Check out the results from SOL girls’ soccer teams in action Friday. To view photos of the Upper Moreland/New Hope-Solebury game, please visit the Photo Gallery.
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 1, CONESTOGA 0
Conestoga has got to be counting the days until Nikki Caffey graduates. The Golden Hawks’ high-scoring senior connected for the game winner in last year’s 1-0 win over the Pioneers, and she was back at it again on Friday, scoring a goal two minutes into the second half – using a Jesse Magee assist, and once again it proved to be the game winner.
“The entire team worked hard and secured a big win,” coach Kimmy Francis said. “It was a great way to start the season.
“The things we saw across the board from seniors to freshmen were impressive but definitely things to work on. We’re looking forward to league play.”
Council Rock South 0-1 1
Conestoga 0-0 0
HATBORO-HORSHAM 2, LOWER MERION 1 (2 OT)
The Hatters have faced their share of adversity in the season’s early weeks. Topping the list is the fact that their projected senior class of seven is down to just three.
In Friday’s opener, the Hatters’ starting lineup included four freshmen and four sophomores. Unfazed, the young Hatters rallied from a 1-0 deficit to earn a thrilling double overtime win.
“They hung tough,” coach Ben Winderman said. “It was two great young teams. They were real young, and we’re obviously toddlers.
“The girls worked so hard during training camp and dealt with a lot of adversity.”
Lower Merion standout Tori Klevon connected on a free kick to spot the Aces a 1-0 lead at the 15-minute mark of the first half. That lead held until Mikaela Malofiy (Brady McMenamin assist) scored the equalizer in the 60th minute.
In the second overtime – in the 96th minute, Allie Hontz collected a ball at the 18-yard line, split Lower Merion’s defenders and buried a shot into the left corner for the dramatic game winner.
“We just battled,” Winderman said. “We kind of learned on the job.
“They had a real good chance in the first overtime, but luckily for us, it went over the crossbar.”
Sophomore keeper Miranda Royds was credited with six saves.
“She played exceptionally,” Winderman said. “She is a standout. She started for us last year and comes back to us this year as a real special player.”
The Hatters’ coach lauded his back line of three freshmen and one sophomore - from left to right - Lauren Kim, Kerryn MacBride, Sarah Boehm and Halie Freedman.
“They really did a great job on Tori (Klevon),” Winderman said. “One of the injuries we suffered was in our last scrimmage.
“Sarah Theurer sprained her ankle, so we moved Mikaela up to play forward because we had lost Jordan Plummer, who was our leading scorer last year and tore her ACL on the second day of practice. We were kind of tempted to move Mikaela back, but we said, ‘Let’s go with these freshmen that are really good players and have faith in them.’ They’re really smart and willing and brave players. I don’t know if we’ll get positive results in terms of wins and losses, but they’re really playing well.”
Also lost to the Hatters was – Kelly Griffin – who moved to North Carolina this summer. Senior captain Rachael Kaplan is sidelined with a concussion she sustained in the team’s final scrimmage.
“She’s a great athlete, and we really lose an aggressive leader on the field,” Winderman said of Kaplan.
Hatboro-Horsham will play its home opener Tuesday against Upper Dublin before starting its SOL Continental schedule Wednesday hosting Souderton.
WISSAHICKON 4, QUAKERTOWN 3
Wissahickon midfielders Krysta Memis and Emilly Verviled capped a seesaw contest against Quakertown by scoring back-to-back goals within about 4-1/2 minutes of each other to lift the Trojans.
Barely two minutes after the Panthers had taken a 3-2 lead, Memis scored her second goal of the game at 67:29 on an assist from sophomore midfielder Madison Elwell to knot the score. Verviled then got the game-winner at 71:49 with a shot from outside the box.
After Quakertown had taken an early 1-0 lead in the second minute of the game, senior midfielder and captain Alyssa Ryan tied the contest in the 17th minute.
Memis scored her first goal just 17 minutes before halftime off a deflection, as the Panthers held a 2-1 halftime lead.
Wissahickon outshot Quakertown, 19-11, and Trojans goalkeeper Keanna Haney made 10 saves.
"This was a big win for us," Wissahickon head coach Shannon Creamer-Franke said. "I'm very proud of how our players stepped up to meet the pace of the game and battled it out, whistle-to-whistle."
The Trojans will open their SOL American schedule Wednesday afternoon at Springfield (Montco) then host Upper Moreland on Friday.
