Check out the recaps for SOL boys/girls soccer teams in action Friday.
Boys
Non-league
ABINGTON 2, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 1
With time winding down and overtime appearing imminent, Nevin Baer made sure extra time wouldn’t be necessary, finding the net with 38 seconds remaining to propel the Ghosts to the dramatic non-league win in a battle of perennial SOL powers.
“The ball was in a mix, and he volleyed it in the goal,” Abington coach Randy Garber said of Baer’s game-winner.
It was Baer’s second goal of the night. He also scored earlier in the second half, breaking a 0-0 tie when he buried a shot fro 30 yards out. The Indians knotted the score, setting the stage for the senior captain’s game-winner.
Garber credited the play of several players in the win.
“On defense, Reese Gibbs had and outstanding game along with Kyle Philips, Alex Woll and goalkeeper Jalen Harris,” the Ghosts’ coach said. “Jalen had an amazing game in goal.
“Bryce Lexow, Shawn McConnell and Gavin O’Neill had a very strong performance in the midfield.”
The stage is set for Abington’s showdown with Hatboro-Horsham on Monday. The Ghosts (13-2-1, 10-1-1 SOL) – who have an identical conference record as the Hatters atop the standings – will be on the road at H-H. The Ghosts are sixth in the latest District One 4A power rankings while the Hatters are 10th. Council Rock North (7-6-2, 5-4-1) will travel to Archbishop Ryan for a non-league game Saturday at 7 p.m. The Indians are 26th in the latest power point rankings – 24 teams will be in the district field.
Council Rock North 0-1 1
Abington 1-1 2
HATBORO-HORSHAM 1, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 0
With time winding down in a scoreless game, Matt Harmon found the net in the 70th minute. The goal stood for the game-winner.
“We had a free kick from about 24 yards out, and Bradan Mallon stepped up and took it,” coach Kyle McGrath said. “The goalkeeper made a good diving save, and he left the rebound there. Matty Harmon followed it in and just finished the ball into the goal off the rebound.”
The win by the visiting Hatters put a damper on the Patriots’ Senior Day.
“They came out with a lot of energy, a lot of intensity and kind of took it to us the first 15-20 minutes of the game,” McGrath said. “We were able to wrestle control away the rest of the first half.
“Once we started playing soccer and not just (knocking) balls long, we started to find more success. In the second half, we just continued that, and we just played very well in the second half against a really good team.”
Friday’s shutout was the 12th of the season for the Hatters as 12 of their 13 wins this season have been shutouts.
“Anytime we can get a shutout is positive for us,” McGrath said. “My back four – Vince Buccafuri, Zach Joachim, Jake Weiss and Caleb Hudson – is the same back four it’s been the whole season and just did another awesome job of limiting their opportunities and even shots today.
“We did a good job closing down in the midfield and closing down at the top of the box. Those guys take pride in getting a shutout which is awesome to see.”
Senior Scott Katherine notched his seventh shutout in goal.
“He had to make routine saves, and he did come out and catch a couple of free kicks and crosses and came out strong and held the ball,” McGrath said. “He’s been doing awesome.”
East goalie Tyler Okin was credited with six saves.
Hatboro-Horsham (13-2-2, 10-1-1 SOL) will host Abington on Monday at 7 p.m. with first place in the conference standings on the line. The two teams boast identical conference records atop the standings with two conference games remaining. Central Bucks East (9-6-3, 8-3-1) – 19th in the latest District One 4A power rankings – will host Pennridge on Tuesday.
Hatboro-Horsham 0-1 1
Central Bucks East 0-0 0
NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 2, PENNSBURY 0
The visiting Lions scored a goal in each half, including a late goal to ice the win,
“We did not play well, but we really picked up the pace in the last 30 minutes but were a little unlucky again,” coach Tom Stoddart said. “We gave up a goal after a near miss and a run out with seven minutes left.
“We have time to rest up and take a shot at a league title next week.”
Pennsbury (10-4-2, 7-2-1 SOL) – 15th in the District One 4A power rankings – will host Harry S Truman on Tuesday.
News Hope-Solebury 1-1 2
Pennsbury 0-0 0
Girls
Pennridge 5, Abington 0
Last season, the Rams had a dominant scorer in Abby Groff, who reached the impressive 20-goal plateau in her senior year.
This fall, Pennridge doesn’t have that one mainstay scorer, but they certainly have plenty of balance. Friday, five different players scored as the Rams used their depth to take down the visiting Ghosts and close out a challenging week.
