The Reporter/Times Herald/Montgomery Media 2021 Field Hockey Preview
The 2020 field hockey season was a good one in the Reporter/Times Herald/Montgomery media area with a number of teams reaching district and state championship games. Unfortunately, the local teams were on the wrong side of tightly-contested title matches.
Archbishop Carroll reached the PIAA-2A state championship game and lost 2-1 in overtime. Plymouth Whitemarsh’s season also ended in overtime – falling 1-0 to CB East in the District 1-3A title game. Gwynedd Mercy Academy lost the District 1-2A championship, 5-3, while Springfield Montco fell, 3-1, in the D1-A final.
Gwynedd Mercy is in good position to match their success from last season. They bring back plenty of talent, including senior Alaina McVeigh. The Duke University commit was a first team all-state selection and scored her 100th career goal as a junior.
Archbishop Carroll lost some key players from last year’s state finalist, but also brings back some core members of the team, including junior Cate McConaghy, who scored the game-winning goal in the state semifinals.
Plymouth Whitemarsh has big shoes to fill after graduating Ava Borkowski and Kaleigh Missimer, the 2019 and 2020 Reporter/Times Herald/Montgomery Media Players of the Year, respectively. Seniors Hailey Copestick, Molly Lynch and Carly McGee were all-league selections as juniors and will try to help PW win a ninth straight league championship.
Springfield Montco faces the challenge of replacing all-state players Anya Kochanowicz and Kate Wojeck. The new-look Spartans, under first-year coach Anita Stum, will try to repeat as SOL Freedom champs.
Elsewhere in the SOL North Penn, Souderton and Wissahickon have high expectations heading into the 2021 season. Souderton’s Lauren Kenah, a Virginia commit, is one of the top returning players in the area, as are North Penn seniors Erin O’Donnell and Madison Waldspurger. The Trojans should have a very strong defensive team led by goalie Alli Wood.
In the Bicentennial Athletic League, Dock Mennonite returns a new-look team after going 8-0 in league play last year. The Pioneers only have one senior, but the energetic group is looking forward to seeing what it can accomplish this fall.
Karen Dowd is taking over as head coach at Lansdale Catholic. She’s ready to build the program and have a successful season in the Philadelphia Catholic League.
Mount St. Joseph Academy and Upper Moreland also have first-year head coaches – Kyra Castano and Marissa Elizardo, respectively. The Magic need to replace some strong 2021 graduates while the Golden Bears look to improve their offense after a winless 2020 season.
ARCHBISHOP CARROLL
Head coach: Christina Elisio
Last year: 10-2, PIAA-2A state finalist
Notable losses: Julia Kingsbury, Carleigh Conners, Karli Dougherty, Nicole Pawelec, Courtney Keith
Key returners: Grace O’Neill, Courtland Schumacher, Cate McConaghy, Megan Sheridan, Sienna Golden, Shannon Wood
Season outlook: “We are looking forward to a great season ahead. We have a lot more games on the schedule this year than we did last year and we are ready start the season off strong and with a lot of energy that has been carried on from last seasons’ successes. We have lost a few key players who have moved on to play at some great schools but we also have many key returning players who we are excited to see do great things! We graduated two senior goalies last year. We were blessed this year with an incoming freshman goalie and a sophomore transfer from Plymouth Whitemarsh . Both are very well versed in the game and ready to get to work!”
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST
Head coach: David DeAngelis (2nd year)
Last year: 2-8, 2-8 SOL Colonial
Notable losses: Julia Bunch, Caroline Crecca, Claire Engebreth, Brooke Golbeski, Megan Weyer
Key returners: Bella Aulisio, Lily Cosner, Mimi Duffy, Nina Mayro, Kendal Siegle, Kate Waskey
Season outlook: “We are looking forward to being highly competitive while gaining valuable experience in a consistently strong SOL conference. Led by senior leadership, our student-athletes have accepted the responsibility and accountability as well as commitment towards each other on the team!”
DOCK MENNONITE
Head coach: Michelle Waldspurger (10th year)
Last year: 12-2, 8-0 BAL champs, second round of District 1 playoffs
Notable losses: Libbie Derstine, Olivia Yetter, Kylie Godshall, Casey Harper, Savahn Duerksen
Key returners: Celeste Derstine, Ainsley Moyer, Olivia Zaskoda, Eden Schrag
Season outlook: “We are young team with only one senior, we have a lot of energy and are a feisty group who works hard together, we are looking forward to the season and what we can achieve as team.”
