Three overtime games highlighted Monday’s schedule. Check out the recaps for SOL girls’ soccer teams in action.
SOL National
Council Rock North 1, Neshaminy 1 (OT)
Indians coach Gavin Flannigan felt his team was due for a good performance.
After two straight losses where his team played well but not well enough, Flannigan saw his players put it all together. Kaleigh O'Donnell battled all night and managed to score a goal with less than 15 seconds left to force the extra period.
"We played 17 players tonight and everyone deserves praise," Flannigan said. "Kaleigh O'Donnell really stood out in an attacking sense. The longer the game went, the more threatening she was. I thought she was the most dangerous player on the field in the second half and OT."
O'Donnell used plenty of hard work and hustle to knot the game.
"It started with pressure around their box, the ball came out and Kaleigh managed to take a touch outside and then quick-hit from about 20 yards out," Flannigan said.
The match was originally scheduled for Tuesday, but Neshaminy wanted to play at night and a CR North conflict prompted it to be moved up.
"At some point, we were due a really good performance – that just happened to be tonight," Flannigan. "The girls were excited for the game, it's always fun to play at night. (It was) our best game of the season so far against a very good team. Our intensity and effort were outstanding."
The Indians needed a standout defensive effort to slow down Neshaminy and they got it. Brooke Strobel, Mia Scalamandre and Meredith Hill all excelled on the defensive side. Hill has filled a number of roles already this season and always delivers a notable performance.
"Her effort is outstanding," Flannigan said. "We've asked her to play in the back and as an attacking player this year and she's great at both. She's athletic and has a good left foot. She's one of our captains, although she's not the most vocal, her leadership is about her play on the floor."
Flannigan felt Monday's performance was one his team can build on.
"We just need the confidence to play with anyone we come up against. Tonight proves we are capable of that, now we just need to continue to believe it," Flannigan said. "I know the talent is there, it's the belief and confidence to recognize that."
Council Rock North (4-3-1, 2-2-1 SOL) will travel to Bensalem on Wednesday, and Neshaminy (3-3-1, 2-1-1 SOL) is off until next Monday when the Redskins will be on the road at Central Bucks South for a non-league contest.
SOL American
Upper Dublin 1, Abington 0
The Cardinals have proven they have two things in their favor this season, a good defense and a lot of heart.
They needed both to quiet a potent Abington attack and to find the difference-making goal late in the second half. Sophomore Laura Pendleton made good use of some hustle and vision to chase down a loose ball in the box and poke it past the keeper with about 10 minutes left.
It was the first goal of the season and of Pendleton's varisty career. A defender and sometimes-midfielder, Pendleton was still pushed up the field following an earlier corner kick and pounced when Upper Dublin won the ball off a short pass from the back.
"From her first game, she played like a veteran," UD coach John Topper said. "She doesn't get rattled by anything. She's cool on the ball, she'll go into a 50/50 ball and win it most of the time. She just doesn't let anything get to her."
The challenge for Upper Dublin's defense was trying to slow down Abington's main attacking trio of Cam Lexow, Kailey Horton and Casey Touey. For the most part, UD was successful although the Cardinals were bailed out by two consecutive point-blank saves by keeper Devon Jones.
A breakdown allowed an Abington player through, with Jones getting the first stop and while still on the ground, stopping a follow-up by Horton.
"You can't look at that team and not pay attention to Lexow, and we just wanted to make sure anytime she got the ball in our half, we had one or two players on her," Topper said. "I trust all of our backs that they're going to do the simple things right. We played a game without a lot of mistakes back there."
Upper Dublin controlled play through the midfield, with junior Aidan Hopkins setting the tone with her ball-winning, communication and hustle.
"She's looking great out there, she's real steady on the ball and becoming more and more dominant on the ball," Topper said. "She's a natural leader, she organized the girls around her and she's really growing into that position."
This was the last time the two teams will meet as nonconference foes with the Ghosts moving over to the SOL American next season.
"Over the last several years, it's been one-goal games one way or the other and we're excited to come out on the right side of this," Topper said. "We're also excited for the new rivalry. They're coming into the league and it should be an exciting matchup for the next few years to come."
Upper Dublin (5-0-1, 4-0 SOL) visits Springfield Township on Tuesday while Abington (3-5, 1-3) will host Harry S Truman Tuesday.
UPPER DUBLIN 0 1 – 1
ABINGTON 0 0 – 0
Goals: UD – Laura Pendleton
Non-league
Quakertown 1 Saucon Valley 0 (OT)The Panthers picked up an impressive road win thanks to their standout goalkeeper.
