Pennsbury, Council Rock North share field hockey title

Pennsbury grabbed a share of the Suburban One League National Conference field hockey championship Wednesday, its first since 1992.

That drew a chuckle from the Pennsbury players, some of whom were born that year and others who had yet to come along.

"We told them they were born to win," Pennsbury coach Brooke Bergmann said after the Falcons had gained a share of the title by beating visiting Neshaminy, 3-0.

The Falcons were forced to share the title with Council Rock North, which edged Council Rock South, 1-0, Wednesday in the conference finale for each. The Indians and Falcons finished with identical 11-2-1 records in what was a wild conference race.

Five teams, including defending champion Neshaminy, had a mathematical chance of winning the championship up until two days ago.

The final score is deceiving as the Falcons were nursing a 1-0 lead up until the last 6 1/2 minutes. It was not for lack of trying, however. The Falcons had 12 penalty corner on the afternoon but had trouble converting on them.

"We just weren't getting the good shots," said Mia Reed, who combined with Jenna Allen for all of the Falcons' scoring. Reed scored two goals, both coming off feeds from Allen. Reed returned the favor by helping Allen get the Falcons' second goal.

Reed got the first goal with less than 10 minutes gone in the game off a penalty corner, and Pennsbury kept the Redskins on their heels for quite a bit in the first half.

"We always get energized after we score," said Allen, whose goal was a power drive to the lower right corner of the cage passed Redskins goalie Alexa Ball's outstretched left leg. It came with 6 minutes, 26 seconds left in the game after Pennsbury had come up empty on a series of six penalty corners, the last one at the 6:53 mark.

Reed's second goal to clinch it came a little over two minutes later.

It was the third game of the week for the Falcons, all the more reason for Bergmann to be pleased with her team's play. Bergmann is filling in for Tracy Arndt, who is on maternity leave but helping out on a volunteer basis.

"Most of our games have been close this season," Bergnmann said. "Fortunately the girls were fully aware of the significance of the game and stayed focused."

The Falcons (12-4-1 overall), ranked seventh by The Inquirer in Southeastern Pennsylvania, have a non-league game against top-ranked Wissahickon at home on Thursday.

Neshaminy's first year coach, Sara Camilli, inherited a team that lost 13 seniors (eight starters) after winning its eighth league championship in nine seasons in 2008.

"Pennsbury outplayed us," she said of the loss. "They put the ball in the cage. We didn't."

Camilli is hoping that a non-league win over ninth-ranked Central Bucks South Thursday might help secure a spot in the District 1 playoffs for her team. The Redskins are 7-8-1 going into that game.

Neshaminy     0 0 - 0

Pennsbury    1 2 - 3

Goals: P-Mia Reed 2, Jenna Allen.

Saves: N: Alexa Bell 5. P-Caty Ritchie 2.