Check out the recaps for SOL girls’ soccer teams in action Tuesday.
SOL Continental Conference
North Penn 4, Central Bucks South 1
The Knights are rolling.
North Penn won its fifth straight match Tuesday with an impressive performance on the road at CB South. During this run, the Knights have thrived off quick starts and Tuesday was no different.
"We went after them and modified our formation to attack and get up the field," NP coach Steve Whitby said. "It stems from the girls' ability through training to figure things out and us modifying different formations or man-marking different players who are troublesome offensively for the other team."
Grace Sacchetti, Liv Jerome and Lauren Ruth led the high-octane charge for North Penn. The match was especially meaningful for Ruth, who scored two of the Knights' goals, because she suffered a season-ending injury on South's field last season while playing for Archbishop Wood.
"I've never seen her so happy in my whole life because we won this game," Whitby said of the senior. "I was just happy they played the way we can play."
Ruth opened the scoring by knocking in Sacchetti's cross 16 minutes into the game, then added the final goal of the night early in the second half.
Sacchetti scored off a corner to make it 2-0 just 20 minutes into the game while Alexa Sparango made it 3-0 with 30 minutes gone in the half. North Penn held the 3-0 lead at the break.
Sacchetti isn't the biggest player, but she controls her body and space well.
"Any time I push Grace higher up the field, she gets a bump in mojo and she likes being up there," Whitby said. "She likes pressing high and getting the ball closer to the goal because if you do that, you're going to put the ball in the back of your opponent's net if you can steal it from their backs. She's really good at that."
Whitby has seen a different confidence in his players, not only in each other but also in the staff. In his second season leading the Knights, Whitby said there were some quizzical moments last year, but his players have really bought into the mentality and system he wants to play.
"They have embraced it and they know their roles, where they're playing on the pitch and what I'm expecting of them, I do make it very clear to them," Whitby said. "A lot of times they'll come off with a frown thinking they did something wrong and it's not always that, a lot of it is we're just doing something different."
Whitby said the team's biggest emphasis in the second half was to get the next goal. The Knights didn't want to give the Titans any room to get themselves back in the game.
"If we had a chance to press them, we wanted to press them high," Whitby said. "When we're up 4-0, it opened up options for me to get some players who don't normally get playing time some playing time."
Jerome didn't score but she did the next best thing by assisting on a pair of them.
"She probably should have had a third assist but we somehow missed the complete frame," Whitby said. "She played very well out of an attacking midfield position."
The Knights have found a major vibe over the past few weeks and whether it's racing out of the gates, pressuring or changing through a number of formations, they've become a team to reckon with.
"We're getting some breaks we weren't getting at the beginning of the year and sometimes, you get those kind of breaks and get on a roll like this," Whitby said.
North Penn (9-5-3, 6-3-2 SOL) hosts Pennridge on Thursday night. Central Bucks South (9-5-1, 5-5-1) will be on the road at Central Bucks West on Thursday (7 p.m.).
NORTH PENN 3 1 – 4
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 0 0 – 0
Goals: NP – Lauren Ruth 2, Grace Sacchetti, Alexa Sparango
Pennridge 3, Central Bucks East 0
The Rams honored their eight seniors on Tuesday and gave them a final regular season win at Helman Field to remember it by.
Senior Abby Groff provided the last of the team's three tallies while sophomore Lindsey DeHaven and junior Lauren McIntyre both scored. Senior Mary Kate Levush posted the shutout in goal.
Pennridge's win also secured their third straight SOL Continental title. The Rams currently have 25 points while second place CB West has 21 and North Penn 20 with all three sides having just one conference match left.
The Rams (13-2-1, 8-2-1 SOL) travel to North Penn on Thursday night. Central Bucks East (5-10-2, 2-8-2) will be on the road at Upper Dublin on Friday for a non-league contest.
SOL National Conference
Council Rock South 3, William Tennent 0
Coming off a tough loss less than 24 hours before, the Golden Hawks couldn't find the frame to start Tuesday's match.
Despite being the home side, CR South also had to play at Tennent due to ongoing weather-related field issues but the Hawks just kept working. It also helps to have Sammy Jones, who provided a goal and two assists.
"(Monday) was a hard fought game, so coming back off that can be tough. To the girls' credit, they came out aggressively offensively," CR South coach Nick Heim said. "We had over 25 shots on the day but in the early going, had trouble putting them on frame."
CR South finally found the mark and put away a pair of goals before the half, which Heim said helped ease any fears about a letdown.
