CB West came up just short against top-seeded Villa Maria Academy in Saturday’s District 1 3A title game. Photos provided courtesy of Kim Supko. Check back for a gallery of photos.
District 1 3A title game
#1 VILLA MARIA ACADEMY 3, #3 CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 2
It was a championship game that lived up to its billing and then some.
“What a great game – that’s what you’re looking for in a final,” West coach Lori Ierubino said.
Great hardly covers this one.
Saturday’s final featured two highly skilled field hockey teams battling for 60 minutes, and those who thought no one could
or would give the defending champions a run for their money were in for a surprise.
Twice the Bucks took a lead, and twice Villa rallied to tie it before taking a lead it would not lose in the closing minute of the third quarter.
“If we can play against Villa, who is full of current and future D1 commits – we were with them 100 percent,” Ierubino said. “If you see our sideline, we have four kids on the sideline. They have a whole team and five coaches.
“I’m so proud of our girls. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the ending that we wanted, but we were in it until the last minute, and for that, I have to commend our team.”
The Hurricanes rolled into Saturday’s final with three straight routs in district tournament play, outscoring the three teams they defeated by a combined 21-1 score.
Saturday’s win over the Bucks, by contrast, was not secure until the final horn sounded.
“I feel really good about it,” West senior captain Eve Damsker said. “Even though it wasn’t a win in the books, I still think we gave it our all, and we need to keep that momentum going into the first round of states, second round until the end.”
From the outset, it was clear this would be a battle as the Bucks drew back-to-back corners in the opening minutes of the game. Neither team scored in the opening quarter, but the Bucks had served notice that this was going to be a war, drawing six corners.
Then in the opening minutes of the second quarter, senior captain Aida Ierubino – in a dazzling individual effort – ignored every defender who tried and failed to slow her progress and carried the ball down the field for a highlight reel goal.
The Hurricanes evened the score just over a minute later, but the Bucks – on their second corner of the quarter – took a 2-1 lead when a powerful shot by Claire Demmer from the top of the circle deflected off a defender’s stick and into the cage.
Villa evened the score when UNC commit Jack Shaw scored on a shot across goal during corner play, and the Hurricanes took a lead they would not lose when Caitlin Connel, committed to the University of Virginia, scored with 38.4 seconds remaining. Both Shaw and Connel are teammates of Ierubino on the U18 US National Team.
“It was so much fun,” Ierbino said of playing in Saturday’s title game. “It’s such a privilege to be surrounded by such great players, playing against such great players. It’s definitely a privilege.”
Saturday’s game wasn’t a win for the Bucks, but there were few regrets on West’s sidelines.
“We played great,” West senior captain Kendra Pitts said. “Yes, we lost, but we played so great. Especially compared to when we met them in regular season (a 4-3 loss in overtime). They owned the game in regular season whereas this was a much more even game. They were respectful the whole time. They knew they were fighting the whole time. They didn’t come into it thinking they were going to kill us.”
The Bucks’ season is not over. They begin play in the state tournament on Tuesday.
“That takes a little bit of the sting away,” coach Ierubino said. “We still have things to work on. When you play good teams, they expose some things. We have some time till states, we’ll work on them, and we’ll be ready to go.”
Scoring summary
First quarter – No score
Second quarter
Aida Ierubino (CBW) 12:53
Naomi Niewinski (VMA) 11:38
Claire Demmer (CBW) 4:44
Third quarter
Jack Shaw (VMA) 5:42
Caitlin Connell (VMA) 0.38
Pitts reaches milestone: Kendra Pitts has been a rock in goal for the Bucks since she stepped onto the field as a freshman.
In Saturday’s title game, the Vassar College commit surpassed the 500-save milestone, an accomplishment that is especially impressive considering she has played in more than a few games where she has seen limited action.
“Kendra’s just an awesome kid – solid, cerebral, athletic and just super positive,” West coach Lori Ierubino said. “She’s the only goalie we had in our program all the years until this year. She’s just a great kid – to know Kendra is to love her.”
Pitts entered Saturday’s game needing just two saves to reach the 500-save plateau. She reached that number in the first quarter.
“It was never something I thought about,” Pitts said. “This is the first time we’ve celebrated any of it.
“Seeing other goalkeepers like - oh, it’s my hundredth, it’s my 200th and all of that, and I’m like – I wonder how many I have.”
The senior goalie was quick to deflect credit to her teammates.
“I’ve got a great defense in front of me,” Pitts said. “That also means they force shots that are easier to save.”
Saturday’s title game featured plenty of action for both goalies.
“I love it,” Pitts said. “This is as fun as it gets. It’s no fun to beat a team 6-0 – especially as a goalie, I’m standing in the back.
“This is exciting. Everyone’s involved, everyone’s working for it.”
Up next: Central Bucks West will open PIAA 3A Tournament play Tuesday with a home game at 7pm.
Villa Maria Academy 0-1-2-0 3
Central Bucks West 0-2-0-0 2
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