Check out the recaps for SOL girls’ soccer teams in action Tuesday. Pennridge/Souderton & CB East/CB West photos provided courtesy of Tracy Valko. Lower Moreland/Springfield photo courtesy of Greg Zesinger. Check back for galleries of all three games.
SOL COLONIAL
Pennridge 5, Souderton 1
Goals.
After dropping their first game of the season against CB West last week, the Rams spent the entire weekend thinking about scoring goals. Finishing chances was the only thing they didn’t do against the Bucks, so to get back on track, they wanted to put away as many as possible on Tuesday.
“We had an edge all week,” Pennridge assistant coach Jason Lollar said. “We trained Saturday and Monday and talked about how everything we want to play for this year is still there for us. We felt like we had something to prove today.”
Lollar was filling in for Rams coach Audrey Anderson, who missed the game due to family reasons. His debut as head coach also came against his wife Melissa, who is an assistant coach for Souderton.
On the field, the Rams came out energized and forced Indians keeper Morgan Molyneaux into a couple quality saves early. With the pressure on, Souderton had some difficulty breaking out of its defensive third.
Senior Lindsey DeHaven got the attack going when she broke up a clearing ball by Molyneaux, flicking it to senior Raina Adelman and getting it back on a pass for a one-on-one finish.
“We wanted to score goals but our focus was also on coming out hard from the start,” DeHaven said. “We lacked that energy against West also and we needed to start looking at these games and preparation for districts and playoffs.”
DeHaven had a massive impact on the game, scoring twice and assisting a pair of goals while also playing her usual strong turn in central midfield. In a change Tuesday, one of her usual midfield partners in Riley Hepler was in a different position.
With Hepler playing target forward, Jess Levush started and filled in well next to DeHaven and Liv Grenda. Hepler meanwhile, fit right in up top by scoring a goal and assisting two in the second half.
“We had some new girls in new positions but I felt like we connected really well,” Lollar said. “We found each other’s feet but felt we should have put a few more away in that first half. Souderton is really good on the counter, so if we gave them any chances it could be 1-1 like that and we knew we had to put a few more away.”
Up 1-0 at the break, it didn’t take long for the Rams to do just that. DeHaven found Hepler for a one-time blast two minutes into the second half, and the two traded places when DeHaven headed in Hepler’s corner for a 3-0 lead with 31 minutes left in the match.
Hepler would then feed freshman Sophie Craig a through ball for a finish inside the post as Pennridge upped its lead to 4-0 in the final 15 minutes.
“We always want to do that with anyone in that target role,” Lollar said. “We do want to play off their feet and we talk about creating space but if we don’t check into that space, then it’s useless.”
Souderton got a spark from its human spark plug Avery Nogami. The junior, who has provided energy and scoring opportunities all season, showed her tenacity when she jumped on a mis-hit ball, fought off a couple tackles and flicked a pass to Megan McCollum, who finished far post.
“It felt like we just couldn’t get out,” Souderton coach Ian Smith said. “It looked like some tired legs. I think our first game was a more accurate representation of the level these teams are at but this game, we were definitely outworked and just couldn’t put it together for a full 80.”
The Rams answered with a superbly built goal. DeHaven sprayed a ball out to senior Kera Dam on the right wing, who launched a one-touch cross into the box that Craig rose up and looped into the goal off a head ball.
“It was a really unselfish effort,” Lollar said. “Sometimes we want them to be more selfish and get shots off but overall, it was a team game. We talked about there being 20 girls on this team and that we needed to all play for each other.”
Pennridge (8-1, 7-1 SOL) hosts CB South on Thursday night while Souderton (4-5) hosts CB West that afternoon.
PENNRIDGE 1 4 – 5
SOUDERTON 0 1 – 1
Goals: P – Lindsey DeHaven 2, Sophie Craig 2, Riley Hepler; S – Megan McCollum
Central Bucks East 1, Central Bucks West 1
In a season where every game, every goal and every result matters, the Bucks now hope Tuesday night won’t cost them more than two points in the league standings.
A hard-fought battle between the two rivals seemed to be decided with about two minutes left in the second overtime when CB West believed and started celebrating a game-winning goal. However, no whistle blew and play was continued on the field.
“We scored with two minutes left in double overtime, and the refs didn’t see it go in. We had a corner kick. Court (Moylan) hit it in. It hit the side of the net, the goalie pulled it out, and one of their defenders then cleared it,” West coach Mike Moyer said. “Both refs said they were blocked and couldn’t see. We’re all celebrating, and the refs didn’t see it. It’s a shame.”
The controversial decision came at the end of an otherwise well played game between two talented sides eager to beat each other but also bringing a healthy amount of respect for one another.