LANSDALE CATHOLIC
Head coach: Karen Dowd (1st year)
Last year: 5-3, 5-1 PCL
Season outlook: “My expectation for this year is to build the program and get them ready for the season. It might take the team a little bit to adjust to the way I coach but I believe that in the end, LC will be successful. I’m looking forward to a great season.”
MOUNT ST. JOSEPH ACADEMY
Head coach: Kyra Castano (1st year)
Last year: 5-5
Notable losses: Meghan McGinley, Erin McGinley, Megan Maransky, Katie McCallum, Kelly Moore, Sophia Ferrero
Key returners: Katie Convey, Ashley Timbly, Devon Lasky, Alyssa Brachelli, Mackenzie Craig, Olivia Cook, Campbell Donovan, Ella Kiefner, Lauren O’Malley, Skylar Vacca, Jane Mezzanotte
Season outlook: “The team displays the type of hustle and determination in preseason that brings excitement to our upcoming season. Leadership from our upperclassmen is encouraging and will have a positive impact on our success.”
NORTH PENN
Head coach: Shannon McCracken (10th year)
Last year: 6-6, 5-5 SOL Colonial
Notable losses: Megan Albert, Eleni Kountroubis
Key returners: Bay Detweiler, Linsey Gilbert, Erin O’Donnell, Madison Waldspurger, Annabelle Smink, Kerry O’Donnell, Riley O’Donnell, Melissa Sessler
Season outlook: “I am very excited about our varsity squad this season as they are focused, excited, and committed to our goals. We look forward to competing for a division title and playing in the district and state tournaments.”
SOUDERTON
Head coach: Sue Casciato (4th year)
Last year: 6-5-1, 6-3-1 SOL Colonial
Notable losses: Taylor Weaver, Jordan Michalak, Autumn Hunter
Key returners: Lauren Kenah, Reiley Knize, Ashley Paturzo, Lauren Frye, Angela Borisow
Season outlook: “The coaches are very excited about the upcoming season as we feel this team has a lot of potential. During last year’s shortened season, we never really jelled or played with any consistency. If we can play together and make certain everyone has the opportunity to contribute, we should be very successful. Of course, the strength of our league makes that easier said than done.”
SPRINGFIELD MONTCO
Head coach: Anita Stum (1st year)
Last year: 9-1, 8-0 SOL Freedom champs, District 1 finalist
Notable losses: Anya Kochanowicz, Kate Wojeck, Maddie Yoder, Lauren Corrado, Ella Marino
Key returners: Annie Coll, Abby Congdon, Erin Roy, Anna Jablokov, Emma Yoder
Season outlook: “We lost seven seniors to graduation, multiple All-League Players throughout every level, and two All-State midfielders who anchored the team. We are very excited about the opportunity to build a young team that is showing a lot of talent and working extremely hard. The senior class is providing a lot of stability and leadership to our younger players. Our junior class is ready to step up and make an impact this season. Hailey Lesniak (Jr.) and Emily Jackson (Jr.) are working very hard and showing promise for the upcoming season.”
UPPER MORELAND
Head coach: Marissa Elizardo (1st year)
Last year: 0-9, 0-8 SOL Freedom
Notable losses: Meredith Marstellar, Maddie Trazska
Key returners: Taylor Boone, Anna Duncan, Emma Hurley, Cayden Weist, Elizabeth Santry
Season outlook: “The upperclassmen came into preseason motivated and ready to work hard. We have nine returning starters who are eager to get back on the field and play. Our strength lies in our defense and we are working to be quicker in our transition game as well as more productive on attack. We are looking to score more goals this year and be competitive in the SOL Freedom Division.”
WISSAHICKON
Head coach: Lucy Gil (19th year)
Last year: 12-5, 7-3 SOL Liberty
Notable losses: Aiden Drabick
Key returners: Alli Wood, Julia Schools, Brynne Miller, Sophia Havrilla, Caroline Kirkpatrick
Season outlook: “The girls have been working hard in the offseason. This is a strong, fit team that should do very well in the league and challenge teams in the district. The defense is very strong, anchored by a stellar goalkeeper and center back duo. Offense is working well together, learning lots of ‘off the ball’ movement and presses.”
