Check out the recaps for SOL boys’ soccer teams in action Friday.
SOL Colonial Division
Pennridge 5, Central Bucks West 1
Shane Velez scored in the sixth minute and that sent Pennridge on its way in this one, as the Rams scored three times in the first half to pull away early.
“(CB West coach Stefan Szygiel) and his staff are fantastic,” said Rams coach Pete Valimont. “They’re working their butts off over there and they do a fantastic job. Any time you play West, you’ve got to be prepared. We just happened to jump on them early. They’re a good team. This is by no means a showing of what they really are. I know when we go there it’s going to be a dogfight. We were just very fortunate to jump up on them early, and we were able to get some guys in at the end so that everyone felt good about themselves. It was a good team win.”
Velez’s goal came off a corner kick from Nicky Williams.
“In the 17th minute, Jake Saville was able to win a ball in the corner back from a West defender and just turned and hit a rip in the low side, which was a fantastic effort,” Valimont said.
Aiden Castle scored off a Williams assist to make it 3-0 in the final minute of the half.
“They really maximized the first 20 minutes,” Szygiel said. “They just came out so ready to play and we came out – to me we looked like, ‘It’s the end of the week, we’re ready for the weekend,’ but we forgot we had a game to play. In the first 20 minutes, we couldn’t even get out of our half.
“Obviously, that’s a credit to (Valimont). It’s his first game back. We’re young, we have a lot of injuries, but that’s not an excuse. Pennridge spanked us today. We got absolutely destroyed today. I hope we can recover.”
Troy Thanel scored off of a Velez assist for the Rams’ fourth goal, and then Joe Curran scored off a Dylan Najerian assist to make it 5-0 with 21 minutes left. CB West scored on a penalty kick for its only goal of the game.
“Nicky Williams was all over the place,” said Valimont, who was suspended for his team’s first three games. “He just did a really great job. Shane Velez, Tommy McKinney and Ryan Saville, those guys in the back, they just did a really good job.
Pennridge (2-1-1, 1-1-1 SOL) is back in action in a nonleague game against Southern Lehigh on Saturday. CB West (1-3, 1-2 SOL) hosts CB East on Monday.
Pennridge 3 2 – 5
CB West 0 1 – 1
Central Bucks East 1, Central Bucks South 0
Strong defense made an early goal stand up as CB East won for the first time this season in SOL Colonial play and handed rival CB South its first division loss.
“The CB East defense played outstanding with Trevor Jopling as a standout,” said Patriots coach Josh Isaacsohn. “Trevor did an incredible job of taking their main playmaker out of almost all dangerous situations.
“Additionally, the work by our center defensive mids and outside mids shut down many of their opportunities. Overall, it was a great team win and we look forward to facing (CB) West under the lights on Monday.”
The game’s only goal came in the 19th minute, as Michael Mantabana scored off of a Nick Knepp assist.
“Credit to South for having a great first touch and some long-range shooting,” Isaacsohn said. “But overall, most of the momentum seemed to lean our way.”
While CB East (2-1-2 overall, 1-0-2 SOL) plays at CB West on Monday, CB South (2-1-1, 1-1-1 SOL) looks to bounce back at CB South.
CB East 1, CB South 0
CB East 1 0 – 1
CB South 0 0 – 0
SOL Liberty Division
Abington 2, Hatboro-Horsham 1
The Galloping Ghosts scored two first-half goals and navigated an injury to goalkeeper Kevin Kretschmann to edge Hatboro-Horsham in a battle of the unbeatens on Friday.
“They had a shot on goal, our goalkeeper saved it, but when he saved it, he hurt his back to the point where he had to be taken out of the game,” said Abington coach Randy Garber. “Jimmy Marino, our left back, went in goal and did a superb job the rest of the half.”
Liam Hartman scored both goals for the Ghosts, and he had some help both times from teammate Thiago Danielle.
“(Hatboro-Horsham has) a very good team,” Garber said. “It started out pretty even. Thiago ended up going down the left side, knocked the cross on the floor and Liam Hartman scored the first goal.