Jones assisted Lauren Smith on the first goal, then added one of her own to give CR South a 2-0 lead. After the break, she played facilitator again and helped out on Aubrey Hondros' goal.
"Sammy has been a huge part of the offense all year for us. Today, she was able to find those gaps between defenders and attack on the dribble," Heim said. "She made some passes through tight windows to put her teammates in a good spot to convert for us."
The attackers flanking Jones also helped give her some room to work.
"Madison McDowell was dangerous all day on offense," Heim said. "Dana DeDominicus made great runs for us on the outside to generate chances."
Council Rock South (11-4-1, 7-3-1 SOL) will take on Council Rock North on Thursday (7 p.m.) William Tennent (6-10, 3-7) will travel to Neshaminy on Wednesday.
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 2 1 – 3
WILLIAM TENNENT 0 0 – 0
Goals: CRS – Lauren Smith, Sammy Jones, Aubrey Hondros
Pennsbury 6, Harry S Truman 0
The Falcons led just 1-0 at the half but turned on the offense after intermission. Emily Heyman connected on a pair of goals – the first with an assist from Rosie Bostian and the second with a Kendall Palatine assist. Adding single goals were DeAnna Weir (Christine Cataldo-Smith assist), Palatine (Bostian assist), Darrien Furriness (Emily Welsh assist) and Ella Palmieri (Kelly Hunter assist).
Pennsbury (13-2-1, 9-1-1 SOL) will face Neshaminy in a battle for the conference’s top spot on Thursday. Harry S Truman (0-16, 0-12) will travel to William Tennent on Thursday.
PENNSBURY 1 5 – 6
HARRY S TRUMAN 0 0 – 0
Goals: P – DeAnna Weir (7th minute from Christine Cataldo-Smith), Emily Heyman (41st minute from Rosie Bostian), Kendall Palatine (53rd minute from Bostian), Heyman (60th minute from Palatine), Darrien Furriness (65th minute from Emily Welsh), Ella Palmieri (78th minute from Kelli Hunter)
SOL American Conference
Hatboro-Horsham 1, Abington 0
The Hatters had one goal in mind Tuesday night – hand Abington its first conference loss.
An inspired effort by the entire team, a goal by Maggie O'Neill and some resolute defending proved to be enough to get the job done.
"I have never seen so much heart and grit in a game like I did today by the Lady Hatters," HH coach Kelsey Daley said. "The whole entire team stepped up and played the best game they have played all year."
Abington edged the Hatters 3-2 in their first meeting, a match the Hatters felt they could have won. They saw what they had to do, especially on the defensive side and came through.
"Abington is a great, well-coached team and was undefeated in the league going into tonight," Daley said. "I told them to take all that out on the field the second time we play them and that's exactly what they did."
Rachel Petrowksi kept Abington striker Casey Touey quiet while midfielder Cam Ryan matched up with Abington's Camryn Lexow in the middle. Sophia Liott was a presence in the air and the rest of the Hatters' defenders covered wherever they were needed.
"My whole defense stepped up today and (goalkeeper) Martine Royds was able to get a shutout against the top team in the division tonight and came up with some huge saves," Daley said. "This is an amazing team and program win and I am so excited for my team."
The Hatters have all but sealed up their first playoff appearance in six years even with a first-year coaching staff and a roster that leans heavily on underclassmen like O'Neill, a sophomore.
O'Neill turned a chance into a goal late in the second half after an initial try by Kara Thomas got blocked out to her. With space around, the midfielder volleyed the ball back in and nudged her shot under the crossbar for the game-winner.
"After that goal, I wanted the team to slow down, but their adrenaline was so high that they just wanted to keep fighting and it's exactly what they did right down to the end," Daley said. "We had a rough patch in the middle of the season but this team never gave up on each other or on me as their coach and I think it showed tonight we're capable of anything and that we are a good team."
The Hatters (12-5, 10-3 SOL) will host Plymouth Whitemarsh on Thursday night while Abington (13-3, 12-1) visits Cheltenham.
HATBORO-HORSHAM 0 1 – 1
ABINGTON 0 0 – 0
Goals: HH – Maggie O'Neill
Upper Moreland 1, Plymouth Whitemarsh 0
The Golden Bears picked up a good win as they approach a bid to the District I 3A playoffs.
"Our game plan was clear tonight, we knew that PW was going to come out strong, and we had to match that strength, and score early," UM coach Lisa Benvenuto said. "We controlled the ball throughout the first half, playing simply and working the ball through our backs and our midfield."
The Bears only got one goal, but thanks to six saves from Jaclyn Martino, it was all they needed.
