Check out the recaps for SOL boys’ soccer teams in action on Friday. Abington/CR North and CR South/Archbishop Wood photos provided courtesy of John Gleeson. Upper Moreland/Lower Moreland photos courtesy of Kathy Leister Photography. Check back for galleries of both games.
Non-League
Abington 3, Council Rock North 0
Sean Touey is a marked player when he steps onto the soccer pitch. That doesn’t keep the senior striker from scoring. The all-state senior scored 26 goals last year, and he picked up where he left off, continuing his assault on opposing defenses with a pair of first-half goals.
It was more than enough to propel the Ghosts to the impressive win over their former conference rival.
“(I was pleased with) the way we played being the first game out,” coach Randy Garber said. “Council Rock North won our league two years in a row, and playing against them and getting the result that we did the first time that we played a high level opponent – I thought we did a nice job.
“They knocked the ball around, and they created a lot of chances for themselves, and our defense played well enough to have a shutout.”
Touey’s first goal – which turned out to be the game winner – came after a corner kick.
“Ben Hayes headed it to the back post, and Touey knocked it in on the goal line,” Garber said. “He was just in the right place at the right time, and he finished it.”
Nevin Baer had the assist on Touey’s second goal that sent the Ghosts into halftime with a 2-0 lead. If they needed insurance, Baer gave it to them with a goal in the second half.
Garber acknowledged the solid play of his defense.
“Michael Bernstein did a nice job at right back,” the Ghosts’ coach said. “Alex Haycock was our goalkeeper. He didn’t have a whole bunch of work, but the work he had – it was all good.
“Vinnie Carosella played in the center and did a nice job along with Liam Friel. They all did a nice job, and we looked pretty good for the first game.”
Abington (1-0) will be on the road at Council Rock South on Saturday for a non-league contest.
Abington 2-1 3
Council Rock North0-0 0
Upper Moreland 2, Lower Moreland 2
For starters, Upper Moreland will take it.
"I was really happy with the way we played today," said UM head coach Matt Duffey of the Golden Bears season-opening 2-2 tie with Lower Moreland.
"Our defense pulled things together and we were in charge for most of the game."
The Golden Bears took an early lead when junior Tyler Holman knocked in a header off a corner kick from sophomore Mateo Infante.
UM upped its advantage to 2-0 right after halftime when Infante scored on a scramble in front of the net.
"Tyler and Mateo both really did a good job for us," Duffey said. "In general, we played well. We have a young team, and we have to work on our finishing, but we'll do that."
Sophomore Greg Wiley was in goal for the Golden Bears.
"Greg has stepped in and played well," Duffey said. "Our senior goalie transferred up to Pennridge, and Greg has come in and is doing the job."
UM (0-0-1) hosts Springfield-Delco in a non-league game Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.
Upper Moreland 2-0 2
Lower Moreland 0-2 2
Pennridge 2, New Hope-Solebury 1
The Pennridge Rams opened their season with a solid 2-1 win over host New Hope-Solebury.
"For the first game of the season, being played early in the morning, on grass, I was pretty pleased with it," Pennridge coach Peter Valimont said. "We weren't scored on in the preseason, but we knew New Hope would be a tough test. They were in states last year and are always a really solid side."
Senior Marco Grenda gave the visitors a 1-0 lead about 10 minutes into the game off a feed from Aidan Link before the Lions tied things up before the half.
However, with 16 minutes remaining in regulation, it was Grenda again, from Link, again, providing the game-winner.
"This game was back and forth, and both teams played well," Valimont said. "We made a couple of mistakes, but everything we did wrong is fixable, and we'll work on it."
Senior Ryan Mayhew played the first half in goal for the Rams with senior Matt Sheldon in net after intermission.
Up next for Pennridge is a home game Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. against Class AAA power Northwestern.
"They've been back-to-back runners-up in states and were 24-1 last year," Valimont said.
"That will be another great competition for us."
Pennridge 1-1 2
New Hope-Solebury 1-0 1
Central Bucks West 2, Owen J Roberts 0
The Bucks are looking to pick up where they left off last year when they capped a magical postseason run with a trip to the state semifinals. They got off to a good start, earning a shutout in Friday’s opener at the West Chester Henderson Labor Day Tournament.
“Coming off of last season, it’s important to not look anywhere except the game that is in front of us, and this was the game that was next,” coach Stefan Szygiel said. “Tomorrow we’ll worry about the next one.”
Szggiel had high praise for his defense in the shutout win that saw goalie Dylan Smith make three saves to earn his first clean sheet of the season.
“James Lutz is one of our central defenders, and I think he did a nice job tonight as a center back, just commanding the middle for us,” the Bucks’ coach said. “He and Bailey Moyer, our other center back, are developing chemistry.
