Check out the recaps for SOL boys/girls soccer teams in action Monday. Quakertown/CR South photos provided courtesy of John Gleeson. Check back for a gallery of photos.
Boys
QUAKERTOWN 2, COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 1 (OT)
Five minutes into overtime, senior Adam Wunsch buried a penalty kick, propelling the visiting Panthers to the dramatic win.
“He generally doesn’t take PKs, but I put the pressure on him by having him take the PK because that’s the kind of coach I am – I like my captains to take the lead,” Quakertown coach Lee Bishop said. “He was kind of upset with me after the game and said, ‘Don’t make me take a PK again,’ but he did a good job. He scored and won the game.”
Gavin Hagin spotted the Golden Hawks a 1-0 lead in the closing seconds of the first half when he converted a penalty kick. The Panthers knotted the score midway through the second half when Nathan Gingrich found the net on a free kick.
That 1-1 tie stood Wunsch’s game-winner.
“The boys dug deep today,” Bishop said. “We have some good senior leadership from our captains, Nathan (Gingrich), Logan Suchanec and Adam Wunsch. They run the warm-up, they have their own little team talks with the boys.
“I’m very big on captains and senior leadership with the boys, and I think they’re doing a fantastic job this year. To be honest, all of the boys played well today. I’ve been blessed with a group of players that really believe in each other and are really starting to play as a team.”
For a Panther squad that won just two games last year, Monday’s win loomed large.
“We’re going to be competitive,” Bishop said. “We were a goal down, and we came back. The Quakertown mentality, to be honest, is that they really don’t believe in themselves, and today I think went a long way to potentially gaining a bit of confidence and a bit of self belief in their team and their teammates. It wasn’t the prettiest game of soccer, but it was a good game to be in because there was a lot of effort on the field. The kids gave a really strong effort to try and win the game
“First half was pretty 50-50. The second half I think we dominated the game and had good chances to score. I think the boys deserved to win today, and I won’t always say that. I’m really happy for them. I’m really happy that we got an early win this year. I think that could make a big difference to our season.”
Sophomore goalkeeper Riley Gaj was credited with five saves in the win for the Panthers.
“He had three very important saves – not that the other saves weren’t important, but they were pretty good goal-scoring opportunities for Council Rock,” Bishop said. “He made the team last year as a freshman and had around 50 percent playing time. This year he’s the main goalie, and he’s just a great kid. He’s such a hard worker. He’s probably the fittest kid on the team.
“His attitude at practice and his work rate at practice is something that the captains can look at and see they’re motivating the rest of the kids. He’s going to be a really big factor for how we do this year as a team. He’s going to have to come up big like he did today.”
The Panthers’ coach also acknowledged the contributions of Jared Leatherman, the team’s central defender.
“He came from the jayvee team last year – he was a swing player and didn’t play much,” Bishop said. “This year he’s the anchor of our defense. He’s come a long way as a player. He gives his heart to the team. He’s just a fantastic kid.”
The ending was a disappointing one for the Golden Hawks.
“Unfortunately, the ref was the only person who saw a foul in overtime, and the PK decided the match,” Rock South coach Alan Nicholl said. “Our final touch was very poor, and it cost us the game.”
Rock South’s keepers combined for five saves.
Quakertown (1-2, 0-2 SOL) will travel to Norristown for a non-league game Tuesday, and Council Rock South (2-3, 1-1) will host Bensalem on Thursday.
Quakertown 0-1-1 2
Council Rock South 1-0-0 1
NESHAMINY 5, FRANKLIN TOWNE CHARTER 0
The Redskins won for the fourth time in as many games, opening up a 2-0 halftime lead and never looking back.
Cole Jackson opened the scoring 20 seconds into the game when he beat the goalkeeper to the ball outside the box and lofted a ball into a wide open net from 25 yards out. Mike Albarran made it a 2-0 game, scoring with a Jackson assist in the 22nd minute.
