Four SOL girls’ soccer teams will be vying for a berth in states when the District One AAA Tournament resumes Tuesday. Check back for a recap of the game.
Tuesday could be a red-letter day for SOL girls’ soccer.
As it stands, four SOL squads will vie for five state berths, and all four have a chance of not only gaining those coveted spots but also playing in Thursday’s district semifinal matches.
Top-seeded Pennsbury will face a Spring-Ford squad that wears the title of defending state runner-up. Last November, the Rams lost to Neshaminy in overtime (2-1) in the state title game. This season, they rebounded from a second place finish in the PAC-10 Liberty Division to defend their PAC-10 Tournament title. Tuesday’s semifinal features a pair of teams with stingy defenses – the Falcons have allowed just eight goals this season while the Rams have given up 11.
Central Bucks East, the tournament’s second seed, will take on 10th-seeded Conestoga in the third game of a tripleheader at War Memorial Field at 7 p.m., following the CB East/Plymouth Whitemarsh boys’ game.
Central Bucks West, the 13th seed, will play the first game of the tripleheader at 3 p.m. against 28th-seeded Owen J Roberts. The Bucks are coming off a 1-0 upset of fourth-seeded Boyertown. The Wildcats, who have found their stride in the playoffs, stunned fifth-seeded Pennridge in an opening round game and followed that with a win over 12th-seeded Plymouth Whitemarsh.
Council Rock South, the 14th seed, will take on 22nd-seeded Great Valley. The Golden Hawks’ defense was golden in shutout wins over #19 Neshaminy (1-0) and #3 Bayard Rustin (2-0). Great Valley upset #11 Garnet Valley and then sent #27 Central Bucks South home for the season.
#1 PENNSBURY vs. #8 SPRING-FORD (3 p.m.)
Pennsbury
- 16-0-3 overall
- 11-0-3 SOL National Conference champions
- Regular season wins over #6 Council Rock North (2-0 & 1-0), #10 Conestoga (2-1), #11 Garnet Valley (3-1), #17 Unionville (1-0), #25 William Tennent (3-0 & 5-0)
- Falcons have 11 shutouts and have allowed just eight goals all season
How they got here: After an opening round bye, the Falcons controlled play in Saturday’s second round 1-0 win over 18th-seeded Downingtown. Mary Webb turned an Uche Onucha pass into a goal in the 62nd minute for the game winner. Kayla Kunde earned the shutout in goal.
Spring-Ford
- 16-3-3 overall
- 9-2-2 second place behind Boyertown in PAC-10 Liberty Division
- Defeated Pope John Paul II 3-0 to capture second straight PAC-10 Tournament title
- 2013 PIAA runner-up (lost to Neshaminy 2-1 in overtime)
- Defending state runner-up Rams have allowed just 11 goals all season.
- Regular season wins over #3 Bayard Rustin (3-2), #4 Boyertown (1-0), #7 Phoenixville (3-2), #18 West Chester East (2-1), #24 West Chester Henderson (1-0) and #28 Owen J. Roberts (1-0)
- Gabrielle Vagnozzi leads attack with 15 goals.
- Five-game winning streak coincides with the return to the lineup of injured midfielder Taylor Newhart.
How they got here: In Saturday’s second round game, Gabby Vagnozzi connected for the hat trick while Libby Andrews added a pair in the Rams 5-1 rout of ninth-seeded Strath Haven that saw the Rams score four goals in the first 27 minutes. In an opening round 1-0 win over #25 William Tennent, the Rams received the game winner from freshman Gabby Kane in the final seconds.
#2 CENTRAL BUCKS EAST vs. #10 CONESTOGA (7 p.m. at War Memorial Field)
Central Bucks East
- 15-2-2
- 10-2-2 second place in SOL Continental Conference
- Regular season wins over #3 Bayard Rustin (1-0), #13 Central Bucks West (1-0), #26 Upper Dublin (4-0) and #27 Central Bucks South (4-0).
- Defense has recorded 11 shutouts, including six in a row to end regular season.
- Led by dangerous junior forward Emma Loving
How they got here: After an opening round bye, the Patriots opened up a 2-0 lead – thanks to a pair of Emma Loving goals – on their way to a 2-1 win over 18th-seeded West Chester East in Saturday’s second round.
