Pennsbury High School Field Hockey

October 21, 2024 - PLAYOFF GAME ROUND 1 (Ranked #20)
(13) Haverford 3, (20) Pennsbury 0 

The Pennsbury Falcons boarded the bus headed toward Haverford HS fired up to compete in their first playoff game in six years. The long bus ride was a welcome adventure, as the team embraced the moment and let the joy of being together guide the way. PHS landed at #20 in the PIAA rankings, the highest they have been since head coach, Traci Curtis, took over in 2019. 

"We earned that spot as a solid group across the board - all coaches and all players working side-by-side with a common vision. Our theme, THE POWER OF ONE, carried us through to this game and we could not be more proud of ourselves," said Curtis. 

Pennsbury came out strong and despite going down 1-0 in the first 5 minutes of the game, they never missed a step and just fought harder with every passing minute. Haverford stayed on top 1-0 into the second quarter, but that quarter belonged to the black and orange on possession and opportunities. 

"Unfortunately, we were not able to capitalize in the circle when we were there or on penalty corners, but our passing and connecting up both sides of the field was beautifully executed," explained Curtis. "It was exciting to watch our girls moving at high speed and playing such smart hockey. They were not intimidated by Haverford at all and truly played with heart from start to finish," said Curtis. 

The score remained 1-0 going into halftime and it was obvious that PHS had taken Haverford out of their game. "When you don't know the other team well, it's easy to rely on looking at superficial information such as ranking, win/loss record, and strength of schedule, but the reality is, you won't know a team until you hit the pitch and play," said Curtis. "I love that we caught them a little off guard and made them adjust to our game for a bit." 

The Falcons' defense denied many of the Fords' offensive opportunities with goalkeeper, Abby McCole, leading her unit solidly from the cage. Haverford did not get another one past McCole until halfway through the third quarter. "They scored on a beautifully placed reverse stick shot straight into the corner. McCole had a couple of saves in the moments leading up, but the Fords were able to pick up the rebound and have second and third chance opportunities, which is lethal in the circle," explained Curtis.  It was a tight battle for the remainder of the third and the score was 2-0 to start the final quarter. "The game was no where near over for us and our girls were ready to prove it with grit and strength," said Curtis. Haverford had a slew of earned corners in the fourth quarter, but the PHS defensive unit held their ground. The Fords did connect for their third goal with ten minutes left to play. "What we loved most about watching them out there was their pure fight and their willingness to give everything they had for themselves and each other," said Curtis. "Haverford is a talented team whose strength lies in their shot selection and ability to shoot with power from anywhere. They were able to finish three times and we were not, but we will walk away from this experience with our heads high knowing we went out there and competed at a very high level for 60 minutes," said Curtis. "We want to thank our seniors for all that they gave to our field hockey family   - Ayla Alon, Rylee Askey, Alaina Bird, Ella Bray, Olivia Coen, Allison Goldfarb, Ava Jordan, Angelina Kenney, Sam Nesteruk, Avalee Shumski, and Jacqueline Sullivan - your legacies will forever impact us as individuals and as ONE."

October 15, 2024
CR South 2, Pennsbury 1

'Tis the season for Senior Night celebrations. The last time the Falcons were on the pitch they were at home as they celebrated their 11 seniors and battled North to an intense 1-1 overtime tie. That was five days ago. This time it was Council Rock South honoring their seniors, setting the stage for an emotionally charged performance at night on their home field. After using the weekend to reset, PHSFH came back together on Monday to prepare to meet South for the second time, aware of the environment and the stakes. Their first meeting on September 11th resulted in a CR South victory and last night history repeated itself - and with the same exact score, 2-1. Pennsbury came out on fire and lit up the scoreboard 1-0 four minutes into the first quarter. Senior, Ava Jordan tallied the goal for the Falcons. "Ava, one of our captains, played her heart out," stated head coach, Traci Curtis. "Her effort level is something to be admired," added Curtis. The Falcons held that 1-0 lead until the Hawks found the back of the net with three minutes left in the first tying it up 1-1. That score held going into the second quarter.  It was a tight back-and-forth battle throughout the second quarter with both teams displaying heart, strong sticks, speed, and overall skill. "We knew that senior nights always boost a team's emotional level and our girls were prepared to answer with extreme intensity and they did," said Curtis. "We were playing our game and doing the right things, but just could not capitalize in those important moments," Curtis said. The Hawks found a way to capitalize on their opportunities with two minutes left in the second quarter taking the lead 2-1, sending PHS into halftime brainstorming come-from-behind strategies. The Falcons started the second half battling hard and created some nice offensive pushes led by the incredible talent of Abby Iacona who worked tirelessly to get the ball where it needed to be. Ryan Burdette supported Iacona's IQ and Ava Pinto was laser focused on using her strengths to compliment her teammates. "We were passing well and moving the ball quickly, but could not get sticks on it in the circle. Our penalty corners weren't producing and we just ran out of time," explained Curtis. The black and orange held the Hawks defensively for the entire second half, keeping it a close game for the 30 minutes. Goalkeeper, Amelia Fernandes, made her varsity debut protecting the cage in the second half. "She came out and did an amazing job for us. She had a bunch of crucial saves and kept us in the game for sure," said Curtis. "Senior, Ayla Alon, played strong defense along with Cailyn Reilly in the backfield. Avalee Shumski held our middle well. Angelina Kenney is just a great force all over the field no matter where we put her. She comes to the ball with strength and purpose," said Curtis. Pennsbury had plenty of possessions to make something happen up until the final 15 seconds of the game, but South had a strong grip on their lead and was determined not to let go. South outshot PHS 13 to 6 and earned more offensive penalty corners as well, 6 versus Pennsbury's 3. "It was a great game all around. The spirit of competition was high and the teams were evenly matched. Years ago we wouldn't have even been in this game and now we are at a level to make it an awesome fight. I love our progress and how far we have come in our program," said Curtis. "Congratulations to the South seniors - we wish you the best as you move forward," added Curtis. Pennsbury is set to play Notre Dame HS on Thursday at Falcon Field for their final regular season game of 2024. 

