during a first half dominated by Rock South. The Golden Hawks – who saw all four of their shots turned away by goalie Amanda Krause – have grown accustomed to cashing in on their opportunities.
“I was looking at our stats, and this was only the third game that we didn’t score first,” Rock South coach Lisa Defeo said. “We scored first every game, and I think we lost some momentum.
“I was very pleased with the way we played. I thought we had an eight-minute breakdown, but overall, I thought we played hard. I’m very proud of them.”
The difference in the game was the stretch early in the second half that saw the Indians generate their first offensive pressure of the game, and they made it count, capitalizing on their second corner of the half when Becky Ely deflected a shot by Devin Everett into the cage at the 22:03 mark.
“I can hardly remember it,” Everett said, admitting the play was not designed to come to her. “I usually bobble it because I get really nervous when I get the ball, but I got it and hit it, and Becky Ely tapped it in. “We were so nervous at the beginning of the game, and beating South for the league championship – it was the best way we could have won it.”
Although the Indians had the better of play in the second half, they needed a goal-line stop by midfielder Rebecca Houser to prevent a sure goal during a corner midway through the half.
“That was an amazing save,” Whalin said.
Houser’s big stop came during on Rock South’s second and final corner of the half.
“The big thing is – I have missed things before on the field, and it’s because I’m thinking about it and saying, ‘Oh, I need to get this,’ instead of just playing,” Houser said. “Really I think the key was I didn’t think about it, I just did it.”
So what changed after halftime for the Indians?
“At halftime, our coach really got on our backs, and we knew we had to play better, and we knew we had to step up if we wanted to win it,” Clark said. “We knew there was a lot at stake.
“Between our coaches and our own personal motivation, we really managed to pick it up. Of course, Devin Everett’s goal really pushed us over the top and got our momentum going for the rest of the game.”
The Golden Hawks tried to mount some late pressure, but when senior Elly Plappert stopped cold a free Rock South hit just outside the Indians’ defensive circle with 30 seconds remaining and drove it up the field, a Rock North win – and title – was ensured.
“It’s really scary,” Plappert said of the game’s final moments. “You’re thinking, ‘This is not going to happen. No overtime. We don’t do well in overtime.’
“You want to hit the ball out of bounds and make them run and get it. I think I looked at the clock in the last three minutes at least seven times.”
The shutout was the eighth of the season for the Indians and their seventh in their last nine games. Rock North’s defensive unit – comprised of Rowland, Clark, Delahanty and Magley as well as goalie Krause – has allowed just four goals during its 11-game winning streak. “We all play together really well,” Delahanty said. “We step up, and we want to work for each other.
“Everybody is doing a really good job of recovering and helping each other.”
It took some time for the defense to become a cohesive unit. After all, only Clark was a natural defender. Delahanty had played forward her entire career while Magley and Rowland played midfield last year.
“I cannot tell you how tough they are,” Whalin said. “They have shut out so many people, and if you’re going to keep your goals down like we have and you can put one or two in, you’re going to win the game.
“They talk to each other, they’re best friends, and they work so hard together. I cannot tell you how much that defense has been the difference this season. Yes, we’re scoring goals, but we’re keeping them out of the cage, and (goalie) Amanda (Krause) has been playing phenomenal. I am just so proud of the way that they stepped up today.”
While the Golden Hawks fell to 9-5, the Indians improved to 11-2-1 in league play (13-4-1 overall).
“Going into the preseason we had so many great seniors, so many great players, but we didn’t do so well, and we didn’t know what to do,” Plappert said. “Now, all of our work has paid off. I don’t even know what to say – I’m so happy right now.”
“It feels great,” Houser said. “To have come out at first struggling a little bit and then to have made it this far – after our tough losses, we weren’t sure we could make it, but when we started gaining momentum, we started believing in ourselves.”
“It feels amazing,” Ely added. “We worked so hard.
“We have awesome seniors this year, and they’re so strong. They really brought us here.”
NOTES: There was a frightening moment late in the second half when Rowland went down after suffering a laceration above her left eye. “I don’t remember if it was the ball or the stick,” said Rowland. “Once it stopped bleeding and got bandaged, I wanted to go back in.” The senior defensive back re-entered the game with a bandage wrapped around her head and wearing #29 since her #2 jersey was bloody…Whalin tipped her hat to Rock South’s first-year coach. “Lisa (Defeo) does an amazing job with them, and Pat (Toner) was there before,” the Indians’ coach said. “You knew they were going to know how to play, and they looked fantastic in the first half.”
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 1, COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 0
Council Rock South 0 0-0
Council Rock North 0 1-1
Goals/Assists: CR North – Becky Ely 1-0, Devin Everett 0-1.
Shots: CRS-6, CRN-6.
Corners: CRS- 6, CRN-6.
Saves: Ashley Hart (CRS) 4, Amanda Krausse (CRN) 5.
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