Top Performers: With the season winding down, see which players are stepping up
The regular season is nearly finished, but these players have been putting up big numbers.
From highly anticipated matchups to classic rivalry games, see which players stood out last week (Oct. 10-16) in golf, soccer, field hockey, girls' volleyball and cross country.
Cross Country: Hatboro-Horsham's Brian DiCola charts new course with record-setting run
And while you're here, cast your vote for the Girls and Boys Athletes of the Week (scroll to the bottom of the page). This week's polls will be open from Tuesday at 8 p.m. to Thursday at 8 p.m.
Player of the Week: Mia Chuma, New Hope Solebury, girls volleyball
The Lions’ senior recorded her 1,000th career kill in Friday’s 3-2 win over Central Bucks East. Chuma, an outside hitter, crushed 18 kills en route to the milestone. She will continue her volleyball career at Georgetown University next year.
Coach of the Week: Tom DeGeorge, Archbishop Wood
The Vikings’ girls soccer coach was honored by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Soccer Hall of Fame. DeGeorge received the Charlotte Moran Coach of the Year Award (Female Team) at an awards banquet on Saturday in recognition of his success last season.
Last season, the Vikings won the Philadelphia Catholic League championship for the first time since 2016, and made it to the PIAA Class 2A quarterfinals for the third year in a row. DeGeorge’s daughter Alyssa DeGeorge, who graduated last spring and is now playing for Cabrini, won the Tom Payton Female Player of the Year award.
Field Hockey:Pennridge's Payton Muth stars on the field now, but plans to be on the sidelines later
Team of the Week: Lansdale Catholic girls tennis
The Crusaders captured their second straight PCL Girls Tennis Championship with a 3-2 win over Cardinal O’Hara. Emerson Selgrath and Bridget Keyser won their first and third singles’ matches in straight sets. Ella Moran, in second singles, won her first set before dropping the second on a tie-breaker. In the crucial third set, Moran won 6-1 to clinch the win for the Crusaders.
O’Hara won both doubles matches, despite great performances from Sabrina Gambale and Pheodora Kasmer in first doubles, and Ella Huber and Addison Herr in second doubles. The Crusaders remained undefeated this season (14-0) and will play Masterman in the District XII Class 2A Championship on Oct. 20.
Top Performers
Girls Soccer
Maddy McCloud, Paige Eckert, Archbishop Wood
McCloud and Eckert scored a goal apiece in a 2-0 win over Conwell-Egan that improved the Vikings to 7-0 in the PCL standings. Wood is the only team that remains undefeated in PCL play.
Lauren Greer, Archbishop Wood
The Vikings’ goalie recorded her eighth shutout of the season in a win against PCL opponent Conwell-Egan.
Maura Day, Carley Slavin, Abington
Day and Slavin had a goal and an assist apiece as the Ghosts dealt their SOL Liberty rivals Hatboro-Horsham its first loss of the season. The Ghosts improved to 12-3 (11-2 SOL).
Mercedez Paino, Angelina Daino, Neshaminy
Paino scored the game-tying goal and Daino followed with the go-ahead score to keep Neshaminy unbeaten (13-0-1) with a 2-1 win over CR South.
Josey Smith, Pennsbury
Smith scored two goals and assisted on another in the Falcons’ win over Truman.
Jillian Haley, Pennsbury
Haley scored the lone goal of the game to give the Falcons their second win a row, edging Bensalem 1-0.
Sam Ridler, North Penn
The Knights’ goalie was dominant in net against CB West, recording 12 saves and a shutout in a 2-0 win.
Girls Soccer:Johnson's leadership guides Villa Joseph Marie girls' soccer through tough times
Hannah Primwhere, Hailey Primwhere, Pennridge
It was a double feature that gave the Rams’ the win over CB East. With the game tied, Hannah scored the go-ahead goal late in the second half with an assist from her twin sister Hailey.
Darby Vail, Quakertown
The Panthers’ goalie stepped up on a windy, rainy night to shutout a strong Wissahickon team and secure the 1-0 win.
Malena Russo, Pennsbury
In a rivalry game against unbeaten Neshaminy on Senior Night, the Falcons’ senior goalie made several tough saves and held Neshaminy to two goals. Neshaminy won 2-0.
Field Hockey
Dakota Poland, Conwell-Egan
Poland scored the game-winning goal late in the fourth quarter to give the Eagles a 4-3 win over Bonner-Prendergast. Conwell-Egan finished 5-3 in the PCL, earning the No. 5 seed in the playoffs. The Eagles will play Wood on Wednesday in the first round.
Anna Cusumano, Lansdale Catholic
Cusumano assisted on both of the Crusaders’ goals in a big 2-0 win over rival Archbishop Wood. That win, plus a 3-2 victory over Bonner, put LC at 5-3 in the PCL standings, and earned the Crusaders the No. 3 seed and a first round home playoff game against No. 6 Bonner on Wednesday.
Angela Cavallaro, Archbishop Wood
Cavallaro scored both of the Vikings’ goals in a 2-1 win over Bonner-Prendergast. It was the Vikings’ first win over the Pandas in six seasons. The Vikings finished 5-3 in the PCL and will host a first round playoff game against Conwell-Egan.
Maddy Mela, Council Rock North
Mela scored three goals in the first period, then added a fourth in the final frame, in the Indians’ 7-3 win over Bensalem.