Quakertown 1-2 3
Wissahickon 2-2 4
PENNSBURY 3, GARNET VALLEY 1
The Falcons capitalized on an own goal in the 17th minute (Kelly Amador assist) to take a lead they would not lose. Megan Engleland gave the Falcons a 2-0 lead, using an assist from Riley Rudd, and that lead grew to 3-0 after Sara Kervick turned an Amy Blazejewski pass into a goal. Garnet Valley’s Rachel Glen broke up the Falcons’ shutout bid when she connected on an unassisted goal in the 77th minute.
Falcon keeper Nany Santiago was credited with six saves.
Pennsbury 1-2 3
Garnet Valley 0-1 1
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 3, ABINGTON 0
Mary Kate Vinkler scored a goal just 51 seconds into the game, and Lindsay Morgan added a pair of goals, propelling the Bucks to the win in Friday’s opener.
NORTH PENN 2, PERKIOMEN VALLEY 0
The Maidens got unassisted goals from junior foward Morgan Brett and senior midfielder/forward Ally King in their opening victory at home. Brett got the only first-half goal in the 21st minute, and King scored in the 76th minute, effectively sealing the win.
North Penn played solid defense around senior goaltender Laura Leonard, as she had to make just one save. Erin Tinneny recorded six saves for the Vikings.
The Maidens will open their SOL Continental schedule 3:45 p.m. Wednesday when they host Central Bucks South.
Perkiomen Valley 0-0 0
North Penn 1-1 2
NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 1, UPPER MORELAND 0
The visiting Lions scored at the 61:59 mark to break a scoreless tie, and that would be all they needed to down the Golden Bears in Friday’s opener in what coach Lisa Benvenuto described as an evenly played game by both teams.
New Hope-Solebury 0-1 1
Upper Moreland 0-0 0
PENNCREST 4, UPPER MERION 1
Taylor Nearon scored the lone goal Friday in the second half for the Vikings, who trailed at halftime, 2-0.
Upper Merion will travel Tuesday for another non-league game at Marple-Newtown before opening its SOL American schedule Wednesday hosting Cheltenham.
Penncrest 2-2 4
Upper Merion 0-1 1
ST. HUBERT'S 2, HARRY S TRUMAN 0
After a shutout loss, the Tigers will look to get on the scoreboard for the first time this year when they open their SOL National schedule Wednesday at Council Rock South, before playing their home opener Friday, Sept. 5, vs. William Tennent.
PENNRIDGE 4, UPPER DUBLIN 0
Rams head coach Audrey Anderson said she wondered what to expect as the team headed into the season opener at Upper Dublin.
"I've been at Pennridge for 10 years, the third as head coach, and this is the youngest team we've ever had here," Anderson said. "There seemed to be a lot of nerves before the nerves, not only with players but also some coaches."
Anderson said sophomore center backer and midfielder Rachel Velez proved a leader doesn't always have to show up in the
statistics, as she showed maturity by reminding everyone before the game that "one game won't make or break the season," and that everyone could still enjoy the Labor Day weekend after the game.
Sophomores Kennedy Peace and Melissa Lyon responded by each scoring two first-half goals, all in the first 21 minutes of the game.
Helping Pennridge to an early 2-0 advantage, Peace scored at 11 minutes with an assist from sophomore midfielder Katie Fischer, then at 15:50 from sophomore defender Erin Stevenson.
Lyon later followed with her goals within three minutes of each other, at 17:30 and 20:12. Sophomore Carissa Manero and junior Maddie Swartley got the assists, respectively, on Lyons' goals.
Gaining confidence throughout the contest, the Rams continued their solid play, as the offense finished with 23 shots, and the defense helped sophomore goalkeeper Kaitlyn Moran earn a shutout on seven saves.
"Our back four (defenders), including Erin Stevenson and Dani Meenan, did a great job," Anderson said.
Anderson said she expects another tough challenge Wednesday afternoon in the home opener against Central Bucks East.
But with such a young squad, Anderson said the team motto this year is slightly different.
"Let's have fun and win some games along the way," Anderson said. "Don't get me wrong, we still want to win, but that's the direction we're going, and we'll find out how far it takes us."
Pennridge 4-0 4
Upper Dublin 0-0 0
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 3, WILLIAM TENNENT 0
The Lady Titans defeated Tennent in their season opener on Friday by a score of 3-0. Lindsay Weiss scored a goal in the third minute with an assist by Courtney Taylor. Kirsten Taylor contributed the second goal with an assist from Courtney Taylor and the third goal was tallied by Kylie Walsh with an assist by Weiss. The defense was anchored by strong play from Krista Reading and the goalkeeper, Sophia Boggs who had 7 saves.
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