Check out the recaps for SOL boys’ soccer teams in action Wednesday. Pennsbury/CR North photos provided courtesy of John Gleeson. Check back for a gallery of photos. (CB East photo provided courtesy of Kelly Reid/CB East soccer.)
SOL National Conference
Pennsbury 2, Council Rock North 1
Pennsbury broke a scoreless halftime tie with a pair of second-half goals to post a 2-1 win over host Council Rock North in the conference opener for both teams Wednesday.
“Council Rock North is the (three-time) defending conference champion, so this is a huge win,” Pennsbury coach Tom Stoddart said. “It’s a tough place to play on a hot day on the road. It’s a great win for us.”
Evan Reichard, off a re-start, knocked in the first goal for the Falcons early in the second half.
“Josh Panero put a restart into the box from midfield,” Stoddart said.
Teammate Erik Mauro, from a corner kick by Zach Summer, pushed the advantage to 2-0 midway through the second half. The Indians scored shortly thereafter, but the Falcons’ defense held the rest of the way, and the important win was in the books.
“Gustavs Mednis and Aden Radovich were a very strong team in the middle of the field and I thought they did a decent job of keeping them somewhat off balance,” Stoddart said. “I thought our backs got a little banged up, but they held up well.
“Alvang Wang on the one side really had a tough match, and on the other side, Zach Summer got banged up and so did Colby Goldschmidt, but they played some important minutes despite injuries which was huge for us.”
Pennsbury goalkeeper Peter Beidler delivered a clutch save in the first half to keep the Indians off the scoreboard.
Pennsbury (2-0, 1-0 SOL) will travel to Bensalem on Tuesday, and Council Rock North (1-2, 0-1) will travel to Harry S Truman on Friday.
PENNSBURY 0 2 – 2
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 0 1 – 1
Neshaminy 3, Bensalem 2 (2 OTs)
Neshaminy battled back from an early deficit to post a dramatic 3-2 double-overtime win over host Bensalem.
“Bensalem dominated us all over the midfield in the first half which created several chances for them,” Neshaminy coach Tom Foley said. “We fouled constantly in the first half. Two fouls were particularly hard, which earned our player two yellow cards.”
The second yellow in the box gave Bensalem a penalty kick in the 38th minute.
“Goallkeeper Trevor Rush made the initial save on the PK, but Bensalem knocked in the rebound,” Foley said. “We were down 1-0 and down a player at the half because of the two yellow cards.”
Bensalem picked up its second goal in the 43rd minute, and the Falcons were staring at a 2-0 deficit.
“Our guys dug deep after the second goal and started to take the play to Bensalem,” Foley said. “We created a number of opportunities and a number of those chances were corners.”
Neshaminy cut its deficit in half when Manny Weagba headed home a corner kick by Gavin Rowan and then tied the game with five minutes left in regulation when Rowan picked up a through ball and was able to push it past the keeper. Jason Spencer was there to tap in the tying goal which forced the overtime.
“Bensalem had the wind and the better chances in the first overtime but we were able to withstand the pressure,” Foley said. “The game-winner came when right midfielder Richie Faul knocked a long diagonal ball to the left side for Jason Spencer. Spencer sent a perfect cross to Justin Lykonov who headed it into the net. It was a beautiful goal.
“I am really proud of the effort our guys gave today. After a poor first half and being down 2-0 and down a man, they could’ve easily packed it in. Instead they battled through fatigue and cramps and got a win against a really tough opponent. Don’t let Bensalem’s current record (0-3) fool you, they are a really good team who are going to win a lot of games.”
Neshaminy (2-0, 1-0 SOL) will host Council Rock South on Friday, and Bensalem (0-3, 0-1) will travel to William Tennent on Friday.
NESHAMINY 0 2 0 1 – 3
BENSALEM 1 1 0 0 – 2
Council Rock South 4, Harry S. Truman 1
Council Rock South used a balanced attack to post a 4-1 win over host Harry S. Truman.
The Golden Hawks built a 2-0 lead at halftime on a pair of goals from Sean Armstrong (with both assists going to Andrew Rosenfeld) before Connor Weinberg and Dylan Bennett scored after intermission to seal the triumph. Trey Blazik had the assist on the goal from Weinberg.
“At times we played well and at times we made it very easy for CR South,” Truman coach Matt Terry said. “It was a good, physical game with both teams competing.”
