It was a big test for the Central Bucks West field hockey team.
And the Bucks passed with flying colors.
CB West defeated Central Bucks South, 3-1, in Tuesday’s Suburban One League Colonial Division game at CB South’s Titans Stadium.
“I think our defense has increased monumentally since last year,” said CB West junior captain Lily Cosner. “I think we’ve really got it down this year. Everyone is really working hard, even the forwards. They’re coming back to help out. I think defense is going to be key for us. As much as we have a good offense, I think defense is what starts it off for us.
“South got a couple of corners late in the game and they scored off one, and I think we just got lazy and we didn’t clear the ball, and they took advantage of that. They were the only corners they had in the game and South really capitalizes on their corners, so I thought our defense did a good job of clearing the ball out and not giving up many corners to them.”
Freshmen came up big for the Bucks. After a scoreless first quarter, freshman Eve Damsker took a pass from Cosner and put it in the net for the first tally of the day. The goal sent CB West into halftime with a 1-0 lead.
Fellow freshman Aida Ierubino added to West’s lead with a goal early in the third quarter. She scored again in the fourth quarter.
CB West goaltender Kendra Pitts, another freshman, made three saves.
“I think this year we have really good connections,” said CB West’s Kendall Siegle, a senior captain. “Our passes have been really good and we have good team chemistry on the field and off the field. I think this year we have a good chance of doing really well. The past few years we’ve just been building up to this.”
CB West’s last win over the Titans was a 1-0 triumph on Oct. 15, 2019.
“We knew this was going to be a close game,” Siegle said. “South is always tough. But we also knew that we had a chance to win. We just went all out. Once we got that first goal it was a big relief, but we knew we had to keep fighting, keep playing hard. I think each game is important.
“Last year we missed going to the playoffs by one spot so this year we’re really focused on winning as many games as possible.”
Siegle will continue her playing career at Lock Haven, where she is undecided on a major.
CB West remains undefeated at 3-0 overall, 2-0 in the SOL Colonial.
The young Titans put up a game effort, and that never-say-die attitude resulted in a goal with just 1:31 to go in the game. Mauri Marielle scored on a corner, one of only two CB South was awarded, both in the fourth quarter.
“We try to earn those corners and execute inside the 25 and once we get an opportunity on a corner to try to capitalize,” said CB South senior captain Lily Haag. “Scoring that late goal got us going and I think it will help pull the team together. We played really hard and I think we won within ourselves because we never stopped fighting. That’s a lesson for us.
“We just came off of playing CB East and whenever we play one of our rivals it’s a big game. These games are always intense, but I think it’s a fun competition. Some of us know players on the other teams and I think it brings out the best in all of us. I’m very excited for the rest of the season and I see a lot of good things for us.”
It was the first loss of the year for CB South, which is 2-1 overall and in the SOL Colonial.
“This was a tough team,” CB South senior captain Bella Schute said. “They’re really good, but we didn’t give up. I think it’s really important for the entire team to remember to just keep going. Even when we are down, we have to keep pushing. That’s how we teach the younger kids that this is how we play. Even though we have some returning varsity players we do have a young team, and the best thing is for them to see the older players keep going.
“It’s early in the year and I think we’re going to get a lot better. We’ve definitely got some holes to fill but I think we’ll definitely be there at the end of the season. Everyone’s putting in the effort. It isn’t just one person. That’s the most important part. I think we’ve already improved a lot. You can see it at practice. Everyone is putting the effort in.”
Schute will play at West Chester next year, where she plans to major in speech therapy.
Both teams return to SOL Colonial action on Thursday, with CB South traveling to North Penn at 3:45 p.m. and CB West hosting Pennridge at 5 p.m.
Join our readers whose generous donations are making it possible for you to read our news coverage. Help keep local journalism alive and our community strong. Donate today.