“(Albarran) raced around his mark and was able to tuck the ball past the keeper,” coach Tom Foley said. “We moved the ball really well in the first half, outshooting Franklin Towne Charter 21-2.”
FTC keeper James O’Neil was credited with 11 saves in the first half, several – according to Foley – were very difficult.
“(Albarran) collected his second goal of the game when he finished a low, hard cross from Manny Weagba,” the Redskins’ coach said. “Vlad Mikhailski collected his first varsity goal (77th minute), hitting a solid 25-yard shot that snuck under the crossbar.”
Weagba was credited with the assist. Mikhailski picked up his second goal in the 79th minute, using a pass from Christian Gega to close out the scoring.
The Redskins’ coach credited several players in the win.
“Alex Daeche, Dan Nogueira and Connor Steele did a nice job clogging up the middle defensively,” Foley said.
Neshaminy goalkeeper Trevor Rush collected his second shutout of the season.
Neshaminy (4-0, 2-0 SOL) will host Harry S Truman on Tuesday.
Franklin Towne Charter 0-0 0
Neshaminy 2-3 5
Girls
NESHAMINY 2, NORTH PENN 1
Gina Sexton broke a 1-1 tie in the second half with a goal that turned out to be the game-winner. Freshman Carly Fox was credited with the assist.
“It was a beautiful goal,” Neshaminy coach Renny Papendick said. “It was a very physical game.
“We have been decimated by injuries with four starters out. The senior captains stepped up today and really carried the team. Em Tantala, Gina Sexton, Kristen Curley and Kelli Kowalik were tremendous.”
Earlier, the visiting Redskins struck first on a goal by Fox on a breakaway, but Emily Varilla scored the equalizer for the Knights. The two teams went into halftime deadlocked 1-1.
“They had some speed up top,” Papendick said. “Carly Fox stood out as a freshman in her first start with a goal and assist.
“We also asked five other freshmen to play significant minutes. Hopefully, this is a win to build on as we get into the heart of our SOL schedule.”
Neshaminy (3-2, 1-1 SOL) will travel to Harry S Truman Tuesday, and North Penn (2-3, 0-1) will be on the road at Central Bucks East on Tuesday.
Neshaminy 1-1 2
North Penn 1-0 1
QUAKERTOWN 2, SAUCON VALLEY
The Panthers scored a goal in each half, notching their third win in four outings this season.
“We definitely had the run of play and had them on their heels,” said coach Mike Koch, whose team held a 7-2 advantage in shots. “I’m happy with the effort of my players. They’re buying into what we need to do as a team to succeed.”
Haley Hangey turned a pass from Carolyn Sipprell into a goal in the 16th minutes that turned out to be the game-winner. Kyla Frederick tacked on an insurance goal, scoring in the 68th minute with an assist from Gianna Monastra for the 2-0 final.
Morgan Sipprell, who was credited with two saves, notched her third shutout of the season behind a strong defense led by Cori Pursel and Melina Jagiella
Koch pointed to Jagiella as a player who might well be underrated.
“She’s our center back, and she’s been a four-year starter,” the Panthers’ coach said. “When we won the district playoff game against West Chester Henderson two years ago she scored the goal. She’s our leader on defense, and she’s the one that truly makes us go. This is our third shutout in four games, and she’s a big piece of doing that. Obviously, our goalkeeping is good, but Melina is a big piece of that too.”
Koch pointed to Kara Kreuz as instrumental in the Panthers’ attack.
“Lexi Guerrieri was outstanding defensively for Saucon Valley,” the Panthers’ coach said.
Quakertown (3-1, 1-1 SOL) will host North Penn on Thursday.
Quakertown 1-1 2
Saucon Valley 0-0 0
SOL American Conference
HATBORO-HORSHAM 2, WISSAHICKON 1 (2 OTs)
The Hatters received goals from Maggie O’Neill and Ally Eutermoser to earn the double overtime win.
Hatboro-Horsham (3-0, 2-0 SOL) will be on the road at Upper Moreland on Tuesday, and Wissahickon (1-1) will host Springfield Township on Tuesday.
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