“I thought both teams were really good in different moments tonight and I love the fact our group comes in with a huge amount of respect for their girls,” East coach Jake Nesteruk said. “It was a total battle, as expected. I thought defensively we were incredibly organized across our backline and Skylar Gash came up with a few very good saves. The same goes to the West backline and goalkeeper.”
Both teams settled for a 0-0 stalemate at halftime. The visiting Patriots would seize the initiative about 10 minutes into the second period.
“Brooke Roumy picked up the ball on the counter and played a great flat ball down the sideline for Emma (Martin) to break onto,” Nesteruk said. “She was able to cut inside on her defender and finished it to the right side of the goal.”
Nesteruk called Tuesday his team’s best game in transition and chalked it up to the contributions of several players.
“Katie Volans and Morgan Kelly stepped in and gave us key minutes in the center of the park,” Nesteruk said. “Both teams created some issues – the combination of Emma Martin, Elise Duffy and Cam Williams really gave us some good play up top. Ultimately, both teams bent but didn’t break.”
The Bucks responded in turn and leveled the score midway through the second half. Taylor Moyer got sent in behind the defense and was able to chip the keeper with Riley Corona coming in to make sure the ball got over the line.
Aside from the stakes of the rivalry, the teams combined for their annual Kick for Pink night and West celebrated the contributions of its senior class.
“It was your typical East-West game. It was our Senior Night so I started all my seniors. It was a really good game,” Mike 
Moyer said. “I graduated from West and played soccer, their coach graduated from East and played there. I’ve been enjoying this rivalry since 1989. It’s awesome for the kids, the fans. It really was a great game. The girls gave it their all.”
Nesteruk praised the efforts of defenders Bailey Schellhorn, Courtney Curry, Meredith Black and Gianna Marino.
“They were really, really sharp in stepping up into the midfield to win challenges and contributed significantly in how we attacked today,” Nesteruk said.
The Bucks are still in the hunt for an SOL Colonial title with two games yet to play. While they will need to win out, their last game is against conference leading Pennridge on Oct. 27 and West is the only team to have beaten the Rams so far this fall.
West, like East, is also fighting for a spot in the District I 4A bracket, which has been contracted to 16 teams this fall with the standard power ranking system determining the entrants.
“It was a hard fought game on both sides. When you put in all this time – the girls are really looking to try and win a league title, every play counts. When you miss a goal in double overtime with two minutes left, it’s a real hard pill to swallow,” Mike Moyer said. “It just makes it that much harder to set out what we set out to do at the beginning of the season, but hey, I’m a good friend and a fan of Jake. His girls were playing for their season tonight, and they gave us everything they had, and I applaud them for that.”
The Bucks (6-1-1) will visit Souderton on Thursday afternoon. East (4-4-1) visits North Penn on Thursday night.
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 0 1 0 0 – 1
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 0 1 0 0 – 1
Goals: CBW – Riley Corona; CBE – Emma Martin
North Penn 1, Central Bucks South 1 (2 OT)
It’s fair to say the Knights and Titans are very evenly matched this fall.
The teams have played 200 minutes of soccer this season with neither side able to claim a win among them. Thanks to two late goals on Tuesday, both teams were able to settle for a point in the standings.
“You have to work hard for every point in this league. The girls put forth a lot of effort again and it was 100 minutes of head-to-head play with North Penn,” Titans coach Amy Moriarity said.
While both goals were scored in the final six minutes of regulation, it was far from an uneventful game. South’s offense has several creative and skillful players and they did their best to break down a tough Knights defense.
“We had a lot of scoring opportunities thanks to the hard work of Eva Costello down the left flank,” Moriarity said. “She served beautiful balls into the box all night long and really kept the goalie and defense on their toes as North Penn continuously chased us out of their defensive end in the second half.”
Brooke Edwards was also a menace for the Titans, applying pressure on the backs and looking to slot in passes to her teammates making runs at goal.
After 70 minutes of physical and intense soccer, Titans senior co-captain Elizabeth Chilliberti had a little more effort to give.
“Her goal came from giving 100 percent effort on every 50/50 ball that came her way,” Moriarity said. “She saw an opportunity to chase down a ball anyone else would have given up on as it was a slow roller back to the goalie. She got in the goalie’s face and caused a turnover which turned into the first goal of the game and her first goal of the season.”
Down but not out, the Knights dug deep and found an answer three minutes later.
Kloey Carminati fought off a defender to bury the equalizer, sending the teams into overtime for the second time in as many matchups.
“I was proud of the girls for rebounding after giving up a goal with six minutes left,” Knights co-head coach Mike Rio said. “It was definitely a hard fought, physical game and both teams defended really well. It was awesome to see the girls fight to the end, it’s been a tough season but they haven’t given up at all.”
Rio felt his team came out strong in the extra session but couldn’t find a winner.
South’s defensive effort certainly had something to do with that.
