Check out the previews for the SOL girls’ soccer teams in action in Thursday’s second round of the District One 4A Tournament. Check back for game recaps.
Eight SOL teams will be in action in Thursday’s second round of the District One 4A Tournament. The action will feature a pair of all-SOL contests with Central Bucks East travelling to Neshaminy and Wissahickon on the road at Pennridge.
#17 Central Bucks East at #1 Neshaminy (7 p.m.)
Neshaminy
Neshaminy's track record speaks for itself. The only team to defeat Pennsbury this season, Neshaminy also boasts a pair of wins over Council Rock North, perennial District 3 and state power Cumberland Valley among some other quality wins. There's no weak area with this team, which finished the season on a nine-match winning streak and is unbeaten going back through its last 13 matches.
"The girls are very excited for the postseason, especially after the last few games of the regular season," Neshaminy coach Chelsea Lovelace said. "We are hoping to carry that momentum into the playoffs by staying focused at practice, working hard and taking it one game at a time."
– 16-1-1 overall
– 10-1-1 SOL National, second place
– Regular season wins over No. 2 Pennsbury (1-0 Oct. 13), No. 21 Council Rock North (2-0 Sept. 20, 4-1 Oct. 14), No. 16 Council Rock South (3-0 Oct. 20), No. 7 Central Bucks South (4-3 Oct. 17), No. 9 Downingtown West (1-0 Oct. 8), No. 12 Unionville (5-0 Sept. 2), No. 20 West Chester Bayard Rustin (3-1 Sept. 3), District 3 AAAA No. 5 Cumberland Valley (2-1 Sept. 17), Philadelphia Catholic League No. 3 Archbishop Wood (4-0 Oct. 1)
– Brooke Mullin, Riley Nyhus and Alyssa Tobin have been mainstays in the attack with Mullin, a sophomore, scoring some of the team's biggest goals.
-Jackie Ziegler and Brianna Tobin provide a high work rate and consistent passing in the midfield.
– On the back end, dynamic fullback Genna Obringer and fellow defenders Maggie Daeche, Hannah Stonkus and Nicole Palmer have yielded just 12 goals all season.
How they got here: Redskins had an opening round bye.
Central Bucks East Patriots
– 10-6-3 overall
– 6-4-2 SOL Continental, fourth place
– Regular season wins over No. 18 Upper Dublin (3-1 Oct. 21); draws against No. 7 Central Bucks South (1-1 Oct. 20), No. 14 Souderton (1-1 Oct. 5) and No. 10 West Chester Henderson (1-1 Oct. 15)
– Abby Brown, Katie Bloom, Ashley Balderson and Meghan Mannato anchor the defense.
– Hannah Zach has stepped up to be a scoring threat after the graduation of Emma Loving. Zach has authored several multi-goal games. Delaney Kennedy, Izzy Hunter, Bri Talbot and Riley Kane have all played well in midfield roles.
– Kristen Obetz and Maddie Nesteruck have split time at goalkeeper during the season.
How they got here: Senior Hannah Zach scored an unassisted goal just over seven minutes into the second half to propel the Patriots to an opening round 1-0 win over 16th-seeded Council Rock South.
#15 Boyertown at #2 Pennsbury (3 p.m.)
Pennsbury Falcons
Fresh off a third straight SOL National title, the Falcons enter as prime contenders to gain a second district title in three years after going all the way to the top in 2014. A couple of sophomores on that team, Meredith Webber and Rachel Beri, are now the leaders in their senior seasons. Pennsbury is creative, organized, disciplined and balanced, all good attributes to have in a playoff scenario. The Falcons' only blemish is a late season loss to Neshaminy. Could a district title game rubber match be in the future?
– 15-1-0 overall
– 11-1-0 SOL National, conference champion
– Regular season wins over No. 17 Central Bucks East (3-2 Sept. 2), No. 12 Unionville (4-0 Sept. 10), No. 1 Neshaminy (3-2 Sept. 15), No. 16 Council Rock South (3-2 Sept. 20, 3-0 Oct. 14), No. 21 Council Rock North (2-1 Sept. 22, 3-0 Oct. 18), No. 4 Conestoga (1-0 Oct. 21)
– Cara Thomas, Dani Cady, Meredith Webber and Whitney Roth are all capable of scoring. Hope Drewes and Jenna Peters have been frequent assisters all season long.
– Jo Tennant and Lizzy Kirk are impact midfielders, able to identify a role and fill it during a match.
