Team enters the homestretch of playoff push

            The Upper Perk field hockey team battled hard against one of the powerhouse teams from Suburban One, but dropped a 2-0 non-league decision to Central Bucks East on Monday night at Upper Perk.

Upper Perkiomen AiYi Young deflects the ball from a  Central Bucks East forward on Monday night.

            The Patriots (12-1, 8-0) came out of the starting gate with an aggressive attack and the visitors were awarded several corners in the first eight minutes of the game.

            Phia Mannino capitalized on the fifth corner called, blasting a shot from the top of the circle past Upper Perk goalie Carly Eidle after taking the insertion from Cailey Lever.

            The Indians gained equilibrium after the goal and battled the Patriots on even terms until the same combination of Mannino and Lever produced East's second goal with 8:50 left in the game.

            This time, Mannino took a pass from Lever and ripped a shot from 30 feet away past Lynnsi Joyce (three saves), who split the game in goal with Eidle (one save).

            The Tribe had its share of scoring chances, but could not capitalize.

            Shortly after East's first goal, Upper Perk's Abrianna Gatto got off a hard shot that had to be turned aside by Patriot netminder Emily Bullard.

            AiYi Young had an excellent scoring chance on a corner with 14 minutes left in the game, but her rising shot ticked by the near post.

            UP coach Jamie Warren was mostly pleased with Upper Perk's performance and hopes her team took a lesson from the visitors.

            "I think we played well. C.B. East is a good team. I think we matched their level. C.B. East doesn't show any letdowns. They turn around, they back tackle, a mistake for them is just another opportunity to recover, and we got to get in that mindset.

            "Both goalies did well," Warren added. "I thought my defense did awesome."

            Warren also cited several other individuals for their performances.

            "AiYi and Abrianna have given us consistency throughout the whole season. Takota's (Wells) come a long way. She really steps it up. She made some good plays. Jenna Fiorito really stepped it up at the midfield."

            Upper Perk (4-2, 5-6) has suffered losses to some of the elite teams in the area, including Pioneer Athletic Conference squads in the bigger-school Liberty Division.

            Warren sees the value in playing against the toughest foes, but it is a balancing act. The District seeding committee does not factor in good efforts against high-quality teams like  C.B. East. Wins matter.

            On the other hand, Warren said, "We've played really tough competition, and we've progressed."

            One thing Warren would like to see is quicker starts against quality teams. "We're always playing from behind."

            Upper Perk now begins the homestretch of the Pioneer Athletic season with five games against Frontier Division foes and two difficult non-league contests against Christopher Dock and Radnor, that will determine league playoff chances and District seeding.

            That run of games includes a critical Senior Night home game against Phoenixville next Tuesday.

            If anything Warren wants to see her team "raise the bar" for all the opponents left on the schedule.

            "They're going to have to play like this every game, and not just when we play the tough games."