SOL Boys/Girls Soccer PIAA Preview (11-14-17)

The Central Bucks West boys and Neshaminy girls will be competing in the PIAA 4A semifinal round on Tuesday. Both games will be played at Souderton Area High School with the girls’ game at 5 p.m. and the boys at 7 p.m. (CB West photo provided courtesy of Marge Bullock Photography.)

Four District One squads will do battle in a pair of PIAA Class 4A semifinal games at Souderton Area High School on Tuesday night. On the girls’ side, the 5 p.m. contest will pit Neshaminy and Owen J. Roberts in a rematch of the district’s third place game. The Redskins notched a 3-2 win over the Wildcats in that one with their reward – a first round date with top-ranked Parkland. Neshaminy didn’t mind a bit and sent the previously undefeated Trojans home for the season. Both programs have state titles on their resume with Neshaminy capturing the 2013 title while Owen J Roberts last won a title in 2003.

In the 7 p.m. game, Central Bucks West will take on a Conestoga squad that has not lost this season and is the state’s top-ranked squad. The Bucks are playing in the state tournament for the first time since 1982 when they lost in the opening round while the Pioneers have three state championship trophies in their trophy case, winning state titles in 1988, 2003 and 2016.

BOYS’ PIAA 4A TOURNAMENT SEMIFINAL
#1-4 CENTRAL BUCKS WEST vs #1-1 CONESTOGA (at Souderton Area High School, Tuesday, 7 p.m.)
Central Bucks West

18-6 overall
9-3 in SOL Continental play, finished second to North Penn
First trip to the state tournament since 1982
Seventh seed in District One 4A Tournament.
Eight-game winning streak snapped in District One 4A semifinal loss to Council Rock North
Scored 40 goals (2.2) and allowed 17 (0.9) in regular season
Offense is led by Tarin Morris, Reed Sturza, Carson Snyder, Alan Zlotin and Luke Fehrman
Defense is led by CJ Lang, Michael Redfield and Nick Centenera
Goalkeeper Dylan Smith had eight shutouts in the regular season.

How they got here: In Saturday’s quarterfinal game, Central Bucks West defeated Cumberland Valley, District 3’s second place team, 4-2 in penalty kicks after the two teams battled to a 0-0 double overtime tie. Carson Snyder, Bailey Moyer, Tarin Morris and Colin Burn all connected on their penalty kicks. Dylan Smith came up big in goal.

In an opening round game, Central Bucks West knocked off District 12 champion La Salle 1-0. Senior Tarin Morris scored the game winner on a direct kick late in the second half. Center backs CJ Lang and Bailey Moyer anchored a standout defensive effort.

Conestoga

22-0-1 overall
11-0 Central League champions
Nine shutouts in the regular season
Only blemish on record is a 2-2 tie with Haverford School on Sept. 22
2016 PIAA Class 4A State champions
Scored 84 goals and allowed 12 during regular season
Drexel commit Chris Donovan, the MVP of the Central League, has been the team’s top goal scorer each year since he was a sophomore.
Lehigh commit Nick Jennings, a 2016 All-American selection, is a key in the midfield, and Drexel commit Mike McCarthy anchors the defense.

How they got here: In Saturday’s quarterfinal round, Conestoga edged District 11 champion Parkland 1-0. Chris Donovan scored the game winner with 8:54 remaining in regulation.

In an opening round game, Conestoga defeated Ephrata, District 3’s third place team, by a score of 2-1. Rodrigo Martinez scored the game winner with 8:12 remaining. Chris Donovan put the Pioneers on the scoreboard in the first half only to watch Ephrata knot the score early in the second half.

GIRLS’ PIAA 4A TOURNAMENT SEMIFINAL
#1-3 NESHAMINY vs 1-4 OWEN J ROBERTS (at Souderton Area High School, Tuesday, 5 p.m.)
Neshaminy

16-6-1 overall
8-3-1 SOL National, third place
12 Seed in the District One 4A Tournament
Goalkeeper Riley Spingler backs up a tough defense headed by Nicole Palmer, Genna Obringer and Hannah Stonkus.
Service specialist Jackie Ziegler leads a midfield unit capable of spreading the ball around, setting up chances and chipping in goals when needed. Michaela Boyd, Brianna Tobin, Emily Tantala and Gina Sexton also see plenty of time in midfield.
Brooke Mullin and Kristin Curley provide the punch up top, and both can beat defenses in more than one way.

How they got here: In Saturday’s quarterfinal round, Neshaminy defeated District 3 runner-up Governor Mifflin 2-1. The Redskins opened up a 2-0 halftime lead with Gina Sexton (Jackie Ziegler assist) and Brooke Mullin each contributing a goal. The Mustangs cut that lead in half, connecting on a corner early in the second half, but they would get no closer.

In an opening round game, Neshaminy stunned the state’s top-ranked team, District 11 champion Parkland, 2-1. Kristin Curley and Nicole Palmer each scored a goal. Jackie Ziegler assisted on both. Parkland scored nine minutes into the second half, but the Redskins’ back four – Palmer, Hannah Stonkus, Genna Obringer and Alex Ziegler – as well as goalie Riley Spingler once again stood tall.

Owen J. Roberts

21-3 overall
9-1 Pioneer Athletic Conference Liberty Division, regular season co-champs with Spring-Ford
Second seed in the District One 4A Tournament
15-game winning streak snapped by Pennsbury in District One 4A semifinals.
Led by Pioneer Athletic Conference’s top goal scorer Mahogany Willis, who has 101 career goals and 37 this season – nine during the postseason.
Willis, Caroline Thompson, Kyle Cahill and Kylee MacLeod were first team all-league selections while Sarah Kopec, Julia Dalton and Kenzie Milne earned second team honors.

How they got here: In a quarterfinal game Saturday, Owen J. Roberts defeated District 3’s third place team, Central Dauphin, 3-0. Mahogany Willis put the Wildcats on the board 5:42 into the contest. Sarah Kopec added a pair of goals in the second half. Freshman goalie Samantha Hughes stopped all seven shots she faced.

In an opening round game, Owen J. Roberts rolled to a 5-0 win over District 12 runner-up Archbishop Ryan. Mahogany Willis scored the 100^th goal of her career while Kenzie Milne and Mia Baumgarten each scored a pair of goals.