The Senior Day ceremony for the Pennsbury Falcons before Wednesday's game against Bensalem lasted nearly as long as one half of a high school field hockey game. That's what happens when a team has 12 seniors, nine of whom have been starters for three years now.
Kate Chesney and Olivia Mauro, two of those three-year starters, combined for three goals to lead the Falcons past the Owls 5-0 as Pennsbury remained unbeaten in the Suburban One National Conference at 7-0.
"It was a really nice celebration for our seniors, who have meant so much to this program," said Pennsbury coach Jamie Parell. "At the same time, we're in a race for a league championship, and we need to be focused for every game. This league is really strong, and each team is giving us their best."
Bensalem goalie Selena Lee made 20 saves as the Falcons outshot the Owls 45-2. In two games against Pennsbury this year, Lee made an astonishing 37 saves.
The one who enjoyed Senior Day the most was Halle Szumigala, who scored Pennsbury's third goal of the game, for the first goal of her career. Szumigala knocked home a cross from junior Samie Hackman, who had a goal and assist, and then raised her stick and smiled wildly as her teammates cheered.
Chesney, who is closing in on 50 career goals, had two, including one 11:30 into the game that would be the only goal of the first half.
Pennsbury would break the game open in the second half, first with a goal by Olivia Mauro on Anna Sharp's cross 1:38 after intermission and then on the Szumigala goal five minutes later to make it 3-0. Annie Price then fed Chesney seven minutes after that, and it was Hackman from Chesney 39 seconds later to make the final 5-0.
"Bensalem's goalie played really well," said Parell. "They weren't going to make it easy for us. We were able to get a few after halftime, and we did a really good job of keeping the pressure on them. And I was really happy for Halle when she got her goal."
Kate Chesney and Olivia Mauro, two of those three-year starters, combined for three goals to lead the Falcons past the Owls 5-0 as Pennsbury remained unbeaten in the Suburban One National Conference at 7-0.
"It was a really nice celebration for our seniors, who have meant so much to this program," said Pennsbury coach Jamie Parell. "At the same time, we're in a race for a league championship, and we need to be focused for every game. This league is really strong, and each team is giving us their best."
Bensalem goalie Selena Lee made 20 saves as the Falcons outshot the Owls 45-2. In two games against Pennsbury this year, Lee made an astonishing 37 saves.
The one who enjoyed Senior Day the most was Halle Szumigala, who scored Pennsbury's third goal of the game, for the first goal of her career. Szumigala knocked home a cross from junior Samie Hackman, who had a goal and assist, and then raised her stick and smiled wildly as her teammates cheered.
Chesney, who is closing in on 50 career goals, had two, including one 11:30 into the game that would be the only goal of the first half.
Pennsbury would break the game open in the second half, first with a goal by Olivia Mauro on Anna Sharp's cross 1:38 after intermission and then on the Szumigala goal five minutes later to make it 3-0. Annie Price then fed Chesney seven minutes after that, and it was Hackman from Chesney 39 seconds later to make the final 5-0.
"Bensalem's goalie played really well," said Parell. "They weren't going to make it easy for us. We were able to get a few after halftime, and we did a really good job of keeping the pressure on them. And I was really happy for Halle when she got her goal."