Check out the results for SOL girls’ soccer teams in action Friday.
PENNSBURY 2, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 1
It was only the first day of the season, but Pennsbury coach Kaitlyn Battiste and her Falcons certainly felt a postseason vibe in their come-from-behind win over CB East.
A marquee battle between SOL powers certainly delivered as the retooling Patriots came out with a lot of fight and intensity and forced the Falcons to ask themselves some questions just 40 minutes into the campaign. Pennsbury was up to the task and responded with an excellent second half.
"It was both teams feeling each other out a little bit, but CB East was definitely taking it to us," said Battiste, whose team trailing 1-0 at the intermission "I think there were some of those opening season jitters and a couple players new to the starting lineup. At halftime it was a good regrouping session for us."
It was the first regular season loss for the Patriots – who lost a strong senior class, including All-American Emma Loving - since they fell to Pennridge 2-0 on Sept. 23, 2014. Last year, the only regular season blemish on East’s record was a 1-1 tie with Souderton.
Delaney Kennedy – using a Hannah Zach assist - put the defending district champion Patriots on the board with a goal in the 24th minute. After that, the Pennsbury back line, anchored by Rachel Beri, raised its level of play and kept a potent CB East attack quiet.
"No one was really happy with their performance and hadn't done what they were capable of (in the first half), so they went out there and won their individual battles in the second half," Battiste said. "Our defense the entire match played really well."
In the 57th minute, Jenna Peters provided a corner kick service that found its way to senior captain Meredith Weber, who as she's so often done, buried the chance to level the game.
"We really bunkered down and got back to playing our game," Battiste said. "I don't think we gave up a shot on frame in the second half. We really took control of the game; even before that, we were knocking on the door, not that we had the scoring opportunities but we were regaining the possession."
Inspired by their captain's strike, the Falcons continued to press the issue and found the winner a little later when Whitney Roth set up Cara Thomas to put it away in the 75th minute.
Both sides would certainly like to meet again in the postseason, and Pennsbury left with a win but also seeing it has another gear it can hit and some more work to do. Sometimes, jumping right in is better than easing into things.
"It did have that feeling of a postseason game, it was very intense and competitive from the beginning," Battiste said. "It was awesome to have that kind of test so early to see what this team is made of. To go down early and have to battle back, we learned about them and they learned about each other."
East keeper Kristen Obetz and Pennsbury’s Kerry Phillips were both credited with four saves.
Pennsbury (1-0) will host Bensalem in Wednesday’s SOL opener, and Central Bucks East (0-1) will be on the road at North Penn.
Pennsbury 0-2 – 2
Central Bucks East 1-0 – 1
NESHAMINY 5, UNIONVILLE 0
After a scoreless first half, the Neshaminy attack broke out in a big way during the second half with a five-goal outburst. Five different players struck for a goal in a 30-minute span with all five goals being assisted.
Jackie Ziegler, Riley Nyhus, Kristin Curley, Gina Sexton and Alyssa Tobin all scored for Neshaminy while Ziegler, Curley and Cali Tomko each provided one assist. Brooke Mullin was especially generous, setting up two goals.
Victoria Smith wasn't tested much but was up to the task when needed, making three saves on the three Unionville shots on target. Neshaminy put 14 shots on frame in the win.
Neshaminy will be on the road Saturday at West Chester Rustin for a non-league game at 7:30 p.m.
Neshaminy 0 5 – 5
Unionville 0 0 – 0
Goals: N- Jackie Ziegler (Brooke Mullin) 45:58, Riley Nyhus (Krisitn Curley) 56:53, Kristin Curley (Brooke Mullin) 63:57, Gina Sexton (Jackie Ziegler) 71:41, Alyssa Tobin (Cali Tomko) 75:20
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 2, ARCHBISHOP RYAN 0
The Bucks opened their season with a quality win over a perennial Catholic League power. A goal on each side of halftime was all West needed under new coach Chris Fehrle, thanks to a standout effort from the back line. Trish Hauck, Meg Gallagher, Ali Walsh, Emily Hackett and Arianna D'Elia were excellent all match, according to the Bucks’ first-year coach.
Senior captain Mary Kate Vinkler opened the scoring in the 10th minute and then, along with Hauck, assisted a 51st minute marker from Kyra Lalena. Vinkler was a threat every time she had the ball, Fehrle said, and he also pointed to the tireless work midfielders Camryn Albrecht and Sam Lubin provided. Alex Craine had an assist on Vinkler's goal.
Central Bucks West (1-0) will open SOL play on Wednesday at William Tennent.
