Dan Beck takes an early season look at SOL girls’ soccer in a preview that features several teams and highlights players to watch.
By Dan Beck
If one thing is for sure, it’s that playing in the Suburban One League gets girls’ soccer teams ready for the postseason. Just ask last year’s state champs, Central Bucks West. The Bucks finished third in the Continental Conference and third in the District One AAA playoffs, before going on to win the title in Hershey.
If that is any indication, 2015 may shape up to be as unpredictable as ever.
The National Conference will be competitive up and down. Reigning conference and District One champion Pennsbury will receive a battle from the likes of Neshaminy, Council Rock North, Council Rock South and Abington.
A host of teams will be giving chase to Pennridge in the Continental Conference. The Rams have won the last three conference titles, but CB West, CB East, and a few surprise teams will look to put an end to the streak.
Plymouth Whitemarsh, Upper Dublin, and Wissahickon will be in the mix for the American Conference crown with Springfield (Montco) looking to contend.
National Conference
Council Rock North girls’ soccer coach Wendell Beres was concerned coming into this season that with a small senior class, the Indians would lack in leadership. Instead, he’s seen something different.
“Coming in, that was a huge question mark for me,” Beres said. “I was worried about the size of the senior class this year being only four players. What it’s done is that they’ve made themselves a part of the other classes. These four have done a great job of mingling themselves in with the other classes.”
Having a tight-knit group is important to Beres, as his squad looks to build off their improvement from last year. The Indians went from a seven-win team in 2013 to finish 13-5-1 overall in 2014, Beres’ first year at the helm.
But last season ended suddenly for North, dropping its first round matchup in the District One playoffs to Central Bucks South in a 3-2 penalty kick stunner. Without Michaela Finneyfrock and Madison Attanasio, both graduated and off to play college soccer, the Indians will turn to a much younger team.
Anchoring the team this year, will be senior net-minder Jeri Belardo.
“Watching her play last year and watching her play for the last two weeks, I don’t think there’s a better goalkeeper out there,” Beres said.
Beres will also turn to another senior, Tori Hill, a Syracuse commit. Hill will team up with fellow midfielder sophomore Mia Scalamore to create a formidable offensive attack.
Beres hopes 2015 will end differently than last season and he likes his team’s chances. Staying healthy is priority number one for North. For now, he wants to keep his team focused on the first couple weeks of the season.
“Everyone starts at 0-0,” he said. “The first five or six games will really define what our capabilities are. If you want to keep taking a step forward, you have to come in every day and just bring it.”
The Indians will have their work cut out for them. The SOL National will present challenges each step of the way with the likes of reigning conference and district champion Pennsbury, in addition to Neshaminy, neighboring Council Rock South, and upstart William Tennent.
With the new point system in place, a spot in the District One playoffs is certainly no guarantee, but Beres believes a tough schedule all season will get them ready for battle if they make it in.
“It absolutely makes you a better team,” Beres added. “Look at CB West. They were a 13-seed last year in the district playoffs and they went on to win a state title, so playing in this league prepares you for the postseason.”
The Indians got off to a rough start. After beating nonleague Conestoga in overtime to open the season, North fell in consecutive games to National Conference foes, William Tennent and reigning conference champions Pennsbury before handling Truman in their most recent outing.
Highlighting…
Maggie Daeche, Junior, Defender, Neshaminy – A three-year varsity player, Daeche is a second year captain. The junior defender plays club soccer for YMS Xplosion 98.
Coach Chelsea Lovelace says: “She has a strong presence on the field and takes control. She’s always finding and winning the ball in the air. Maggie displays composure and is very smart with the ball. She makes those around her want to work harder and be better.”
Gabby Farrell, Senior, Forward, Neshaminy – A four-year varsity payer, the senior captain plays club soccer for FC Bucks Freedom. Farrell had 15 goals and seven assists last season.
Coach Chelsea Lovelace says: “She is calm and composed with the ball and in front of the net. She’s creative and very quick with and without the ball at her feet. She’s not selfish with the ball.”