UM managed to punch one away in the first half off a long build-up.
"Our goal came off of a great series that worked its way all the way from our defensive back Kaiya Herb, who found our midfielder Alexis Lamb. Lamb played the ball to Brigid Ounan on the outside flank," Benvenuto said. "Ounan crosses the ball, finding Kathryn Morrow in the middle who laid the ball off to Sarah Veneziale for the goal. It was a really well played series. Our first half was very much like that, well played possession and combination passing."
The second half was played at a more back and forth pace with the Colonials generating chances alongside the Bears.
Benvenuto credited her team's composure as a difference maker in the second half.
"With one game to go in the regular season, we have the momentum that we need," Benvenuto said. "I am really proud of the way our girls played tonight. Every player on our team contributed to tonight’s win."
Upper Moreland (10-7, 6-7 SOL) will host Wissahickon on Thursday, and Plymouth Whitemarsh (7-9-1, 5-7-1) will travel to Hatboro-Horsham on Thursday.
UPPER MORELAND 1 0 – 1
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 0 0 – 0
Goals: UM – Sarah Veneziale
Upper Dublin 3 Wissahickon 1
Emily Booth turned in a sterling performance as the Cardinals won on the road.
Booth scored UD's first goal in the first 10 minutes of the game then assisted two in the final 10 minutes to secure the win.
"Early on, she recognized they were playing a high line and she was able to get in behind and create a couple opportunities," UD coach John Topper said. "She made good on her second one, it was a real cool finish. From there, it was her typical work rate of keeping them under pressure and pouncing on any mistakes they made."
Carly Amato tied the game for Wissahickon in the 19th minute and while it went to break 1-1, the Cardinals were pleased with their play overall.
Topper said his team was just misfiring a bit at the break but his players adjusted well in the second half. With Booth setting the pace up top, they put things together late to break the tie.
"Sometimes the game starts to fall apart around that 70th minute but a few of our veteran players showed their composure," Topper said. "It was really nice to see Anna Desch get on the scoreboard in such an important moment. She deserved to get that winner."
Booth set up Desch, a wide midfielder who's become more and more of a threat, for the game winner.
"She's starting to intiate some very dangerous runs and our girls trust where she's going to be out wide," Topper said. "They trust her judgment and speed and her confidence has grown immensely."
Tina Haig provided the insurance goal for Upper Dublin.
Topper cited Sascha Keitz and Maddie Sanders' play defensively.
"Sometimes what they do we take for granted but they did limit the number of times Wissahickon was able to be dangerous," Topper said. "As they've done all year, they kept things tight back there."
Upper Dublin closes with games against Springfield Township and CB East as it chases a first round home game in the District I 4A playoffs. The Cardinals were No. 15 starting play on Tuesday with teams 9-16 getting a home game in the opening round.
"We're hoping to pick up a couple wins and strengthen our position going into the playoffs," Topper said. "Springfield is a greatly improved team and took it to us in our last game. More than anything, we're looking to get a little streak going into the playoffs."
Upper Dublin (9-6-1, 8-4-1 SOL) will host Springfield Township on Thursday, and Wissahickon (6-10, 6-7) will be on the road at Upper Moreland on Thursday.
UPPER DUBLIN 1 2 – 3
WISSAHICKON 1 0 – 1
Goals: UD – Emily Booth, Anna Desch, Tina Haig; W – Carly Amato
Springfield Twp 2, Cheltenham 0
The Spartans used a pair of goals in the opening 20 minutes to top the Panthers on Tuesday.
Annie Giampetro notched the opening tally, striking a ball from a good distance out and over the keeper's head off an assist from Meghan Nelson 10 minutes in.
About 10 minutes later Emily Smith added all the insurance they would need.
“She barreled through – she’s big and strong, and she’s a delight to have on the team. She works really hard," Spartans coach Suzette Wolf said.
Cheltenham has had its best season in a few years this year and Wolf said it shows on the field.
"Cheltenham is a much, much stronger team this year than they’ve been in past years. They’re really competitive. They move the ball really well, possess the ball really well. They play with confidence. Of course, coming off their PW win gave them all the confidence in the world," Wolf said. “I would say we out-hustled them a little bit, and I think that’s the only reason we came out with the win. It was our Senior Night. I have seven seniors, and they all played terrific.”
Wolf also cited the play of Samantha Wynne.
"There isn’t a player on the field who plays harder," Wolf said. "Her heart’s in it, more than anyone else.”