October 9, 2024 - SENIOR NIGHT
Pennsbury 1, CR North 1

Electric. Falcon Field was on FIRE. The spark was ignited as the JV team continued their undefeated season with an awesome 2-0 victory and then Pennsbury's 11 seniors were honored pre-game. Each senior walked out with their family in addition to a specially chosen IMPACT person who has had a strong, positive affect on their life. The JV victory and heartfelt, simple senior ceremony set the tone for the game and filled the Falcons with gratitude that opened the door to joyful playing. Exactly one month earlier, Pennsbury fell flat on North's turf with a less than stellar showing and was defeated 4-1. They vowed that this time it would be different. And different it was...except for the first goal - that was the same. Back on September 9th, Pennsbury scored first in the opening quarter going up 1-0 and Abby Iacona had the assist. Tonight, on October 9th, PHS scored first in the first quarter (with 5 minutes left) and Iacona set up the goal for her teammate, Alaina Bird, to go up 1-0. It felt eerily familiar, but the vibe was definitely different which helped the rest of the game not repeat history. There was something in the air and the orange and black had put on a new game face. "It is hard to explain the feeling, but it was something that you strive for all season," said coach, Traci Curtis. "The girls came out on fire and were having fun playing the sport they love. It's that type of playing freely that we have talked about since August," explained Curtis. The second and third quarters were scoreless and the numbers on the scoreboard loomed over the field almost mocking both teams. It was a fierce battle on both sides of the ball. "North can never be counted out. I knew they just came off of a great OT win over South and they were salivating at the chance to repeat that story," said Curtis. "They are tough to the core and a great, united team," added Curtis. Pennsbury dominated much of the time with 21 shots on goal compared to North's 10, proving the quality vs. quantity theory. Each team had 6 offensive penalty corners and a couple of defensive saves that kept them alive. "Rock is exactly that in the circle - hard as a rock. They stopped so many opportunities with strong, poised defense and a great performance by their goalie," said Curtis. "We were getting opportunities, but had to do more to get around them in front of the cage. I will have to watch the film back to count how many times we had the ball right there in front of their goalie. The crowd was going wild," said Curtis. North showed their heart with 2 minutes left in regulation and an earned penalty corner. "Our goalie, Abby McCole, made two saves in a row against that corner play, but our defense did not clear with strength so the ball stayed in the circle for too long. Rock got a third chance crossing the ball and North's player got a stick on it and finished to tie it up 1-1. Our defender was caught in bad position, got beat, and they took advantage of the moment," said Curtis. "I was planning to call a time out because I had saved mine, but had to wait for possession. Unfortunately, that possession happened too late, " explained Curtis. "So I called it after they scored so we could reset and all I could say was that it just got real interesting," laughed Curtis. With 2 minutes left, the Falcons tried to close out regulation, but were not able to forcing the game into OT. "Our players were exhausted and had left most of their heart on the field, but there was no time to worry about fatigue. We talk about suffering in practice to be ready for moments like this and they were ready," Curtis said. The Falcons played a very strong 10 minutes of OT with a couple of breakaways and 1-1 with the goalie, but it just didn't happen for them. The game ended deadlocked at one, sending both teams away with completely empty tanks, but full hearts. "Jules and I are cut from a similar mold and could not have been more mutually proud of our own girls and each others' teams," said Curtis. "Did we really want and need that win, yes, but if there was a second best ending, it was the tie. I have tons of respect for Jules and her program and love what she does for those girls. The night was great from start to finish with a shared feeling of unity, hard work, great hockey, awesome fans, and joy," said Curtis. Shout out to our refs who were patient while we walked out our 11 seniors, started the game a little late, and then stayed pumped and locked in to call the game well in our overtime! They did a great job! Pennsbury will travel to "the other Council Rock" - CR South on Tuesday night for their second meeting. 

October 7, 2024
Neshaminy 5, Pennsbury 0

The script was flipped on the Pennsbury Falcons as they came out on the losing side of a 5-0 game Monday night against Neshaminy. It was in stark contrast to their 5-0 win over Bensalem six days earlier. The Skins didn't waste any time connecting to make it 1-0 in the first minute of the game.  "There is not much to say except that Neshaminy out hustled, out skilled, out ran, out shot, out smarted, and just plain out played us from start to finish," said coach, Traci Curtis. "There were some bright flashes for us, but not nearly enough to be a threat," added Curtis. The Falcons held the score at 1-0 until about half way through the second quarter with the help of great defense by senior, Ayla Alon. Neshaminy tallied two goals in the second (one of the goals was scored on a stroke they earned) sending the game into halftime up 3-0. The Falcons came out in the third with some defensive fight and the score stayed 3-0 going into the fourth with no scoring from either side. "Our defense was busy all night and really stayed strong in the third quarter - shout out to defenders Ayla Alon, Cailyn Reilly, Payton Worth, Jacqueline Sullivan, Avalee Shumski, and Goalie, Abby McCole (16 saves) for some good stops. Unfortunately, we could not create enough offensive momentum and capitalize or finish on opportunities. Our mids and forwards were working hard, but not connecting in an effective way," said Curtis. "Neshaminy has strong sticks and smart players at every turn. When we found ourselves with momentum, they didn't allow it to last very long and that is tough to beat," admitted Curtis. Neshaminy iced the cake in the fourth, never letting down for a second, adding two more goals to put an exclamation on their victory. The Falcons will look to turn it around on Wednesday night as they celebrate their seniors and host Council Rock North. 

October 1, 2024
Pennsbury 5, Bensalem 0

Hello October! The Pennsbury Falcons hosted the Bensalem Owls for a battle under the lights - their second meeting of the season. The PHS athletic interns got some experience broadcasting on the livestream and help to set the scene for a great night of field hockey. It started off with an intense and exciting JV game that ended locked at a 0-0 tie and when 7:00 rolled around, the varsity Falcons and Owls took the field head to head ready to keep the momentum going. The Black and Orange lit up the scoreboard first, three minutes after the starting whistle. Senior, Ava Jordan, sent a beautifully placed ball across the circle to connect with fellow senior, Alaina Bird, who smashed it against the backboard with authority to go up 1-0. Six minutes later, sophomore, Ryan Burdette collected a rebound off the goalie's pads giving her team a two goal lead going into the second quarter. The Falcons kicked off the second quarter by capitalizing on a penalty corner opportunity. Ava Jordan inserted to Cailyn Reilly who put the ball on cage (looking for a tip) and it found its way into the cage off of the initial shot. Senior, Liv Coen, and sophomore, Regan Rodriguez, paired up for goal number 4 with two minutes remaining in the first half. Coen sent a perfectly placed cross ball and Rodriguez was in the right place, poised for the one time and executed it with precision. Rodriguez has been locked in and finding her groove for the Falcons over the past several games and helping to make a lot of great things happen. The final goal of the game came in the third quarter when Ava Pinto assisted Angelina Kenney as they worked the ball around the keeper and upped the score to 5-0. The Owls held Pennsbury scoreless in the fourth quarter with really strong defensive stands led by multiple goal keepers. "That Bensalem team can never be underestimated. They come out ready to fight and dig deep for a full 60 minutes. Gary is doing an incredible job leading them," said Curtis. "Our girls came out on fire and that energy rippled across the board. We are happy with their intensity, connection, effort, and overall performance tonight," said head coach, Traci Curtis. "It is exciting to see the massive growth and watch our field hockey family move forward as one united force." Key contributors who continue to consistently keep us solid include -  Abby Iacona, Angelina Kenney, Cailyn Reilly, Ava Jordan, Avalee Shumski, and Ryan Burdette. In addition to the victory on the field, PHS won in the area of service learning as they dedicated this game to their school's WINK for PINK organization with the goal of helping to raise awareness for Breast Cancer and donate money to research. This night was the perfect time to kick off October and Breast Cancer Awareness Month - making a small donation can help in a HUGE way! Pennsbury's next contest will be at Neshaminy on Oct. 7th. 

