Council Rock South starts fast, tops William Tennent in District 1-3A 1st round

NEWTOWN TWP. >> William Tennent field hockey’s return to the district playoffs did not last long. But first-year coach Julia Cummiskey is counting on Monday night being the beginning of bigger things for the Panthers program.

“I think that especially my (postgame) speech right now, I just wanted to make sure the rest of everybody knows this what we want, this is what it needs to look like but next time I want us to win,” she said. “I think that the girls all know what they signed up for now and they’re expecting this and I’m expecting greatness.”

Facing SOL National Conference rival Council Rock South in its first district playoff game since 2012, Tennent, the 23rd seed, found itself in a quickly hole and could never record against the No. 10 Golden Hawks. South struck twice in the opening five minutes, added another goal before halftime and pulled away in the second half for a 5-0 first-round win at Council Rock North’s Walt Snyder Stadium.

“We were a little nervous,” Cummiskey said. “This is our first time being in the playoffs. I think that this was really big and they didn’t want to make a mistake or didn’t want to come out and end like that. But it ended up just those first five minutes kind of defined the game almost a little bit.

“But my girls didn’t give up and I think that that was a true testament of who they were as well.”

Katelyn Cocco helped stake the Hawks out to the fast 2-0 lead, scoring the game’s first goal at 27:34 then found Cailey Hiscox to double the advantage at 25:44. Both Cocco and Hiscox finished with two goals as CR South (14-5-0) extended its win streak to seven and advanced to the district second round for the fifth consecutive season.

“Well, last time we played them, we only won 1-0 so we were kind of going into the game like we needed to finish a lot because their goalie’s really good,” said Cocco, a La Salle University commit. “So the fact that we put it in real quick it was a good feeling.”

Kerry Kaufman added a goal for the Golden Hawks, who visit another SOL National side in conference champ Neshaminy Wednesday. The No. 7 Redskins bested South twice this season, including handing the Hawks their last loss 3-2 on Sept. 26.

“Neshaminy’s a good team, they have a lot of good players and they’re really aggressive so I feel like we can come out on top in that game,” Cocco said. “We did play them twice so we got a good feel for what they play like. So hopefully we can finish and be as aggressive as them and score.”

While a third loss to CR South ended William Tennent’s season, the Panthers 8-9-1 final record highlights the positive strides the team made its first year under Cummiskey, an Archbishop Wood grad who played at Kutztown University. In the previous five seasons, Tennent’s highest win total was four.

“My philosophy this year was just to change the culture at William Tennent. It’s kind of been whatever we get, we just kind of go with the flow. But this year I wanted to make sure we came out strong and we were competitive and show what we got. I think my girls totally did it this year.

“I dedicate this whole season to my nine seniors, I think that they are phenomenal in every way possible and I think that they showed up and showed what William Tennent is and that they are to be forgotten in the league and that we will get better.”

Sophie Trozzi made eight saves for Tennent while South’s Karlie McCloskey stopped two shots. CR South earned 10 corners — seven in the second half while Tennent had two corners, the Panthers’ first coming after they were already trailing 5-0.

“I think that that’s a thing that we need to work on is our offense,” Cummiskey said. “Our defense is really good and we go in day-in and day-out working on our offense and just trying to see the field as a whole and seeing the net just not the width of the net, seeing the middle of the net as well.”

Cocco gave the Hawks the lead just three minute in, making a steal then charging in to put a shot into the opposite left corner of the cage.

“I feel like I just got the ball, you got to take it with speed and really just put it in the corner,” Cocco said. “I try to shoot low cause she’s a good goalie.”

The Hawks went up 2-0 when Cocco sent a pass from the right side of the circle to the front of the net, where Hiscox put it in at 25:44. Hiscox collected her second goal with 8:42 left before the break, knocking in a rebound after shot from Kaufman.

“I think we were pretty comfortable, knowing that we played them two times it was kind of good to get a feel what they play like,” Cocco said. “I thought we played good.”

Kaufman gave the Hawks a 4-0 lead at 21:58 in the second half after a corner. A shot by Cocco was blocked but Kaufman gathered the rebound, used a nifty bit a of stickwork to get past a defender the skipped a shot into the net. Cocco tallied her second goal off a rebound with 6:52 remaining.