Morgan Small made nine total saves, including two remarkable stops to keep the door open for her offense. Haley Pursel made the effort count when she struck home a goal with four seconds left in the first overtime period.
"Morgan played really well, she made a couple of dynamic saves," Panthers coach Mike Koch said. "I think last year's success, she built on that from a confidence standpoint and she makes all the routine plays and then there's days like this where we're not playing overtime if its not for her."
Both of Small's spectacular saves came off long-distance shots.
"One was a laser from about 25 yards out, I don't know how she did it, but she pushed it over the top on a full leap," Koch said. "The other was a really great shot she made a diving save on from about 20 yards out, it was heading to the far post."
Koch said Small's play provided his players a spark of energy that they otherwise wouldn't get in an afternoon game on the road.
"When she does something like that, it gets everyone else fired up," Koch said. "She's a recognized leader on the team and I think that she just brings a little bit more out of everyone when you have someone like that behind you."
Koch also singled out the play of Lizzie Marcel in the midfield, especially late in the game when Purcel moved up top with the team seeking a goal.
The goal came thanks to some heroics from Ashley Gluck. With time winding down, she made a cut move in the corner, slipping three defenders and playing an angled ball to Pursel in the box.
"Those two, when they get in together, they're very capable players," Koch said. "I think they both played every minute of the game."
Quakertown (4-2, 3-1 SOL) will travel to Upper Moreland on Tuesday.
QUAKERTOWN 0 0 1 – 1
SAUCON VALLEY 0 0 0 – 0
Central Bucks West 3, Hatboro-Horsham 0
The Bucks snapped a three-game losing streak with an emphatic second-half effort.
Trish Hauck scored less than 30 seconds after the second half kick and West turned it into three goals over the first 15 minutes of the half. West committed itself to attacking after halftime and the move paid off.
"We played with a lot of good energy and organization especially in the second half," West coach Chris Fehrle said. "Allie Walsh, Sam Lubin, Gracie Power, Emily Hackett played particularly well along with a number of others."
Lubin found Hauck among a host of bodies in the box for the first strike. Alex Craine scored the second on a well-hit strike from the right side after the Hatters couldn't completely clear out a corner kick.
Walsh scored the game's final goal when she ripped a 25-yard free kick off the left flank with nearly 26 minutes left.
"Hatboro is a very well organized team and the first half created a number of good opportunities. Scoring early helpedWest shift the momentum in the second half," Fehrle said.
The Hatters were undone by two missed chances on balls over the top of the West back line in the first half.
Hatboro-Horsham (3-3, 3-1 SOL) hosts Plymouth Whitemarsh Tuesday night. CB West (4-3, 1-3) travels to Pennridge for an afternoon start.
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 0 3 – 3
HATBORO-HORSHAM 0 0 – 0
Goals: CBW – Trish Hauck, Alex Craine, Allie Walsh
Springfield Twp 7, Interboro 2
The Spartans used their physicality and possession to pick up a nonconference win.
“I was most pleased with the way we tried to play possession of the ball. We really worked on defending because we have to play Upper Dublin tomorrow at home," Springfield coach Suzette Wolf said. "We know they’re really strong, so we worked on really marking man-to-man and moving the ball and keeping possession."
Six different players scored for the Spartans, led by DJ Bosca's brace. Meghan Nelson scored a goal and assisted two more, while Emily Cooney assisted and scored a goal. Annie Giampietro, Sarah Potocki and Emily Walsh also scored.
As usual, Spartans captain Lindsey Smith turned in a strong effort.
“Lindsey Smith played really well out of the back, doing a lot of controlling as a senior captain," Wolf said.
Allison Briggs got the start in goal for the Spartans and the freshman played well according to Wolf.
SPRINGFIELD TWP 4 3 – 7
INTERBORO 1 1 – 2
Goals: ST – Annie Giampiero, Emily Cooney , DJ Bosca 2, Meghan Nelson, Sarah Potocki, Emily Walsh
Villa Joseph Marie 1, Central Bucks East 0 (2 OT)
The Patriots couldn't crack the Gems' defense and lost on a goal early in the second overtime period.
"Anna Bound was spectacular in the back," East coach Paul Eisold said. "Ali Hamilton added new life offensively. We were unable to finish our opportunities and penetrate their defense."
Central Bucks East (3-2-1, 2-1-1 SOL) will be on the road at William Tennent on Tuesday.
VILLA JOSEPH MARIE 0 0 0 1- 1
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 0 0 0 0 – 0
New Hope-Solebury 2, Harry S Truman 0
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