Showing support
Hatboro-Horsham's players are wearing pink shoelaces to show their support for veteran coach Marie Schmucker. Schmucker has taken a leave of absence while being treated for breast cancer.
"The girls have been going to visit her," said Krista Greene, Schmucker's assistant, who is running the team. "And we went camping as a bonding experience where the girls all showed their concern for Coach Schmucker. "
Greene has been filing updates regularly with Schmucker to let her know how the team is doing
Schmucker, who began treatment earlier this year, appeared at the Hatters' first preseason practice. "We were so excited to see her," senior Lauren Purvis said. "We've been visiting her, and she told us she was happy we came. "
The Hatters, who opened Friday with a 1-0 overtime loss to Neshaminy, are expected to contend for the Continental Division championship in the realigned Suburban One League.
Huge step up
Coach Suzie Gennaro said her Archbishop Carroll team "is a little nervous" as the Catholic League begins play under PIAA jurisdiction. That means district and state playoff possibilities for the Patriots.
The defending league playoff champions recently scrimmaged against Villa Maria Academy, a power in the Athletic Association of Catholic Academies. Gennaro said they learned something in the process.
"If they are representative of PIAA competition, we're going to have to pick up our game," she said.
Nicole Nelson, whose Cardinal O'Hara team won last year's regular-season title, likes the idea of the PIAA playoffs.
"We're still learning how it all works, but we're excited," Nelson said.
She added two Central League teams, Strath Haven and Penncrest, to her team's nonleague schedule in anticipation of PIAA play.
Carroll and O'Hara will compete in Class AAA. The addition of Lansdale Catholic means 11 Catholic League schools are playing.
Legal advice
If any of the Haverford High players have questions about the law, they can consult their new coach, Samantha Lloyd.
Lloyd, who played for Wyoming Seminary in high school, is a second-year law student at Villanova University. She said she knew she had big shoes to fill stepping in for Linda Jones, who retired at the end of last season. She had learned about the opening from Jones.
"We were at the national festival" last year, said Lloyd, an all-Ivy League choice at Brown. "Her daughter Rhian and my younger sister are about the same age. I missed playing, so I looked into the Haverford position. Fortunately, as a second-year law student, my schedule is flexible. "
Lloyd will look to a couple of seniors, Melissa McCarthy on offense and Brynn Becker on defense, to lead the defending Central League champions. Lloyd also said to keep an eye on sophomore midfielder Kelsey LeBlanc.
New PAC-10 team
Methacton, a former member of the Suburban One League's American Division, has joined the Pioneer Athletic Conference. Although the move was not popular with all the coaches, field hockey coach Nicole Bauer said it was good.
"We know the PAC-10 likes physical play, so we're trying to be ready for that," said Bauer, who as Nicole Dudek was a standout at Souderton and Duke.
She is in her second year at Methacton, which was 19-8 last season.
Role models
"A little weird" is how Mount St. Joseph's Julia Reinprecht describes playing without sister Katie alongside her.
The pair, along with older sister Sarah, have been keys to the school's highly successful field hockey program in the last seven years. Katie is a freshman at Princeton, where Sarah is a senior.
Julia has been chosen to take over Katie's position at center midfield.
"I just hope I can fill the role," she said, adding that she would rely on her sisters' strong work ethic as a model.
She expects the Magic, co-coached by her mother, Tina Reinprecht, and Lois Weber, to be competitive again. The team opened with a 5-1 win over Pennsbury on Friday.
A jump on college
Perkiomen Valley standout Andrea Biegalski has made an oral commitment to play at Ohio University next season, but plans to begin her college studies even earlier.
"I hope to finish up my [high school] core courses, then go to Ohio March 20 before coming back to graduate with my class," Biegalski said.
Maryland, Duke and New Hampshire were among the schools expressing interest in her. She is a contributor to PVTV, the school's in-house television station. Ohio has a broadcast journalism program.
Last season, Biegalski scored 17 goals and added 35 assists. Perk Valley opens the season tomorrow against Boyertown.
