Upper Dublin offense in high gear in win over Central Bucks West

DOYLESTOWN >> Three different players scored hat tricks and the Upper Dublin offense never slipped, leading the way to a dripping-wet 12-8 victory over the Bucks on Wednesday night.

“The key was just finding matchups on offense and taking advantage of them. It just so happened to be me tonight but it could be anyone – Brett (Rama), Andrew (Sowers)…,” said the Cardinals’ Vijay Foster.

Foster scored a game-high four goals, including three straight in the third quarter that turned a slim 6-4 lead into a 9-4 cushion.

Said Foster: “I just saw some mess-ups in their defense and I was thinking if I could get the ball, I could exploit it, either hitting a few people (with passes) or taking it myself. It’s all within the system that our offensive coach plays.”

With the non-conference win, Upper Dublin raised its record to 2-1 on the season. Upper Dublin opened up a 6-2 lead in the second quarter and consistently held off surges by the Bucks.

“I thought they moved the ball really well today,” Cards coach Pat Lacon said of his team. “Even though they’re (not freshmen or sophomores), they’re young in their playing experience. So we’re working really hard for them to get their reps so they can get a good feel of each other as well as the offensive movement.”

Sowers scored back-to-back goals to put Upper Dublin in front for good, 3-1, in the first quarter.

Caleb Kelly connected and Sowers completed his hat trick by the break, as the Cardinals led 6-3 at intermission.

After Foster’s outburst in the third, Brett Rama completed his hat trick in the fourth and Stevie Pileggi got on the scoreboard as well.

“I thought this was a great game against a tough team,” Lacon said. “And playing in the elements is always part of our journey. And playing back-to-back games is never fun but it adds to us learning our identity and who we are and what we can do.”

It poured early and often on the turf at West, eventually slowing to a drizzle by the fourth quarter.

But Upper Dublin’s pace never wavered, as the Cardinals scored three goals in each quarter.

West kept battling, getting a hat trick of its own from Jess Woosnam (four goals) and a pair of tallies from Matt Jacobsen as well as one each from Connor Albrecht and Brayden Albrecht.

The Bucks got within 6-4 in the third but then Foster kept finding openings. West also closed within 10-6 and 11-7 in the fourth but the Cardinal offense kept connecting.

“The offense is coming together well,” Foster said. “We’ve gotten so much better since our last game. It’s just great improvement on the team in general, and on the defense as well.

“Our team will take us as far as we want – that’s what coach always says. If everyone can lead, we definitely can go far.”