Check out the results for SOL field hockey teams in action Friday.
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 3, COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 1
Cailey Lever went on a bona fide tear.
In a dazzling offensive display, the junior forward scored three goals in a span of just over three minutes midway through the first half of Friday’s showdown between the defending SOL conference champions. The Golden Hawks never could dig their way out of that three-goal hole.
“She was on fire,” East coach Michelle Finegan said of Lever. “Actually, the whole team was on fire. We were working and shaking and moving.”
Perhaps no one was shaking and moving more than Lever, whose first goal at the 16:24 mark came on a breakaway. Her second came on the rebound of a goalie stop of a shot by Mackenzie Boyle, and Lever’s third goal – and second in a 52-second span – was assisted by Riley Donnelly.
The Patriots took that 3-0 lead into halftime.
“We were jelling very well in the first half,” Lever said. “I think it was combined with the intensity and excitement that we had that it was the first game.
“I think our hard work in preseason really came to play in this game.”
In the second half, the Golden Hawks had the better of play, and they got on the scoreboard when Tori Wright banged home a shot during corner play.
“In the first half, we were in possession of the ball,” Finegan said. “We had good control, and we were doing very well.
“We did give everybody a chance to play today, and we had a little bit of a lull, but I also think we could work on maintaining our same level of intensity for the whole game. We were pretty good the majority of the game, but there were moments when we let down.”
“I think in the second half we got a little antsy and a little bit frantic, especially when they scored,” Lever said. “I think that could have also been first-game jitters. All we have to do from that is just take a deep breath, realize we have the skill level and we have the competitiveness to win the game.”
Rock South coach Liz Belz welcomed the opportunity to play East in what has become her team’s annual season opener.
“It’s good in a way to play a great team in the beginning because it helps you figure out – do I have this person in the right spot? What do we need to work on?” the Golden Hawks’ coach said. “We had a much better second half.
“In the first half, we had a little bit of a hard time adjusting – they have some really good players, and they really play well together. Overall, they’re a very, very good team.”
“At halftime, we were talking about things we need to improve,” Rock South senior Mikayla VanAken said. “It was really great for us because we were in their half a lot, and it was different than the first half.”
The Golden Hawks lost to graduation Lower Bucks County’s all-time scoring leader Caroline McGovern – who is now excelling at Boston College.
“Coming into the season, we knew we had big shoes to fill,” VanAken said. “I think that’s good motivation for us – we know we have to really step up as a team and as a whole.
“We always know CB East is very competitive and very good, and it was a good game for us to figure out where we are, what we need to work on and what we need to improve on. As a team, I think we did fairly well. I’m excited.”
Finegan credited freshmen Phia Mannino and Emily Bullard (goalie) for their varsity debut performances.
“I thought they both played well,” the Patriots’ coach said.
“I think the youngness of our team is only to be considered an asset,” Lever said. “I think it’s really going to help us grow as a team this season, and I think we’re only going to go up from here.”
Finegan also credited a trio of veterans.
“Obviously, I always think Riley Donnelly plays well – she’s strong, and she kept things out of the middle,” the Patriots’ coach said. “Kenzie Boyle and Isobel Mannino also did really well.”
Central Bucks East (1-0) will host North Penn in Wednesday’s SOL opener, and Council Rock South (0-1) will be on the road at Hatboro-Horsham for a non-league game on Tuesday.
Council Rock South 0-1 1
Central Bucks East 3-0 3
UPPER DUBLIN 1, WILLIAM TENNENT 0
Maisie Hanson turned a pass from teammate Emma Kate Powell into a goal with 8:10 remaining in the second half, breaking a scoreless tie and propelling the Cardinals to the shutout win over a pesky Panther squad.
“We played well,” UD coach Heather Boyer said. “We’re new in a lot of different positions because of a couple of injuries and because of graduation last year, so I have some forwards from last year learning how to play defense.