“It’s easy to take one player out of the game but we have Emily Kriney as our leading scorer and not far behind her are three others,” Rams coach Audrey Anderson said. “I think that says a lot about our nose for the goal and our ability to get shots off from anywhere on the field.”
Senior Chance Hendricks opened the scoring when she converted a penalty kick.
“It was nice to see Chance get her first goal,” Anderson said. “She’s been trying for that for a while so it was good to see her get that. It was a good PK, she got taken down in the box, got up and took it.”
Lindsey DeHaven pumped home a rebound off a Maddie Anderson shot and Kriney added to her team lead with a goal off a feed from Leah Malone in the first half.
With an overtime game Tuesday night and a tough game on the road at Souderton on Thursday, the Rams took the opportunity to play their reserves heavy minutes. The team’s depth paid off with goals from Riley Hepler and Grace Myers for the final tallies.
“We were exhausted, the girls will never tell me they need to come out and sit but you could see it on their faces,” Anderson said. “They felt comfortable and trusted the players going in behind them.
“Riley Hepler really stood out, she worked both sides of the ball, came back and defended well but also went forward and got in some dangerous crosses. She had probably more minutes than any other forward, knew what she had to do and did it.”
Defensively, Maddie Angelo and Lauren McIntyre led the effort to bottle up Abington’s Casey Touey.
“We knew about her and made sure if she didn’t have the ball, she wasn’t dangerous,” Anderson said. “She is tough to handle at times, so they did a nice job.”
Pennridge (15-0, 10-0 SOL) hosts CB East on Tuesday night to start its last three games of the regular season. Abington (8-8, 8-4) will host Hatboro-Horsham on Tuesday.
PENNRIDGE 3 2 – 5
ABINGTON 0 0 – 0
Goals: P – Chance Hendricks, Lindsey DeHaven, Emily Kriney, Grace Myers, Riley Hepler
Hatboro-Horsham 3, Mount St Joseph Academy 0
Early in the season, the Hatters’ offense drew most of the attention.
But the defense quietly has been really sound all year and is playing some of its best soccer as the season winds down.
“With four shutouts in a row, HH came out on top in a non league game against Mount St Joseph,” Hatters coach Kelsey Daley said. “The team played very well today and was connecting passes very well together. We communicated and played as a team today.”
Emily Thomas scored twice in the first half, the first assissted by Ally Eutermoser.
The Mount, which plays in the AACA, has a top forward in senior Madison Hornig who the Hatters were able to keep quiet on Friday. On top of the shutout, the defense chipped in offensively when Izzy de la Torre scored on a header following a late corner kick.
“It was a great ball across by Cam Ryan and Izzy came out of nowhere and headed the ball directly in the back of the net,” Daley said. “It was a good end to the week and we are on a positive note going into one of the toughest weeks next week.”
Hatboro-Horsham (13-1-1, 10-1-1 SOL) visits Abington on Tuesday, then hosts Plymouth Whitemarsh on Thursday in a game with huge SOL American implications before visiting Pennridge to end the regular season.
“The team is working very well together and are very anxious and excited to get next week started,” Daley said.
HATBORO-HORSHAM 2 1 – 3
MOUNT SAINT JOSEPH 0 0 – 0
Goals: HH – Emily Thomas 2, Izzy de la Torre
William Tennent 4, New Hope-Solebury 0
In a preview of the new-look SOL coming next fall, the Panthers picked up a win over the Lions.
Tennent split its goals evenly in each half.
“Gabby Sowers scored in the 23rd and 25th minute with two great strikes from outside penalty area,” Panthers coach Bill Hontz said. “Jackie Kubala and Liz Layer both scored in the second half, in the 43rd and 65th minutes. Liz Layer connected on a header from a nice corner kick by Danielle Moss.”
Tennent has been a tough team to beat all season, dropping a narrow decision to Neshaminy on Thursday and their defense has been a big part in that.
“Our defense has been really playing well the last two games with Sarah Hart and Lindsey Mulholland leading the way as underclassman,” Hontz said. “They are learning how to work with each other which is going to go a long way for next season.”
William Tennent (5-9, 3-7 SOL) will travel to Council Rock South on Tuesday.
WILLIAM TENNENT 2 2 – 4
NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 0 0 – 0
Goals: WT – Gabby Sowers 2, Liz Layer, Jackie Kubala
Saint Basil Academy 4, Cheltenham 0
Radnor 4, Wissahickon 1
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