Upper Perkiomen seals Frontier title with win over Phoenixville

RED HILL >> The Pioneer Athletic Conference’s Liberty Division is still up for grabs with two weeks left in the 2021 season.

On the other side of the league, the Upper Perkiomen field hockey team has made things a lot simpler.

The Indians wrapped up their second straight Frontier Division crown (last in 2019) with a 10-0 win over Phoenixville on Wednesday, extending a stretch of 24 straight division wins dating back to 2018.

Jess Traynor (assist) and Julia Traynor both scored a pair of goals for Upper Perkiomen (8-0 Frontier, 11-0 PAC). Sarah Steinman, Luci Carpenter (assist), Abby Rodenberger, Audrey Nagata, Takoda Wells (two assists) and Jade Traynor (two assists) also scored. Lynnsi Joyce made eight saves.

Sophia Greenwalt made 19 saves for Phoenixville (4-3 Frontier, 4-5 PAC). Gianna Thaxton added two defensive saves and Alex Coupe made a defensive save.

“I think it’s definitely team bonding and getting to know each other and also our connections on the field are really good as well,” Carpenter said of the keys to UP’s success.

“I think it’s because the seniors before us and everyone before us set that into our minds that we need that to have great chemistry on the field. We just want to continue that and let the freshmen and sophomores know that.”

With the majority of the Frontier schools getting a late start in 2020, Upper Perk competed in a seven-team PAC made of five Liberty powers, the Indians and Pottsgrove.

Upper Perk finished as the league champ with a 9-1-2 record to claim a second straight title to follow a PAC title win in 2019 that was the program’s first since 2013.

Even with the graduation of All-Area Player of the Year Bella Carpenter (Kent State) and several others, Upper Perk has rolled that success into 2021 as it pursues a third straight league title.

The Indians hope to become the first three-peat champs since OJR in 2009-11.

“We did lose a few valuable players last year, but I think we really focus on being a team, communicating as a team rather than individuals, which has helped us get really far,” Wells said. “Our first PAC win in 2019, the team mentality was really important, so we kept that going into this year and hopefully we can win another PAC championship.”

Upper Perk’s lone loss this season was a 2-1 defeat in the second game of the season to Oley Valley, currently ranked No. 13 in the country by Max Field Hockey.

With three PAC games remaining, UP has yet to record a league loss, outscoring opponents 40-1. The last team to finish the league regular season unbeaten in the PAC was Perkiomen Valley in 2018.

Upper Perk faces the Vikings on Friday before finishing against Frontier foes Pottsgrove and Upper Merion next week.

“We were disappointed when (the PV game) got postponed for rain last time, but we’re really ready to take them on again this Friday,” Wells said.

“I’m definitely excited,” Carpenter said. “It’s a big game.”

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After a 3-1 start to their league schedule, the Phantoms’ league playoff hopes have faded with losses in four of their last five PAC games.

Phoenixville (6-6) is still in great position for the 16-team District 1-2A tournament, ranking eighth heading into Wednesday night.

With a strong finish, the Phantoms could host a game as one of the top eight seeds.

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Upper Perkiomen celebrated seniors Luci Carpenter, Gianna Delzingaro, Lucy Faulkner, Kylene Gooch, Lynnsi Joyce, Audrey Nagata and Takoda Wells before Wednesday’s game.

Phoenixville seniors Sydney Eckhardt, Sophia Greenwalt, Gianna Thaxton and Nicole Thompson also received flowers and recognition.