Mert Yildirim scored for the Tigers off a direct kick from Edwin Rivera.
“Richie Hrouda played well offensively and defensively,” Terry said. “Richie hit some nice set pieces that we were unable to make a connection. CR South played well and gave our defense fits. All the mistakes we made today are very fixable.”
Council Rock South (2-1, 1-0 SOL) will travel to Neshaminy on Friday, and Harry S Truman (1-1, 0-1) will host Council Rock North on Friday.
HARRY S. TRUMAN 0 1 – 1
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 2 2 – 4
SOL Continental Conference
Central Bucks East 2, Central Bucks West 1
Central Bucks East’s Liam Meyers scored with 1:01 left in regulation, stunning the Bucks and lifting the Patriots to a thrilling 2-1 win over host Central Bucks West in the conference opener for both teams Wednesday.
“It was a hard-fought game by both teams,” said CB East coach Josh Isaacsohn of the Patriots’ victory over the defending PIAA District One Class 3A champions.
“Kudos to their whole team and coaching staff for a great game.”
The Patriots, who won just five games last year, took a 1-0 lead midway through the first half on a long goal from junior Jacob Bing-Zaremba, who scored on a free kick from 50 yards out. The Bucks responded immediately with Ryan Horst connecting on the equalizer.
And it was Bing-Zaremba again helping out on the game-winner as his free kick was corralled by Meyers, a senior, and drilled home to provide the margin of victory.
“We made some tactical adjustments at halftime that seemed to work,” Isaacsohn said. “Nolan Case, our captain, in particular was a game changer. His energy combined with our resolve to see the game through were tremendous.
“We are very proud of this team and are thrilled for our senior class with this win.”
Patriots goalie Tyler Okin turned away seven shots in picking up the big win that snapped a four-game losing streak to the Bucks.
Central Bucks East (2-0, 1-0 SOL) will host Central Bucks South on Friday at 4 p.m., and Central Bucks West (1-1-1, 0-1) will travel to Souderton on Friday.
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 1 1 – 2
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 1 0 – 1
North Penn 5, Souderton 1
North Penn’s Carter Houlihan broke a halftime tie with four-straight second-half goals to lead North Penn to a 5-1 win over Souderton in the conference opener for both teams Wednesday.
The Indians’ lone goal came midway through the first half when Thomas Smith converted a penalty kick.
James Stewart, off a feed from Ryan Stewart, scored in the first half for North Penn before Houlihan’s heroics blew the game open after intermission.
North Penn (2-0, 1-0 SOL) will travel to Lansdale Catholic on Saturday for a non-league rivalry game at noon. Souderton (1-1, 0-1) will host Central Bucks West on Friday.
SOUDERTON 1 0 – 1
NORTH PENN 1 4 – 5
Central Bucks South 4, Quakertown 2
Central Bucks South continued its early season success by posting a 4-2 win over Quakertown. The win was the third in as many outings for the Titans.
Senior Jake Heilig had the first goal of the game for the Titans in the 26th minute, knotting the score after Gavin Smith scored an early goal for the Panthers.
“I’m very happy with the team’s early success,” CB South coach Joe Coscia said. “The boys are buying into our system and playing high-level soccer.
“The early standouts on our front line have been underclassmen A.J. Peev and Tasso Malitas. And our midfield and defense have been solid from seniors Jake Heilig and Owen Davis along with juniors Corey Bethel and Shane Landue.”
Malitas had a pair of goals for the Titans, including the go-ahead goal in the 29th minute and a PK in the 65th minute to put South on top 3-1.
Ryan Gross was credited with three saves in goal for the Titans. Riley Gaj recorded 10 saves for the Panthers.
Central Bucks South (3-0, 1-0 SOL) will travel to Central Bucks East on Friday, and Quakertown (0-1) will host Pennridge on Friday.
QUAKERTOWN 1 1 – 2
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 2 2 – 4
SOL American Conference
Upper Moreland 2, Cheltenham 1 (2 OTs)
Dylan Swedberg scored early in the second overtime to lift unbeaten Upper Moreland to a 2-1 win over host Cheltenham.
The win was the third in as many games for the streaking Golden Hawks while the Panthers slipped to 2-1.
“We should’ve been up two nothing in the first 10 minutes, but we missed our chances and it came back to bite us,” Cheltenham coach Bill Tonkin said.
