QUAKERTOWN 4, PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 0
Emma McLaughlin scored a pair of first-half goals, spotting the Panthers a 2-0 halftime lead on their way to the decisive win in Friday’s season opener. The win was at least a temporary respite for a team that has endured a preseason of distractions.
“It was basically the only thing on our minds,” said senior Hillary Scott of the win. “We’ve had a lot going on obviously, and we just wanted to prove to everyone that we do take it serious.
“We deserve this win. We’ve worked so hard – all of us have been making our times in running, some of us play outside of school with club, and we just really want to make Quakertown a name to remember this year.”
McLaughlin scored both of her first half goals during corner play, both with assists from teammate Megan Thompson.
“She’s a super consistent, focused player,” coach Peach Draper said of McLaughlin. “I’m always going to get the best from her. She doesn’t have bad games.
“Even if something’s not clicking with us, she’s still always on the game plan. She’s just very consistent.”
McLaughlin’s first goal came just over four minutes into the game and her second with 2:41 remaining in the half.
“It takes off quite a bit (of pressure),” Scott said of scoring early. “It usually shuts the other team down, and they start to panic, and they make mistakes, so we just need to stay calm. We believe in each other, and we know we all have the ability to keep scoring and winning as long as we play together.”
The Panthers put an exclamation point on the win with a pair of late goals. Scott beat the goalie who came out to challenge her with 2:28 remaining, and junior Becky Gerhart slammed one home from the top of the circle for the 4-0.
“We’ve been working on maintaining possession,” Draper said. “I think they did a really nice job of doing their give-and-go passes and maintaining possession of the ball.
“When we did hit the ball into the circle, we took a lot of shots, and when you have a lot of chances, it creates opportunities to score.”
As for getting a win in their home opener, Draper acknowledged that was significant.
“To build that confidence on the first win is huge,” the Panthers’ coach said. “This will give us confidence going into CB West and into our league.
“Last year we fell short 2-1 (to PW), and it’s just such a great feeling to have that confidence in the beginning of the season, and scoring four goals was a little icing on the cake.”
The Panthers held an advantage in shots (14-4) and corners (14-10). Panther goalie Rylee Lawler was credited with five saves in the shutout.
“We all have very high hopes and expectations,” Scott said. “We all know we can do it this year.”
PW coach Marianne Paparone lauded the strong performance of midfielder Allison Spinelli. PW goalie Tori Byrne was credited with eight saves.
“We seemed to have a tough time playing on grass and are a bit spoiled by playing on turf and had a tough time adjusting,” Paparone said. “We gave up too much defensively (shots and corners) and didn’t finish on the offensive end. Quakertown was a step quicker and more aggressive than we were.”
Plymouth Whitemarsh 0-0 0
Quakertown 2-2 4
SOUDERTON 2, UPPER PERKIOMEN 1
Last year, Souderton took a 5-0 beating at the hands of an Upper Perk team that went on to win the District One AA title. It marked the beginning of a difficult season that saw the Indians win just one game.
On Friday, the Indians showed signs of making a serious turnaround with their win over the Tribe.
“We needed this,” coach Lauren Whiteside said. “We needed this real bad. This win was so important to our program after the season we had last year.
“A majority of our varsity team is returning from last year, and every single girl on the team is ready for a change.”
There were early signs that things were going to be different this time around when Tara Maloney (Erin Saybolt assist) scored at the 22:05 mark of the first half. Four minutes later, Nina Disco connected, using a Gabby Sedares assist to put the Indians on top 2-0.
Upper Perk got on the scoreboard when Michaela Swenk (Liz Fox assist) scored with just under 10 minutes to play in the opening half, trimming the Indians lead to 2-1 at the intermission.
“When we scored the first goal, you could just feel the excitement, and then four minutes later we scored again,” Whiteside said. “We let Upper Perk come back and score a goal, but we didn’t let that phase us.
“Last year, that may have been our defeat, but this year’s team is different. The girls are clicking and trusting in each other, and it shows.”
