Goalie Jenna Phillips battles diabetes

Hatboro-Horsham senior goalie Jenna Phillips wasn't stopping any shots two Saturdays ago. Instead, she was walking in Philadelphia to support finding a cure for diabetes.

Phillips, who recently gave an oral commitment to play field hockey for Drexel next year, has a personal stake in finding a cure. The 17-year-old was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was 12.

"I want to go into nursing," Phillips said of her planned studies at Drexel. "Eventually, I'd like to become a diabetes educator."

Hatters coach Krista Greene said Phillips is diligent about taking care of her diabetes. Phillips tells her when she needs a break to get a shot of sugar from a drink.

"I probably check my blood sugar 10 times a day," said the 5-foot-1 Phillips with a chuckle. She wears an insulin pump.

Although Phillips may be small in stature, she more than makes up for it with hustle and dedication, according to Greene. Greene said that of Phillips' more than 170 saves for the 9-6-1 Hatters, many have been of the spectacular variety.

"I've worked on my jumping ability," said Phillips in explaining how she gets to balls out of her normal reach.

Phillips, who didn't begin playing field hockey until ninth grade, lost a tough 3-2 overtime decision Oct. 2 to Central Bucks South on a penalty stroke. It came after a stretch of seven games in which the Hatters won six and tied Central Bucks West.

"My worst game was against [C.B. South] the first time," said Phillips of a 4-2 loss. "One of best was [the tie] against [C.B.] West." She had more than 20 saves in that game.

As of last week, Wissahickon senior Adelle Lever is the leading point-getter among all players in the Suburban One League.

Lever had 38 points on 15 goals and eight assists through Wednesday for the once-beaten Trojans. Wissahickon has clinched the American Conference crown.

Deanna DiCroce of Central Bucks West and Caroline Mountney of Springfield (Montgomery County) are next with 30 points each. DeCroce has 13 goals and four assists, while Mountney has 12 goals and six assists.

Although Notre Dame Academy, ranked No. 3 by The Inquirer, knocked Episcopal Academy from the ranks of the unbeaten in the Inter-Academic League, captains Caitlin Powers and Kate Ivory have been happy with the way the Churchwomen (11-3) have been playing.

Among Episcopal's wins is a key 2-0 decision over No. 7-ranked Germantown Academy on Sept. 24. Neither Powers nor Ivory is surprised at their team's play. Besides the loss to the Irish, Episcopal's losses have been to Haverford High and Hill School. The latter tied Notre Dame, 1-1.

"We've been playing very well together. We're a versatile team," Powers said. "We've been able to switch people around - switch our backs to midfield and our midfield to forward - when needed."

"The win over GA was a good one," added Ivory. "It showed we have good chemistry."

Former Central Bucks East standout Lauren Crandall was honored Monday at the Central Bucks East-Central Bucks West game.

Crandall helped lead the Patriots to a 2002 PIAA Class AAA championship before going off to Wake Forest. A member of the U.S. National team, she played in the Olympic Games in Beijing this summer.

Team Record

Records through Monday. Last week's ranking is in parentheses.

1. Neshaminy (1) 15-0-2

The Redskins have clinched their sixth straight Suburban One League National Conference crown.

2. Villa Maria Academy (2) 15-1-1

The regular season-champion Hurricanes were scheduled to open Catholic Academies playoffs yesterday.

3. Notre Dame Academy (3) 13-0-1

The Irish face seventh ranked Germantown Academy in an Inter-Academic League matchup this afternoon.

4. Methacton (4) 17-1

The Warriors are anxious to see where they are seeded tomorrow night for the PIAA District 1 Class AAA playoffs.

5. Wissahickon (5) 16-1

The Trojans suffered their first loss Monday when Upper Merion surprised them, 1-0.

6. Strath Haven (6) 14-0-1

In their first 15 games, the Panthers have scored 50 goals and allowed just five.

7. Germantown Academy (7) 11-2

The Patriots hope to avenge an earlier 1-0 loss to Notre Dame this afternoon.

8. Central Bucks South (8) 13-2-1

The surprising Titans wrapped up the championship in the Suburban One League Continental Conference.

9. Merion Mercy (9) 12-4-1

The Golden Bears closed out the regular season with four straight wins, including a 3-0 triumph over Ridley.

10. Mount St. Joseph (10) 12-4

The Magic suffered a 1-0 loss to Merion Mercy in their final regular-season game.

Under consideration (listed alphabetically):

Cardinal O'Hara (13-1), Council Rock South (11-5), Downingtown West (11-2), Episcopal Academy (10-3), Haverford (11-4-1), Hill School (8-1-1), Upper Perkiomen (11-5).

- Don Beideman