Twenty-two of the 24 Suburban One League boys soccer teams played Friday. Results and recaps of all 11 league games are compiled below.
American Conference
Cheltenham 3, Upper Dublin 2
Cheltenham earned its first league win of 2015 over Upper Dublin.
The Panthers raced to a 2-0 first half lead and fended off a desperate Cardinals’ attack late in the second.
In the sixth minute, Jake Ruckett fed Scarphins Codio, who opened the scoring. Fifteen minutes later, senior Noah Michael split the UD defense and scored on a breakaway. Upper Dublin’s Colin Muth cut the deficit in half before the break.
Five minutes into the second half, Isaac Smoller-Shatz toed the ball over the goalkeeper’s head to put the Panthers up 3-1. Muth answered again with 25 minutes left and UD blitzed the Cheltenham defense for the rest of the game. Keeper Justin Garvey did not allow another goal.
Garvey made nine saves in all, and eight were easy. In the first half, he jumped and intercepted a cross with one hand.
“Like a wide receiver,” said Cheltenham coach Chuck Gesing. “It was a crazy athletic move.”
It also prevented overtime.
Cheltenham (1-1-1, 1-0-1 SOL) goes for its first winning streak of the season Wednesday afternoon at Springfield. Upper Dublin (1-2, 1-1 SOL) travels to Upper Moreland, who is winless in league play.
Cheltenham 2-1 3
Upper Dublin 1-1 2
Springfield 2, Norristown 1
Springfield also took home its first league win of the season Friday night.
The Cougars trailed 1-0 at halftime before scoring twice in the second.
Oscar Garcia gave Norristown the first half lead with a goal. Corey Cottone scored early in the second half and Mike Bonacci netted the game winner on a penalty kick.
Springfield (1-2, 1-1 SOL) hosts Cheltenham Wednesday afternoon. Norristown (0-2, 0-2 SOL) plays three games in four days next week. The first is a non-league game against Pottstown on Tuesday. The next two are league games versus Upper Merion and Cheltenham on Wednesday and Friday.
Springfield 0-2 2
Norristown 1-0 1
Wissahickon 5, Upper Moreland 2
Wissahickon’s offense is white, piping, and scorching hot to start the SOL American season. The Trojans have scored eight goals in their first two league games, beating Springfield 3-2 Wednesday and following that with Friday’s 5-2 win.
Five players netted goals for the Trojans, two in the first half, three in the second. Eddie Fortescue and Darien Williams scored in the 31st and 37th minutes, respectively, putting Wissahickon up 2-0.
Upper Moreland’s Randy Meehl kept the game close by scoring a minute before halftime, but the Trojans busted it open after the break. Vikrant Kumar, Tom McHale, and Blake Geisler scored in a 20-minute span to increase Wissahickon’s lead to 5-1. Matt Brunner’s tally in the 65th minute was far too little, far too late for Upper Moreland.
Wissahickon (2-1, 2-0 SOL) plays Plymouth Whitemarsh Monday afternoon. Upper Moreland (1-2, 0-2 SOL) again goes for its first league win versus Upper Dublin.
Wissahickon 2-3 5
Upper Moreland 1-1 2
Plymouth Whitemarsh 1, Upper Merion 1
PW dominated the first half, not even allowing a shot on goal. But the Colonials did not score either, swinging the door wide open for Upper Merion.
In the second half, Upper Merion took control. The Vikings booted eight shots on goal. One, off the foot of Will Borkowski, landed in the net. With three minutes to go, and a huge upset within sniffing distance, PW finally scored.
Neither team scored in overtime and Upper Merion became the first SOL team with two ties.
PW (2-0-1, 1-0-1) takes on Wissahickon Wednesday afternoon in a battle of American elites. Upper Merion (0-1-2, 0-0-2) plays Norristown at 7 p.m.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 0-1 1
Upper Merion 0-1 1
Continental Conference
Souderton 3, Quakertown 1
Souderton scored two goals in the first half and one in the second to earn its first win of the season.
Nick Marculo scored in the third minute, David Hafler in the 25th, and Luis Orellana in the 74th to put pesky Quakertown away.
Kevin Dustin made six saves for Souderton.
Souderton (1-2, 1-1 SOL) plays West Chester Henderson Saturday and continues league play Wednesday against CB West.
Quakertown (0-3, 0-2 SOL) also plays a non-league game before continuing league play. The Panthers battle Southern Lehigh on Tuesday and North Penn on Wednesday.
CB East 2, North Penn 1 (2 OT)
CB East coach Mike Gorni expects a lot of one-goal games in Continental play. His team survived its second in a row Friday night, beating archrival North Penn double overtime when Joey Bowen connected with 1:05 remaining in the second overtime period.
“It was a good game between two good teams,” Gorni said. “I’m glad we got the win and can move on.”
The game winner was set up by a long throw-in by Ian Lutz.
“Evan Vare got the head ball very high in the goal mouth to Joey Bowen,” Gorni said.