September 30, 2024
Quakertown 3, Pennsbury 1

The Falcons, powered by their six game winning streak, hit the highway early on Monday for their battle against Quakertown. The Panthers ended that PHS streak after capitalizing on first half opportunities and protecting the lead in the second half. Pennsbury came out strong and had Quakertown on their heels at the start of the first quarter. "We were so pleased with the way our girls came out from the first whistle and really created some offensive opportunities. We were taking care of the ball and denying the Panthers any momentum," said head coach, Traci Curtis. Half way through the first quarter, Quakertown connected on a nice tip at the post past PHS keeper, Abby McCole, putting them up 1-0. "We saw it happening in slow motion from the sidelines. Our assistant, Lori Riley, was saying that there was a girl open and before we could blink the ball was deflected and hitting the back of the cage." The Falcons did not let down and held it at 1-0 for the remainder of the quarter. The second quarter was much of the same, with back and forth play, but PHS was not able to finish in the circle. "We were moving the ball really well and helping each other all over the field, but we just were not getting shots off soon enough," explained Curtis. Halfway through the second quarter, Quakertown's Katelyn Landis showed how it's done with a strong shot outside the circle that was touched inside for the 2-0 lead. Two minutes later, Sunday Draper, added another goal to their tally on a beautifully placed reverse sweep on a penalty corner. "The goal was beautiful and we assured our goalie that there was not much she could have done differently because of how perfectly placed the shot was and how well they executed the set piece," said Curtis. The Black and Orange continued to fight at both ends of the field and the score held at 3-0 going into halftime. "There were some mistakes being made and it was keeping us from possessing and capitalizing in certain moments," explained Curtis. "Quakertown is a strong team and we were making them work hard for their successes, but not able to help ourselves succeed when it was vital." With four minutes left in the third quarter, the Falcons found the back of the cage. Cailyn Reilly's free hit coming out of the defense found Abby Iacona in the middle for the start of a fast paced breakaway. Iacona fed a strong through ball to Regan Rodriguez who made a great off ball run to the right corner. Rodriguez crossed the ball to a waiting Ava Jordan who was able to be patient and get the ball by the goalie making it a 3-1 game. Unfortunately for the Falcons, that was the last of the scoring, but on the bright side, they held Quakertown scoreless in the entire second half. "We definitely played better in the second half and we are so proud that the girls worked so hard together to keep fighting," said Curtis. "Our goalie, Abby McCole, played an awesome game saving 12 of 15 shots holding them to one goal on a corner out of six corner attempts. It is obvious what we need to work on and we will continue to push each other to limits and take one step at a time. This was a great challenge for us and it will help us to grow moving forward," said Curtis. Tomorrow the Falcons will host Bensalem for a night contest at Falcon Field. 

September 26, 2024
PENNSBURY 10, HARRY S TRUMAN 0
The Falcons kept their win streak alive on their home turf with a victory over Truman yesterday.
Scoring in every quarter, PHS connected ten times and held their opponent to zero to shut out the Tigers 10-0.
"The Truman goalie played an awesome game, denying a majority of our 36 shots on goal," said PHS head coach Traci Curtis. "It is inspiring to watch their players play with heart and a never-give-up attitude.
“I always walk away from our games against them with a smile, not because of our victory, but because of the raw determination of the Truman team that is more real than many of us can admit to having. The coaches are doing a great job helping the team grow and progress in the sport. It's so nice to see.”
Abby Iacona kicked off the scoring for the black and orange with a beautiful shot on goal during a penalty corner in the first quarter - assisted by inserter Ava Jordan. Rylee Askey notched two consecutive goals to finish out the first 15 minutes, sending PHS into the second quarter up 3-0.
Olivia Coen was the lone scorer in the second quarter with great reaction and pressuring the goalie's pads. Abby Anderer earned the assist for that goal putting the Falcons up 4-0 going into the half.
Pennsbury tallied three goals in the third quarter, lighting up the scoreboard 7-0. Liv Coen was not slowing down on attack as she assisted one and scored one during that time. Allison Goldfarb scored on a beautiful finish, batting the ball out of the air into the cage with authority (assisted by Coen)! Delaney Jones added an unassisted, strong, hard shot past the keeper, and Coen used her awesome reverse stick lifting skills to work it around the goalie while fighting in front of the cage.
The Falcons, once again, scored three goals in the final quarter to finish out the game winning 10-0. Ella Bray, Ryan Burdette, and Ava Jordan were the goal scorers with Liv Coen assisting two of the three.
"We were very pleased with the effort in the attacking circle to finish,” Curtis said. “Any opportunity we get to be successful and gain confidence in that space is great for us as a whole.
"This is the height of intensity for the season as we prepare to enter back into league play over the final few weeks. We have a lot of work to do and plan to take our momentum and double down.”