The Indians held an advantage in shots (17-13) and corners (11-9). Whiteside acknowledged the strong showings of several players.
“Erin Saybolt played a great game today,” the Indians’ coach said. “Her stick skills have come a long way, and she was able to carry the ball down the field to goal.
“Nina Disco also had a great game, scoring and putting pressure on the Upper Perk defense. In cage, Shelby Landes was a rock. She kept us alive when Upper Perk had several corners in a row and did a great job communicating with the defense.”
Landes was credited with seven shots in a winning effort in goal. UP’s Hannah Mack had eight saves.
Souderton 2-0 2
Upper Perkiomen 1-0 1
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 3, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 1
Caroline McGovern scored a pair of goals to lead the defending National Conference champions to the non-league win Friday. It was McGovern connecting on a corner with 6:01 remaining in the opening half, turning a pass from Katie Bagdon into a goal that sent the Golden Hawks into halftime with a 1-0 lead.
Jackie Shragher scored on the rebound off the goalie of her own shot during corner play to give the Golden Hawks a 2-0 advantage, and McGovern made it a 3-0 game, using a Shragher assist on a corner. The Patriots averted a shutout when Abby Butler connected on a corner with 1:26 remaining in the contest.
“Jackie Shragher had a great game,” coach Lisa Belz said. “Not only did she step up to the ball well and help transition the ball from the defensive end to the offensive end, but she also scored a goal on a corner.
“Caroline McGovern had a beautiful lifted goal in the first half which gave us some momentum going into the second half.”
All four of the game’s goals were scored during corner play on a day that saw South hold an 8-7 edge in shots.
Central Bucks East goalie Betty Wesney (three saves) and Rock South’s Anna Sternberg (five saves) combined to stop eight shots.
Central Bucks East 0-1 1
Council Rock South 1-2 3
UPPER MERION 4, POTTSTOWN 2
Sophea Stewart scored a pair of goals and assisted on another to lead the Vikings to a win in Friday’s opener. The senior center forward returned to the team after opting to step away from hockey last year.
“It’s definitely a big help that she decided to return,” coach Angie Yanocha said. “She’s fast, she’s quick, and she comes back and gets the ball. She had her stick down in the circle, and she was at the right place at the right time.”
The Vikings scored a pair of goals in the opening eight minutes of the game. Stewart scored at the 26:20 mark and then it was Danielle Antonucci connecting four minutes later, using a Stewart assist. Pottstown cut that lead in half with a goal at the 3:54 mark.
That 2-1 lead held until just under 11 minutes remained in the second half when Kaitlyn Lutz connected on an insurance goal. The Trojans trimmed that lead to one with a goal, but Stewart capped a big day with a goal at the 1:11 mark.
“We were in control in the first half,” Yanocha said. “You could tell in the second half we started to get a little bit tired and just a tad bit sloppy. I attribute that to them being tired, but I don’t feel we ever lost control of the game. Of course, when you have a 2-1 score, you want that insurance goal. At halftime, that was sort of my focus – that we needed to take advantage and get another goal.
“The girls really played well as a team. They worked together – good communication, good team support, and that’s what contributed overall to the success. My team this year is really positive, and I think that is very helpful. They’re very supportive and very positive with each other, and I think that goes a long way.”
Goalie Devyn Antonucci was credited with four saves.
Pottstown 1-1 2
Upper Merion 2-2 4
ABINGTON 4, CHELTENHAM 2
The Ghosts withstood a second half comeback attempt by the Lady Panthers, who rallied from a 3-0 deficit to make it a one-goal game, to earn the non-league win in Friday’s annual battle of neighboring rivals.
Rebecca Markham put the Ghosts on the scoreboard just eight minutes into the first half, using an assist from sophomore Sam McGee. Markham scored an unassisted goal eight minutes later, and that 2-0 lead stood until the intermission.
McGee gave the Ghosts a 3-0 lead at the 21:38 mark of the second half when she scored an unassisted goal. The Lady Panthers got on the scoreboard two minutes later when Munashe Holloman connected. Another Holloman goal made things real interesting as the Lady Panthers trailed by just one (3-2). Assisting on Hollman's goals were Anne McGoldrick and Madison Gianelle.