Kylee Hager, Caroline Martin, Council Rock South
The Golden Hawks’ teammates each contributed a goal and an assist to lead CR South to a 3-1 win over rival CR North.
Mia Popovich, Pennsbury
Following a scoreless first half, Popovich put the Falcons’ on top with two goals in the first two minutes of the second half. The Falcons edged Truman 4-0. In their next game, Popovich assisted on three goals in the Falcons’ 4-0 win over Bensalem.
Audra Szymborski, Central Bucks East
The Patriots’ goalie had a remarkable outing, recording 22 saves and allowing just one goal against rival CB South. CB South won 1-0.
Nina Mayro, Central Bucks West
Mayro scored a pair of goals and assisted on two more as the Bucks’ topped North Penn 7-0 and improved to 13-1.
Eve Damasker, Central Bucks West
In a 7-0 win over Pennridge, Damasker scored three goals and assisted on one more. She also had two goals in the Bucks’ win against North Penn.
Sophia Cozza, New Hope-Solebury
Cozza scored the lone goal in the win that clinched the Lions’ SOL Freedom Division title. The Lions topped Springfield 1-0 to improve to 11-2 in league play and clinch the division with a lead of 11 points.
Neshaminy clinched the SOL Patriot title after Wednesday’s win over Harry S. Truman. It is Neshaminy’s fifth straight division championship.
Leah Verespy, Pennridge
Verespy was the Rams’ hero Wednesday night after scoring the game-winning goal in overtime against CB East.
Boys Soccer
Chris Branchide, Logan Savage, Archbishop Wood
Branchide netted the game-winning goal in double overtime to give the Vikings a huge 1-0 win over Roman. Savage had an assist on the goal. The win gave Wood a bump in the standings over Roman, with the two teams tied going in the game. The Vikings (9-1-1) earned the No. 2 seed in the PCL playoffs, and will host Conwell-Egan for a quarterfinal game on Friday.
Chase McCaffrey, Council Rock North
McCaffrey scored the game-winner with under seven minutes to go to give the Indians a 1-0 non league win over Archbishop Ryan, a perennial state playoff team.
Ari Pollack, Council Rock North
Pollack scored the lone goal of the game, but this was no ordinary game. Pollack’s goal gave CR North the 1-0 victory against CR South to claim the highly-coveted Rock Unity Cup. And that wasn’t all- the win clinched the SOL Patriot division title for the Indians.
Ryan Hartman, Abington
Senior goalie Ryan Hartman delivered a shutout in his first start in goal for the Ghosts. Hartman, who had dealt with injuries his first three seasons, helped Abington to a 2-0 win over SOL Liberty rival Hatboro-Horsham.
Ryan Schewe, Souderton
Schewe scored a pair of goals in the Indians’ win over nearby rival Dock Mennonite.
Brayden Power, Souderton
Power scored the game-winning goal in a defensive battle between SOL Colonial opponents Souderton and North Penn. The Indians won the game 1-0, their first league win in their last five tries, to remain in playoff contention.
Troy Thanel, Pennridge
Troy Thanel scored the game-winner in double overtime to give the Rams a 2-1 win over Souderton.
Wasseem Jawawdeh, Neshaminy
Jawawdeh scored the go-ahead goal in Neshaminy’s 2-1 win over CR South.
Connor Dixon, Neshaminy
Dixon scored the first varsity goal of his career in Neshaminy’s 6-1 win over Truman.
Ryan Miller, North Penn
Miller scored twice in the second half to break a scoreless tie against CB West and secure a 2-0 win for the Knights in their fourth straight victory.
Matt Rowan, Bensalem
The sophomore goalie had been starting for the JV team, but was called up for a varsity start against Pennsbury. Rowan put up an impressive effort in net, making several saves and leading the Owls’ defenders. Pennsbury won 3-2, with one score being an own goal.
Volleyball
Dene Howe, Bensalem
After being called up from the jv team, Howe had a team-high 14 digs to lead Bensalem in a sweep of a Conwell-Egan team that was 14-1 at the start of the match.
Kiersten Adair, Pennsbury
On Senior Night, Pennsbury senior Adair celebrated with a dominant 10-kill, four-ace outing in a sweep of Bensalem.
Ashlynn Dinan, Council Rock South
The Golden Hawks’ setter had a big hand in their 3-2 win over Haverford, dishing out 35 assists to go along with six kills and an ace.
Cross Country
Shana Kearney, Bensalem
The Owls’ junior took first place in the girls varsity race at the Neshaminy Open with a time of 19:37.00.
Ciaran Chambers, Holy Ghost
The Firebirds’ senior finished second in the Dock Invitational boys varsity race with a time of 17:06.07.
Gwen Hamilton, Archbishop Wood
The Vikings’ freshman finished out the season going 4-for-4 in PCL meets. In the final meet of the season, Hamilton clocked in at 20:40.20, nearly a minute ahead of the second place finisher.
Stephen Heckler, Lansdale Catholic
The Crusaders’ freshman took second place in the PCL boys varsity race with a time of 17:24.70.
Meredith Glunz, Villa Joseph Marie
Glunz raced to a first place finish in a tri-meet between Gwynedd Mercy, Nazareth and VJM.
Matthew Gorman, Conwell-Egan
Gorman finished second in the boys varsity race at the Neshaminy Open with a 17:33.00 time.
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: PA Bucks Montco High School Sports Top Performers