September 24, 2024
Pennsbury 5, Upper Moreland 1

It felt good to be home. Coming off of a 3 game week full of traveling, the Pennsbury Falcons were happy to host the visiting Upper Moreland Golden Bears at Falcon Field. PHS dominated from the start, but could not connect until 10 minutes into the first quarter. Senior, Alaina Bird fed a pass into the circle and Ava Jordan finished to light up the scoreboard 1-0. That goal ignited a flame and the orange and black scored 30 seconds later on a well placed penalty corner shot by Cailyn Reilly (inserted by Ava Jordan) putting PHS up 2-0.  They were not finished scoring though, 3 minutes later, Ava Jordan assisted Alaina Bird who backhanded the shot and put the Falcons up 3-0 at the end of the first quarter.  The second quarter is when the scoring drought began. The game remained 3-0 going into the half. Five minutes into the third quarter, the Golden Bears found their way onto the scoreboard making it a 2 goal game. That was the only scoring in the third quarter and the final goal for UM. Head coach, Traci Curtis, points out, "We need to absolutely eliminate giving the other team opportunities to score because of a breaking down like dominoes below the 25. We have to do better and expect more from ourselves for a complete 60 minutes. Upper Moreland had some nice plays in the middle with players stepping to the ball and connecting on stick to stick passing. They were hard workers and never backed down." Pennsbury answered back in the fourth by adding two incredible goals to finish off the game winning 5-1. "Five minutes into the fourth quarter, sophomore, Mallory Harrison, took a shot from a 0% angle on the endline and connected for a great goal that seemed impossible to be true. It was unbelievable and an awesome effort by Harrison to keep the ball in play and get it on cage," said Coach, Traci Curtis. "Our final goal of the game came with 3 minutes left in the fourth when Abby Iacona reversed the ball across the circle in the air over everyone into space and Angelina Kenney batted it down out of the air passed the keeper," explained Curtis. "It was not a dangerous play at all and something you see the NCAA players doing all the time. The coordination and connection those two exhibited was so great," Curtis said. "Today was a bit sloppy and seemed disjointed at times, but it was a full team effort and we are doing a great job of helping each other at every turn. Cailyn Reilly keeps us solid in the backfield with patient play and great decision making. We are taking one step at a time and focusing only on what is in front of us," explained Curtis. Pennsbury will stay on their home turf and host Truman on Thursday afternoon. 

September 20, 2024
Pennsbury 3, Springfield Township 1

The Pennsbury Falcons are flying into the weekend on a four game winning streak and ready to take a well deserved breath. They hopped aboard the bus Friday afternoon to travel to Springfield Township HS and face the Spartans. This was the first meeting between the two teams and resulted in another win for the black and orange. The Falcons struck first half way through the first quarter on a tipped pass in front of the cage. "One thing our girls are doing really well is moving the ball up the field together using great passing combinations," said head coach, Traci Curtis. "Coach Riley and I were waiting for them to get into a groove today - we started off a little slowly again and had to find our center and calibrate a bit," explained Curtis. "Once they got into rhythm, the ball moved up the field beautifully. Angelina Kenney worked with Abby Iacona to get the pass across the circle and Regan Rodriguez finishing with a nice goal," said Curtis. The Falcons took a 1-0 lead and that held going into the second quarter. The second quarter was a little flat on both sides of the ball and despite PHS dominating on attack they could not seem to make anything happen. With a slim one goal lead, Pennsbury was looking for a spark. With three minutes left before halftime, a spark ignited with an awesome deflected goal from senior, Allison Goldfarb. "The second goal was really beautiful and came at just the right time. Abby Iacona sent a bullet across the circle and Goldfarb was in the perfect spot in ready position to pop it up right passed the goalie at full speed," Curtis said. Pennsbury took a 2-0 lead going into halftime and was looking to add some cushion knowing the Spartans were in no way going to give up easily. And they didn't. As the third quarter clocked clicked down to 46 seconds, Springfield took advantage of a PHS defensive breakdown and Gracie Buchhoez dribbled through defenders and shot one that got by goalie, Abby McCole. "It was a moment of let down and a huge lesson learned," said Curtis. "We need to do a better job in denying teams those last minute opportunities," admitted Curtis. "It was now a 2-1 game going into the final quarter but we could have held them at zero with a more focused performance in that final minute. That is all the mental side of the moment and something we need to sharpen," said Curtis. The Falcons were not finished as they added their third goal six minutes into the fourth quarter. Senior, Riley Askey, assisted Angelina Kenney who found an opening to the keeper's left and scored. Despite the 3-1 lead, PHS was not backing down, making sure to secure the win before getting back on the bus. They did just that for the remaining six minutes, holding the Spartans to a scoreless quarter and taking the win with them back to Pennsbury. "It's so great to see a variety of players scoring for us," said Curtis. "The team has really embraced our theme, The Power of ONE, and takes the responsibility of that seriously. We had standout performances from Cailyn Reilly in the back with her patient and confident play and Ayla Alon played great defense for us as well. Ryan Burdette and Abby Iacona contributed to almost every play and supported their teammates in all that they did. Pennsbury will host Upper Moreland on Tuesday and Truman on Thursday next week. 

September 18, 2024
Pennsbury 2, Upper Dublin 1 (OT)