Archbishop Ryan 0 0 – 0
CB West 1 1 – 2
Goals: CBW - Mary Kate Vinkler (Alex Craine) 10th minute, Kyra Lalena (Mary Kate Vinkler, Trish Hauck) 51st minute
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 6, ARCHBISHOP WOOD 0
It was a complete win for the Titans, who received a great defensive effort and shutout from goalkeeper Sophia Boggs (four saves) and her back line and a diverse offensive attack.
The Titans opened up a 3-0 halftime lead on their way to the no-doubt-about-it win. Corrine McDonald had two goals and an assist to pace the South attack with Margot Centofanti, Maddie Koch, Julia Coco and Courtney Taylor all finding the back of the net.
The whole team played well as a unit and was unselfish, with Centofanti, Morgan Hilton, Brianna McPeak and Aleksa Peev all tallying an assist.
Central Bucks South (1-0) will be on the road at Souderton for Wednesday’s SOL opener.
CB South 3 3 – 6
Archbishop Wood 0 0 - 0
WISSAHICKON 2, WILLIAM TENNENT 1
Maddie Elwell began her senior season with a bang, scoring a brace to lift the Trojans to a nonleague win on the road. Elwell scored both of her goals in the first half, with the second holding up as the winner.
Danielle Scott provided the lone tally for the Panthers in the second half of the morning kickoff.
Wissahickon (1-0) will be on the road at Quakertown on Wednesday, and William Tennent (0-1) will host Central Bucks West.
Wissahickon 2 0 – 2
William Tennent 0 1 – 1
BENSALEM 11, PENN WOOD 0
The Owls scored early and often in a dismantling of Penn Wood in Friday morning's season opener. Four players scored a pair of goals with Karleigh Hund, Julia Murray, Kayla Poll and Emily Wineburg each putting a brace in the books. Syd Miller, Tori Vorgey and Amanda Felice each scored once to round out the scoring.
Bensalem assisted eight of the 11 tallies and Felice had a big influence on the game, contributing three assists, two of them on corner kicks, to the effort. Taylor Haffner had two helpers while Hana Lieb, Alyssa Groves and Emily Wineburg each assisted a goal.
Bensalem (1-0) will travel to Lower Merion for a non-league contest on Saturday at 10 a.m.
Penn Wood 0 0 – 0
Bensalem 8 3 - 11
PENNRIDGE 7, SOUTHERN LEHIGH 0
The Rams began their season with some fireworks in the offensive third of the field. Pennridge opened up a 5-0 lead at the break and only built on it after intermission.
Erin Stevenson and Kouri Peace each netted a first-half brace while Ashley Groeber also scored in front of the half. After the break, Kennedy Peace and Meghan Kriney added tallies.
Pennridge (1-0) will return to action next Friday at Central Bucks South.
Pennridge 5 0 -0
Southern Lehigh 0 0 - 0
UPPER MORELAND 0, NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 0
The Golden Bears played to a stalemate in their season opener but not for a lack of effort. Goalkeeper Kim Benge was terrific, making 12 stops in net to preserve the shutout while Samantha Cancel, Maddy Gerlach and Carly Wasson defended well in front of her.
“Samantha centered the back line, and Maddy and Carly forced the New Hope attack to the outside,” coach Lisa Benvenuto said. “The teams matched up well and played a gritty, competitive 100 minutes.”
Benevenuto said forward Sydney Bachmayer twice struck the crossbar in the first half.
“(She) continued to be a menace throughout the match,” the UM coach said. “Midfielders Sarah Veneziale and Maggie Finn played strong, finding the open girls and distributing the ball and creating scoring opportunities.”
Upper Moreland (1-0) will host Plymouth Whitemarsh on Wednesday in the SOL opener for both squads.
Upper Moreland 0 0 0 0 – 0
New Hope-Solebury 0 0 0 0 - 0
ST. BASIL ACADEMY 2, SPRINGFIELD TWP 1
The Spartans dropped a tough nonleague contest to open their season Friday. Sarah Potocki scored an unassisted goal midway through the second half, but it wasn't enough to overcome Basil's 2-0 halftime edge.
Coach Suzette Wolf credited the play of outside back Samantha Wynne and sweeper Lindsey Smith for keeping the scoreline in check.
Springfield (0-1) will host Germantown Academy in a non-league contest Tuesday.
Springfield Twp 0 1 – 1
St. Basil Academy 2 0 - 2
HAVERFORD 3, PLYMOUTH-WHITEMARSH 0
The Colonials opened the campaign with a home loss Friday afternoon. After a scoreless opening half, the visitors struck three times in the second frame to spoil new P-W coach Ryan Zehren's debut.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (0-1) will travel to Upper Moreland on Wednesday for the SOL opener.
Haverford 0 3 – 3
Plymouth-Whitemarsh 0 0 - 0
ST. HUBERT'S 8, HARRY S. TRUMAN 1
SPRING-FORD 4, NORTH PENN 1
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