Methacton bounces back with 4-1 win over Avon Grove in District 1-3A tournament

FAIRVIEW VILLAGE >> The Methacton field hockey team felt that it had to prove itself all over again when it took the field Wednesday night for its first match in the District 1-3A Tournament. That’s because its season, which started out with 16 wins in its first 17 contests, had lost some of its luster due to a shutout loss in its last regular season outing and then a disappointing setback in the Pioneer Athletic Conference semifinals.

The Warriors’ plan to get back on track was to keep things simple. That, and shoot and shoot and be ready to shoot some more. And that strategy was successful as they came back from an early deficit for a 4-1 win over visiting Avon Grove.

No. 5 seed Methacton (17-3) now heads to a quarterfinal match Friday at No. 4 Great Valley, a 2-1 winner over No. 13 Kennett. The Warriors will have three chances to win one game and clinch one of the district’s seven berths in the PIAA Class 3A Tournament.

Avery Schwartz scored twice and Elise DeWan and Elena Weychert each had a goal for the Warriors. Allie Kressler scored for No. 12 Avon Grove (14-6) and Red Devil goalkeeper Brooke Benjamin made 16 saves.

The Warriors were ready to go right from the start after an eight-day layoff from competition, ending with two hard days of practice.
“We had energy from when we got here in the locker room and on the bench and in the game,” said DeWan.

But more importantly, there was a desire for the Warriors to once again show that they were a good team after a 2-0 loss to Boyertown to end the regular season and a 3-2 loss to Spring-Ford in the PAC playoffs.

“We had something to prove after losing two in a row,” DeWan added.

Methacton dominated play in the first quarter that ended up at 0-0. Then Kressler knocked in a shot from right out in front of the goal to give the Red Devils the lead 2:40 into the second quarter.

But Methacton kept firing away and finally tied it when DeWan drilled in a long shot off a pass from Renee Blake with 4:32 left in the half. Then the Warriors took the lead three minutes later when Weychert was there in front of the goal to finish up after a shot ricocheted off the stick of a defender and then Blake’s stick.

“Anybody who was not shooting had to have their stick down and be ready to shoot it again,” said Warrior coach Amanda Parrezzi.
Methacton’s readiness at the net paid off again twice in the third quarter. A loose ball in the circle was controlled by Weychert, who passed to Schwartz for a shot at a wide-open goal five minutes into the quarter. Then Schwartz had another shot at the open left corner and scored again off a feed from Calie Fisher with 2:13 remaining in the third.

“We were just communicating,” said Schwartz. “And you need to take as many shots as you can and keep it in there.”
“Tonight, we knew we had to do simple,” said Parrezzi. “Pass to somebody who was wide open. Not to somebody who was being covered. Passes … passes … in and out. This was our day to get back into that groove.”

Emily Drake made four saves for the Warriors, who had an 11-2 advantage in penalty corners. Avon Grove had defeated Lower Merion in the opening round on Monday while Methacton had a bye.

Methacton 4, Avon Grove 1

Avon Grove 0 1 0 0 -1
Methacton 0 2 2 0 – 4
Scoring
Second quarter
AG-Allie Kressler
MT-Elise DeWan (Renee Blake)
MT-Elena Weychert (Renee Blake)
Third quarter
MT-Avery Schwartz (Elena Weychert)
MT-Avery Schwartz (Calie Fisher)
Saves: AG- 16 (Brooke Benjamin), MT-4 (Emily Drake)
Corners: AG 2, MT 11