Souderton's Harris achieves milestone

Typical of Souderton field hockey coach Mary Ann Harris, she told only a few people that she was approaching her 300th career win with the Indians.

"I didn't say anything. I did tell [ex-North Penn coach] Joan Moser, but I didn't tell the coaches," said Harris.

Harris was at a national coaches convention a few years ago when she was honored for 200 wins.

"I remember reaching 290 last year," she said.

The milestone came Oct. 12 in a 2-0 win over Central Bucks South. But more important to Harris than wins has been the students she has turned on to the game of field hockey.

"It's great to see them then go on and play at the college level," said Harris, who was a standout at both North Penn and Temple.

In 18 seasons at Souderton, Harris has sent about 50 girls to play at college. In that time, she has compiled a 302-107-26 record and won nine conference championships and four District 1 championships.

The Indians have been in the middle of a tight Suburban One League Continental Conference race this season. They were 8-3-2 in the conference going into their last regular season game yesterday vs. Quakertown. Central Bucks South (9-3-1) needed a win or tie in its finale yesterday against Central Bucks East (9-4) to repeat as conference champion.

"We weren't as consistent as I would have liked," Harris said in summing up her team's play this season. "It was a good race, and there were some upsets."

Pennridge, a team that Souderton beat, 5-0, the first time around, tied the Indians, 1-1, this week in their second meeting.

Although William Tennent's championship hopes in the Suburban One League National Conference took a big hit with a 3-0 loss to Council Rock South on Monday, the Panthers have the satisfaction of knowing they put together one of their best seasons in years.

Going into yesterday's game with Truman, Tennent was 13-5 overall, 10-4 in the conference. The Panthers, who were looking for their first conference championship, briefly held the conference lead ahead of Council Rock North and Pennsbury before Monday's loss to the Golden Hawks.

The Panthers had beaten South, 3-2, in overtime in their first meeting.

"The seniors especially have been working so hard," said Tennent coach Kate Wyatt. "Several of them have been starting since they were freshmen."

Wyatt attributed the team's record to the club ball in which many of her players are participating. Alex Kistner, Alyssa DiLella, and Chelsea Prichett are among them.

Prichett is the Panthers' leading scorer with eight goals, followed by Kistner with six.

Seeding for the District 1 Class AAA and AA playoffs will be held tonight. The Class AAA playoffs begin Monday, with class A starting Tuesday. The finals for both classes will be held Nov. 7. The PIAA championship games in both classes are set for Nov. 21 at the Zephyr Sports Center at Whitehall High School.

A maximum of 27 teams will receive bids for the district AAA playoffs. A maximum of 13 teams will make it in class A.

The top five teams in AAA will receive first-round byes. The top four seeds will receive byes in AA.

Unbeaten Villa Maria Academy (17-0) is expected to be the top seed in class A, followed by Springfield (Montco) (11-3). Other expected high seeds are Merion Mercy (12-5) and Upper Perkiomen (12-4-1).

In Class AAA, Wissahickon (15-0) and Great Valley (15-0) are the lone unbeaten teams in the district, but some observers say they have not been tested. Council Rock North (12-4-1), which took an eight-game winning streak into its regular season finale yesterday, and Pennsbury (11-4-1) are also expected to be among the top seeds, along with Owen J. Roberts (14-2-1), Central Bucks South (12-3-1) and Downingtown West (16-2).