“My outside backs, Luke Fehrman and Nick Centenera, and really my whole back line – we really didn’t allow many quality chances, and on a rainy night like tonight, sometimes you don’t know where the ball’s going to bounce. I think my back line did a nice job dealing with that tonight.”
Bailey Moyer’s first-half goal with an assist from Carson Snyder not only sent the Bucks into halftime with a 1-0 lead, it also proved to be the game winner. Moyer also had an assist on West’s insurance goal by Alan Zlotin that closed out the scoring.
Central Bucks West (1-0) will be back in action Saturday at the West Chester Henderson Tournament when the Bucks will take on the host team.
Central Bucks West 1-1 2
Owen J Roberts 0-0 0
Central Bucks East 1, Spring-Ford 1 (OT)
The Patriots and visiting Rams found themselves locked in a thriller. Neither team scored in the first half, and after the Rams got on the scoreboard early in the second half, it took the Patriots just 10 minutes to answer with a goal of their own.
Senior center back Rushil Shetty scored off a corner kick with an assist from junior Dyland Maund. The rest of the night belonged to the respective defenses.
Coach Josh Issacsohn lauded the strong play of sophomore center back Jacob Bing-Zaremba and senior forward and captain Keegan Cannon.
East senior goalie George Barlow was credited with three saves.
Central Bucks East (0-0-1) will travel to War Memorial field for Tuesday night’s SOL opener against Central Bucks West at 7 p.m.
Spring-Ford 0-1-0-0 1
Central Bucks East 0-1-0-0 1
Springfield (Montco) 5, Bishop McDevitt 0
It took a little over a half, but once Springfield found its footing on opening day, the goals started flowing.
The Spartans erupted for four second-half goals to post a 5-0 win over Bishop McDevitt in what was an impressive effort.
Cole Hutchinson paced the offensive attack with a pair of goals while Kyle Smith, Matt Schmidt and Anthony Forgione tallied one apiece.
Max Doll, Sam Steele, Jacob Friedman, Dylan Davis and Pierson Rubincam each dished out an assist.
Goalkeeper Julian Brown turned away six shots to record the shutout.
Springfield Township (1-0) will travel to Abington for Wednesday’s SOL opener.
Springfield 1-4 5
Bishop McDevitt 0-0 0
Upper Dublin 2, Father Judge 0
Stingy defense and some timely offense powered Upper Dublin to a 2-0 win over visiting Father Judge in the season opener for both sides.
"The last couple of years we've played them in the first game and they're always tough," UD head coach Andy Meehan said. "This was a good start to our season and kind of shows us where we're at at this point."
The Cardinals received a first-half goal from junior Jordan Kahny right before the break and a mid second-half tally from senior Brian Klammer to subdue the Philadelphia Catholic League stalwarts.
Senior Corey Schonberg provided the assist on Kahny's goal while senior Matt Yoon had the helper for Klammer.
Senior Alex Goldenberg, with seven saves, picked up the win in goal.
"For some of the boys, this was their first varsity experience and they did well," Meehan said. "No team ever plays a perfect game in their first game, but overall I was pleased."
UD (1-0) plays at Bensalem on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.
Father Judge 0-0 0
Upper Dublin 1-1 2
Cheltenham 6, George Washington 0
Cheltenham used a dynamic and varied offensive attack in its 6-0 thumping of visiting George Washington in the season opener for both teams.
Six Panthers – Findlay Peet, Andrew Moreland, Max Brown, Andrew Lam, Sam Liss and Moje Badejoko – each had a goal as they cruised past their Philadelphia Public League foe.
Justin Grady picked up the shutout victory in goal.
Cheltenham (1-0) will host Upper Moreland on Wednesday in its SOL opener.
Southern Lehigh 2, Souderton 1
Southern Lehigh opened up a 2-0 halftime lead, and the Indians spent the rest of the game playing catch-up.
The lone goal for the Indians came when Conor Kellough converted a penalty kick in the closing minutes.
Goalkeeper Mitchell Race had eight saves in the loss.
Souderton (0-1) will travel to North Penn on Wednesday for its SOL opener.
Souderton 0-1 1
Southern Lehigh 2-0 2
Boyertown 1, Pennsbury 0
The visiting Bears broke a scoreless tie with a goal in the 60th minute. That stood the rest of the way.
The Falcons had their opportunities, including a shot off the crossbar in the first half.
Pennsbury (0-1) returns to action on Saturday when the Falcons will host Father Judge in a non-league contest.
Boyertown 0-1 1
Pennsbury 0-0 0
Archbishop Wood 3, Council Rock South 0
Radnor 1, Hatboro-Horsham 0
Downingtown East 3, Bensalem 0
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