“It was another great defensive game with an all-star effort from Maddie Tantum, Bridget Curtis, Leah Schnee and Emalee Day coming up the flank and middle to help their teammates,” Moriarity said.
CB South (1-6-2) visits Pennridge on Thursday night. The Knights (1-6-2) will host CB East.
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 0 1 0 0 – 1
NORTH PENN 0 1 0 0 – 1
Goals: CBS – Elizabeth Chilliberti, NP – Kloey Carminati
SOL PATRIOT
Council Rock South 2, Bensalem 0
A goal on either side of halftime by Cameron Blatz prevented the Golden Hawks from a second straight day of overtime.
Despite that, it was anything but an easy win for CR South.
“Bensalem’s record does not indicate their ability at all,” Hawks coach Nick Heim said. “They’re well-organized and really make you work the ball and stay patient. Going in, we stressed not forcing things in the offensive end and letting the game come to us.”
Heim said the game played out as expected, with the Owls holding their ground and forcing the Hawks to wait out the right opportunities.
“Luckily, we were able to connect a few passes in the final third and Skylar Scarborough found Cameron Blatz for a nice finish to go into halftime up 1-0,” Heim said.
The second half was similar, but the Hawks continued to work the ball around and Blatz was again in the right place to receive the pass that unlocked Bensalem’s defense.
“Aubrey Hondros found Cameron, who side-stepped a few defenders for a nice finish,” Heim said. “Really proud of the contributions from everyone on the roster and the patience we showed today compared to yesterday.”
Council Rock South (6-2-1, 4-2-1 SOL) will host William Tennent on Monday in a non-league game. Bensalem (0-7, 0-6) will host Neshaminy on Thursday.
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 1 1 -2
BENSALEM 0 0 – 0
Goals: CRS – Cameron Blatz 2
SOL FREEDOM
Springfield Twp 3, Lower Moreland 3 (OT)
After a dismal first half, the Lions’ seniors helped spark their young teammates to a frantic comeback.
“We had no energy in the first half and we seemed to just be going through the motions,” LM coach Mike Gould said. “I think what stood out is instead of just going away we came out a new team in the second half.”
The Spartans took advantage of Lower Moreland’s slow start and built up a 3-0 advantage at halftime. Kalei Noonan scored the first goal and Kaleigh Evans followed with back-to-back scores.
For the Lions, sophomore Payton Lennon scored 90 seconds into the second half and the Lions had a surge of life they wouldn’t let go of the rest of the way.
“Payton was all over the field for 100 minutes,” Gould said. “I was really impressed and happy with her, I think she’s playing her best soccer of the year. We scored 90 seconds into the half and just kept the pressure up.”
LM has been besieged by injuries all fall but they got a lift Tuesday as Demmi Fox returned from a broken toe and provided some dangerous moments. With several senior captains sidelined, Gould said it’s been difficult for his team to find the consistent level of play it needs for every game.
In a tough spot Tuesday, the Lions’ seniors came through.
“Senior leadership sparked things in the second half,” Gould said. “Maggie McGarry, Paige Malpezzi, Amy Zesinger and Rachel Felix wouldn’t let their careers wind down that way.”
Fox scored LM’s second goal before McGarry tied the game on a free kick hit with about six minutes to go.
Lower Moreland (2-3-3 2-2-3 SOL) will visit William Tennent on Thursday. Springfield Township closed out its league season with a 0-7-1 record.
LOWER MORELAND 0 3 0 0 – 3
SPRINGFIELD TWP 3 0 0 0 – 3
William Tennent 3, Upper Moreland 0
In their first meeting, the Panthers learned the tenacity of the Golden Bears was not to be overlooked.
Despite knowing what was coming, it still took the better part of the first half for Tennent to establish control. Luckily for the Panthers, their duo of Ava DeGeorge and Caroline Weir was on target once again.
“It wasn’t until late in the first half we gained control when Ava DeGeorge gave Caroline Weir two nice assists to set us up with a lead,” Tennent coach Bill Hontz said. “We played very well for about 10 minutes and it was a little shaky here and there after that.”
The Panthers’ defense was able to hold the lead, but also counted on a little luck.
“Belle Meehan made some great saves but also got lucky with a couple shots off the crossbar and a few near-misses dealing with Upper Moreland’s speed up top,” Hontz said.
Gabby Sowers made it 3-0 going to intermission.
“She got a chance to give us a secure lead with a perfectly-placed ball inside the post making it difficult for Upper Moreland’s keeper to save,” Hontz said.
Tennent, which has secured the SOL Freedom title, also celebrated its Senior Night.
“Emily Gehring and Emily Thran stepped up and played their hearts out and each had a few opportunities to score,” Hontz said.
Upper Moreland (3-3-1) hosts New Hope-Solebury on Thursday while William Tennent (8-1, 7-0 SOL) hosts Lower Moreland.
