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National ConferencePennsbury 9, Neshaminy 3
Pennsbury-Neshaminy is one of the biggest rivalries in the National Conference. Lately the Falcons have had the upper hand, but Thursday’s score wasn’t as lopsided as it might appear.
“It doesn’t matter what the records are,” said Pennsbury coach Jamie Huber. “It’s important to the kids. Neshaminy came out ready to play today.”
Especially sophomore Redskin goalie Austin Marshall, who set a school record 29 saves on 38 shots.
“He was a difference maker,” said Huber.“That was part of our game plan to let them shoot from the outside and pack it in,” said Neshaminy coach Josh Hanlon. “Our goalie saved pretty much everything he could.”
“We kept at them and chipped away,” said Huber. “We knew they were athletic and well-coached, and we were ready for them. It didn’t look like it was that close, but at times it was. They’re a good team and getting things together there.”
Huber said the attack played a key role in the game.
Calvin Hopkins had three goals and two assists, while Andrew Probst scored three goals and one assist.
“Our attack was pretty potent today,” he said. “It was nice to see.”
Evan Caterson was also potent on faceoffs for the Falcons.
“We’re still making fundamental mistakes,” said Hanlon. “Pennsbury is very talented team and they were able to capitalize on a lot of the mistakes that we made. They have a lot of players that are really good in transition. They have smart lacrosse players that are fundamentally sound, and that hurt us.”
Alex McKenzie notched two goals for the Redskins, and Jimmy Roessner added the third. Shane Quinn chipped in two assists.
“Overall we were pleased,” said Hanlon. “We had a good game plan and the guys executed a lot.”
Council Rock North 8, Harry S Truman 6
After Archbishop Wood snapped the Indians’ unbeaten streak last week, Rock North rallied for its first conference win.
“Every kid on the varsity got significant time for us today, and a bunch of our jayvee kids got some good time as well,” said coach Joe Kivlen. “It was a total success for us. Guys got valuable game time.”
Perhaps the Wood loss had a positive effect.
“Our guys weren’t totally prepared mentally to play,” said Kivlen. “They executed and we didn’t. It gives our guys a lesson that they have to play hard every game.”
Rock’s Tyler Shablin (one assist) and Drew Dispirito each chipped in a pair of goals in limited action.
Seeing action for the first time in net, senior backup goalie Bob Gieda stopped 14 shots.
“He did a great job clearing the ball,” said Kivlen. “He’s getting better every year. We had a lot of youngsters in there on defense, and he talked them through a lot. He was a huge asset to us out there.”
Also adding single tallies for the Indians were Chris Gifford (four assists), Bryan Fitzpatrick, Zach Zell and Connor McLaughlin.
The Indians led by 8-2 at the half and pretty much emptied their bench in the second half when Truman came back to make it appear close.
“Truman’s getting good,” said Kivlen. “Every year they’re getting better.”
Continental Conference
Central Bucks West 9, North Penn 1
The Bucks spread the wealth with six different goal scorers and four different players with assists.
Jack Firriolo led West with two goals and an assist, while Matt Adamski chipped in one goal and three assists.
Defender John Kirchner came up with nine ground balls as well as an assist.
“He’s our leader on defense and had a real solid night tonight,” said Coverdale.
Goalie Jack Ross came up with 10 saves on 11 shots on goal.
In the last two games he made 15 out of 16 saves and 12 out of 14 saves.
“He’s putting together a real nice season so far,” said Coverdale.
Senior attackman Dan Kohler scored the Knights’ lone goal.
North Penn is struggling at this point with inexperience, but there is potential.
“They have some good-sized athletes and some decent players on that squad,” said Coverdale. “I don’t know that they have the whole cohesive unit yet, but they are developing and learning as they go.”
West faces a mighty tough road in its next three games against Downingtown West (Saturday), Central Bucks East (Monday) and Hatboro-Horsham (Wednesday).
Wednesday game
Central Bucks East 10, Hatboro-Horsham 7
In an early season matchup between conference contenders on Wednesday, C.B. East got the upper hand. Matt Brodzik paced the Patriots with four goals and two assists, and Warren Kuhn pumped in three goals.
Kevin Sweeney led the Hatters with three goals and one assist. Jake Durkin and Jimmy Murphy added two each.
American Conference
Upper Merion 16, Norristown 4
After a pair of losses last week, the Vikings are getting back on track. Wednesday they nipped Shipley 9-8 in overtime, and Thursday they notched their third conference win to keep pace with Plymouth Whitemarsh.
“We came out and played a little bit sloppy at the beginning but still played relatively well,” said coach Brady McCormick. “We got a lot of things out of the way that we wanted to work on.”
Upper Merion led 14-2 at the half.
Trevor Kupecky led the Vikings with five goals and five assists. Luc Minnich notched a hat trick, while Wes McDowell (assist) and Lorran DaCosta chipped in a pair of goals each.
Other contributors were Roby Boyk (goal, 3 assists), Clay Greenway (goal) and Mike Zadoroga (goal).
In the net, Conor Crowe made 11 saves.
McCormick lauded the play of two Norristown players, coach Jeff Calhoun’s son Sean and Jake Naseef. Calhoun had a goal and an assist and Naseef tallied once. Jake Harris and Christian Angelucci added the Eagles other two goals.
“They’re young but our young is a little bit different than their young,” said McCormick.
Yet he is indebted to Calhoun for the grassroots work he does with younger players.
“I really respect Jeff a lot because he doesn’t have a lot to work with,” said McCormick. “A lot of the guys on our roster, both who have graduated or are currently on our roster, either came (have benefitted from) Jeff. He has contributed to Upper Merion’s success too.”
Wissahickon 7, Upper Merion 6 (2OT)
A vastly improved Upper Moreland squad gave the Trojans all they could ask for.
“We knew they were going to come out to play hard,” said Wissahickon coach Anthony Gabrielle.
He wasn’t disappointed in that regard as the Golden Bears bolted to a 5-2 halftime lead.
“They came out firing on all cylinders,” said Gabrielle. “We got caught off guard.”
But the Trojans cut the deficit on a three-goal third quarter run.
Wissahickon long stick midfielder Dom Marinari dove for a shot going out of bounds to give possession to the Trojans in the second overtime. That play ultimately led to freshman Brooks Melvin’s second goal of the night and the game winner.
“He helped win the game just out of pure hustle,” said Gabrielle.
Tyler Crothers and Brooks Melvin led the Trojans with two goals each. Josh Stollman (assist), Christian McCaffrey (assist) and AJ Andersen scored once each.
“It was a win we needed,” said Gabrielle.
The defending American Conference champs (1-3, 1-1 league) are struggling this year as injuries have depleted four of six returning varsity starters.
“We have six freshmen playing varsity and three or four starting on any given day,” said Gabrielle. “We’re young and we’re learning.”
Ryan Christensen and Talon Blickley paced the Bears with a pair of goals each. Stephen Flemming, Brian Callahan, Dylan Giesler and Brandon Arizini each contributed a goal.
Gabrielle was impressed with the new-look Bears.
“They have a new coach,” he said. “They have a new swagger about them. They were a very different team, much more disciplined than they were in the past.”
“They’re starting to gel,” said UM coach Mike Liberona. “Nobody likes to lose, but when they put out the effort and lose like this, then it’s acceptable.”
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