BY JEREMY GOODE

CHESTNUT HILL, PA. -- A three-goal effort in the first 31 minutes of regulation propelled the Springside Chestnut Hill Blue Devils soccer team to a convincing 3-1 win against the William Penn Charter Quakers in rainy weather during homecoming on Sept. 28. 

“I think that’s going to be required in order to win this conference,” SCH head coach Aaron Tritch said. “We’re trying to find a way to create those chances that give us a lead early on. Once I think this team has a lead, they’re very, very resistant to give it up.” 

Chances that the Blue Devils would create repeatedly against the Quakers. The Blue Devils had offensive power early, eventually forcing a corner kick less than eight minutes into the contest. Cali Smith took the corner, putting it front of net where Ella Thomson headed in the first goal. 

The Blue Devils wasted little time after Thomson’s goal to dominate the match early on. Alex de Beaulac finessed around the 15 yards pout with the ball and eventually created enough space to shoot a dagger into the upper right corner from the right side ten yards out, giving the Devils a quick two-goal advantage nearly 13 minutes in. 

“The second goal got us pumped up,” de Beaulac said. “As a team, we really lifted each other up… making chances and getting through balls and just playing great as a team really helped.” 

If the two quick goals was not enough for the Blue Devils’ comfort, de Beaulac added a third (and her own second) goal with eight minutes left in the half, and the Blue Devils would go into half time up 3-0. 

According to midfielder Ryleigh Bakley, the Blue Devils were able to execute their game plan against the Quakers. 

“The game plan going in was to play our style; widen the width, cut in, connect with each other…,” Bakley said. “We went out there and did exactly what we wanted to…. score three goals quickly.”

The Blue Devils ability to capitalize in the first half with their strong play in the first 40 minutes was a happy development in the early part of their season and as they enter league play. What seemed easy and efficient on September 28 has not always been the case for the Blue Devils early on. 

“Recently, we have not been starting off perfectly,” de Beaulac said. “But we had a talk with our coach and we just really stepped up and that set the tone for the whole game.”

While SCH enjoyed a strong first half, the second half would prove to be a bit more of a struggle. The Quakers adjusted both defensively and offensively. 

Offensively, Penn Charter came out tougher and more physical than during their first 40 minutes. It took 21 seconds for them to put a shot just wide of the goal. The quick start eventually led to a free kick on goal minutes later, which was blocked away by SCH’s defense.

Eventually, Penn Charter would put a shot on goal off the left crossbar that shuffled across the goal line. The Blue Devils were unable to clear the ball, leading to a foul in the box and a penalty kick. Penn Charter’s Alexis Regan drilled the kick, making it a 3-1 game with just over 34 minutes to play. 

Penn Charter’s Cecilia Albeck provided some good runs and opportunities around SCH territory. The Blue Devils also sputtered offensively in the final half, not capitalizing on scoring opportunities, leading to their being shut out the entire half. 

Still, Tritch understood how his team could start the second half a little flat, especially after considering the strong first half they put together. 

“It’s tough for anybody, especially in a high school realm to play like that professional that we ask for,” Tritch said. “Training them to be a part of a job in the future, you got to work every minute… so we’ll review that; it's something we’ll look back on with the film.”

Tritch also noted that he could have put the team in a disadvantage a few times by questioning the officials which may have made it harder on his team, adding that he can be better. 

de Beaulac and Bakley are sophomores and know the significance of keeping their foot on the pedal. 

“The intensity has to be up the whole game and the energy has to be high and not give the other team as many chances,” Bakley said. 

The Blue Devils would settle in after Regan’s goal. The Quakers were still able to run offense and put together some good shots and opportunities to score, but the SCH back line and goalie play by Gracyn Lee-Torchiana halted any Quaker run that they had in mind. 

The importance of Torchiana’s play is not lost on the team. 

“Gracyn’s done a great job; I refer to her as a gamer,” Tritch said. “She shows up for games and her mentality is she does not like losing anything. Anything she can do to keep the ball out of the back of the net is the most important thing to her and she’ll do anything to make that happen.” 

The Blue Devils collect an important Inter-Ac win and get ready for a big bout against reining Inter-Ac and State Champions Episcopal Academy. The Churchmen travel to Chestnut Hill on Tuesday for the clash. SCH was able to draw with Episcopal last year at home and look to prepare to be on the winning side this year. 

“We have a big one on Tuesday,” Tritch said. “We certainly weren’t looking forward to them, we were staying on Penn Charter, but the gear shifts now.”