On the road again...Pennsbury took to the highway to face the Upper Dublin Cardinals for their second road trip out of three games they will travel for during this jam-packed week.  These two teams had not met in the six years Traci Curtis has been head coach so there was a ton of mystery surrounding the matchup. "We have done a lot of work on entering each game in isolation without focusing on an overload of information - whether we know the team or not. That can be distracting from staying true to ourselves. We are really proud of how the girls are intentional about preparing for each step as it comes and going into games playing our style of hockey," explained Curtis. Although the Falcons got off to a very sloppy start, they slowly but surely began to connect and fall into step as a united force. The Cardinals worked hard and did not allow PHS to finish on several opportunities early on. The first quarter ended locked 0-0 and both teams were fighting hard. The second quarter was much of the same with Pennsbury dominating offensively but continuing to struggle to get the ball in the cage. There were still two goose eggs on the scoreboard at halftime. "Our coaching staff was frustrated with the lack of finishing in the circle. We feel like we've done almost everything possible to prepare them for scoring, but ultimately it comes down to who wants it most, who can focus, and who can rise up, bring their team together and get the job done," said Curtis. The Falcons were still searching for the cage in the third quarter, but never found it during those fifteen minutes. Unfortunately, The Cardinals did as they took advantage of a major Pennsbury defensive breakdown and connected to go up 1-0 with 4 minutes left. "All it takes is one moment like that and you can find yourself clawing your way out of a hole," Curtis said. "Our defense is really strong and doing an incredible job, but in that one series they completely deteriorated and it led to the goal. "During the break before the final quarter we talked about having 15 minutes to walk away with a win and how that is really an eternity considering teams had scored on us in 9 seconds. We just needed to take a breath, relax, and understand what patient hockey looked like," said Curtis. Ten minutes into the final quarter the Falcons found a way to answer back and tie the game 1-1. Sophomore, Regan Rodriguez, did the work to earn a penalty corner and sophomore teammate, Cailyn Reilly, finished the job by slamming a solid shot straight into the back of the cage from the initial insert (sophomore, Ryan Burdette). With five minutes left in regulation, there was an eternity for one of the teams to strike again. Upper Dublin had a strong chance with 3 minutes left when they earned an offensive corner against the Falcons. The moment moved in slow motion as UD got a shot off to the right post and another UD player deflected the shot perfectly toward goal. The ball got behind Pennsbury's goalie, but sophomore, Payton Worth, who was playing the post position had an incredible defensive save to shut down the opportunity and save her team from going down 2-1. The Falcons did not have an answer before the final regulation buzzer forcing the game into overtime. This was the first overtime situation for Pennsbury. It was an exciting first 6 minutes as the the battle of the birds continued back and forth keeping each team on its toes. With 4 minutes left in overtime, Abby Iacona worked her magic to gain possession for the Falcons. She passed the ball to Ryan Burdette and it almost got intercepted, but Burdette was able to reach and win the 50/50 ball. Iacona almost got her own pass back, but stepped off so she did not interfere with her teammate's effort allowing Burdette to complete a pass left into the circle to Ava Jordan waiting on the left side of the cage. Jordan collected the ball, adjusted her feet and body, and was able to slam it right into an open cage after catching the goalie stepping out too far. "It was a united effort for sure. Iacona left her heart on the field creating and cultivating offense for her teammates. Burdette's reach to gain control of the ball was vital and her pass inside was spot on. Jordan was in the right place and settled the ball beautifully to get the shot off when she did," explained Curtis. "We were not happy with the start of the game, but we came around and ended in an amazing way. We saw their hearts today and the desire to win was palpable. That changes the game for us. We have turned a corner and refuse to go back."  Outstanding play also by Angelina Kenney, Jacqueline Sullivan, and Avalee Shumski. The Falcons will travel on Friday to Springfield Township HS looking to finish out the week with another win in the books. 

September 16, 2024
Pennsbury 2, CB EAST 1

The Pennsbury Falcons took to the road to face Central Bucks East for a match up that has been historically a tight battle. The Falcons and Patriots have gone back and forth since 2021 swapping wins every other year and this year it was their turn to come out on top. The Patriots took control right away, possessing the ball from the start and attempting to put PHS on their heels. "It was another Monday game, which worries our staff a bit regarding mental preparedness and our girls' ability to lock in after the weekend," said coach, Traci Curtis. "The beginning was making me a little nervous when we couldn't seem to hold onto possession, but they were ready today and did a great job of focusing on the task at hand," said Curtis. East seemed to be in control of the game for most of the first fifteen minutes, but with 3 minutes left in the first quarter, the orange and black found their groove. A beautiful passing sequence started the ball upfield and after a feed from fellow sophomore, Ava Pinto, Abby Iacona found herself  entering the circle alone with a 1v1 against the goalie. "Iacona handled the breakaway with patience and skill. She finished beautifully by taking the ball right, moving the keeper, and shooting opposite post to the left side and just placed it right on the money," explained Curtis. "That whole play from start to finish was so well done. So many players touched the ball and really put it all together as a unit. It was definitely a spark that rippled through our team and set us afire at just the right time." The Pennsbury flame flickered a little when 2 minutes later with 47 seconds left in the first quarter, East decided they weren't going to go out without a huge fight and tallied their first goal to tie it 1-1 going into the second. "It is something we need to work on - those big moments when the clock is ticking down and we just have to hold for a little bit longer," Curtis admitted. Curtis' team made sure that didn't happen again for the rest of the game. The second quarter was scoreless as the Patriots and Falcons fought back and forth with possession, penalty corners, and shots. At halftime the score remained locked at 1-1. Halfway through the third quarter PHS seemed to be knocking on East's door pretty frequently but just not finishing...until sophomore, Regan Rodriguez, did great work in front of the goalie with stick down and hunger for the cage. Rodriguez collected a rebound and shot it past the keeper to put the Falcons on top 2-1. "Regan is working hard and finding her place in the mix. We are so happy with her connection and ability to make good decisions on and off the ball," said Curtis. The fourth quarter was more of the fast paced back and forth, but neither team found the back of the cage again. The Falcons fought to the end to hold East at bay. "We managed the clock better, dug deeper than ever, used our time out to gather ourselves, and were better strategically today," explained Curtis.  "Everyone worked well together.  Liv Coen, Abby Anderer, Abby Iacona, Ava Pinto, Ryan Burdette, Ava Jordan, Angelina Kenney, and Regan Rodriguez took responsibility for their jobs on offense (forwards and mids). Defensively, Cailyn Reilly led the backfield along with strong contributions from Avalee Shumski, Payton Worth, Ayla Alon, and Jacqueline Sullivan," said Curtis. The goalies at both ends had great games - Pennsbury's Abby McCole had more shots to deny as the Patriots hit on target 13 times as compared to Pennsbury's 5, proving that it is quality over quantity. "This was a much needed victory for us mentally and a great way to set the tone for another 3 game week," added Curtis.  The Falcons travel to Upper Dublin on Wednesday and then continue their away stint at Springfield Township on Friday. 