The Patriots took an early lead in the 15h minute when Alex Parasky scored, benefitting from a Vare assist. With two minutes remaining in the first half, Kevin Seipt connected for the equalizer, using a Mike Kohler assist. That tie stood until Bowen’s game winner.
“There was a good deal of energy and action,” Gorni said. “Both teams had some opportuniites.”
East remained undefeated while the Knights dropped their first game of 2015.
The Patriots (3-0, 2-0 SOL) play Peasant Valley Saturday and travel to Hatboro-Horsham Wednesday night. North Penn (2-1, 1-1 SOL) goes to Quakertown for a 7 p.m. start.
North Penn 1-0-0-0 1
Central Bucks East 1-0-0-1 2
CB South 5, Hatboro-Horsham 0
Colin Fagan assisted on the first two goals and scored the fourth in CB South’s blowout win.
Fagan set up a goal by Connor Bethel in the second minute of the game to take a 1-0 lead that stood until halftime. The Titans poured it on in the second half, netting four of their five goals. Chris Ross turned a Fagan pass into a goal one minute into the half, and Ross scored an unassisted goal in the 50th minute. The Titans led 4-0 after Fagan connected in the 55th minute, and then Colyn O’Brien turned a Nick Tobar pass into a goal to close out the scoring in the 76th minute.
Goalkeeper Matt Gorman earned his first shutout of the season.
CB South (2-1, 1-1 SOL) looks to rise above .500 in league play at Pennridge Wednesday night. Hatboro-Horsham (3-1, 1-1 SOL) hosts CB East at 7 p.m.
CB South 1-4 5
Hatboro-Horsham 0-0 0
National Conference
Abington 2, Neshaminy 1
Friday night, for the first time since 2012, Neshaminy lost an SOL National game.
The Redskins won the league three years in a row from 2012 to 2014 and went 25-0-3 the last two seasons.
But, 10 minutes into Friday’s showdown, Abington’s Kevin Weintraub pushed the ball in front of the goal and Matt Bachman kicked it home. Less than 10 minutes later, Juan Castillo was tackled in the box and Jacob Castro buried the penalty kick. 2-0 Abington. This was not going to be Neshaminy’s night.
The Redskins scored in the 50th minute but were stoned the rest of the game.
“Our defense the second half after they scored got a little bit better organized,” said Abington coach Randy Garber. “Our goalkeeping (Sam Wells) was very good.
“We understood after they scored their first goal that we couldn’t allow another goal in order for them to tie it up, and we played defensively to get out of their with a win.”
Garber lauded the play of several players.
“Aiden Coyle, Sam Wells and Brian Hoover played well in the back,” he said. “Our defense was pretty good.”
Abington (2-1, 1-1 SOL) clashes with Council Rock South on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. Neshaminy (1-3, 1-1 SOL) looks to get back on track at William Tennant.
“They’re young, but they’re still very talented,” Garber said of the Redskins. “It’s just that they’re going to have to play together a couple of games to get all their wrinkles out.
“They won the league three years in a row. They’re always going to be there. They’re going to win a lot of games.”
Abington 2-0 2
Neshaminy 0-1 1
William Tennant 1, Harry S. Truman 0
Tennent's Billy Hanratty broke a scoreless tie and scored the game winner in the 59th minute, using an assist from Tony Ciarlante.
It was a big game for the Hanrattys as Billy's brother, Brendan Hanratty, had three saves in goal to earn the shutout win.
For the third straight game, Truman’s offense failed to support a stellar defensive effort. The Tigers have scored one goal in three games this season. All three losses (1-0, 2-1, and 1-0) were by one goal.
Tennant joined four other National teams with a 1-1 conference record. One of those teams is Neshaminy, which comes to William Tennant (1-1, 1-1 SOL) for a 3:30 p.m. showdown Wednesday. Truman (0-3, 0-2 SOL) plays Council Rock North on the same day and time.
Bensalem 2, Council Rock South 1
Bensalem edged Council Rock South to earn its first league win of the season. It was Alifardi Ali putting the Owls on the scoreboard with an assist from Ryan Molz. With five minutes remaining in the opening half, Rock North's Ethan Benedit connected with the equalizer, using a Kevin Bowers assist. The two teams went into the intermission deadlocked 1-1.
The Owls averted overtime when Ed Farnsworth scored what turned out to be the game winner, benefitting from a Ryan Molz assist.
Bensalem (2-1, 1-1 SOL) goes to Pennsbury to play the Falcons on Wednesday afternoon. South (1-2, 1-1 SOL) hosts Abington at 3:30 p.m.
Council Rock South 1-0 1
Bensalem 1-1 2
Pennsbury 0, Council Rock North 0 (2 OT)
In a battle for first place, neither Pennsbury or Council Rock North could get on the scoreboard. Both were forced to settle for a double overtime scoreless tie.
North (2-0-1, 1-0-1 SOL) plays at Harry S. Truman Wednesday. Pennsbury (1-1-1, 1-0-1 SOL) hosts Bensalem Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.
Pennsbury 0-0 0
CR North 0-0 0
About the Author