Meredith Webber, Junior, Pennsbury - The junior captain of the defending SOL National Conference and District One champion Falcons contributed six goals and two assists last year. She is also a member of the three-time national finalists, YMS Xplosion, where she teams up with Pennsbury's Caroline Foley and Neshaminy's Maggie Daeche and Julia Andreozzi.
Coach Kaitlyn Battiste says: “Meredith practices and performs at the highest level at all times. She is one of the best ball-winners in the air as well as the ground, and she is an excellent distributor of the ball. One of Webber's top strengths is her versatility playing in a multitude of positions and still being an offensive threat or shutting down an opponent's top attacker.”
Others to Watch:
Abington: Toni Washignton, Julia Guarini, Marissa Heath, Destiny Walters
Bensalem: Julia Rymarczuk, Katie Aldrich
Council Rock North: Mia Scalamadre, Tori Hill, Becca Margolis, Jeri Belardo, Kayla Robinson
Council Rock South: Emily Discavage, Jesse Magee, Julie Rebh, Emily Wilkinson
Harry S Truman: Amanda McElhard, Samantha Riccardi
Neshaminy: Alyssa Tobin
Pennsbury: Caroline Foley, Girannys Santiago, Jadyn Peto, Rachel Beri
William Tennent: Lauriel Krouse, Rachel McCabe, Nicole Reh
Continental Conference
It’s simple, really. In order to win more games, you have to score more goals.
Souderton coach Chris Felber thinks that’s something his team didn’t do enough of last season. But the second-year coach believes his relatively young squad can become more competitive in the always-tough SOL Continental, which boasts perennial powers Pennridge, CB West, and CB East.
After losing seven seniors to graduation, Souderton will rely on a quartet of sophomores this season—Bre DiRenzi, Tori Dowd, Cara McCausland, and Hannah Kramer.
“I think they’re all going to step up,” Felber said. “They were young and smaller last year. Now they’re older, more experienced and more physical. I expect a lot out of those players.”
The Indians won just one league game in both 2012 and 2013, but in Felber’s first year in 2014, the Indians won five games. This youth movement may prove to be the key for sustained success for Souderton.
“We’re looking to build a team and a style that’s going to last the next few years,” Felber said. “Certainly with all the sophomores we have, we feel like they’re going to be there and continue that brand of soccer forward.”
Souderton also expects a lot from Sara Cassel. The defender had a solid freshman year in 2013, but missed all of last season with an injury. Cassel, now a junior, returns to the field to add a boost to the Souderton backline.
All of their losses last season, with the exception of one, were close one-goal defeats. A change of fortune may be in order for Souderton this year. A tough schedule awaits the Indians in 2015. Felber’s expectations are on the table.
“We want to remain competitive,” he said. “We want to score more goals. I want to make playoffs. That’s the goal.”
Souderton has been more than competitive to start the season. The Indians have started 4-1 overall, including a pair of conference wins over Hatboro-Horsham and Quakertown, both shutouts, and a non-league win on the road at West Chester Henderson.
Highlighting
Emma Loving, Senior, Power Forward, Central Bucks East - A first team all-league selection, the senior power forward is a two-year captain and a three-year starter for the Patriots. Last year, Loving earned PSCA first team all-state honors and also was first team NSCAA All-Region II (East) after scoring 23 goals for an East squad that advanced to the state semifinals. She plays for FC Bucks on the club circuit.
Erin Stevenson, Junior, Defender, Pennridge – A two-year letter winner, Stevenson has been an impact player since she stepped into the starting lineup as a freshman. She competes for FC Bucks on the club circuit and is strong in the air and serving balls into the box. Stevenson is a vocal leader who anchors the defense at outside right and also played some midfield.
Paige Weiss, Senior, Center Back Central Bucks East – Also a two-year captain, Weiss sets the table for her teammates, contributing 11 assists last season. A strong tackler and strong at handling balls in the air, she moved to center back last year after the senior starter at that position went down with an injury, and she anchored the defense for an East squad that advanced to the state semifinals for the first time in program history. Weiss plays club soccer for PA Rush Platinum.