WILLIAM TENNENT 3 0 – 3
UPPER MORELAND 0 0 – 0
Goals: WT – Caroline Weir 2, Gabby Sowers
SOL LIBERTY
Wissahickon 2, Upper Dublin 1
Trojans coach Chris McDaniels wasn’t surprised his team was in a dogged battle with next-door rival Upper Dublin late into the second half.
While Wissahickon started the second half confident it was going to find a winning goal, McDaniels admitted a little doubt started to creep in as the clock wound under 10 then five minutes. Luckily, the Trojans didn’t have to wait much longer and scored with about four minutes to play to end their Senior Night with a victory.
“Defensively, we were very good,” McDaniels said. “We limited possession, there weren’t a lot of chances and the ball wasn’t in our attacking third very much.”
Upper Dublin scored first. Sophomore Regan Rubin fired a shot from long range that took a sharp bounce off the turf and tucked in past keeper Caroline Hassall. The Flying Cardinals, minus three starters due to injuries, have played with seven sophomores on the pitch together.
The Trojans equalized on a shot by Lannah Werynski that took an unfortunate deflection.
“She took a shot that deflected off a defender’s back and rolled into the net,” McDaniels said. “I felt bad for the keeper, it was one of those where she had already jumped to her right, it hits the defender’s back and she’s on the ground as it rolls into the net.”
Wiss was without defensive midfielder Anna May, who picked up a knock against Quakertown last week. In her place, Lucy Greenstein shifted in from the wing and played well while Sage Stelzer moved up from fullback to winger.
“There was a lot of energy but it never got settled into a rhythm,” McDaniels said. “Lucy won about a million balls in the middle and just put in a real solid shift to keep the ball in Upper Dublin’s end and give us some more chances than they had.”
Stelzer, who scored in the teams’ first meeting, was responsible for the winning goal on Tuesday.
“She was on the left wing, she’s an outside back but one that likes to get up the field and she played fantastic creating a bunch of chances,” McDaniels said. “We got in behind on a nice cross that got to the far post and Sage was able to get in and put it over the keeper to the far corner. It was a nice finish.”
McDaniels credit his defensive foursome of center backs Peyton Weber and Margo Kasenchar and fullbacks Elaina Bailey and Lindsey Schmidt.
Wissahickon started its seven seniors – Hassall, Weber, Schmidt, Sophia Chiodo Ortiz, Claudia Kasenchar, Haley Reed and Crystal Suin – and they went 20 minutes together in the first half.
“From the seniors who play a lot of minutes to those who don’t play as much, the work rate was fantastic from all of them,” McDaniels said. “We played even with UD during those 20 minutes, it was back-and-forth with a lot of energy.”
While the Cardinals came out on the wrong end, McDaniels said their talent and ability is not reflective in their record.
“I think if this was a regular, normal-length season, they would have some results to show for how good they are and how strong their work rate is,” McDaniels said. “They gave us everything they had twice.”
Wissahickon (4-3-2, 3-3-2 SOL) is scheduled to visit Plymouth Whitemarsh on Thursday. Upper Dublin (1-7) will visit Hatboro-Horsham.
WISSAHICKON 1 1 – 2
UPPER DUBLIN 1 0 – 1
Goals: W – Lannah Werynski, Sage Stelzer
Hatboro-Horsham 4, Quakertown 0
A freshman frenzy in the second half helped lift the Hatters to a road win on Tuesday.
Senior Aly Yankanich, a defender, gave the Hatters 1-0 lead with 12 minutes to go in the first half.
“The first half we were a little off, so I talked to them at half about what we can do that will win the game,” HH coach Kelsey Daley said. “We have the speed up top and outside mids, so going out wide is what is going to work for us.
“In the second half, we came out a better and stronger team. We played smarter, which resulted in us finding the back of the net three times in the half.”
While Yankanich’s goal would hold up as a winner, Hatboro-Horsham added three insurance goals from a pair of freshmen starters in the second half.
Mia Malofiy scored to double the lead, then midfielder Emma Levin notched a brace in quick succession late in the match.
“Emma Levin ripped two shots outside the 18 and both were beautiful goals,” Daley said. “She’s such a strong player and I’m always telling her to take players on so I hope this gave her the confidence to keep doing that.
“Maggie O’Neill is the most dangerous player in this league. She works so hard and puts everything she has into every game. She’s always creating opportunities for us.”
O’Neill committed this week to continue her soccer career at Sacred Heart University.
Sam Hollish recorded a shutout for the Hatters.
Quakertown (4-6-1, 3-5-1 SOL) will play at Abington on Thursday night while the Hatters (7-2) will host Upper Dublin.
HATBORO-HORSHAM 1 3 – 4
QUAKERTOWN 0 0 – 0
Goals: HH – Aly Yankanich, Mia Malofiy, Emma Levin 2
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