Upper Perkiomen's field hockey team continued its mastery of the Pioneer Athletic Conference on Tuesday. Ashlyn Gatto scored two goals to lead the team to a 4-

Upper Perk's Jenna Fiorito, left, goesup against the Phoe- nixville goaltender as she attempts to scor in the league game at home on Tuesday afternoon.

2 victory over Phoenixville.

            Kate Rodenberger and Luci Carpenter also scored for the Indians (5-0 PAC, 6-3 overall). Goalkeeper Lynnsi Joyce recorded 11 saves, including a penalty stroke.

            "This team confident," head coach Jamie Warren said. "Our goal every year is to be able to compete in a very talented conference."

            Michaela Greczek is not surprised by the strong start. The senior said the players are connecting well on and off the field.

            Though the Tribe may be on the roll, there's plenty of room for improvement, according to Warren. She cited the need for her players to increase their early game intensity and get better at 1 vs. 1 defense.

            The Indians started fast, scoring two early goals on penalty corners. Gatto, off an assist from Takoda Wells opened the scoring less than three minutes into the game. Carpenter's tally with 18:24 remaining in the first half extended their lead to 2-0. The coach said she was waiting for the reconfigured unit, which includes AiYi Young, who recently returned from an injury, to click.

            "That group should be better off," Warren said.

            Joyce stopped a penatly stroke by Phoenixville Katie Baker, after the referee ruled that she covered the ball with her pad for an excessive period of time, with 11:32 left in the first half. The goalkeeper appeared to anticipate Baker's shot to her left and blocked it with her hand.

            "Maybe we need to spend more time on penatly strokes," Warren said.
Rodenberger's goal, less than four minutes later off an assist from Greczek, put the Tribe ahead 3-0. Less than two minutes before halftime, Gatto pushed her team's lead to 4-1 by tipping in a pass from Young.

            "I like the balance of scoring two goals on corners and two during the flow of the game," Warren said. "We need to keep that going."

            According to the coach, Gatto – one of four ninth graders who have earned regular playing time – has relied on an aggressive approach to find success. Greczek described the forward as similar to her older sister Abriana, a former standout scorer who is currently playing at Lehigh University.

            On Saturday, the Indians suffered a 3-0 non-league loss to Oley Valley. They allowed three second-half goals after a scoreless first half.

            The host Lynx posted a 15-5 advantage. Joyce recorded 11 saves for Upper Perkiomen. Bella Carpenter added a defensive save.

            On Friday, the Upper Perkiomen rolled to a 3-0 victory over Pottsgrove in the Pioneer Athletic Conference. Rodenberger scored midway through the first half, while Kylene Gooch and Young added second-half tallies.

            The Tribe posted a 25-3 shot advantage. Carly Eidle and Joyce combined for three saves.
            Young's goal late in the first half lifted the Indians to a 1-0 victory over Boyertown on Wednesday, Sept. 11. She scored on a penalty corner, on a straight shot from the left corner, off an assist by Gooch. Joyce posted six saves against to post her third shutout of the season.