Council Rock South upended by Abington
ABINGTON – When Council Rock South kicked off its season a little over a week ago with a 2-1 triumph over Downingtown East, it was a feather in the cap of their youthful program. The same could not be said however of the Hawks’ 3-1 setback suffered at the hand of Suburban One National League rival Abington Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 16 in Montgomery County.
South (3-1, 2-1) fell behind early on a fluke goal by Ghosts sophomore defender Isabelle Mugnier that caromed off the hands of its freshman goalkeeper. Things got even worse for the Hawks late in the first half when they surrendered back-to-back goals less than a minute apart on a pair of defensive letdowns.
With six minutes left in the half, Mugnier threw the ball inbounds deep in her own end. A teammate headed the ball off to Abington freshman Camryn Lexow who had just about all of the net in front of her on goal number two.
Number three came less than a minute later. This time, Mugnier booted a ball through that freshman Ghosts freshman forward Kailey Horton got on the end of.
That quick, South was facing a 3-0 deficit, a hole they’d never climb out of.
“We got outworked,” said Hawks head coach Kimmy Francis. “They were ready to play and we weren’t.
“When you don’t show up to play, it’s kind of tough to win.”
Junior midfielder Caroline Doyle got one back for the Hawks mere seconds into the second half, scoring on a perfect pass from classmate Kasey Schlupp. Unfortunately, that’s all the offense South would muster in this one.
“We knew that they were never going to quit and they came out like gangbusters,” said Abington head coach Rick Tompkins.
“Kimmy is a good coach and she has them very well organized; they put us under a lot of pressure in the second half.”
“We gave up a quick one and then you find out what you’re made of.
I think my girls settled in and played pretty good soccer – had a couple of chances, missed a penalty kick.
“It could have been worse than it was.”
While the Hawks are young, the Ghosts (2-2) are even younger. Abington is starting three freshmen this year – two are the ninth-graders that scored first-half goals and the last is goalkeeper Ashley Hopper. In between the pipes for 2014 Honorable Mention All-SOL National GK Destiny Walters, who is out all season due to a medical condition, Hopper registered 10 saves in the contest.
“She’s doing OK and she’s getting better every game,” added Tompkins. “We’re going to compete and that’s all I can ask of these girls; they’re competitors.”
While Abington is coming off a 4-12-1 campaign in 2014, CR South, despite finishing in fifth place in the SOL National Conference, earned three playoff wins in districts, defeating 2013 PIAA champion Neshaminy, No. 3 seed West Chester Rustin and No. 22 Great Valley to earn a berth in states.
Back this season without the services of BF Alyssa Dotzman, and First Team All-SOL National designees forward Nikki Caffey and GK Allison Taub, the Hawks traveled to Abington with a 3-0 record, going 2-0 with wins over Truman and Bensalem.
Stepping up on the offense this season for CR South are junior Jesse Magee – a Third Team All-SOL National player in 2014 – and sophomore Keira Flanagan. Magee contributed a goal and an assist in the win over D-East. Flanagan fed Magee with a first-half goal for the Hawks.
“The Downingtown win was huge; they’re a very strong non-conference team. Our whole non-league schedule is tough with both Downingtowns, (defending state champ) CB West and Conestoga.
“It was a good way to start but this is a bit of a setback.”
Magee scored a bunch, said Francis, in ensuing wins over Truman and Bensalem, games in which South put nine goals in the back of the next, combined.
In goal for Taub, an All-league first team selection in 2014, South freshman Emily Helmich made nine saves for the Hawks vs Abington. She stoned Lexow on a penalty kick in the 47th minute.
South has just two seniors this season – midfielders Emily Wilkinson and Emily Discavage. Both were named All-SOL last year with Discavage making it onto the Second Team and Wilkinson earning Honorable Mention.
Unfortunately, Discavage has been hampered with a knee injury. Emily says she and defender Keira Crosier will be back in the lineup soon.
South sure could have used the services of Crosier and both Emilys in the Abington game.
After an opening win over CB West, the Ghosts dropped ensuing matches to SOL national rivals Pennsbury and Neshaminy falling 4-1 to the falcons and 6-0 to the Skins.
NOTES: CR South juniors Maria Buonomo and Caroline Doyle were given yellow cards late in the second half. Abington senior captain Julia Guarini was injured on a Hawks foul inside the box that led to the second-half penalty kick.
Abington 3, Council Rock South 1
(Sept. 16 at Abington)
ABINGTON 3 0 – 3
CR SOUTH 0 1 – 1
GOALS: A — Isabelle Mugnier (6th minute), Camryn Lexow (34th minute), Kaleigh Horton (35th minute); CRS — Caroline Doyle (41st minute).
ASSISTS: CRS — Kasey Schlupp.
