Four-midable.
Central Bucks West made the 3A state playoffs last season. And it looked formidable in Friday’s field hockey opener. After digging themselves a 2-0 hole at halftime against Boyertown, the Bucks responded with four unanswered goals to take home a 4-3 win. Calista Boos scored twice while Mimi Duffy tied it and Aida Ierubino provided some insurance.
CB West went 18-5-1 last year and the 2023 Bucks appear loaded. Midfielders Ierubino and Lily Cosner both earned first-team all-state honors while forward Nina Mayro was a first-team All-SOL Colonial honoree. Mayro joined midfielder Boos on the all-state second team.
In Wednesday’s late game, Central Bucks East headed to nemesis West. East opened on Monday by bludgeoning Upper Darby 12-1 in Buckingham. Nine different Patriots scored goals in a game that East dominated from start to finish.
Archbishop Wood won its Saturday opener, a 2-1 overtime triumph at Williiam Tennent. Kiara Espejel tallied the game-winner while Katie McGowan scored the first goal of the season. Wood traveled to Springside Chestnut Hill on Tuesday before a nine-day layoff.
Palisades opened in a flurry, with three games in five days. The Pirates fell at Pen Argyl 1-0 in their Saturday opener. On Monday, the Class A Pirates lost to Class 2A Southern Lehigh 8-0. Palisades hopes for its first win against Bangor in a late Wednesday game.
Pennridge, Quakertown, Central Bucks South, Council Rock North and Council Rock South all opened in Wednesday late games. CR South was the Patriot Division runner-up last year and hopes to return to district playoffs. Quakertown (10-7-2) and CB South (9-8-2) also earned postseason bids while Pennridge was the first team to miss the postseason. The Rams hope to change that this coming fall.
Also on Wednesday, New Hope-Solebury started its quest for a seventh straight Class A District One title. The Lions won the SOL Freedom last year, going 20-3 and reaching the state quarterfinals last fall. Their season ended in a 1-0 agonizing overtime loss to Central Columbia.
Faith Christian, coming off a 15-win campaign, opens on Thursday at Jenkintown. Next Thursday, Faith will clash with Plumstead Christian in an early Bicentennial tilt. The Panthers opened on Aug. 25 in a 4-1 loss to Villa Joseph Marie.
South Hunterdon and Solebury School both open after Labor Day.
In the college ranks, Alli Troth (CB East) scored in Colgate’s second game, a 2-1 win over Rider. Fellow Patriot Kenzie Lever scored for Drexel in the Dragons’ 4-0 opening win over Bucknell. Meg Weyer (CB West) had a pair of assists in Vermont’s opening night 6-2 win over Sacred Heart.
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