In a change to the District I playoff bracket, three teams will now make the 2A playoff field. The top seed will get a bye, while the No. 2 and No. 3 teams will play a semifinal game. Springfield Township is currently the No. 3 team and St. Basil is No. 2
The current team atop the 2A rankings, New Hope-Solebury, comes out of the BAL. Springfield Township spent two years in the league. The level of competition in the SOL, while difficult, lends to making the Spartans a better team.
"We play all hard games and we play everybody twice. It’s very difficult for us. We’re just going to see what happens," Wolf said. "The girls have played so tremendously all season and worked incredibly hard. They definitely deserve it. Either way, we’re good. We’ve had a great season."
Springfield Township (5-11, 3-10 SOL) will travel to Upper Dublin on Thursday, and Cheltenham (5-12, 1-12) will host Abington on Thursday.
SPRINGFIELD TWP 2 0 – 2
CHELTENHAM 0 0 – 0
Goals: ST – Annie Giampetro, Emily Smith
Non-league
Neshaminy 2, Cumberland Valley 1 (2OT)
It's not often a team gets to play a state playoff game in mid-October but that's exactly what Neshaminy got on Tuesday.
The powerhouse Eagles out of District 3, ranked fifth nationally in USA Today's Super 25, made the two-plus hour drive to Langhorne as part of an ongoing series between the two teams. CV came to win too, pushing Neshaminy to its limit.
"My older daughter played on the (2013) team that won states and I think they had lost to Cumberland Valley in states in 2012. They forged a little bit of a relationship and they've been playing each other ever since," Neshaminy coach Renny Papendick said. "It's a good, strong team with a really good coaching staff."
CV entered play on Tuesday with a 13-0-1 record, but went back to the Carlisle area with its first loss of the season thanks to a pair of late goals, the first in regulation and the other in double overtime.
The match had been scheduled for Monday but pushed back a day due to field conditions and ended up being held on Neshaminy's side grass field which didn't help when the match went into double overtime.
"They're loaded, they have 12 or 14 seniors, I think nine senior starters," Papendick said. "Most of them are high-level club players and very talented. It was a really, really good game."
Papendick said the Eagles had talent at every level of the field. He credited their center backs for being especially strong in possession and the CV forwards for being very active while floating in areas where they could make quick runs.
Neshaminy tweaked its lineup a bit on Tuesday, looking to put some players in different spaces.
"We moved Gina Sexton into the center midfielder, we experimented with that a little bit in the Tennent game and she's a little more active in there and it gives her a little more space to create," Papendick said. "She was fantastic for us today."
Cumberland Valley spent a large part of the match putting shots on goal and testing Neshaminy keeper Riley Spingler.
"Riley had a couple of big saves," Papendick said. "It was a bit of a track meet, very up and down."
CV went up 1-0 on a Neshaminy miscue at the back, taking a turnover and quickly making it into a goal before anyone on the Neshaminy defense could recover.
Neshaminy didn't lack for chances either and even had a goal from Kristin Curley called back on an offside call. Even as the clock worked into the last few minutes of regulation, Neshaminy continued to work for an equalizer.
In the final minute, after shifting to a 4-3-3 formation, an opportunity emerged.
"We had the run of play, their goalie made a couple big saves late then we got a free kick off to the side," Papendick said. "I pushed Jess Dierolf, our right back, up late and I don't think we had anybody back at this point. Michaela Boyd put a beautiful ball into the box and Jess finished it on a head ball."
Papendick said his team's confidence never wavered, even after going down and the two sides continued to counter each other through the overtime periods.
Brooke Mullin, who had worked hard all match, came up with a set up for the winner late in the second overtime.
"Brooke was a monster today, she was a phenomenal leader and had the girls fired up again," Papendick said. "She did so many good things with the ball and was very unselfish. She took a turnover from their goalie, won the ball off a defender and slid it over to Michaela Boyd for the winner."
Papendick said Cumberland Valley's jayvee team beat Neshaminy's 5-0, and Neshaminy has had a good jayvee season, just to highlight the depth of talent the mid-state power has and added the Eagles played the game hard but the right way.
"We were challenged and I think we challenged them so I think it was a good game for both teams," Papendick said. "We gave them a great game and maybe it helps them moving into districts and states and we got a big win that hopefully helps us push into the top eight for districts."
Neshaminy (11-3, 8-2 SOL) will host William Tennent on Wednsday.
NESHAMINY 0 1 0 1 – 2
CUMBERLAND VALLEY 0 1 0 0 – 1
Goals: N – Jess Deirolf, Michaela Boyd
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