Upper Perkiomen's field hockey team needed only three games to adjust to competing in the Pioneer Athletic Conference's big-school division. The team has

Upper Perkiomen's Landrey DeLillo, right, reaches to  deflect the ball in front of goalkeeper Ryann Sanfelice aganst Perkiomen Valley on Sept. 26

emerged as a serious contender for the Liberty Division title and a berth in conference playoffs.

            "The girls will be very disappointed if they don't make it," head coach Meghan Griffin said. "They expect to be there. It's in their hands."

            With three games remaining, the Indians are competing for the title in their first season in the division, but, on Tuesday, Spring-Ford snapped their five-game unbeaten streak by posting a 4-1 victory.

            According to Griffin, the team is battling with the Rams, Methacton and Boyertown for the crown and two likely spots in the conference playoffs, which the Tribe (9-2-2 overall 6-1-1 PAC) will ...

            An early scoring chance could have altered Upper Perkiomen's 1-0 loss to Perkiomen Valley on Tuesday in the Pioneer Athletic Conference, but Sarah Straup's shot 10 minutes into the game from the left wing struck a goalpost. 

Sarah Straup, right, looks to dribble past a Spring Ford  player defender lat week.

            Upper Perkiomen (5-7-1 overall, 4-5-1 PAC) delivered the game's first high-quality scoring chance when Straup collected a long clearing kick from Long at midfield and then worked behind the Vikings' defense. However, her shot deflected off the near goalpost.

            According to Lewis, the early goal would have provided the Indians with much-needed momentum in the rematch with Perkiomen Valley, who won their first meeting 3-1 on Sept. 3.

            "I'm not saying the goal would have opened the offensive floodgates," head coach Casey Lewis said. "But if that goes in, we would have played with more confidence. Who knows what would have happened from there."

            Brianna Young scored the only goal early in the second half. Her shot from 35 yards out beat Ava Long just below the crossbar and lifted the visiting Vikings to their eighth consecutive win.

            The Tribe suffered its second straight loss to a Liberty Division opponent and is winless in its last three games. According to Lewis, ...