Others to watch:
Central Bucks East – Emily Horn, Maddie Myrtetus, Abby Brown, Hannah Zach
Central Bucks South – Courtney Taylor, Mackenzie Ehresman, Lindsay Weiss
Central Bucks West – Mary Kate Vinkler, Ellie Manca, Allie Walsh
Hatboro-Horsham – Miranda Royds
North Penn – Liz Volz, Kristina Miller, Anna Pedicone
Pennridge – Dani Meenan, Kennedy Peace, Olivia Fernandez, Rachel Velez, Jess Milligan, Katie Fischer, Savanna Harrison, Megan Hirshbuhl
Quakertown – Katie Crouthamel, Victoria Sturgess
Souderton – Cara McCausland, Sara Cassle, Bre DiRenzi, Hannah Schmidt, Tori Dowd
American Conference
The key to success for any high school team in any sport is finding a way to mesh the upperclassmen with the underclassmen. John Topper knows that will be the key for his Flying Cardinals this season.
“We’re pretty well balanced,” Topper said. “We have seven seniors, six juniors, five sophomores and a few freshmen. We have girls from every grade level contributing.”
Topper found that his team works pretty well together in their opening win against Hatboro-Horsham, where Upper Dublin was a 2-1 winner. It was a good start, as the Flying Cardinals look to finish on top of the SOL American Conference this season, a goal Topper sets for his team before every season.
Upper Dublin is coming off a 2014 where the Flying Cardinals finished 12-2 and shared the American Conference title with Plymouth Whitemarsh. Phoenixville bounced them from the District One playoffs in the first round. The Flying Cardinals will likely receive stiff competition again from the Colonials, in addition to Wissahickon and Springfield (Montco).
Topper likes the veterans on his team. Particularly, midfielder Rebecca Haber and fellow seniors Becca Watson and Devon Mcgarity should provide direction at the top.
“I think our senior leadership will be key, bring our younger kids into the fold,” he said.
A pair of junior midfielders, Paige Lawton and Lexi Schneider will also bring a spark to the lineup.
“It’s about getting our young talent into situations where they’re comfortable and getting them minutes right away,” Topper said. “The talent is there, it’s just about realizing that potential.”
The Flying Cardinals have seen no shortage of goals in the early going. Upper Dublin bested Norristown 10-0 and Cheltenham 5-2 last week with an offensive onslaught led by Tori Hoffner, who has four goals including a hat trick against the Panthers.
Highlighting
Madison Elwell, Junior, Wissahickon: As a sophomore, Elwell earned both all-league and all-state recognition after earning all-league as a freshman. She is a member of YMS Premier 98 that ranked fifth nationally, first in state and fourth in region and this summer was a finalist at the USYSA National competition. She was ranked in top of 11 in her U16 age group at nationals this summer. She already has seven goals and four assists this season and has 28 career goals and 17 assists. Elwell has committed to play for Vanderbilt University.
Coach Shannon Creamer-Franke says: “Maddie is not only an awesome player but is a pretty cool person to boot - kind, respectful, funny and a great student. As a player, from the first time I saw her hug that left sideline as she carried the ball up field, I knew, she was the ‘real deal.’ She can do things with that ball that are truly amazing and beyond what you would expect from a player of her age. She leads by example alongside her two fellow captains and keeps the team focused and light with her infectious personality. It is, and has been, my pleasure to coach her this, her third year varsity. We are looking forward to a strong season from Maddie this year and next.”
Others to watch:
Cheltenham: Liza Becker
Norristown: Lauren Fortescue
Plymouth Whitemarsh: Maddie Berman, Regan Ebersol, Jewel Terraces
Springfield: Emily Giampietro, Lindsey Smith
Upper Dublin: Rebecca Haber, Rebecca Watson, Paige Lawton, Devon Magarity
Upper Merion: Robyn Rhindress
Upper Moreland: Kim Benge
Wissahickon: Krysta Memis, Emily Vervlied, Kristen Haney, Mary Matthews
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