“I have some freshmen up on the forward line who are getting used to playing at a high level, the fast pace and varsity speed, so there are some growing pains that go along with that. “
The Cardinals held a 9-1 advantage in penalty corners and an equally decisive 10-1 advantage in shots.
“All in all, I thought we played a good game in terms of possession and time of play on our end of the field, but we never really could generate that offense,” Boyer said. “We had some penalty corner opportunities, but we didn’t capitalize on them.”
Tennent goalie Sophie Trozzi also had something to do with that, recording nine saves.
“To Wiliam Tennent’s credit, they did a nice job,” Boyer said. “They did not back down. They stayed tough defensively to the end.
“They had a couple surges here and there that had us back on our heels. For having a transition year to a new coach (Kelsey Hiltebeitel) and I know they graduated a phenomenal goalkeeper last year (Tricia McCoy), they held their own and played a solid game defensively because we really did test them a lot. I thought we dominated time of play a little bit more, but they were a very gritty team. It was a good first-day test.”
Boyer lauded the performances of midfielders Maddie Templeton and Molly Lunney, both senior captains.
“Our two midfielders did a really, really good job,” the Cardinals’ coach said. “Maddie Templeton is returning to that position for the fourth year in a row.
“Molly Lunney is typically a forward for us, but she’s one of the ones I had to move today because of a temporary injury, and she filled in beautifully on the left midfield side. They really were the gel between the offensive and defensive transitions. They were everywhere on the field and did a good job.”
Upper Dublin goalies Meghan Muth and Sarah Herchenroder combined for the shutout in goal with four saves.
Upper Dublin (1-0) will travel to Cheltenham for the SOL opener on Wednesday, and William Tennent (0-1) will be on the road at Central Bucks West.
William Tennent 0-0 0
Upper Dublin 0-1 1
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 3, SOUTHERN LEHIGH 2
The Bucks rallied from a 2-1 halftime deficit, christening the brand new turf at War Memorial field with a come-from-behind win.
“It was a good win,” said coach Courtney Lepping, whose team has the distinction of playing the first game on the new field. “I thought defensively they were very strong. They had very strong tackles that were frustrating for us.”
After Southern Lehigh opened up a 1-0 lead, Mason Taylor found the cage with the equalizer midway through the opening half, using a Liv Fitzgerald assist. The Spartans went back on top after a goal by Megan Reese late in the half.
Eva Altadona deflected a pass by Mason into the cage to knot the score 2-2. That tie stood until 1:43 remained when – during corner play – Fitzgerald (Casey Reichwein assist) connected for the game winner.
“Their corners and offense revolved around Megan Reese, and she is an excellent player,” Lepping said. “They had a corner to end the game where if they scored it goes to overtime. It was back and forth the whole time – very even."
Lepping lauded the strong play of senior defender Kaci Murray.
“She played incredible,” the Bucks’ coach said. “She had a couple of huge defensive stops that were awesome. She was really a key to our second half being that much better.”
Central Bucks West (1-0) will host William Tennent on Wednesday in the SOL opener for both squads.
Southern Lehigh 2-0 2
Central Bucks West 1-2 3
ABINGTON 5, CHELTENHAM 0
Natalie McNamara connected for the hat trick while Georgia Wasekanes added a pair of goals, leading the visiting Ghosts to the big win in Friday’s opener. Paige Doyle had a pair of assists and Aileen Hughes added a helper for the Ghosts, who led 3-0 at halftime.
“Along with an explosion of offense from Natalie McNamara and Georgia Wasekanes, there was great play from junior Aileen Hughes, senior Evyn Stewart and sophomore Paige Doyle,” first-year coach Katie Small said.
Abington (1-0) will travel to Lansdale Catholic for a non-league game on Tuesday, and Cheltenham (0-1) will host Upper Dublin in Wednesday’s SOL opener.
Abington 3-2 5
Cheltenham 0-0 0
SOUDERTON 9, QUAKERTOWN 0
Sophomore Courtney Kenah exploded for four goals, and five of her teammates added single goals as the Indians rolled to the shutout win.