Instead, Swedberg put Upper Moreland up 1-0 when he chipped home a goal from about 35 yards out for the only scoring of the first half.
The Panthers tied things up midway through the second half when junior Jack Klebanoff netted his third goal of the season off a feed from senior Findlay Peet.
Both teams had good scoring chances late in regulation but couldn’t find the back of the net, forcing the extra sessions.
And, two minutes into the second OT, Swedberg was able to beat the Cheltenham defense and knock home the game-winner.
Upper Moreland (3-0, 1-0 SOL) will host Abington Friday, and Cheltenham (2-0, 0-1) will be on the road at Upper Dublin on Friday.
UPPER MORELAND 1 0 0 1 – 2
CHELTENHAM 0 1 0 0 – 1
Upper Dublin 2, Hatboro-Horsham 0
Upper Dublin used two second-half goals to score a 2-1 win. It was the Flying Cardinals’ first win of the young season, and it was a big one.
“It was a good win for us because Hatboro is a good well coached team,” UD coach Andy Meehan said. “I would expect another tough game when we see them again.”
Junior Josiah Kutai gave the Cardinals the lead for good when he scored off an assist from junior Luke Rappaport midway through the second half. Senior Giovanni Astorino then added an insurance goal for the Cardinals off a feed from Kutai to account for the final margin.
“They had the better chances in the first half,” Meehan said. “We got lucky at times to not give up a goal. (Our goalie) Jordan Lewin Skversky had some great saves and our defense led by co-Captain Oliver Berman, Ciaran Sutherland, Adam LaSora and Ethan Hill did a great job for us.”
The Cardinals had the better of play in the second half.
“In the second half, we wanted to turn the pressure up,” Meehan said. “Captain Nate Hillman and Sean Seabrook dominated in the middle which allowed our forwards to take more chances going forward. Josiah provided excellent spark off the bench. He came in and provided immediate pressure going forward and eventually got the goal.
“The last goal, Seabrook started to take the ball into the corner but then turned it toward goal to cross it in. Josiah got the shot off but it was deflected and then Giovanni eventually put it away. I started to scream at him to keep it in the corner to try and take some time off the clock but he had another plan. Sometimes you have to just trust your players. He saw something I didn’t and took advantage and we were rewarded for it.”
Lewin-Skyersky recorded nine saves in goal in the shutout win.
Upper Dublin (1-2, 1-0 SOL) will host Cheltenham on Friday, and Hatboro-Horsham (0-2, 0-1) will travel to Wissahickon on Friday.
UPPER DUBLIN 0 2 – 2
HATBORO-HORSHAM 0 0 – 0
Abington 2, Springfield Township 1
Abington used a goal in each half to net a 2-1 win over visiting Springfield in the conference opener for both teams Wednesday.
Sean McConnell, off a feed from Liam Hartman, netted the first goal of the game for the Ghosts only to see the Spartans’ Grant Williams tie things up with a goal to send the teams to halftime knotted at 1-1. Matt Leibfreid had the assist on the goal from Williams.
Abington iced the victory with six minutes left in regulation as Bogdan Kulynin, off an assist from McConnell, netted the game-winner.
The Ghosts were without standout Nevin Baer, who missed the game due to an injury.
Abington (1-1, 1-0 SOL) will be on the road at Upper Moreland on Friday, and Springfield Township (1-1, 0-1) will host Plymouth Whitemarsh on Friday.
SPRINGFIELD TWP 1 0 – 1
ABINGTON 1 1 – 2
Plymouth Whitemarsh 2, Wissahickon 1
Plymouth Whitemarsh used a pair of late goals to score a 2-1 win over visiting Wissahickon.
After a scoreless first half, the Trojans’ Jake Slackman, off a feed from Phil Dias, put his side up 1-0 early in the second half.
However, the Colonials would get a goal from Chad McNally to tie things at 1-1 in the 75th minute and then the game-winner from Will Plado in the 80th minute to secure the victory.
Mason Smith turned away 10 shots for the Colonials while Wissahickon goalie Ethan Glass made seven saves.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (1-2, 1-0 SOL) will travel to Springfield Township Friday, and Wissahickon (0-2, 0-1) will host Hatboro-Horsham on Friday.
WISSAHICKON 0 1 – 1
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 0 2 – 2
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