September 13, 2024
Pennsbury 8, Tennent 1

It was the third game of the week for the Pennsbury Falcons who were looking to come back from three consecutive, hard fought losses. The opening ten minutes of play were right on par with it being Friday the 13th - hauntingly slow and scarily sloppy. Neither team could finish a play and the scoreboard stood at zeros until Pennsbury's Abby Iacona decided enough was enough. She entered the circle, dodged, pulled, and had a strong shot to the far post with 5 minutes left in the first to go up 1-0. "Iacona is a play maker for us and she has intensity and skill to be commended. She broke the seal for us and lit a spark, but unfortunately came out of the game not feeling well.  She left it up to her teammates to ignite from her light," explained coach, Traci Curtis.  That flame was snuffed a bit when five minutes into the second quarter William Tennent found the back of the cage to tie the game 1-1. "We were having a complete breakdown on defense and parts of the midfield and those breakdowns continued as Tennent pushed us on our heels inside the circle," said Curtis. That was the last goal the Panthers would score.The orange and black did not allow that tie to last long as 30 seconds later PHS woke up and had a great passing combination up the right side finishing with Abby Anderer feeding Ryan Burdette to put the Falcon's up 2-1. The game was locked at 2-1 for the rest of the quarter taking the teams into halftime. "It was not our best hockey. The first half was frustrating and hard to watch. We shook up the players in the line up for the third quarter to see if we could fan the flame of our tiny lead. We were looking for heart," explained Curtis. Burdette got them started with 2 minutes left in the third on some great steps to the ball and deceptive passing to feed her teammates. Ella Bray caught one of Burdette's passes and scored to put the Falcons up 3-1. Two minutes later, Allison Goldfarb was in the right place and collected a rebound to tip in giving PHS a 4-1 lead going into the final 15 minutes. The Falcons gained a lot of momentum in  the fourth quarter and added 4 goals to their tally. Avalee Shumski assisted two goals - one for Ryan Burdette and one for Mallory Harrison - as she held the center and distributed the ball where it needed to go. Goldfarb assisted Alaina Bird on another rebound play as the clock wound down and Liv Coen, Ava Pinto, and Regan Rodriguez were a triple threat on a great combination for Coen to score the final goal and put the Falcons up 8-1. "This was not a pretty at the start, but it got progressively better as time went on. It was great to see teammates stepping up and picking up the slack for one another - that is how a team needs to operate," said Curtis.  "We needed a win to put some air in our sails and this was a nice opportunity to come together and truly rely on each other." "Tennent did not back down and came at us hard to start," complimented Curtis. "They forced our hand and really made us coaches dig and plan and strategize," Curtis said. "Strong consistent play from Cailyn Reilly, Jacqueline Sullivan, and Payton Worth helped us to stay on track as well," said Curtis. The Falcons will travel to CB East on Monday to battle it out in a crossover game with the Patriots. 

September 11, 2024
CR SOUTH 2, Pennsbury 1

The Pennsbury Falcons hosted Council Rock South for their first night game of the season at Falcon Field. After watching the JV team continue their streak of shut outs, beating CRS 2-0, the varsity PHS players prepared for battle. With the sun setting behind the stands you could hear a pin drop in the stadium during a moment of silence in honor of those lost on September 11th so long ago. Some members of the Pennsbury Marching Band performed the National Anthem creating a beautiful moment for us to focus on that day we will never forget and to remind us of the gratitude we have to be playing the sport we love. Both teams came out with a matched energy and determination forcing the first two quarters to end in a scoreless tie. Going into halftime at 0-0 is both exciting and exhausting - you watch them battle so hard for 30 minutes and come away in the same place they started," Curtis said. "We were so proud of how our girls were moving the ball, applying things we talked about at practice, and really coming together," said Coach, Traci Curtis. "We didn't change too much at that point of the game, but simply encouraged them to continue fighting and playing patient hockey," Curtis added. "Our forwards were moving well, our mids were holding their space, and our defense was strong working the ball in transfers and being smart about placement. The passing in all parts of the field was great today, but it was just not enough, " said Curtis. South busted the 0-0 score halfway through the 3rd quarter when M.Freeman connected during a scuffle in front of the cage on a penalty corner play putting the Hawks ahead 1-0. The Falcons did not let down, but found themselves in another defensive corner situation four minutes later and once again, CRS found a way to take advantage of the set piece with a goal by S.Freeman. "South passed the ball really well on their corner plays and they worked our defense inside the circle in a way that put us on our heels in those moments," explained Curtis. "They went up 2-0 with four minutes left in the 3rd quarter and we knew we had to dig deeper and work even harder. It was a great game on both sides of the ball and just an entertaining contest all around. The 4th quarter began with the Falcons down 2-0, but they did not give up. "We are most proud of our team for staying strong, encouraging each other all around, and being in a very energetic, hyped mindset the whole time. They truly were playing with gratitude and it was coming from their hearts," said Curtis. The excitement went up a notch in the first two minutes of the 4th quarter when Pennsbury's, Ryan Burdette, found the back of the cage during an offensive penalty corner play putting the orange and black within a goal. There was tons of time left to play. The Falcons fought hard and got extremely close to tying the game, but the clock ran out before they could make it happen. "We managed the clock so much better this game and had solid scoring opportunities in the final 2 minutes, which was great to see from our unit. I am happy with their performance and will take the loss and all the lessons it gives us," stated Curtis. "Just like the Neshaminy game, South only scored on two of ten penalty corners and those earned set pieces were where they scored. They did not finish from the regular field play and that speaks volumes about how we are handling our shifting and movement in all of that space during the game. South is a talented team who I think we are really well matched with. Do we need to work on defensive penalty corner situations? Absolutely, but I have no doubt our girls will learn and make the adjustments necessary to be successful moving forward," Curtis stated. "We are not finished and are growing and changing with each game," said Curtis. On a day like today it helps to realize that there are things much bigger than ourselves and reflecting on the game with a grateful, positive mindset will allow us to move forward with strength and joy," Curtis said.  "All of our girls had outstanding performances tonight, but senior, Jacqueline Sullivan, earned our Power Of ONE award for her determination and stepping up to the challenge in the back for the entire game," Curtis explained. Pennsbury will host Tennent on Friday to finish out the three game week. 