“Right before half, with two minutes or maybe even less than that, Thiago got a breakaway. He beat one guy about 35 yards out and then got into the box, and another kid came and took his feet out from under him, so we got a penalty kick.”
Hartman converted the PK for the game’s second goal.
In the second half, H-H tied it up. Kretschman returned in goal for Abington and the team was able to hold the Hatters off to clinch the win.
“They had the ball in our end the whole entire second half,” Garber said. “We had some good chances and missed late in the game when they were pushing up. It was one of those games. If we played three more times, the score is going to be different. It was very competitive and an exciting game for both teams.”
The Ghosts’ coach credited the play of several players in the win.
“Drew Paxson did an excellent job,” Garber said. “Pat Carbone played the midfield and did a superb job. Obviously, Jimmy Marino being our left back and stepping in goal and playing 30 minutes in goal for us was just outstanding. He stepped up. He’s a heck of an athlete and is the point guard for the basketball team, so he has good instincts and good hands, and he did a superb job. Luke O’Donnell did an excellent job.
“It was a very, very good team effort. Thiago up front turned some heads today with the way he played. He had the assist on the first goal and caused the penalty on the second. He’s a tough forward to deal with.”
Abington (4-0, 3-0 SOL) plays at Plymouth Whitemarsh on Monday. Hatboro-Horsham (3-1, 2-1 SOL) hosts Quakertown.
Abington 2 0 – 2
Hatboro-Horsham 0 1 – 1
Plymouth Whitemarsh 2, Upper Dublin 1
Mason Clatterbuck scored the game winner late in the second half for the Colonials.
“Mason scored the winner with a great shot in the top left corner around the 70th minute after an amazing solo run down the right side,” said PW coach Rich Kessler.
Henry Couchara started the scoring for PW with a header off of a corner kick from Brendan Corpus. Upper Dublin tied it up midway through the second half, leading to the exciting finish and Clatterbuck’s game winner.
“Both (of our center backs), Henry Couchara and Dan Allen, were very good and both played the entire match,” Kessler said
PW (2-2, 2-1 SOL) hosts Abington on Monday. Upper Dublin (1-3, 1-2 SOL) plays at Wissahickon.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 1 1 – 2
Upper Dublin 0 1 -1
Wissahickon 6, Quakertown 0
Phil Dias scored three goals and Wissahickon had four goals before halftime, as the Trojans jumped up early and dominated this SOL Liberty Division game.
Dias’ first goal came just eight minutes into the game and set the tone. He also scored in the 25th and 55th minutes for Wissahickon, while also picking up one assist.
Other goals scorers for Wissahickon in the first half included Sam Grossbergin the 15th minute and Matt Henderson in the 33rd minute, and Julian Memis early in the second half. Memis, Ryan Berger and Blake McClintock added assists.
The Trojans finished with a 21-3 shot advantage. Trojan goalies Aditya Shan and Joey Connolly combined for the shutout. Quakertown’s Zander Marks was credited with seven saves.
Both teams are back at it on Monday, as Wissahickon (1-3-1, 1-2 SOL) hosts Upper Dublin, and Quakertown (0-4, 0-3 SOL) plays at Hatboro-Horsham.
Wissahickon 4 2 – 0
Quakertown 0 0 – 0
SOL Patriot Division
Council Rock South 2, Pennsbury 1 (2 OT)
With seven minutes left in the second overtime, Lex Lenior picked up the game winner as a free kick deflected off a defender and found the goal to give the Golden Hawks a key bounce-back win over Pennsbury.
“It was well played by both teams,” said CR South coach Alan Nicholl. “You could tell both teams were trying to finish the week on a high note. We played (CR) North on Tuesday and had a very disappointing loss. We lost 2-0 and we didn’t look good. It was a tough game to walk away from. We didn’t really stick to the game plan, nothing really panned out for us, particularly on that day, and it seemed as if anything that could have gone wrong it did, so I was worried about the overall psyche of the players.
“They came in today, they stuck to the plan. We went over some very detailed stuff at practice yesterday, and it really played out nicely for us today. Seeing the game plan come together and watch us play a good game of football was important because the same couldn’t be said from Tuesday’s game. I think it was really important to finish the week and get back to what we know we’re good at and then seeing it play out on the field and manifesting with a win. I think that was important.”