The Ghosts responded with a goal from senior Maeve Hughes (Jess Moretti assist), and that 4-2 score held until the final whistle.
Abington goalie Alyssa Herman earned her first win of the season with four saves. Cheltenham goalie Tegan Dooley was credited with nine saves.
Coach Amanda Deering credited several players in Friday’s winning effort.
“Evangeline Wang did a great job transitioning the ball from defense to offense, setting up both of Markham’s goals,” the Ghosts’ coach said. “Courtney Klug also contributed towards the offensive success and key interceptions that led to the Ghosts’ success.”
Abington 2-2 4
Cheltenham 0-2 2
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 9, WILLIAM TENNENT 0
Senior Kim Hitchcock scored the first four goals of the game – all unassisted, and by halftime, the Bucks led 5-0 on their way to the lopsided win.
“She made two to three people miss after receiving great passing sequences,” coach Courtney Hughes said of her senior standout.
Cadera Smith scored the game’s fifth goal, also unassisted when she was on the receiving end of a breakaway pass. Bryn Boylan and Danielle Dundas scored back-to-back goals to open the second half, and Taylor Mason closed out the scoring with a pair of goals during scrambles in front of the cage.
William Tennent 0-0 0
Central Bucks West 5-4 9
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 6, WISSAHICKON 0
Amrit Ahluwalia scored less than three minutes into the game on corner play, and three minutes later, Jennica Jonovich scored an unassisted goal. That 2-0 lead stood until halftime.
The Indians, who held a lopsided advantage in shots (36-5) and corners (15-3), blew the game wide open with four goals in the second half.
“The first half we didn’t play very well,” coach Heather Whalin said. “We scored the two goals, and then we kind of said, ‘Okay, we scored two goals,’ and they let up.
“At halftime, I made some adjustments, and our team picked it up a lot. The past two years we went into overtime with them, and we didn’t want to do that today.”
Ahluwalia finished the day with two goals and two assists to lead the Indians.
“Amrit has turned it on this year,” Whalin said. “She definitely helps carry the team when we got a little shaky.
“She’s playing center back, and she just has a new confidence about her. She doesn’t get a lot of recognition, and this year she’s just a different player. I think after committing to Dartmouth, she raised her game a lot.”
Jonovich added a pair of goals, and Anna Lehman and Theresa Delahanty each added single goals. For Delahanty, it was her first varsity goal.
Whalin also acknowledged the performance of Gigi Tutoni, who has moved to center mid.
“She just controlled the game there,” the Indians’ coach said. “She’s doing a really nice job. I know she’s used to scoring a bunch because she would come from the left side, but I’ve given her a more important role along with Theresa Delehanty. They’re playing attacking mid and defending mid, and they’re doing a really nice job together. It doesn’t hurt that they’re best friends.”
Council Rock North 2-4 6
Wissahickon 0-0 0
NESHAMINY 5, SPRING-FORD 0
Abby Alexis had a hand four goals in Friday’s opener, scoring a pair and assisting on two others.
In the opening half, Maria Palmieri (Alexis assist) scored on a corner, and then it was Alexis turning an Emily Curran assist into a goal and a 2-0 lead at the intermission.
Christen Pennington opened the scoring in the second half, using an assist from Alexis. Another Pennington goal, this one with an Amanda Blum assist, put the Redskins on top 4-0. Alexis put the finishing touches on a big day with a goal, using a Pennington assist for the 5-0 final.
Neshaminy 2-3 0
Spring-Ford 0-0 0
METHACTON 3, NORTH PENN 1
The Warriors used a goal by Olivia Hoover (Brittany Dickinson) to open up a 1-0 lead midway through the first half. That lead held until the intermission. An unassisted goal by Madeline Alderfer less than a minute into the second half put the Warriors on top 2-0.