September 9, 2024
CR NORTH 4, Pennsbury 1

The Pennsbury Falcons, coming off of a hard fought battle against Neshaminy on Thursday, traveled to CR North for another league match up. This highly anticipated stand off is always a great game filled with highs and lows and everything in between. Today the lows outweighed the highs for PHS. The orange and black jumped out on fire and connected in the opening three minutes to take the lead 1-0. "The passing series up the field was beautifully executed. Many players had a hand in getting that ball up to the circle and to finish, Abby Iacona sent a pass to Abby Anderer out wide and Anderer just finished with strength," explained head coach, Traci Curtis. "It was really well done and exactly what we had worked on for weeks," Curtis added. "What is funny is that is exactly what Nesh did to us a few days earlier. It felt good to be on the other side of that play in the opening minutes this time," Curtis explained. CR North didn't flinch. Three minutes later they tallied their first goal to tie it up, giving PHS no time at all to really enjoy the slim lead. "One thing about Rock is you can never let down for one second," said Curtis. "They will come at you extra hard if they even sniff a lull." And that is exactly what happened. With about nine seconds left in the first quarter, CRN gained possession outside of their offensive circle and worked their way right through the Falcon defense to take the lead 2-1 at the buzzer. "That was a dagger in the heart moment," Curtis admitted. "We were tied 1-1 and could have taken that into the next quarter, but then in a split second we found ourselves down by one. It should have never happened at all. We miss managed the clock and flubbed a free hit and should have been better in that moment." The second and third quarters were scoreless, however Council Rock kept knocking on the Falcons' door with repeated penalty corners. "Our defense was exhausted and managed to stop a tirade of corners, but they just were not working well together today for some reason. The unit seemed "off" as a whole.  Unfortunately, we could not get our offense going enough to have solid opportunities. Some of those connections after that opening play seemed to just dissipate," said Curtis. It remained a 2-1 game going into the fourth quarter and now it was a battle of who was able to dig the deepest. North solidified their stance on digging deep by scoring their third goal two minutes into the final quarter. Down 3-1, Pennsbury had a lot of work to do, but the job got even more difficult when CRN added another goal three minutes later to make it 4-1 with ten minutes left in the game. "There was still plenty of time, but we just could not get our act together today. I will not put all of the responsibility on the players, we as coaches needed to dig deeper as well. We seemed to run out of strategies and ideas. We should have used our time out and we didn't and that could have been helpful and that was our mistake," said Curtis. "There were many bright spots in the mess today and we cannot forget that. Anderer connecting to score a goal was one of them. She did really well up front communicating, guiding, and helping to create offense. Angelina Kenney is a huge spark of speed, stepping to the ball, and energy that never seems to fade. Her defensive fire helps us out tremendously in so many moments. We made some great passing choices up the line that worked really well and we applied many things that we talked about coming off our loss last week." "Jules does an incredible job with her team and it's always a great game between us. Kudos to her girls who fought hard, never let down, and came at us with heart and skill that outdid us. Sierra Kim in the backfield is a super smart player who really took advantage of some key moments and helped her team earn that win. North had four different players score, which is also a key to success," complimented Curtis. The two teams will meet again later in the season for another great battle. Pennsbury will get to work as they prepare to play the other Rock - CR South on Wednesday night at Falcon Field. 

September 5, 2024
Neshaminy 2, Pennsbury 0

Home openers always feel different. The Falcon field hockey family was locked in and ready to go after supporting the JV team during the first half of their 1-0 victory against the Skins. Patiently waiting for the turf to be cleared from football practice, the varsity team rushed the field like fans entering a concert. "We were blessed with another gorgeous day and the whole vibe was so positive and exciting. The JV game was before ours so we watched the first half and then came to the turf for our later game," explained head coach, Traci Curtis. "We have done a great job attacking each game as they come, climbing the ladder one rung at a time. Assistant coach, Lori Riley, and I are very proud of our preparation at every step," said Curtis. "Our focus was intentional and purposeful - our game plan solid - play as ONE," said Curtis making reference to their team's season theme, The Power of ONE. The score tells a story as just numbers, but inside of that score is an even bigger story to be told. The history over the past 5 seasons of the score of Pennsbury's first game against Neshaminy looks like this: 2019, 5-1 Neshaminy - 2020, 2-1 overtime Neshaminy - 2021, 7-0 Neshaminy - 2022, 5-1 Neshaminy - 2023, 6-0 Neshaminy. "With the exception of 2020, which is an exception in itself, our history of first battles with the Skins have always been weak. There was nothing weak about today," said Curtis. Three minutes into the game, the red and blue earned the first of 15 penalty corners. Kasey Rieger put her team on the board with a straight shot just past the goalie's right side. Neshaminy went up 1-0 and Curtis felt that familiar feeling that comes with an early goal like that. This is the part of the story that the score does not reflect. This is where weakness never became part of the story. That 1-0 score remained the same going into halftime and all the way until there was 1 minute left in the 3rd  quarter when Nesh scored off of a nice corner play with a post tip. The 2-0 score would hold until the final buzzer, as the Falcons held the Skins scoreless in the 4th. "The pride we felt in our players is unexplainable. They could have crumbled after that early goal and succumbed to the pressure of this high caliber game, but they didn't crumble. At all. Instead, they united, dug deep, stuck to their plan, and fought. They fought hard with skill, speed, and heart. They held Neshaminy at 1-0 for 44 minutes," said Curtis. "There were so many victories for us inside of this game. Neshaminy only scored off of penalty corners, not from regular field play. Our defense stopped 13 of the 15 corners the Skins earned. Our goalie saved 9 of 11 shots. Nesh was scoreless in the 2nd and 4th quarters," Curtis beamed. "One of the biggest pieces of this game was the sacrifice and hard work of sophomore, Abby Iacona, who did her job to hold Neshaminy's leading scorer to only 1 goal off of a corner. Iacona single handedly broke up many opportunities their top player had and also worked to channel her into other defenders for great defensive plays," said Curtis. "Iacona's effort was a game changer. It certainly was a strategy we put into place and sacrificed Abby in other spaces on the field, but it was effective and we knew she was the right one for the task," Curtis said. "The Skins make us all work harder and strive to be at our best. They are a strong team with speed and great sticks. They are smart and skilled and never back down.  Today we proved to ourselves that we have all of those qualities as well," said Curtis. "It was a really great field hockey game and although the offensive push may have been lopsided (not in our favor), the overall play of both teams was high level and made for an entertaining performance." "Our defense was on fire and forced to play at a very quick pace for 60 minutes. Cailyn Reilly, Angelina Kenney, Avalee Shumski, and Payton Worth put together an awesome game with the help of keeper, Abby McCole. We struggled to create offensive opportunities today earning only 1 penalty corner and taking 4 shots on goal, but that lapse is a result of sacrificing Iacona to do a specific job and is easy to adjust when the offense is all back together in one piece." "We were very proud of the leadership of our captains, Ava Jordan and Angelina Kenney. They got everyone pumped and put their words into action on the field with incredible play," said Curtis.  "Tomorrow is a new day and time to take the next step and prepare to battle Council Rock North on Monday. The takeaways from today's match up will be a perfect jumping point for us and only make us better. When you lose, you always learn," said Curtis 

