Neshaminy field hockey's fast start has players looking for more
When you start the season 7-0, with wins over your biggest division rivals and have outscored opponents 36-2, things couldn’t be much better. But while the Neshaminy High School field hockey team is happy with its incredible start to the season, the squad is not satisfied.
“Now we’re preparing for crossover games,” said head coach Jamie Pinto. “A few teams we lost to last year we look forward to seeing again.”
Neshaminy didn’t lose many games last year en route to a 14-6 record last year, but two of those losses were to Souderton. The Indians bested Neshaminy 6-0 in the regular season, but more importantly, also knocked Neshaminy out of the playoffs in the second round of the District One 3A tournament. Making matters worse, it was the sixth straight season that Neshaminy was ousted in the second round.
That’s a streak that senior team captains Avery McGinty and Olivia Roscoe are ready to break before they graduate.
While the players all put in the work in the offseason, it was much more than just skills building.
“Our team really bonded,” McGinty said. “We have a goal of making it past the second round, and we know we’re all in it together.”
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“There’s no drama with this team,” Roscoe said. “Everyone is positive and we all look forward to playing the hard teams that we lost to last season.”
After a non-league contest with Downingtown West on Friday, Neshaminy faces North Penn, Pennridge and Souderton next week in Suburban One League crossover games. North Penn dealt Neshaminy a 6-0 loss last season.
McGinty and Roscoe are looking forward to facing Souderton on Neshaminy's home turf this year.
“It’s going to be a fun time,” Roscoe said. “We’ll have lots of family there, lots of cheering, and some students come out too.”
While the team doesn’t need much help getting hyped up for those — or any — games, the players do have a proprietary playlist that they break out for such occasions. While the exact contents are closely guarded, McGinty did say that there “were lots of Pitbull” songs.
Whatever they’re listening to, it’s working.
After two losses to Patriot League rival Council Rock South last season, Neshaminy bested the Golden Hawks 4-1 in their first meeting this year.
McGinty, who was a second-team all-state selection last season, is known as a defensive specialist but she is also one of the team’s leading scorers. Roscoe, a midfielder, earned an honorable mention all-state honors. But one of the team’s key to success this season has been the group effort from all spots on the field — and even on the bench.
“We have 11 starters playing at the top of their game,” Pinto said. “But when our subs come in, the quality of play stays the same.”
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“One of the keys has been generating offense from multiple positions and being able to finish on scoring opportunities. We have underclassmen contributing and the defense has been working hard.”
In addition to McGinty, Morgan Shaltens and Brittany Mattoi have anchored a defense that has allowed two goals in six games. Kasey Reiger was talented enough to crack the starting lineup as a freshman and lead the team in scoring, but has put in plenty of work to improve her game.
Even with all the work they put into field hockey and their studies, both McGinty and Roscoe have jobs. And not a typical teenager job, such as scooping ice cream over the summer. McGinty works as an event manager, where she plans parties and special events.
While she enjoys seeing the smiles on the faces of the children at the parties she plans, McGinty isn’t planning on going pro. Instead, the East Stroudsburg commit plans to major in speech pathology. Roscoe, a Millersville commit, works at a nursing home, and plans to major in early childhood education.
Though their schedules are jam-packed, the girls make sure to leave time for fun — even if it's before a big game.
“The team is fun to be around,” Pinto said. “They make coaching fun, but when it’s game time they are ready to play.”
Stars of the Week
Defense: Junior Keira Delfin was essential to keeping Conwell-Egan in striking distance of Lansdale Catholic in the team's Catholic League opener. After the 3-2 overtime victory in the first game the Eagles played on their new field, Delfin was named the team's player of the game.
Offense: Sophomore Ava Jones has been a scoring sensation for Souderton. Jones scored five goals in two games this week, both wins, and already has 13 goals through six games this season.
Goalie: Freshman Kiley Moister stepped up in a big way when North Penn's starter Kiera Holt missed a couple games due to injury. Moister made 10 saves in net to help the Knights to a 3-2 win over Central Bucks East, and then recorded six saves in a 7-1 victory against Pennsbury.
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Looking ahead
Souderton at Neshaminy: On Friday, Neshaminy plays Souderton in an SOL crossover game. Last season, Souderton defeated Neshaminy twice, including in the District One playoffs. After five games, Souderton remains undefeated and tops the SOL Colonial Division, while Neshaminy has started the season 6-0 and leads the Patriot Division.
Episcopal Academy at Germantown Academy: After a strong nonleague schedule, the Patriots get their Inter-Academic League schedule started with a tough test Tuesday.
Lansdale Catholic at Archbishop Ryan: The Crusaders square off with the Ragdolls in a game between two teams that had good seasons a year ago, but are looking to find their way early in the season Wednesday.
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: PA Bucks/Montco High School Field Hockey: Neshaminy off to great start
