Trojans knock out Owen J. Roberts
For Montgomery Media
2ZHn -. 5REHrWs’ fiHOG hockey team got off to a good start in this year’s District One Class AAA playoffs. The Wildcats, who were seeded 19th, turned in a strong performance in the opening round Monday with a 3-2 away win over 14thseeded Downingtown East.
Owen J.’s team arrived at Wissahickon’s stadium Wednesday afternoon with dreams of following with another upset win. But, the host Trojans wouldn’t cooperate — not even slightly.
Wissahickon used its passing skills and overall speed to stay in control for most of the game. And, it used a pair of pretty scoring plays both involving Stacie Rocco and Jackie eibbs — to post a 2-1 win over the visitors from northern Chester County.
The Trojans out-shot their JuHsWs 9-3 Ln WKH firsW KDOI, but were still locked in a sFRrHOHss GrDZ Ds WKH finDO sHFRnGs RI WKH firsW KDOI ticked away.
Wissahickon mounted one finDO RIIHnsLYH surJH Ln WKH closing minute — a surge that culminated with the JDPH’s firsW JRDO. :LWK -DFNie eibbs assisting, Rocco firHG WKH EDOO LnWR WKH :LOGcats’ cage to give her team a 1-0 lead with 0:07 left until intermission.
“f think it was a little frustrating that we weren’t scoring,” said Wissahickon
sweeper Ashley Laskowitz. “0DNLQJ WKDW fiUVW VKRW EHfore they scored was nice because it got us going.”
“I didn’t know there was less than one minute remaining,” Rocco said. “Jackie had the ball on the left side and passed it to me on the post. The goalie came out and I shot it past her.”
Both teams were used to SODyLQJ RQ DUWLfiFLDO WuUI DQG both played well. Wissahickon was just a little faster and a little more effective. The Trojans’ Emily Gallagher scored an insurance goal with 12:56 left in the second half on a play that began with a penalty corner.
“Jackie got the ball on the corner and took a hard shot,” said Rocco. “The ball bounced off the goalie’s pads. I got the rebound and shot. I had a clean shot and then Emily made sure it went in.”
It appeared as if the Trojans were on their way to a shutout, but then OJR’s Emma Christman scored off an assist from Molly Minah- an with 4:10 left in the game. 7KH VKRW wDV RQH RI MuVW fivH launched by the Wildcats.
“We scouted Owen J. at their game Monday,” said Wissahickon coach Lucy Gil, whose team is now 163. “They’re very skilled. We just wanted to be there when they received the ball.”
With the win, Wissahickon earned a berth in the disWULFW TuDUWHUfiQDOV. 2Q )ULGDy, the Trojans will host sixthseeded West Chester Henderson, which posted a 3-0 win Wednesday over 11thseeded Council Rock North.