Kenney extends C.B. South season

It's no secret to Corrine Kenney that her field hockey career with Central Bucks South is nearing its end. On Saturday, however, she ensured it would live on for a little bit longer.

The senior midfielder scored twice in a PIAA Class AAA quarterfinal between her second-seeded team and third-seeded Downingtown East, a 2-1 win that sent South to its first semifinals since 2009.

"I haven't been this far yet," said Kenney, who scored an overtime winner earlier in the week in the first round against Stroudsburg. "As a senior, I think it's great to play with the rest of my team for these last couple games. . . . It's a great ending."

After 42 minutes of strong defense from both squads, a corner opportunity led to the first goal from Kenney. Senior midfielder Emily Cliggett, who had missed a penalty stroke earlier, registered the assist.

"We just really wanted to execute that one," Cliggett said. "We knew we had that open shot."

With 7 minutes, 33 seconds remaining, Kenney again used a Cliggett assist to record the Titans' second goal. But Downingtown East didn't let up. A few minutes after falling behind by 2-0, the Cougars cut the deficit with a goal from junior forward Isuru Amarasekera.

"They worked hard the entire 60 minutes," said Downingtown East assistant coach Courtney McGinty, who has led the team since head coach Stephanie Bullock went on maternity leave. "The defense did a great job. They kept fighting."

The Cougars had a chance to even the score on a corner opportunity with about a minute left in the game, but they failed to capitalize. Soon after, the clock wound down completely.

C.B. South coach Brittany Grzywacz, in her first year with the team, smiled as her players swarmed around each other in celebration after the game. Her team had lost to Unionville in the District 1 final, but now it's the only District 1 team still alive in the Class AAA bracket.

Grzywacz said her team learned a lot from that loss to Unionville.

"For them to be able to step up and play that extra little bit and up that pace just a little bit more, it's great to see that they're doing that," she said.

South will compete in the tournament semifinals Tuesday against District 3's third-seeded Penn Manor - the school that eliminated the Titans during the first round of states last year.

Downingtown East 0 1 - 1

Central Bucks South 0 2 - 2

Goals: DE-Isuru Amarasekera; CBS-Corinne Kenney 2.

Saves: DE-Laura Narcum-7; CBS-Sarah Zeszotarski 3.