September 3, 2024
Pennsbury 4, Bensalem 0

The Pennsbury Falcons were on the road again for another away contest. This time they traveled to Bensalem to take on the Owls in a league game set against the backdrop of continued gorgeous weather.
Pennsbury got off to a slow start, taking a minute to acclimate to the grass field and getting into a comfortable groove with each other. |
Senior Alaina Bird kicked off the scoring a little more than halfway through the first quarter, slamming a shot by the goalie off a feed from sophomore Ryan Burdette, who had carried the ball into the circle.
"It was a great finish from Alaina in front of the cage and a nice way to open up the scoring," said coach Traci Curtis.
That goal stood alone for the remainder of the first quarter. The orange and black came out strong on offense at the start of the second quarter with senior Riley Askey finding the back of the cage about five minutes after the clock started.
"We were fighting in the circle, and our attack did a good job of transferring the ball around the space, moving it from right to left,” Curtis said. “Junior Abby Anderer passed the ball across from the baseline and Askey was there in front of the goalie and used a quick shot to beat the keeper.
“ It was nice to see so many players having a hand in the success of that goal - it was executed in a way that reflects the internalization and application of practice drills and chalk talk discussions.”
Five minutes later, the Falcons had an incredible passing sequence up the field which resulted in a well-placed cross pass from the right by sophomore Ava Pinto, and Askey was again in the right place to one-time the ball with strength into the cage. The halftime score had the Falcons leading 3-0, but there was still work to be done.
"We were not completely satisfied with our performance and needed to sharpen some facets of our game," said Curtis. "Despite some great passing combos and smart decision making, we could not finish during the third quarter until the final minute. We earned a corner, which was one of our discussion pieces at the half.
“The corner was broken up, but we were fighting in the dirt to finish, and sophomore Abby Iacona played it smart, using a quick reaction reverse lift into goal off a rebound during the scuffle. It was a heads up play and deceptive because she had her back to the goal and the keeper never saw it coming. This is the type of offensive push we are really working to master - relentless and gritty and getting those second and third opportunities on every attempt."
Iacona's goal made it a 4-0 game, and that would remain the score up to the final buzzer.
"It was a whole group effort, and everyone contributed in some way. We are definitely proud of that aspect of today," Curtis said. "We saw hustle and heart from everyone, which we will carry with us into tomorrow as we prepare for the next step on the ladder. We will work to continue to fine tune, get creative, work smarter, and use our strengths in all the right places."

August 29, 2024
Pennsbury 8 , Truman 0

The Falcons traveled to Truman HS for a league match up, fresh off of a scrimmage win against Montgomery HS in New Jersey. The preseason schedule included a game mixed in with an opportunity to scrimmage some different teams so it was a welcome combination of contests to prepare PHS along the way. It was an almost full senior line up at the starting whistle as Pennsbury gave their seniors (minus 2 who were not available to play) the chance to be on the field together. "It is a unique opportunity to get nine of our eleven seniors on the field at the same time so we wanted to take advantage of the moment and give them that chance," explained head coach, Traci Curtis. It is a special season for them so it was nice to see them out there competing as one. Senior Ella Bray connected three minutes into the game off of a pass from fellow senior, Alaina Bird to light up the scoreboard 1-0. Three minutes later, senior, Oliva Coen, fed a ball to senior, Allison Goldfarb, who scored a goal making it a 2-0 game going into the second quarter. The next fifteen minutes were filled with an explosion of passing combinations, rebounds, and tips into goal. Sophomores, Abby Iacona, Ryan Burdette, Regan Rodriguez, and Ava Pinto combined for four goals in the span of the quarter. Pinto scored two, Iacona assisted two, Rodriguez scored two, and Burdette assisted one. The score was 6-0 going into the half.  Ella Bray added another to her tally at the end of the third quarter with a heads up tip from a Riley Askey pass. Askey assisted one more in the fourth helping Allison Goldfarb to score another goal bringing the final number to 8. "Today we focused on possessing the ball and working the transfer to switch fields. We had a lot of good passing combinations and moved the ball well. It was a whole team victory and a chance to strengthen the depth of our team across the board. We are so proud of our senior class and all that they bring to the table. They really are a great reflection of our season theme - The Power of ONE.  We have a high level of respect for the Truman field hockey team as they continue to dig deep, work hard, and never give up. Playing them is always a good time and helps us to learn the power of resilience and determination. The new coaches are doing an incredible job to teach, guide, and develop their players," said Curtis. Other stand out performances were turned in by Payton Worth and Angelina Kenney on defense. "Senior, Kenney stepped to the ball so well today, cutting off many opportunities for the Tigers and Sophomore, Payton Worth, is a very patient, skilled player who distributes the ball beautifully to her teammates. Her IQ is getting better and better each day," said Curtis. "Our focus is on taking one step at a time. We are climbing one rung of the ladder with each contest and are purposefully not looking too far ahead, " emphasized Curtis. "Our next game is against Bensalem and that is what we will prepare for tomorrow and Monday. One step at a time and doing it together." 

August 23, 2024
Pennsbury 7, Archbishop Wood 0

The Pennsbury Falcons kicked off their 2024 game schedule with a strong win over Archbishop Wood (7-0). "Holding them scoreless and notching seven goals was a great way to add some fuel to the fire that has already been burning during preseason. This was a new opponent for us so game prep was hyper focused on just playing "our" game and taking control early," said head coach, Traci Curtis. "Today allowed us to continue to look at our roster and evaluate our lineup while also checking our depth as we look ahead at our schedule and know what is to come. This time of year we are like scientists working in a lab trying to mix the best concoction," Curtis explains. It seems as though the experimentation worked well today with five different scorers on attack and the defense holding Wood to zero shots or goals. Senior, Alaina Bird, started off the scoring with a rebound shot early in the first quarter. Sophomore, Regan Rodriguez, tallied her first of the season on an assist from sophomore, Ryan Burdette. Senior captain, Ava Jordan, added another late in the second quarter with an assist from fellow senior, Sam Nesteruk. The Falcons entered halftime up 3-0 and were hungry for more. Wood held the Falcons in the third quarter and the score remained 3-0 until Rodriguez struck again half way through the fourth assisted by Junior, Abby Anderer. In the final 15 minutes the Falcons were full steam ahead. A spark ignited and the Falcons went on to score three more goals in the quarter to finish out the game with a 7-0 victory. Ava Jordan added her second, an unassisted goal, and sophomore, Ava Pinto, scored on an assist from sophomore, Abby Iacona. Burdette, snuck one more in with under 30 seconds left in the game to put an exclamation point on the day. Curtis and assistant Coach, Lori Riley, were very pleased with the overall performance of the group. It was a full team win with every player contributing and a nice reflection of the hard work leading up to the game. "We loved how they came together and set the tone for the season. We are taking one step at a time so we will take this win and now begin to prepare for what is next."