Check out the recaps for SOL boys/girls soccer teams in action Saturday. North Penn/LC photos provided by Keith Clemens Photography. CLICK HERE for a gallery of photos.
Boys
SOL Continental
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 2, SOUDERTON 0
Sparked by the nine-save effort in goal of Mitchell Race, the Indians threw some defense at the Bucks, but the visitors still scored a goal in each half to earn their third win and third shutout of the young season.
“I thought their goalkeeper definitely did a nice job,” West coach Stefan Szygiel said of Race. “They’re defensively organized. (Coach) Matt (Benner) gets them to buy into defending as a group, and they do it. They made it difficult for us.
“We had chances, but they did a nice job getting numbers behind the ball and getting clearances.”
Midway through the first half, Jimi Leder put the Bucks on the scoreboard, using a David Roy assist.
“David did a real nice job, and he served a great ball in and Jimi was able to get on the end of it for a nice little header,” Szygiel said.
The Bucks iced the win with a second-half goal by Alan Zlotin (Kyle Holt assist).
“It was similar to our first goal except on the opposite side,” Szygiel said. “My left defender, Nick Centenera, served a great ball in. Kyle got on the end of it and Alan finished it.”
Szygiel lauded the play of Carson Snyder in the midfield.
“On both sides of the ball, especially on the defensive side, winning the ball back and initiating the counter attack – he does so many things that people don’t notice,” the Bucks’ coach said.
Goalkeeper Dylan Smith had two saves and earned his third clean sheet of the season.
Central Bucks West (3-1, 2-0 SOL) will travel to Pennridge on Wednesday, and Souderton (0-2, 0-1 SOL) will be on the road at Central Bucks South on Wednesday.
Souderton 0-0 0
Central Bucks West 1-1 2
Non-league
PENNRIDGE 5, FAITH CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 1
Revenge was sweet for the Rams, who avenged last year’s 3-0 loss to Faith with a no-doubt-about-it non-league win on Saturday night. With the win, the Rams upped their early season record to 4-0.
“We controlled the entire game and wore them down at the end,” said coach Pete Valimont, noting that his team displayed some spectacular crossing and finishing in the convincing win.
Matt Stevenson connected for a hat trick and assisted on another goal to lead the Rams. Jack Taplett and Marco Grenda both added single goals. Aidan Link and Ryan Cook each had an assist.
Pennridge (4-0, 1-0 SOL) will host Central Bucks West on Wednesday.
NORTH PENN 3, LANSDALE CATHOLIC
The Knights picked up their second non-league win in as many outings. Aidan Jerome scored his first of two goals with an assist from Carter Houlihan, and a goal by John Norman (Jared Huzar assist) sent the Knights into halftime with a 2-0 lead. Norman's second goal of the game – this one with a Luke McMahon assist – gave the Knights their final margin of victory.
Brett Schwengels had four saves in the shutout win for the Knights. LC's Zach Shepardson recorded eight saves.
North Penn (2-0) will host Central Bucks East in its SOL opener on Wednesday.
Lansdale Catholic. 0-0. 0
North Penn. 2-1. 3
Girls
Non-league
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 3, SPRING-FORD 1
If the Bucks were looking for a bounce-back win after back-to-back losses, they got just that with Saturday night’s non-league win over the Rams.
“It was a great win,” coach Mike Moyer said. “We were finally able to finish some of our chances.”
Ryan Fitzsimmons turned a pass from her sister Erin into the game’s first goal.
“She beat a defender and placed a great ball into the net,” Moyer said. “A few minutes later, Ryan beat a couple girls down the right hand side and hit a laser from 18 yards out that the keeper had no chance to save.”
Alex Craine put the Bucks on top 3-0, using an assist from Taylor Moyer.
“The goal came on a great individual effort from Taylor beating their left back and serving a great ball to Alex, who netted her fifth goal of the season,” Moyer said.
The Bucks took a 3-0 lead into halftime.
“I was wondering how we were going to come out in the second half,” Moyer said. “Being up 3-0, I didn’t want any sort of letdown.
“Spring-Ford definitely picked up their intensity in the second half. They have a lot of talent on that side.”
The Bucks, who held on for the 3-1 win, received contributions up and down their lineup.
“I thought we got great minutes tonight from Kyra LaLena, Mariella Neri and Keely McGlone,” Moyer said. “We played a different formation tonight and I let Trish Hauck just roam the middle of the field.
“She and Meghan Gallagher were tremendous, and our goalie Jenna Abazza is starting to find her groove.”
Central Bucks West (3-2, 0-2 SOL) will host Pennridge on Wednesday.
“We have a couple of days now until we face Pennridge – we know they are the best team in our conference and one of the best teams in the state,” Moyer said. “They are rolling teams this year, and we need to see how we match up. We’re looking forward to the challenge.”
Central Bucks West 3-0 3
Spring-Ford 0-1 1
PENNSBURY 1, UNIONVILLE 0 (OT)
Relentless.
That’s the only word coach Kaitlyn Battiste needed to describe her squad’s performance in Saturday’s scintillating win over the perennial district power.
Christine Cataldo-Smith once again was money for the Falcons, scoring the game-winner in the 87th minute. Rosie Bostian assisted.
“I thought we locked Unionville into their defensive third for most of the overtime,” Battiste said. “Christine was working hard off of the ball and got fouled about 25 yards out.
“Rosie played a dangerous ball into the box where Christine challenged their goalkeeper to earn a scrappy goal in front of the net. It occurred at the far end of the field, and we saw the scramble and the ball go in, but we didn’t know what call the ref had made. Once he pointed to the center circle, the girls stormed the field and Christine. It was a scrum that could’ve been called either way, but Christine got herself in a position to force the ref to make the judgment call, and he thought she timed it right.”
The goal was the sixth of the season for Cataldo-Smith.
“Christine is the type of player who will annoy defenses with her relentless movement,” Battiste said. “They can’t ever get comfortable when she’s out on the field because she doesn’t stop working.
“Individually, she has tremendous internal drive and sets goals for herself to stay motivated. However, her greatest attribute is probably the confidence she instills in her teammates.”
The Falcons’ coach credited sophomores Gianna Durle and Bella Arcuri for sparking some new energy late in the second half and into overtime.
Also turning in standout efforts were Bostian and Gabby Zealot in the middle of the field.
“They possessed and distributed the ball well, but I also saw them take some strong shots today that they haven’t done in the past,” Battiste said. “If they put them on frame, Christine was there for the rebound every single time. They had some bullets and forced Unionville’s keeper to make some athletic saves.
“Christine is the one collecting the goals, but she’ll be the first to admit that her teammates are making the right adjustments to give us an opportunity to win each game. There’s no dream without the team.”
Pennsbury (3-0, 1-0 SOL) will host Bensalem on Wednesday.
Pennsbury 0-0-1 1
Unionville 0-0-0 0
WEST CHESTER HENDERSON 1, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 0
The host Warriors scored on a penalty kick late in the first half, and it was all they would need to hold on for the non-league win.
Coach Paul Eisold credited the play of Marissa Plack.
“She had a nice game winning balls from the back and creating chances for us,” the Patriots’ coach said. “We missed several opportunities.”
Central Bucks East (1-2, 1-1 SOL) will host North Penn on Wednesday.
Central Bucks East 0-0 0
West Chester Henderson 1-0 1
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