Boyertown Bears
– 11-5-2 overall
– 9-3-1 PAC Liberty, conference third place
– Regular season win over Phoenixville (3-0 Sept.19) draws with No. 5 Spring-Ford (0-0 Oct. 11), PCL No. 1 Lansdale Catholic (2-2 Sept. 24)
– Corinne Renninger, Lauren Haley, Kylie Webb and Grace Conover have been players involved in the attack all season.
How they got here: The Bears received single goals from Grace Conover, Lauren Haley, Sierra Landes and Maddie Gallagher in a 4-2 opening round win over 18th-seeded Upper Dublin.
#19 Wissahickon at #3 Pennridge (7 p.m.)
Pennridge Rams
The Rams enter the postseason as one of the hottest teams in District I. Pennridge hasn't lost a match since Sept. 9, though it did have a draw with Souderton in that stretch. Largely the same core as the last two years, the Rams have 13 seniors on the roster, all seeking their first state tournament appearance. Pennridge is balanced, with each third having a mix of experience and skill and the seniors know this is the time to show what they're really made of.
– 16-1-1 overall
– 10-1-1 SOL Continental, conference champion
– Regular season wins over No. 17 Central Bucks East (1-0 Sept. 13, 1-0 Oct. 7), No. 14 Souderton (2-0 Sept. 15), No. 7 Central Bucks South (2-1 Oct. 7), No. 8 Quakertown (4-0 Oct. 11), No. 19 Wissahickon (2-1 Oct. 17)
– Senior midfielder Erin Stevenson has been a force all season, whether it be scoring, assisting, winning tackles or connecting passes in the midfield. Seniors Savanna Harrison and Katie Fischer, along with underclassmen Caroline Thomson and Ashley Groeber round out the unit.
– Up top, Pennridge has plenty of speed with Kennedy and Kouri Peace, Piper Zimmerman, Abby Groff, Melissa Lyon and Liz Cardie.
– The defense is a veteran unit with seniors Rachel Velez, Olivia Fernandez and Dani Meenan and junior Courtney Supp. Mary Kate Levush and Kaitlyn Moran shared time in goal.
How they got here: The Rams had a first round bye.
Wissahickon TrojansLast season, the Trojans topped Abington on PKS in a tight first round game at home. Now, they'll have to take the show on the road against Souderton. Wissahickon has six seniors who have started the majority of the team's games. They also have the experience of winning a playoff game, something that can't be underrated at this time of year.
– 14-4-1 overall
– 10-3-1 SOL American, tied second place
– Regular season wins over No. 18 Upper Dublin (3-0 Sept. 13), Gwynedd Mercy Academy (3-0 Oct. 11), Dock Mennonite Academy (3-0 Oct. 20)
– Senior midfielder Maddie Elwell is one of the state's top players, a dynamic player who can beat multiple defenders and score from in close and up to 30 yards out.
– Rachel Coleman and Emily Vervlied are two senior veterans in the midfield. Senior Jasmine Bishop fills a number of roles.
– Mary Matthews and Anna Wilde anchor the defense in front of senior keeper Nicole Hastings
How they got here: In an opening round 2-0 win over 14th-seeded Souderton, the Trojans – who were sparked by the seven-save effort of Nicole Hastings in goal – received goals from Rachel Coleman and Jasmine Bishop.
#10 West Chester Henderson at #7 Central Bucks South (7 p.m.)
Central Bucks South
A state playoff team last year, the Titans want nothing less than a return trip this year, but they also have designs on a district title. CB South is built for the postseason, with a staunch defense, tenacious attackers and possibly the best goalkeeper in the tournament in Sophia Boggs. The Titans are a patient team as well, so they won't be rattled if they're in a close game late.
"The team is very excited about the postseason this year. They posted a better record in league play than last year and have several players with playoff experience," Titans coach Betsy Bullock said. "The Suburban One Continental is such a strong division from top to bottom that there were never any easy games, which better prepares them for very competitive games in the playoffs."
– 14-3-1 overall
– 9-2-1 SOL Continental, conference second place
– Regular season wins over No. 3 Pennridge (1-0 Sept. 9), AAA No. 1 Villa Joseph Marie (1-0 Sept. 12), No. 17 Central Bucks East (1-0 Sept. 27), No. 14 Souderton (2-0 Sept. 29); draw with No. 17 Central Bucks East (1-1 Oct. 20)
– Senior keeper Sophia Boggs, a Colgate recruit, makes the routine and the remarkable saves. She commands the back line well, and works well with her defenders.
– Courtney Taylor, Nicole Wills, Mackenzie Ehresman, Laurel Gogel and Margot Centofanti have all been mainstays on the backline. The Titans defend as a team and as a unit.