Conestoga
- 14-5-1 overall
- 10-1 Central League champions
- Regular season wins over #11 Garnet Valley (1-0), #17 Unionville (1-0), #21 Lower Merion (2-0), #23 Penncrest (2-0) and #28 Owen J Roberts (3-1)
- Tied #15 Downingtown East (1-1)
- Won six in a row before falling in regular season finale to #6 Council Rock North (3-2).
- Led by senior defender Paige Kozlowski, the 2013 team MVP and first team All-Central League selection.
How they got here: The Pioneers upset seventh-seeded Phoenixville 2-1 in Saturday’s second round game, using goals from senior Anna Tellefson and sophomore Katelyn Perz. In the Pioneers’ 2-1 opening round win over #23 Penncrest, freshmen Caitlyn Ellerbeck and Amelia Kienzle each scored a goal in a game that saw the Pioneers open up a 2-0 halftime lead.
#13 CENTRAL BUCKS WEST vs. #28 OWEN J ROBERTS (3 p.m. at War Memorial Field
Central Bucks West
- 14-5-1 overall
- 9-4-1 third place SOL Continental Conference
- Regular season wins over #2 Central Bucks East (1-0), #4 Boyertown (1-0) and #27 Central Bucks South (3-2).
- The Bucks – behind standout goalie Grace Benton – have posted 10 shutouts this season.
How they got here: The Bucks used a goal by Shae McCarty with 4:18 remaining in the first overtime to earn the dramatic 1-0 win over fourth-seeded Boyertown in a second round game on Saturday. Grace Benton had five saves in the shutout. In the Bucks’ 3-0 opening round win over 20th-seeded Mount St. Joseph Academy, McCarty had a pair of goals – one with an Ellie Manca assist – and Kelly Cramer added a goal and an assist.
Owen J Roberts
- 11-7-2 overall
- 7-5-1 third place PAC-10 Liberty Division
- Regular season wins over #7 Phoenixville (3-2) and #16 Downingtown West (1-0)
- Team has scored three goals or more nine times this season.
- Attack is led by Emily Kupsov (15 goals) and Mahogony Willis (13 goals)
How they got here: Freshman Mahogany Willis scored a pair of goals and Katie Dempsey had two assists in the Wildcats’ 3-1 win over 12th-seeded PW. The Wildcats, who opened up a 3-0 lead, also received a goal from Morgan Shronk. In Thursday’s opening round, the Wildcats stunned fifth-seeded Pennridge, rallying from a 1-0 halftime deficit to earn the upset win. Willis accounted for both of her team’s goals. Keeper Sarah Mills was credited with 10 saves.
#14 COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH vs. #22 GREAT VALLEY
Council Rock South
- 13-6-1 overall
- 7-6-1 fifth place in SOL National Conference
- Regular season wins over #10 Conestoga (1-0), #13 Central Bucks West (2-0), #19 Neshaminy (3-1), #25 William Tennent (6-1)
- Opened season with five straight wins, a span that saw the Golden Hawks allow just one goal.
- Team allowed an average of one goal per game in the regular season.
How they got here: The Golden Hawks sent third-seeded Rustin home for the season, notching an impressive 2-0 win. Scoring goals for the Hawks were Kasey Schlupp (Elissa Dotzman assist) and Julie Rebh (Jesse Magee assist). Allison Taub had six saves in the shutout. In the Golden Hawks’ 1-0 opening round win over 19th-seeded Neshaminy, Emily Wilkinson scored the game winner with 31 minutes remaining.
Great Valley
- 13-5-1 overall
- 7-5-1 third place in Ches-mont League American Division
- Regular season wins over #3 Pennridge (1-0), #18 West Chester East (4-3) and #25 William Tennent (3-0). Tied #2 Central Bucks East (0-0) and #5 Pennridge (0-0).
How they got here: The Patriots upended #27th-seeded Central Bucks South, rallying from a 1-1 halftime tie to earn a 3-1 win. Hannah Chenard and Hannah Cheslock each had one goal and one assist, and Beckah Stevens added a goal. In an opening round upset, Great Valley ended #11 Garnet Valley’s season, thanks to a 1-0 win. A goal by Courtney Stevens in the 44th minute was the difference in the game.
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