Pennsbury defeated Neshaminy 2-1 in SOL field hockey action Wednesday. Photos provided courtesy of Darryl Rule of J&D Photography.
(Article submitted by Pennsbury field hockey)
September 1, 2026 (Weather Delay)
Pennsbury vs Neshaminy
The first highly anticipated league matchup between the Falcons and the Skins came a little earlier this season. With August memories of tryouts, camp, and scrimmages barely behind us, the calendar change to September 2026 kicked off in full force with these two powerhouses coming together! Fresh off of an edge-of-your-seat loss to CB West in the final seconds of the game, Pennsbury was salivating to get back on the pitch. Threatening clouds loomed in the distance over Falcon Field, but the stadium lights shone brightly, and the starting whistle blew right at 7:00pm.
Pennsbury had possession first and went down forcing an attacking penalty corner in the first minutes of the game. They did not convert on the corner but were able to generate a consistent pulse of offensive pressure. The rest of the first quarter was a back-and-forth physical battle with each team earning a few penalty corners and shots. After the first fifteen minutes, the score remained 0-0 and the two-minute break was much needed as the air thickened with the storm gaining ground. The second quarter started with a Pennsbury possession, but with only one minute ticked away, the refs blew the whistle for lightning strikes in the distance. The weather delay became increasingly longer so the call was made to resume the game on another day…
September 2, 2026
Pennsbury 2, Neshaminy 1
Falcons and Skins, take two.
Twenty-four hours later, same game picking up with 14 minutes left in the second quarter and a score of 0-0. On the opening whistle, Neshaminy started with possession in their defensive 30, and the battle resumed right where it had left off. Pennsbury came out strong and attacked with force, getting the first shots and earning penalty corners.
“We were so proud of the way our girls came out, playing their style of game and staying true to who we are as a unit and what we have worked on for so long,” said head coach Traci Curtis. “We covered the width and depth of the field really well, stifling a lot of Nesh’s opportunities on offense. Our girls came out playing smart, patient, skilled hockey.”
And it paid off as the orange and black struck first with four minutes left in the quarter on a beautiful passing series that led to the first goal of the game.
“That first goal was centered on complete teamwork,” Curtis said. “So many players touched the ball from end to end before it crossed the goal line.
“Cailyn Reilly started it off in the backfield with a precise aerial to Abby Iacona. Iacona handled the lifted ball with skill and dodged two players before reverse stick passing it perfectly into space for left forward Regan Rodriguez to run onto.
“Rodriguez delivered a one-touch pass into the circle where Nandi Ntshalintshali rushed in from the right and touched it around the goalie who went down. Ryan Burdette picked it up and had an open net to notch the go-ahead goal. It was textbook execution on every level.”
The quarter ended sending them into halftime, Falcons up 1-0.
“We went into halftime pumped and excited, but more importantly with an understanding of our capabilities,” Curtis said. “Being up against Neshaminy is not familiar to us historically, so we had to manage the emotion and stay focused and poised.
“You can’t get complacent with a team like Neshaminy. They can sniff out weakness and sense a letdown and will capitalize on it with force before you know what hit you. It was imperative that we stayed levelheaded and be patient and purposeful with our decisions. Our captains Iacona, Burdette, Hohman, and Reilly led the way with great modeling and leadership.”
The third quarter was a bit of a back and forth battle with the game getting more and more physical with every second that ticked away. Neshaminy found a spark and was breathing down Pennsbury’s neck for the first part of the period.
At the six-minute mark, the Skins earned three attacking corners in a row, and as they say, the third times a charm. After PHS broke up the third corner play, a Neshaminy player found a way to send it across the circle to an awaiting forward who connected right in front of the goal to even the score 1-1.
“I could feel it coming,” Curtis said. “Nesh had a way about them in the third quarter that felt different and could have swung the game away from us, but our response to them tying it up was unbelievable. We never broke down and we disallowed their momentum to stick.
“A few minutes later we went down and attacked, earning a penalty corner and we converted to go ahead 2-1. Nandi Ntshalintshali saved the ball on the endline, lifting it across the goal where Regan Rodriguez batted it into the goal from mid air on the right side. Cailyn Reilly and Abby Iacona worked their magic in that corner play as well, setting up their teammates for success, making it another great united effort.”
The quarter ended with PHS up 2-1.
Fifteen minutes left in regulation and the Falcons were leading 2-1. Fifteen minutes can feel like a lifetime when it’s a one-goal game.
“Our girls were playing some of the best hockey we have seen since taking over the program 8 years ago,” said Curtis.
But fifteen minutes is a long time against a powerhouse like Neshaminy and there was a lot of work still to be done. Pennsbury managed to keep the offensive pressure on steadily in the fourth, with Nesh getting a few opportunities.
“Our defense was lights-out tonight (Allie Fouss, Payton Worth, Joley Hohman, Cailyn Reilly). They played with such strong sticks, fierce unity, and chemistry making it really hard to break through,” said Curtis.
Goalie Amelia Fernandes completed the defensive unit as she protected the goal with strength and confidence. At one crucial point, Neshaminy had a chance to tie it with a scuffle in the circle during a corner play. The ball got behind Fernandes, but the goal attempt was denied by an incredible defensive save by Pennsbury’s Payton Worth.
“Payton played an outstanding game at left back tonight,” Curtis said. “She was smart, solid, and played with such heart. The defensive save ignited us with momentum we needed to finish the game.”
The Falcons took control of the remaining minutes with stellar play in the center from front to back by Iacona, Burdette, Reilly, and Hohman. In addition, Ava Pinto and Lilly Alon kept the midfield efficient with great distribution and support exactly when and where it was needed.
For the first time in 8 years since Curtis took over the program the Falcons walked away with the win against the Skins - a complete team effort.
“We have lost to Nesh twice a season for 7 years making that 14 losses,” Curtis said. “Tonight’s win was a result of patience, growth, and working hard to build all those years, step by step with an incredible coaching staff - Lori Riley, Lauren Gerth, Beth Golder, and Andy Vradenburgh. It is an
honor to work alongside such great humans. Every player and former coach who has come through this program has a piece of that victory as well.
“The meaning this win has for us is a testament to Neshaminy and the stronghold they have in the SOL.”
Curtis knows that stronghold well as a Neshaminy field hockey alum herself who was part of Sheila Murphy’s legendary tenure at the helm back in the day.
“The rivalry is huge, but the bar they set forces everyone to work harder to raise theirs,” explains Curtis.
Pennsbury has raised their bar high and will take so many valuable pieces away from this game, while also making their own mark within the SOL. Tonight’s matchup was a great reflection of the glory of great competition and the beauty of strong female athletes putting it all out there for something bigger than themselves.
Up next: Pennsbury will travel to Council Rock South Thursday for another league battle. Neshaminy is off until next Thursday when the Redskins will travel to Lansdale Catholic for a non-league contest.
Neshaminy 0-1 1
Pennsbury 1-1 2
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