– Midfielders Kylie Walsh, Morgan Hilton and Mackenzie Edwards and forwards Aleksa Peev and Brooke Steigerwalt use speed and tenacity to combine, build up and create scoring chances.
West Chester Henderson
– 15-2-3 overall
– 12-0-1 Ches-Mont National Division champion
– Regular season wins over No. 9 Downingtown West (1-0), No. 11 Downingtown East, No. 17 Central Bucks East (2-0) and No. 20 Rustin (3-1).
– Led by University of Virginia commit Sydney Zandi. The senior standout is a member of the U17 US Women’s National Team. As a sophomore, Zandi was named Gatorade PA Soccer Player of the year.
How they got here: Senior Sydney Zandi scored both goals in West Chester Henderson’s 2-0 opening round win over 23rd-seeded Garnet Valley.
#8 Downingtown West at #8 Quakertown Panthers (7 p.m.)
Quakertown
After years of competing but not seeing results in the SOL Continental, the Panthers jumped at their new start in the SOL American. An unbeaten league season catapulted Quakertown to a conference title in its first year in its new digs. Organized defensively with an excellent goalkeeper in Morgan Small, the Panthers didn't concede a lot during the season. Quakertown's excellent season earned it a bye into the second round and the Panthers will be eager to prove they deserved it when it's time to take the field on Thursday.
– 14-1-3 overall
– 11-0-2 SOL American, conference champion
– Regular season wins over No. 19 Wissahickon (2-1 Sept. 7, 2-1 Sept. 29), No. 18 Upper Dublin (1-0 Sept. 8), District I A No. 2 Dock Mennonite Academy (5-0 Oct. 17); draw with No. 18 Upper Dublin (0-0 Oct. 5)
– Morgan Small was involved with 12 of the team's 13 shutouts in net, including three scoreless draws that helped pick up pivotal points in the conference race.
– Katie Crouthamel and Vic Sturgess head up the attack, Haley Pursel and Sam Barkholz support while Sam Ramsden, Lauren Pursel and Kyra Handel fill in spaces around the midfield.
– Julia Taylor, Meghan Woulfe and Carley Peacher have been mainstays on the back line.
Downingtown West
– 13-3-2 overall
– 11-1-1 Ches-Mont National Division regular season co-champs with WC Henderson
– Fell to Unionville 1-0 in Ches-Mont semifinals
– Regular season wins over No. 6 Strath Haven (2-1), No. 11 Downingtown East (1-0), No. 20 WC Rustin (1-0) and No. 22 Owen J Roberts. Tied No. 4 Conestoga 1-1 and No. 9 Downingtown West (1-1).
– Lost to top-seeded Neshaminy 1-0 on Oct. 8
How they got here: In an opening round 10-0 win over 24th-seeded Harriton, Sydney Amparo and Emily Feeney led an explosive attack with two goals each.
#21 Council Rock North at #5 Spring-Ford (7 p.m.)
Council Rock North Indians– 12-6-0 overall
– 6-6-0 SOL National, fourth place
– Regular season wins over No. 16 Council Rock South (3-0 Sept. 7), PCL No. 3 Archbishop Wood (2-0 Sept. 17), District I AAA No. 9 Mount Saint Joseph (2-0 Oct. 20)
– Kayla Robinson's 16 goals lead the team despite being the target of defenses all season and at times, having to carry the team through some injury depleted contests.
– Goalkeeper Carly Riggs' 11 wins have all come via shutout this season despite a changing cast in front of her. Sydney Allen has been a solid contributor
– Emily Mackin, Becca Margolis, Caitlin Duffy and Meredith Hill have been workhorses in the midfield and attack.
How they got here: After battling 12th-seeded Unionville to a 0-0 tie after two overtime periods in an opening round game, the Indians – sparked by goalie Carly Riggs – earned a 4-3 win in PKs.
Spring-Ford
– 19-0-1 overall
– 12-0-1 PAC-10 Liberty Division champions
– Won PAC-10 title for third time in four years with 2-0 win over Owen J Roberts.
– Fourteen shutouts in 19 wins
– Attack led by Mack Mitchell (12 goals, 1 assist), Alayna Gairo (9 goals, 5 assists) and Kelly Franz (7 goals, 4 assists)
– Regular season wins over No. 11 Downingtown East (5-1), No. 20 Rustin (1-0), No. 22 Owen J Roberts (3-0 & 3-2) and Cumberland Valley (2-0). Tied No. 15 Boyertown 0-0
How they got here: The Rams had an opening round bye.
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