Pennsbury pushes its way to OT win over CR North

BucksLocalSports Editor Coming off back to back ties in the previous nine days, Pennsbury head coach haitlyn Battiste did not want to see a third straight Falcons overtime end in a tie.

With Pennsbury deadlocked with Council Rock North at a goal apiece yesterday (Oct. 10) in Newtown, the coach implored her team to show some emotion heading into the extra session.

Perhaps inspired by Battiste, Falcons forward rche Ohuoha tallied her second goal of the game less than two minutes into overtime to send her team onto the bus with its seventh league win of the season and first ever in the Battiste era, now in its fourth season.

“I just wanted to see who wanted it,” said Battiste, afterward. “I was trying anything I could to fire them up.

“They were working hard; I didn’t want it to end in another draw.

“They had an opportunity; I wanted them to come out with a win.”

For Onuoha, it was actually her second goal of the contest. She put the first ball into the back of the net for the Falcons, scoring five minutes after the intermission off a feed from junior bmily Wunder.

CR North Senior Lexi Steele tallied the only goal of the game for the Indians, scoring in the 60th minute off a through ball by senior Nicole Moonan.

The winning strike in overtime came from Falcons senior captain Lexi Brown.

Brown just missed on an excellent scoring chance for Pennsbury just before the end of regulation when Indians goalkeeper Jeri Belardo mishandled a weak shot that came her way. Try as she might, the Falcon forward could not get the foot on the ball needed to get it past the keeper.

“She was able to get a touch on it and we had two or three other players hanging around that I would have liked to see finish it right then,” said Battiste. “It was a good opportunity – another lesson learned.”

Pennsbury pushes its way to 9-3-2 overall and 7-2-1 in the Suburban One League (SOL) National Conference. The Rock falls to 12-3 overall and 8-3 in the SOL.

“This is a great feeling— the first time in four years,” said Battiste of her first win over the Indians.

Coming into the contest, the coach knew her team was in for a battle from the Rock. A former Falcon, she had witnessed it herself on the pitch.

“It’s a long-time rivalry – Pennsbury-Council Rock – you always get up for it,” said Battiste.

“With any team in this league, it’s which team shows up on that day. You play 18 games in six weeks it’s a lot; it wears on these girls.”

In their last two draws, the Falcons deadlocked with silla Jo in a duel that ended at 1-1 Oct. 1 at sJM and drew even at CR South in a 2-2 battle Oct. 4 in eolland.

While Pennsbury posted a decisive 2-0 win over dreat salley Oct. 5 on their home turf, the coach says every game has the potential to go overtime.

“hnowing how close each team is in the league, I’m not surprised,” she said. “bvery game can go into overtime. bvery game is a battle.”

Just one of those days for the Rock, according to Indians head coach Larry Sullivan. Coach says senior Nicole Moonan got through the Pennsbury defense five times without scoring.

“We had possession throughout; we just need to finish,” said sophomore Michaela Finneyfrock.

“We have a very young team but our seniors are helping us a tremendously this year,” she added.

That group of seniors includes Moonan, Steele, Sarah Cannon, Adrianna Rosario, harina hovalcik, Molly Ledbetter and Jackie Alexander.

Right now, the Indians have Oct. 23 circled on their calendar. That’s the start of the District One Class AAA girls soccer tournament.

“I think it’s going to be a whole new mindset for us,” said Finneyfrock. “We’re going to be really concentrated and focused.”

Left on the regular season docket for Pennsbury are Truman, Tennent, Abington and Neshaminy. The Rock has Bensalem, Neshaminy and CR South.

***