Sophomore Anna Gwiazdzinski had a hand in three goals, scoring once and assisting on a pair. Liz O’Hara added a goal and an assist while Carolyne Warner, Alyssa Kradu and Lauren Shaughnessy each had one goal for the Indians, who raced to a 4-0 halftime lead.
Souderton (1-0) will travel to Central Bucks South for Wednesday’s SOL opener, and Quakertown (0-1) will host Wissahickon on Wednesay.
Souderton 4-5 9
Quakertown 0-0 0
MOUNT ST. JOSEPH ACADEMY 1, PENNSBURY 0 (OT)
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Grace Wallis scored 1:25 into the overtime as Mt. St. Joseph defeated Pennsbury 1-0 in a highly competitive season opener for both.
"It was a really good game," said Pennsbury coach Jamie Parell. "I thought we had good momentum coming out of the second half, and we had a good opportunity to start the overtime. It was a tough loss, but I think we have a good season in front of us."
The Falcons had a 14-5 edge in shots. Pennsbury's best chance was a second-half shot by Kate Chesney that Mount goalie Maeve McCarthy just managed to get her foot on before it went in.
After a scoreless 60 minutes, Pennsbury had the first good opportunity in the 7-on-7 overtime. The Mount got a stop and countered, and Wallis, a Virginia commit, was able to finish the transition opportunity.
Pennsbury (0-1) will be on the road at Bensalem for Wednesday’s SOL opener.
Mount St. Joseph 0-0-1 1
Pennsbury 0-0-0 0
EPISCOPAL ACADEMY 1, CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 0
Episcopal Academy’s Gianna Pantaleo found the cage in the 11th minute, and although the Titans threatened, they never could connect, falling to the Inter-Ac power.
EA held just a 9-7 advantage in goals. Sophomore goalie Jillian Heilig kept the Titans in it, turning away eight shots.
“Both teams played an evenly matched game,” coach Pat Toner said. “Jillian Heilig did a great job in goal with an 89 percent save percentage in her first varsity start.”
Central Bucks South (0-1) will host Souderton in Wednesday’s SOL opener.
Episcopal Academy 1-0 1
Central Bucks South 0-0 0
METHACTON 6, NORTH PENN 1
Emily Owens scored four goals to lead the Warriors to a convincing win over the visiting Knights.
Owens put the Warriors on the board at the 23:19 mark and added her second goal nine minutes later. Bri O’Donnell’s goal with 12:44 remaining in the first half made it a 2-1 game, but not for long. Olivia Hoover scored to send the Warriors into halftime with a 3-1 lead.
In the second half, Owens scored back-to-back goals with Frankie Lucchesi (Hoover assist) closing out the scoring.
Coach Shannon McCracken acknowledged the strong performance of Anissa Gardizy in her first varsity start in goal.
“Anissa played an excellent game with 15 saves in the first half against a talented Methacton offensive line,” the Knights’ coach said.
Methacton held a 29-10 advantage in shots and a 16-11 edge in corners.
North Penn (0-1) will travel to Central Bucks East for Wednesday’s SOL opener.
North Penn 1-0 1
Methacton 3-3 6
NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 8, UPPER MORELAND 0
Sarah Wilson scored five goals, three straight to close out a first half that saw the visiting Lions open up a 4-0 halftime lead. Thirty-two seconds into the second half, Wilson scored her fourth goal, capping an overpowering 11-minute stretch that saw the New Hope senior score four straight goals.
UM goalie Cassidy Murphy recorded 14 saves.
Upper Moreland (0-1) will travel to Plymouth Whitemarsh for Wednesday’s SOL opener.
New Hope-Solebury 4-4 8
Upper Moreland 0-0 0
UPPER MERION 2, BENSALEM 1
Angie Lee scored scored for the Owls in Friday's non-league opener.
Bensalem (0-1) will be on the road at Norristown on Tuesday.
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