Jarrad Saffren recaps Friday’s SOL boys’ soccer action. (North Penn/CB West photos provided courtesy of Ben Winderman.)
By Jarrad Saffren
Twenty Suburban One League boys’ soccer teams played league games on Friday. One week into the season, we know some things. Find out what below, through all 10 results and recaps.
SOL Continental
Central Bucks West 2, North Penn 1
CB West earned an impressive win and established itself as the very early frontrunner in the Continental.
Five minutes into overtime, Steven Knabe passed the ball to Luke Fehrman near the net. Fehrman kicked the ball past the goalie to give West the win.
“I’m actually really happy with the game winner,” said West coach Stefan Szygiel. “I made a sub into overtime. I brought in Steven Knabe, a senior who’s been in and out of the varsity team since he’s been pretty much a freshman.
“We found this new role for him this year, and he comes off the bench and he just injects energy and life into the game, and he was able to do that for us today. He came in, he was able to get on the ball, and he was able to serve in a good ball to Luke. Luke is on a nice little run right now, and he was able to finish the ball.”
Bucks keeper Dylan Smith made nine saves against the always active Knights offense. “The boy had a little bit of tired leg syndrome—it was our fourth game in seven days,” Szygiel said. “That’s a lot. We all go through it. We know the high school season is tough. We had heavy legs at times, and Dylan was able to keep us in it.
“He had three or four big saves and one very big save. The others were pretty routine for him, but that’s why he’s there. That’s his job.”
The game was tied 0-0 at halftime.
“I think the first half North Penn was excellent,” Szygiel said. “They were energetic, I thought they were better in possession, they were more dangerous. We basically defended the entire first half.
“I think the second half we were marginally better compared to how we played the first half. I still think North Penn was the more dangerous side. Sometimes in high school games this is the way it goes, and I know in a couple of weeks when we play again it will be a battle again. We’ll take the win. Unfortunately, we have to play again tomorrow.”
Tarin Morris scored CB West’s first goal on a penalty kick.
CB West (4-0, 2-0 SOL) hosts Archbishop Ryan on Saturday night at seven. North Penn (1-1, 1-1 SOL) plays William Tennent on Tuesday night at seven.
Central Bucks West 0-1-1 2
North Penn 0-1-0 1
Central Bucks South 2, Pennridge 1
Central Bucks South earned its first win after an 0-2-1 start.
The Ttians took a 1-0 lead in the fifth minute on Chris Griffin’s goal. Corey Bethel assisted.
Pennridge tied the game 12 minutes later on Sebastian Perkowski’s goal. The game remained tied for the next 69 minutes. But in the 86th minute, Griffin scored the winning goal. Ryan Rieber assisted.
Pennridge fell to 1-1 overall and 0-1 in conference play. The Rams host CB East on Tuesday at 3:30. CB South will try to make it two straight against CB West on the same day and time.
Central Bucks South 1-1 2
Pennridge 1-0 1
Central Bucks East 3, Souderton 0
Central Bucks East earned its first win after an 0-2 start. The Patriots were shut out in their first league game, a 1-0 loss to North Penn on Wednesday. They broke out of their offensive slump in this game.
Souderton dropped to 1-1 in league play after shutting out CB South, 1-0, on Wednesday. Mitchell Race made five saves for the Indians.
CB East (1-2, 1-1 SOL) plays Pennridge on Tuesday at 3:30. Souderton (1-1, 1-1 SOL) hosts Lansdale Catholic on Saturday.
SOL National
Council Rock North 2, Council Rock South 0
Council Rock North continued to establish itself as an SOL National contender with its second straight conference win.
Jon Pugh scored in the first half and Ryan Pave scored in the second half for the Indians. North keeper Ed Mancinelli earned his second consecutive shutout, stopping three shots.
The Indians controlled the ball for the majority of the game, but South keeper Drew Bresnan kept the Hawks in it, making eight saves.
“We are getting better game by game,” said North coach Joe Stackhouse.
CR North (2-2, 2-0 SOL) plays Bensalem on Tuesday at 3:30. CR South (1-3, 0-2 SOL) hosts Harry S. Truman on the same day and time.
Council Rock North 1-1 2
Council Rock South 0-0 0
Pennsbury 2, Abington 1
Pennsbury became the only 2-0 team in the SOL National with its overtime win. Obi Onouha scored the game winner in the first two minutes of overtime.
Onouha also gave Pennsbury a 1-0 lead in the first half. Then Jayden Joyce tied it at one for Abington.
Perhaps the most impressive part of Pennsbury’s effort was its defense. Abington scored six goals in its first league win on Wednesday.
Pennsbury (3-0, 2-0 SOL) plays Neshaminy on Thursday at 3:30. Abington (3-1, 1-1 SOL) takes on Neshaminy on Tuesday night at seven.
Pennsbury 1-0-1 2
Abington 1-0-0 1
Neshaminy 3, Bensalem 2
Bensalem took a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute. German Contreras stepped around two Neshaminy players and kicked the ball into an open net.
“He capitalized on a miscommunication,” said Neshaminy coach Tom Foley.
In the 30th minute, Neshaminy’s Vince Hosephros flicked the ball to Matt Leonhauser, who buried the shot in the corner. Leonhauser scored his second goal in the 58th minute, putting Neshaminy up 2-1. Mike Mandia hit him with a through ball.
