Scott, Cagliola lift Spring-Ford field hockey over Boyertown in marquee matchup
ROYERSFORD >> If there’s anything to be concluded from the latest clash between Spring-Ford and Boyertown’s field hockey teams, it’s that the two are just as competitive as last year’s Pioneer Athletic Conference finalist squads.
On Wednesday, last year’s runner-up Rams garnered some momentary bragging rights of their own. Spring-Ford defeated Boyertown, 4-2 in a potential PAC Final Four preview at Coach McNelly Stadium.
The Bears narrowly won the league title, 3-2 over the Rams for all the marbles last season. This time the Rams (5-2, 2-0) poured on three late goals, turning a 1-1 game through three quarters into a decisive win.
“We had to turn it around,” senior forward Nina Scott said. “We didn’t want it to be a close game at all. We had to keep using our in-and-out passing, keep using our through-balls and keep shooting quicker in the circle, not holding onto the ball too long.”
Spring-Ford forward Marissa Cagliola (3) pushes the ball into Boyertown’s territory during a PAC Liberty field hockey matchup at Coach McNelly Stadium on Sept. 13. (Evan Wheaton – MediaNews Group)
Trailing 2-1 in the fourth quarter, Scott lifted the Rams above sea level with both the equalizer and game-clinching goals to go up 3-2. Her first came with 12:51 to go on a feed from Marissa Cagliola. Exactly three and a half minutes later, Scott tipped one in unassisted past Addison Galianese (nine saves) for the decider.
With two minutes left in the game, Cagliola took a slapshot on a corner from Eva Drumbore, finding the back of the cage for an insurance goal.
Cagliola put Spring-Ford on the board in the second quarter on a penalty stroke, burying the opening goal top-shelf.
“Marissa and I, we always work well together,” Scott said. “We always work well off each other and moving off each other and we knew if we can get the ball to each other, the other one is moving right to get in good position for a good shot on goal. We always work well together, it’s just a good team dynamic.”
Boyertown’s Peyton Shellaway, left, and Spring-Ford’s Lindsay Evak, right, battle for possession of the ball at midfield during a PAC Liberty field hockey matchup at Coach McNelly Stadium on Sept. 13. (Evan Wheaton – MediaNews Group)
Down 1-0 coming out of the break, Boyertown (5-2, 2-1) found its equalizer ealy in the second half. Midfielder Hannah Ulrich sent a far-side shot past Norah Kirsch (17 saves) to create even ground between the PAC Liberty heavyweights.
The Bears roared in the fourth quarter, pulling ahead with 13:10 left. Midfielder Kendal Gilbert – a team captain and Swarthmore commit – put one away straight on a look from Elise Eves to go up 2-1. But that elation from Boyertown was gone in an instant, Scott finding her first goal of the game just 19 seconds later.
“When we scored to go ahead 2-1, I think my team thought the game was over and they were walking back,” Bears coach Alicia Terrizzi said. “Before we knew it, Spring-Ford had scored a goal. We weren’t set defensively, we weren’t hustling to get back.
“It looked like we thought, ‘Oh, we just won the game.’ We need to be able to play at speed with intensity. We have a lot of really young players, so we’ll learn from this and get better.”
Boyertown midfielder Elise Eves, center, pushes the ball into Spring-Ford’s territory during a PAC Liberty field hockey matchup at Coach McNelly Stadium on Sept. 13. (Evan Wheaton – MediaNews Group)
Boyertown graduated Mercury All-Area player of the year Katelyn Dulin (Michigan State) after winning the program’s first PAC title in 20 years. The Bears previously only had one PAC title in their first season in the league since moving over from the Berks Conference.
This year, Boyertown returns second team All-State midfielder Peyton Shellaway and two-year starters in Alex Bliss, Alaina Charlesworth and Eves to lead an experienced group – and six newcomers – back to the PAC Final Four and beyond.
“We have confidence in our players and today just wasn’t our day,” said Terrizzi, now in her third year coaching Boyertown after leading the Bears to their first postseason appearance since 2008 two years ago. “We did not play well in the second half, well we didn’t play well the whole game, but we will learn from this and get better.”
Spring-Ford senior defender Gianna DiBattista winds back to clear the ball out of the Rams’ territory against Boyertown during a PAC Liberty field hockey matchup at Coach McNelly Stadium on Sept. 13. (Evan Wheaton – MediaNews Group)
While Spring-Ford surged late, Boyertown beared down all game, outshooting the Rams 19-11 with a 12-5 advantage in corner opportunities.
Spring-Ford put a total defensive effort in around Ulrich and Gilbert’s goals, bending and not breaking in the midst of an onslaught of opportunities at the cage.
“We’ve really stressed our off-ball defensive movement, which is picking up,” Rams coach Jennie Anderson said. “Doing a really good job of moving the off-ball girl and communication has been a huge thing for us on the offensive end and defensive end, just making sure everyone is aware of who’s going to who, who’s going to the ball, so an increase of that.”
Spring-Ford’s Eva Drumbore, left, works the ball past Boyertown’s Aubrey Gilbert, right, down the sideline during a PAC Liberty field hockey matchup at Coach McNelly Stadium on Sept. 13. (Evan Wheaton – MediaNews Group)
Last year marked Spring-Ford’s first trip to the PAC title game since 2012, when the Rams last won it. Spring-Ford also took fourth place in the District 1 Class 3A field and qualified for the first round of the PIAA tournament.
Boyertown and Spring-Ford still have another regular season meeting. But if the past couple games between both PAC and District 1 contenders weren’t evident enough, perhaps another round between the two will provide more bulletin material for the league crown later this year.
“We’re just going to keep moving forward, not get our heads held too high because we still have Methacton to play and a lot of other good schools to play,” Scott said. “But we’ll keep this good winning streak going hopefully.”
Spring-Ford 4, Boyertown 2
Boyertown 0 1 0 3-4
Spring-Ford 0 0 1 1-2
SCORING
Second quarter
SF – Cagliola (penalty stroke), 6:50
Third quarter
B – H. Ulrich, 13:43
Fourth quarter
B – Gilbert (Eves), 13:10
SF – Scott (Cagliola), 12:51
SF – Scott, 9:21
SF – Cagliola (Drumbore), 2:02
Shots: B 19, SF 11
Corners: B 12, SF 5
Saves: B 9 (Galianese), SF 17 (Kirsch)
