Seven SOL boys’ soccer teams and four SOL girls’ soccer teams will be in action Thursday in the District One Tournament. Check back for the recaps.
Boys
CLASS 4A
#14 CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH at #6 NORTH PENN (Thursday, Nov. 5, 7 p.m.)
North Penn
-9-2 overall
-8-2 SOL Colonial Division champions
-Led by senior captain and Louisville commit Josh Jones (Striker/MF), senior captain Roman Ilovski (Center MF) and senior captain Sawyer Meade (GK)
-Other key players include junior Alex Stewart (MF), junior Ryan Mindick (D) junior Hunter Stites (D), senior Kevin Murphy (D) and sophomore Nate Kim (D).
-Wins over #12 Pennridge (2-1 & 4-1) and #14 Central Bucks South (1-0 & 1-0) and split with #13 Souderton (0-2 & 2-1).
-Knights have won six straight
How they got here: North Penn edged #11 Perkiomen Valley 1-0 in overtime an opening round game Monday. Jojo Dalwadi came off the bench to score the game-winner with an assist from Josh Jones with six minutes remaining in the first overtime.
Central Bucks South
-6-5 overall
-5-5 Tied for second place in SOL Colonial Conference
-Titan goalie Ryan Gross has four clean sheets.
-Split season series with District One 4A #12 Pennridge (0-2 & 3-1) and #13 Souderton (1-2 & 4-2).
-Leading the Titans are senior center mid Corey Bethel (four goals), senior right back Shane Landue, junior center backs Dennis Cleary and Logan Campbell and junior left back Eric Green (two assists).
How they got here: Central Bucks South upset #3 Unionville 3-0 in Monday’s opening round. Tasso Malitas had a pair of goals and AJ Peev also scored.
#15 PENNSBURY at #7 NESHAMINY (Thursday, Nov. 5, 5:30 p.m.)
Neshaminy
-9-1-2 overall
-6-0-2 SOL Patriot Division champions
-Eight shutouts in 12 games
-Key players include senior Gavin Rowan (MF), senior Cole Jackson (F), junior Jose Rivera (F), senior Lou Salmi (D), junior AJ Rivera (D), senior Mike Albarran (D), senior Trevor Rush (GK), junior Connor Steele (MF), senior Ryan Schoeneman (D/MF) and junior Richie Faul (D/MF)
-Win over Class 3A #3 Holy Ghost (1-0) and split games with #15 Pennsbury, tying first game 0-0 and winning the rematch 1-0 in overtime.
-Only loss at hands of PCL power La Salle (0-3).
How they got here: Neshaminy defeated #10 Great Valley 3-0 in an opening round game. Gavin Rowan had a hand in all three goals, scoring a pair and assisting on the third. Jose Rivera also had one goal.
Pennsbury
-6-4-1 overall
-4-3-1 SOL
-The Falcons are anchored by the team’s 14 seniors: Michael Caissie (GK), Colby Goldschmidt (D), Trevor Hart (D), Erik Mauro (M), Colin Plunkett (M), Alec Snedaker (S), Alvin Wang (D), Aidan Tonrey (D), Damian Kostrzewa (M), Zachary Summer (D), Jaden Haig (M), Gustavs Mednis (M), Evan Reichard (S), Danny Snyder (D)
-Senior Jaden Haig leads the Falcons’ attack with nine goals and four assists. Erik Mauro has three goals, and Zach Summer has three goals and two assists. Evan Reichard has three assists in four games since his return to the lineup.
-Mike Caissie, who has three shutouts, anchors the Falcons’ defense in goal.
-Win over Class 2A #3 Holy Ghost Prep (4-0) and tied #7 Neshaminy (0-0)
How they got here: Pennsbury upset #2 William Tennent, battling the previously undefeated Panthers to a 1-1 tie after two overtime periods. Zach Summer scored the Falcons’ goal. Pennsbury won it 3-1 in penalty kicks with Summer, Colin Plunkett and Evan Reichard connecting on PKs.
#13 UPPER DUBLIN at #12 PENNRIDGE (Thursday, Nov. 5, 5 p.m.)
Pennridge
-8-5 overall
-5-5 SOL Colonial Division, tied for second
-Forwards Aiden Castle and Kevin Link lead the Rams’ attack while Carlos Erazo, a first team all-league selection last year, and Ben Scary are major contributors in the midfield. Shane Velez and Colin Monahan anchor a solid defense.
=Swept season series with #13 Souderton (1-0 & 1-0) and split games with #14 Central Bucks South (2-0 & 1-3)
How they got here: Pennridge edged #5 Abington 1-0 in Monday’s opener. Senior Carlos Erazo scored the game-winner with 40 seconds remaining in regulation.
Upper Dublin
-7-3-1 overall
-6-3-1 SOL Liberty Division second place
-Flying Cardinals led by senior forwards Sean Seabrook, Luke Rappaport and Josiah Kutai, midfielder Sam Moss and defenders Keran Acharya, Ethan Hill, Zach Berman and goalkeeper Spencer Beidner.
-Seabrook (10 goals), Chris McMeel (four goals) and Berman (three goals) lead the attack.
-UD has scored 23 goals in 11 games and allowed 13.
-Two of three losses to division champion/District One 4A #5 Abington.
How they got here: Upper Dublin sent #4 Downingtown West home for the season with a 2-0 win. Josiah Kutai and Sean Seabrook each scored a goal for the Flying Cardinals.
CLASS 3A
#2 POTTSGROVE at #1 UPPER MORELAND (Thursday, Nov. 5, 7 p.m.)
Upper Moreland
-8-2 overall
-6-2 SOL Liberty Division
-Only losses of the season came at the hands of District One 3A #1 William Tennent. Both were by identical 2-1 scores.
