Hillers dominate Colonials
The result was a 4-0 Tower Hill win, setting up a rematch of last year's state title game against defending champion Sussex Tech.
"We're all excited," senior Elise DeDominicis said. "We were ready to play this game. We knew they were going to be tough and aggressive and we were just ready to come out and score early and hold the momentum."
Momentum was everything in a game that always seemed maddeningly out of reach for the Colonials.
DeDominicis netted the Hillers' first two goals in the early going -- the first on a corner 7 minutes, 20 seconds into the first half, the second on a backhander three minutes later -- and the goals took their toll on William Penn.
"That gave us the momentum for the rest of the game," DeDominicis said. "They were ready when they came out, but when we scored those goals, they kind of got a little frantic and we were able to take control of the game."
Indeed the Hillers were in control, but they failed to cash in on a flurry of scoring chances late in the first half. Ten minutes into the second half, William Penn was still hanging around until Jenna Chados tallied a crucial third goal that proved to be the knockout blow.
"It was important because 2-0 turns to 2-1 quickly, and 2-0 is a very different game," Tower Hill coach Robin Adair said. "Three-zero is a much nicer game."
Goalkeeper Lindsay Luft didn't face a shot, while the Tower Hill defense quickly stamped out any William Penn scoring chance. For the game, the Hillers had 14 corners, to William Penn's two, and outshot the Colonials 18-0.
"The defense stepped up beautifully," Adair said. "They marked well, stayed with their girls, watched the ball and cleared it when they could."
The bigger test lies ahead, however. After a one-goal loss in last year's title game, DeDominicis and the rest of the Hillers' seniors are looking to go out on top. After Thursday's win, they'll have their chance at redemption.
"This being my senior year, I'm really excited," DeDominicis said. "We have a lot of seniors on this team, and we're trying to finish our year with as many games as possible. So we're really pumped and excited."
Tower Hill 4, William Penn 0
Tower Hill 2-2 4
William Penn 0-0 0
First half-DeDominicis, TH, 7:20; DeDominicis, TH, 10:40. Second half-Chados, TH, 40:20; Rocca, TH, 54:35.
Shots-TH 18, WP 0. Penalty corners-TH 14, WP 2. Saves-TH 0 (Luft), WP 12 (Davidson).
By DAVID HALE The News Journal
Reprinted with permission of The News Journal
