CHA defense ensures Lower Moreland whitewash
by BRYAN ARMEN GRAHAM
Mike Flannery rushed for 139 yards and a touchdown to help Chestnut Hill Academy past league rival Lower Moreland, 14-0, before a rain-soaked crowd Friday afternoon at Landreth Field.
"When he gets through the crack and into the secondary, he's tough to tackle," said CHA head coach Jack Plunkett of his junior running back. "He's just the guy we want with the ball as much as possible."
Yet another outstanding effort by the suffocating Blue and Blue defense - in sometimes-torrential showers - ensured the unit's second whitewash of the season. The defending Independence Football League champions limited the Lions (3-3, 2-2 IFL) to an anemic 60 yards of total offense on the afternoon.
After trading possessions to start the game, the Devils (5-1, 3-0) struck first blood when Scott Dziengelski found Jon Salem in stride for a 25-yard touchdown reception - the only scoring of the half.
Lower Moreland quarterback Bill Teske, constantly molested by CHA's swarming defense, had a difficult time asserting coach Mark Mayson's option-based offense. Backs Joe Rybicki (nine yards rushing), Will Yu (five yards) and Dan Cantofanti (minus two yards) didn't offer much support. The Lions could muster only five first downs all day, converting...
CHC women's soccer succumbs to Notre Dame
by TOM UTESCHER
Chestnut Hill College freshman Amanda Favreau struck the first blow in last Wednesday's pivotal soccer match-up in the Atlantic Women's College Conference.
After Favreau's early goal, however, the visiting Gators of the College of Notre Dame dominated in ball possession and, eventually, on the scoreboard, funneling in four second-half goals to take a 4-1 decision, Coming into the match, the host Griffins owned a 3-0 record in the AWCC and Notre Dame was also unbeaten, at 4-0, so the Gators earned sole possession of first place with the victory.
Good defensive plays by CHC's Johanna Gelber and Ashley Throckmorton quashed early rushes by Notre Dame, and the locals drew first blood when Favreau dribbled down the left wing, drew CND keeper Courtney Zgraggen out of the cage, and chipped the ball over her with 8:17 elapsed in the first half. Favreau came close to ringing up a second goal on a header, but for most of the remainder of the period Notre Dame was on the attack.
Megan Quigg and Amber Hale had near misses for the Gators, and on a long direct kick with six minutes left, the shot...
by TOM UTESCHER
Last Tuesday Merion Mercy Academy forced Mount St. Joseph to share the first-place ranking in Bicentennial League volleyball, beating the Magic on their home court in three straight games.
Back in September, the Mount had won a five-game bout on the road against defending champ Merion, capturing the first MSJ victory over the Golden Bears since 1998. Last week's outcome gave both teams a 10-1 record in league play, with one Bicentennial match remaining for each franchise.
Both the Magic and Merion were missing a key senior at the time of last week's encounter (MSJ's Margaret Flynn is out with a broken ankle.) Kills by juniors Cara Mulholland and Kait "The Wizard" Woznicki staked the locals to a 6-3 lead at the start of the first game, but the Bears roared back with seven unanswered points. The score leveled off at 13-13, and later the clubs were tied at 20-20.
When the visitors edged ahead 23-21 the Magic called time-out, and a few minutes after play resumed the teams were locked up at 24-all. A blast by Mulholland was knocked up into the ceiling by the Bears for a 25th Mount point. Kills by Julie Pickhaver and Tara Lane gave Merion a 26-25 edge, then Mulholland found the floor on an opened-handed slap.
The visitors moved ahead again on a net violation by the hosts, and then Julianne Rose of the Bears delivered a true service ace. Her ball went untouched as she found a seam just to the right of the center...