Methacton field hockey clinches PAC Liberty in win over Owen J. Roberts

BUCKTOWN >> A team that has lost only one game all year and has already clinched a spot in both the league and district playoffs might have a tendency to look ahead to the post-season instead of concentrating on the game at hand. But not the Methacton field hockey squad, which is taking things one game at a time down the final stretch of the regular season.

The Warriors kept their focus Wednesday night at Owen J. Roberts during a 7-0 win, and in the process, clinched the Pioneer Athletic Conference Liberty Division championship and the top seed in the upcoming PAC playoffs.

Methacton (9-0 Liberty, 12-0 PAC, 16-1 overall) scored twice in the opening seven minutes and continued to execute its game plan the rest of the way at Wildcat Field South. Carmela Maro scored three times and Nicole Uebele knocked in two goals. Goalkeeper Kat Larsen made eight saves for the Wildcats (3-6, 6-6, 8-7), who can still make it to the district playoffs.

“What has been our key is consistency,” said Warriors coach Amanda Parrezzi, whose team has lost only an early-season, non-league game against Oley Valley. “A lot of teams experience a lull in the season or a loss that affects them negatively. We’re holding ourselves accountable and executing our game plan.”

Renee Blake scored just 4:04 into the contest on an assist from Uebele. The goal came off a penalty corner play, as did three of the first four and five on the night. Uebele scored off a rebound 2 ½ minutes later and again with 1:26 left in the first quarter off an assist from Lily DeWan for a 3-0 lead at the first break.

“We’re really connecting with our passes lately,” Uebele said. “We’ve been looking for each other.”

Maro scored her first early in the second quarter on a pass from Calie Fisher and another midway through the third with an assist going to Lea DeWan.

“The selfless passes and always looking for each other,” Maro said.

Fisher scored late in the third off a rebound and Maro knocked in the final goal of the night, assisted by Lily DeWan, early in the fourth.

“They’re a very good team,” Wildcats coach Amy Hoffman said. “They’re very strong. We beat ourselves in some instances … sitting back and waiting. Against a team that good, you can’t do that.”

Roberts evened out the play some in the second half as Warriors keeper Natalie Drake came up with four saves after Emily Drake was forced to make only one stop in the first half. But Methacton finished up with a 9-2 advantage in corners, which pretty well summed up the flow of play during the course of the match.

“They beat us to the ball. They were running to everything,” Hoffman said. “They were taking advantage of their opportunities in the circle.”

“I think we were executing our skills tonight,” Parrezzi said. “Which is what got us all our goals.”

The Warriors have just one game remaining and were ranked second in District 1-3A coming into the match.

“Our primary goal is PAC’s,” said Parrezzi. “Everyone says to take it one game at a time and that’s what we’ve been doing.”

And because of that mindset, the Warriors seem to be getting stronger and stronger as the season progresses.

“After last year, we lost so many people,” Uebele said. “People said we weren’t going to do very well. We have a lot of new people, but we’re even stronger.”

“From last year, we got far,” Maro said. “We want to win. But we’re not trying to look too far ahead.”

OJR has three games remaining and still has an excellent chance to make the district playoff field. The Wildcats were ranked 18th prior to the contest, with the top 24 qualifying.

“It depends on how we do,” Hoffman said. “If we play the game we know we can and the girls play it, we should be there.”

Methacton 7, Owen J. Roberts 0
Methacton 3 1 2 1 – 7
Owen J. Roberts 0 0 0 0 – 0
Scoring
First quarter
M-Blake (Uebele)
M-Uebele (unassisted)
M-Uebele (Li DeWan)
Second quarter
M-Maro (Fisher)
Third quarter
M-Maro (Le DeWan)
M-Fisher (unassisted)
Fourth quarter
M-Maro (Li Dewan)
Saves: M-N Drake 4, E Drake 1. OJR-Larsen 8
Corners: M 9, OJR 2