Check out the results for SOL boys/girls soccer teams in action Saturday.
Boys
UPPER MERION 2, HARRITON 1 (2 OT)
When overtime rolls around, the Vikings have got to feel as though they’ve got a decided advantage. After all, overtime is old hat to their team. Saturday’s contest was the fifth double overtime game of the season for Upper Merion.
“It’s crazy,” coach Tom Dodds said. “We’re getting fit.”
The two teams battled to a scoreless halftime tie. UM goalie Ben Tirjan turned away a penalty shot to preserve the shutout.
“The first half we were struggling,” Dodds said. “We were on turf, and we don’t play on turf too often, and we had a little bit of a problem getting together.
“Harriton had the better of play, but we held on and got through that half without giving up a goal.”
Harriton got on the scoreboard early the second half, and that 1-0 lead stood until 10 minutes remained in regulation when Ravi Tata scored the equalizer, using a Trevor Looby assist.
“He doesn’t get a lot of playing time, but he hit one from about 35 yards out that went over the keeper’s head, so it was a big bonus,” Dodds said. “We got to overtime, and it was ‘Here we go again.’ The kids are used to it.
“We started getting the better of play. We feel pretty confident going into overtime now. The guys showed some character, and they’ve been showing it.”
The Vikings won it early in the second overtime when Alan Castillo finished off a Looby cross. Also playing a role in the game winner was center back Abdu Bakillah, a contributor throughout the season.
“He made a run from the back and brought it all the way up,” Dodds said. “He broke through, played it out to the wing, and my freshman who’s been playing well – Trevor Looby – served it across to Alan Castillo.
“The kids played hard. I’m proud of them. In the years I’ve been coaching, I’ve always had some success in overtime – I don’t know what it is.”
Dodds credited the performance of Tirjan in the win.
“He made a few nice saves,” the Vikings’ coach said. “It wasn’t one of our best days, but the second half we picked it up. It’s nice to come out with a win when you’re not playing your best. We’ll take it.”
Upper Merion (5-3-2, 4-2-2 SOL) will host Plymouth Whitemarsh in a key American Conference game on Tuesday.
Upper Merion0-1-0-1 2
Harriton 0-1-0-0 1
QUAKERTOWN 1, SAUCON VALLEY 0 (OT)
Freshman Brandon Strecker scored two minutes into overtime to propel the Panthers to a dramatic non-league win – their first of the season. Matt Munsell set up the game winner.
“We had transitioned through the midfield, and Munsell put a nice ball in,” coach Kevin Woulfe said. “The keeper came out after it. Strecker went in hard, they met at the same time, the ball came loose, and he tucked it in the goal.
“We’re having a tough season, and the boys really needed the win, and I couldn’t be happier for them.”
The game might have ended it sooner had it not been for a big save by Panther keeper Evan Hippauf late in the game.
“He made an astounding save with about three minutes to play, which he’s known for,” said Woulfe of Hippauf, who averages double-digit saves in conference play. “That was an exciting thing. He didn’t have a whole lot of dangerous shots in this game, but he stepped up like he normally does and made a great one late in the game.
“We hit overtime, and luckily, it ended pretty quick.”
Woulfe credited the strong performances of several players.
“Matt Munsell is one of my central midfielders, and he had a phenomenal game,” the Panthers’ coach said. “Ryan Leatherman, my center back, stepped up again, which is typical. He helps us build out of the back, which is huge.
“It was a really good back and forth game. Defensively, we did a good job of shutting down their attacks.
“Saucon always puts together quality teams. They play in the Colonial League, and they’re having a solid season, averaging seven goals a game. To shut them down today was a good thing, and our team really needed that.
Quakertown (1-10, 0-8 SOL) will be on the road at Upper Perkiomen on Monday.
Saucon Valley0-0-0 0
Quakertown 0-0-1 1
WILLIAM TENNENT 2, GREAT VALLEY 0
Tennent picked up an important non-league win over a Patriot squad that shares the top spot in the Ches-Mont American Division standings.
The Panthers broke a scoreless halftime tie when Connor Weiss turned a Michael Albers assist into a goal in the 56th minute. That score stood until two minutes remained in regulation when Dan Mehaffey (Weiss assist) found the net with an insurance goal.
Tennent keeper Joe Lees turned away four shots in the shutout win. Great Valley’s David Nehring recorded 10 saves.
William Tennent (7-5, 4-4 SOL) will host Harry S Truman on Tuesday.
Great Valley 0-0 0
William Tennent 0-2 2
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 2, METHACTON 1
The Patriots rolled to their 12th win without a loss on Saturday, defeating the visiting Warriors in a non-league contest.
“Methacton’s good,” coach Mike Gorni said. “They came in 8-3. They graduated some really good players from last year, but they’re a very good team from the Pioneer Athletic Conference. They’re physical and big.”
Evan Vare put the Patriots on the scoreboard, turning a J.R. Eisold pass into a goal and a 1-0 lead that held until halftime. A goal by Brian Gilligan (Andrew Walters assist) made it a 2-0 game before the Warriors scored in the game’s closing minutes.
“We played well,” Gorni said. “The first half we actually had the wind, and we didn’t do as much with it.
“The second half we actually played better, so that was a good sign. The biggest thing for us right now is we’ve done this since the West game without Austin Prime in goal. That’s a big loss, and Karl Bandlow has done a very good job for us. We’re hoping Austin can come back soon, and at some point, hopefully, in the next week or so, he will be back in the lineup.”
Gorni went on to acknowledged the strong play of several players.
“We had a really good game from Justin Chomik in the left midfield,” he said. “We had a good game in the back again from Will Eisold, Andrew Zach and Ian Lutz – we’re kind of locking people out in front of Karl. Our back line has done it. I have to give our kids credit.”
Central Bucks East (12-0, 8-0 SOL) will be on the road at North Penn on Tuesday.
Methacton 0-1 1
Central Bucks East 2-0 2
Girls
NESHAMINY 4, ARCHBISHOP WOOD 1
The visiting Vikings scored an early goal. The Redskins responded with four of their own en route to the non-league win Saturday.
Caitlyn Cliggett scored to give Wood a 1-0 lead 14:32 into the game. Thirty-six seconds later, Gabby Farrell answered with a goal, using an Alyssa Tobin assist. Fiona McDonald turned a Riley Nyhus assist into a goal 20 minutes later, and the ‘Skins led 2-1 at the intermission.
In the second half, Farrell added a pair of goals to complete the hat trick – the first just over two minutes into the second half with a Nyhus assist and the second with a Brianna Tobin assist.
Victoria Smith and Holly Bowser combined for two saves in goal for the Redskins.
Neshaminy (8-2, 7-1 SOL) will travel to Abington on Tuesday.
Archbishop Wood 1-0 1
Neshaminy 2-2 4
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