Bensalem tied the game at two in the 62nd minute. Gia Saez threw the ball into the box and Alfardy Ali booted it into the net.
Leonhauser scored the game winner in the 70th minute. Christian Rodgers passed him the ball.
“The game was a hard-fought match,” Foley said. “The defense led by Joe Indellicato, Chase Rider, Jared Stonkus and Kevin Hanuscin did a great job keeping Bensalem's skillful players in check. Vincent McGlynn played well defensively in the midfield.”
Neshaminy (1-0-1, 1-0 SOL) hosts Wissahickon on Saturday at 10 a.m. Bensalem (1-2, 0-2 SOL) hosts CR North on Tuesday at 3:30.
Neshaminy 1-2 3
Bensalem 1-1 2
SOL American
Hatboro-Horsham 5, Upper Moreland 0
Hatboro-Horsham got back on track after a surprising loss to Springfield Township on Wednesday.
Two Hatters players—JD Mallinder (three) and Danny Harmon (two)—scored multiple goals. Harmon, Ryan Cole and Nick Hatzenbeller assisted on the goals.
Hatboro-Horsham (2-1-1, 2-1 SOL) hosts Quakertown on Tuesday at 3:45. Upper Moreland (0-4, 0-2 SOL) plays Harry S. Truman on Monday at 3:30.
Upper Dublin 8, Quakertown 1
Upper Dublin has scored 12 goals in its last two games, both wins.
Jerry Bardol led the Cardinals with three goals and two assists on Friday. Max Adams and Quinn Middleton both had a goal and an assist. Dan Ness, Mike Shafkowitz and Jordan Kahny each scored one goal.
Middleton scored in the second minute and UD scored three more times in the first 10 minutes.
“From the start everything went our way,” said Upper Dublin coach Andy Meehan. “This was a great team win with all our players making an impact on the game.”
Upper Dublin (2-1, 2-0 SOL) plays Wissahickon on Tuesday night at seven. Quakertown (0-3, 0-2 SOL) battles Hatboro-Horsham on Tuesday at 3:30.
Springfield Township 2, Cheltenham 1
What a difference a year makes.
Last year, the Spartans were 0-2 after two games and outscored 10-0 in losses to Father Judge and Hatboro-Horsham. This year the Spartans are 2-0 and 24 hours removed from a 4-1 win over a Hatboro-Horsham team that humbled them 5-0 last year.
"It was a great win," coach Dan Meder said. "I think both teams changed a little bit. I know last year we were playing a lot of sophomores that just physically weren't ready for varsity soccer, but they were the best guys we had. Now they're a year older with some experience under them, and they are more ready.
"For Springfield, we have the deepest team that I've had. I can sub and make changes, and I have guys that can play soccer ready to go. We have a well-balanced team, and everybody played well that day, and everyone played. It was just a great team win. We played great team defense, and we finished our chances. I don't have good stats, but I would think Hatboro (Horsham) took more shots than we did. Our goalie (Julian Brown) played terrific, and we capitalized on our opportunities."
Leading the Spartans is senior captain Trevor McCaffrey.
"He's certainly a catalyst for the energy," Meder said.
In Friday's win over Cheltenham, Troy Rumer and Jack Meder scored the goals for Springfield. Sam Steele assisted on both goals.
Every win is important for a Class AA Spartan squad whose schedule is loaded with Class 4A teams.
"We mathematicaly feel we have a very limited chance to qualify for district playoffs since they re-districted everything last year," Meder said. "Last year 14 of my 18 games were against quad A schools, and I'm a AA school. When I looked up my competitors, the teams that got the number one and number two seeds for district playoffs combined played one quad A school. Nearly 50 percent of their schedules were against single A schools.
"Mathematically, that makes it very difficult for Springfield to make the playoffs, if it's even possible. If I go .500, that's an unbelievable season for Springfield, and I don't even know if that's enough. I guess we'll find out. Last year we didn't do enough, but I was going to the meetings and doing the math, and I said, 'I don't even know if this is possible.'
"Certainly the boys took that to heart. They wanted to go to the playoffs last year, and granted, I don't know that we deserved to go last year, but I was doing the math, and it just doesn't seem right, so the boys are trying to make it happen if they can make it happen. We'll see, we only played two games."
Springfield (2-0, 2-0 SOL) plays Bishop McDevitt on Monday at 3:45. Cheltenham (0-3, 0-2 SOL) battles Upper Moreland on Tuesday at 3:30.
Wissahickon 3, Plymouth Whitemarsh 1
Wissahickon stayed undefeated, overall and in the league, with this impressive win over a solid Plymouth Whitemarsh team.
PW fell to 1-1 overall and 1-1 in league play.
Wissahickon (3-0, 2-0 SOL) plays Neshaminy on Saturday at 10 a.m. PW battles Springfield Township on Tuesday at 3:30.
Thursday, Sept. 7
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 4, HATBORO-HORSHAM 1
The Spartans stunned the Hatters in Thursday’s league opener, exploding for four goals and earning the impressive win. Four different players found the net for the Spartans. Jack Meder scored an unassisted goal, and then it was Jake Welsh turning a pass from Leon Mengoni into a goal. Trevor McCaffrey (Caedmon Curry assist) and Curry (Sam Steele assist) each added single goals.
Andrew Hurrell scored the Hatters’ lone goal.
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