Amanda Lashkevich turned a Casey O’Donnell pass into a goal with 10:45 remaining to make it a 2-1 game, but Sara Sterchak connected on an unassisted goal with 2:59 remaining for the 3-1 win.
Methacton goalie Sammi Steele was credited with 13 saves while North Penn’s Marissa Elizardo had 18. North Penn held a 17-15 edge in shots and had a decided 16-7 advantage in corners.
The Maidens return to action on Tuesday against Downingtown West.
Methacton 1-2 3
North Penn 0-1 1
EPISCOPAL ACADEMY 5, CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 0
The Churchwomen opened up a 2-0 halftime lead over the visiting Titans and never looked back on their way to the decisive win.
Central Bucks South 0-0 0
Episcopal Academy 2-3 5
WEST CHESTER HENDERSON 6, UPPER DUBLIN 0
Henderson opened up a 3-0 halftime lead on its way to the shutout win. Upper Dublin goalie Mikaylah Johnson turned away 20 shots on a day that saw Henderson hold a 26-3 advantage in shots and a 13-2 edge in corners.
Upper Dublin 0-0 0
WC Henderson 3-3 6
GWYNEDD MERCY 11, SPRINGFIELD (MONTCO) 1
After advancing to the state semifinals last year at the Class AA level, the Monarchs have lofty aspirations this season, and they put on quite an offensive display in Friday’s opener, sprinting to a 4-0 halftime lead on their way to the lopsided win.
Princeton-bound Nicole Catalino led the way with four goals while Gabby Saxon had a hat trick and Megan Duvernois, a transfer from Merion Mercy, chipped in with a pair.
The Spartans, who have five players sidelined with concussions, graduated their entire defense from last year’s squad.
Gwynedd Mercy 4-7 11
Springfield 0-0 1
HARRY S TRUMAN 3, ACADEMY PARK 1
Mikaela Pacheco scored a pair of goals to propel the Tigers to the big win in Friday’s non-league opener.
“It was great,” coach Kayla Kowalick said. “It was a good way to start the season, especially because our next couple of games are going to be tough. It will give the girls some fire underneath them.
“I only have one senior, so we’re young. Our junior class – most of them have started since their freshman year, and seeing them develop is awesome and to see them now being the role models and the main people on the field is pretty great.”
The Tigers scored all three of their goals in a four-minute span 20 minutes into the opening half. Pacheco put the Tigers on the scoreboard, using an assist from Kelsey Hackbart. Then it was freshman Jess Rementer (Steph Wolf assist) connecting for her first varsity goal to make it a 2-0 game. Another goal by Pacheco (Anne Estrella assist) completed the three-goal outburst and gave the Tigers a lead they would not lose.
“At first, my midfield and my front line couldn’t connect, and then all of a sudden, I did a little changing, and they connected,” Kowalick said. “I have four spots that I have question marks, so I’m trying to make things work.”
The Tigers’ coach acknowledged the strong performances of several players in the win.
“Kelsey Hackbart is our center mid, and she plays her heart out,” Kowalick said. “I actually switch her and Stephanie Wolf a lot at center back. Once Kelsey goes, she’s dynamite on the field. She’s everywhere – she’s where you want her to be. She really connects the whole team.
“Mikaela Pacheco’s stick skills have improved tremendously and the same way with her sister Madalyn Pacheco. Madalyn was playing defense, and when I moved her up to mid, that’s when we started to score. Madalyn, Kelsey and Michaela work really well together. They’ve played together since seventh grade at FDR. Anne Estrella helps out too, so the four of them usually are really good. I have to get my other side going too.”
Harry S Truman 3-0 3
Academy Park 0-1 1
MOUNT ST. JOSEPH ACADEMY 2, PENNSBURY 1
Missy Frankil (Sarah Zazzu assist) scored for the Falcons in a contest that saw the two teams battle to a scoreless halftime tie.
"I am so pleased despite the outcome," coach Jamie Parell said. "They all played great, and it makes it that much more exciting for league play to start."
Pennsbury 0-1 1
Mount St. Joseph 0-2 2
PHOENIXVILLE 3, PENNRIDGE 1
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