How they got here: In an opening round game, Upper Moreland defeated #4 Bishop Shanahan 1-0. Logan Taylor scored the game-winner seven minutes into the second half.
Pottsgrove
-8-4-1 overall
-7-4-1 PAC second place
-First trip to district title game since 2015
-Seven shutouts in 13 games
-Defense anchored by a back line of Cooper Fiore, Justin Collings, Kevin Michuku and James Thompson and goalkeeper Luke Kaiser.
-Split season series with District One 4A #8 Boyertown (1-2 & 2-0), #9 Spring-Ford (0-3 & 2-0) and #11 Perk Valley (2-1 & 0-3)
How they got here: Pottsgrove defeated #3 Holy Ghost Prep 1-0 in overtime. Senior Shane Gleason scored the game-winner in the ninth minute of OT. Luke Kaiser recorded nine saves in goal.
Girls
CLASS 4A
#7 AVON GROVE at #2 ABINGTON (Thursday, Nov. 5, 4 p.m.)
Abington Ghosts
-9-1-1 overall
-8-1-1 SOL Liberty champion
-Notable wins over No. 8 Hatboro-Horsham (3-1, 2-1)
-Senior Casey Touey, an all-state selection and Drexel recruit, leads Abington in scoring and with a fiery competitive spirit. Senior Lesha Karaba has been an effective scorer on the wing and freshman Piper McGinley brings a surge of energy.
-The midfield is anchored by senior captain Abby Bautista and sophomore Maura Day, the team’s top assist facilitator and a long range scoring threat. Myana Bebee-Gomberg, Mei Mei Cheng and Carley Slavin give the Ghosts depth.
-Junior Caroline Hughes and senior captain Aly Holden hold the defense at center back with junior Ashley Reilly and senior Camille Mugnier on the outside. Lannen Lare and Alexis Ditri have split time at keeper.
How they got here: Abington rallied from a 2-0 deficit to defeat #15 West Chester Rustin 3-2. Casey Touey had a pair of goals and Myana Bebee-Gomberg scored the game-winner.
Avon Grove Devils
-7-1-1 overall record.
-Senior Lizzy Harrison is Avon Grove’s top scoring threat.
-Sophomores Grace Keen and Emma Moss have split duties in goal this season.
How they got here: Avon Grove edged #10 William Tennent 1-0.
#11 PENNSBURY at #3 PENNRIDGE (Thursday, Nov. 5, 7 p.m.)
Pennridge Rams
-11-1-0 overall
-9-1-0 SOL Colonial
-SOL Colonial champion
-Notable win over No. 12 Central Bucks West (1-0)
-Senior Lindsey DeHaven, a High Point recruit, leads a Hydra-like midfield that fuels the Rams attack but also works hard for possession and ball-winning. Freshman Liv Grenda is an established scoring threat with good ball skills while Riley Hepler, Zoe Sabol, Jess Levush and Raina Adelman bring different looks to the pitch.
-Attack led by junior Leah Malone flanked by young but energetic players like freshmen Tori Angelo and Sophie Craig, sophomore Joey Tomlinson and junior Riley Hepler.
-Stout defense has allowed multiple goals just once, anchored by keeper Sierra Sheaffer. Freshmen Anna Croyle and Casey Malone along with seniors Kera Dam, Cady McKean and Lauren Atchley make up a back line that also contributes offensively.
How they got here: In Monday’s opener, Pennridge rolled to a 6-1 win over #14 Great Valley. Lindsey DeHaven had a pair of goals, Liv Grenda, Joey Tomlinson & Lindsey Balmer each added a goal. The Rams also benefitted from an own goal.
Pennsbury Falcons
-7-3 overall
-5-3 SOL Patriot
-Notable wins over No. 9 Neshaminy (3-0, 1-0), No. 16 Council Rock North (3-2)
-Sophomore Taylor Mays has established herself as one of the top forwards in the SOL and brings 14 goals and two assists into the matchup. Sarah Touohy and Olivia Gentile also provide threats up top.
-Kendall Palatine and Sarah Lohrey lead a tough, hard-working midfield group. Lauren Dignan, Grace Palmieri, Emily Welsh, Gianna Price, Kayla Karamis and Sam Strausbaugh have all been key contributors.
-Veterans Bella Arcuri and Darroen Furiness lead a tenacious defensive unit. First-year keeper Emma Corso has been solid between the posts all season.
How they got here: Pennsbury defeated conference rival #6 Council Rock South 2-1. Taylor Mays scored both goals for the Falcons.
# 8 HATBORO-HORSHAM at #1 DOWNINGTOWN EAST (Thursday, Nov. 5, 6 p.m.)
Hatboro-Horsham Hatters
-9-2-0 overall
-8-2-0 SOL Liberty
-Junior forward Emily Thomas is a true target forward, with double-digit goals this season while freshman Mia Malofiy is a potent secondary threat.
-Senior Maggie O’Neill sets the work rate for the team out wide and in the middle and is a capable scorer. Sophia Liott and freshman Emma Levin control the middle of the field and Caroline Shegogue provides width.
-Seniors Izzy de la Torre and Aly Yankanich bring toughness to the backline in front of keeper Sam Hollish.
How they got here: Hatboro-Horsham defeated #8 Neshaminy 2-0. Caroline Shegogue scored both goals for the Hatters.
Downingtown East Cougars
-9-0-0 Overall
-Ches-Mont National champion
-Junior Caroline McDonald is the team’s primary goal-scoring threat.
-Bailey Horvath, Nicole Pendergast, Gabi Kobell, Hannah Moses and Molly Walsh compose Downingtown East’s defense. Senior goalkeeper Natalie Sims has five shutouts.
How they got here: In an opening round game, Downingtown East edged #16 Council Rock North 1-0 in overtime.
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