CR South went up 1-0 with a Dave Aquino goal in the first 10 minutes. Pennsbury came back to tie it up midway through the second half on a Saad Williams corner kick.
Nicholl credited the strong efforts of his players.
“Stephan Kovalev played in the defense and midfield for us,” the Golden Hawks’ coach said. “He’s a big presence and just a good physical player that kind of dictates that physical presence for us as a team. Both on the defensive side and through the midfield, he’s very, very effective.
“Dave Aquino was outstanding in his first goal. He probably had two or three chances prior to scoring, and it was early. The opening 10 minutes he really took the game to Pennsbury, and I think he caught them on their back foot. It allowed us to take control of the first half as he stamped his presence on the game. I was very happy with his contributions today.
“There were a lot of players that were in and out. We debuted another player today, Colin Conway, which is great. Just getting guys in and out and some players getting good looks, getting some valuable minutes. It’s early going in the season. As these kids are logging minutes, they’re getting better. Every time they play they’re learning. We’re able to really find our personality and impose a style we want to play. You hope by my mid- to late-season you’re really hitting your stride, and you’ve kind of identified with your personality as a team and you’re really able to take that momentum late into the season and into the postseason.
“I’m really happy with the rebound. I think that was really important that we were able to do that and trust what we’re trying to do here as a team. It was hard fought. Both teams played really hard today. It was a hectic game, so I’m definitely glad to get out of it with the points, for sure, because the game could have gone either way. Pennsbury put up a good show today.”
CR South (3-1, 2-1 SOL) hosts Bensalem on Monday. Pennsbury (2-1, 2-1 SOL) hosts Harry S. Truman on Monday.
CR South 1 0 0 1 – 2
Pennsbury 0 1 0 0 – 1
Council Rock North 5, Bensalem 2
Council Rock North scored five goals in the first 22 minutes of the game to roll past Bensalem and remain unbeaten at 3-0 in SOL Patriot Division play.
Five different players scored for the Indians as well, starting with Ari Pollack. Simon Rupp, Tanmay Ondkar, Andrew Bower and Keertan Palayman also scored goals. In all 23 players saw action in the game for CR North.
“Jeremy Berman had another exceptional outing in goal for North,” said coach Joe Stackhouse.
Bensalem goal scorers included Omar Padilla and Davis Larbi.
First-place CR North is now 3-2 overall, and hosts Neshaminy on Monday. Bensalem (1-3-1, 1-2 SOL) plays at Council Rock on Monday afternoon.
CR North 5 0 – 5
Bensalem 1 1 – 2
SOL Freedom Division
Lower Moreland 5, Cheltenham 0
Ian Alicea scored early and that set the tone for the Lions, who avoided a letdown and went on to the shutout win over Cheltenham.
“This was a game early in the week I was concerned about because our guys have been amped for our game on Monday against Springfield,” said Lower Moreland coach Bob Barnhart. “I thought we did a great job not overlooking a physical Cheltenham side.
“(Alicea’s goal) took a little off the pressure off of the rest of the squad. We looked a little more relaxed as the first half went along and I thought we shared the ball well today.
“We have a few nagging injuries, so we had to go into our bench a bit and I thought those guys did a phenomenal job. Our seniors are doing a really good job of holding our underclassmen accountable when they find themselves in the game. That creates an atmosphere which really allows me to step back and let them lead us.”
Sophomore Temur Temirov scored two goals, while Aiden Moffitt and Nathan Waychoff also scored goals for LM.
LM (2-0-1, 2-0-1 SOL) is at Springfield on Monday, while Cheltenham (0-3, 0-3 SOL) hosts Lower Moreland.
Lower Moreland 5
Cheltenham 0
William Tennent 2, New Hope-Solebury 1
Jimmy Manning scored late as Tennent rallied in the second half to get past New Hope-Solebury on Friday.
“Very exciting first win on (Tennent’s) brand new turf field, and it was energetic soccer from both teams,” said Tennent coach Nick D’Andrea.
Ethan Sirken put New Hope up with a first half goal.
“He played a great game for them,” D’Andrea said.
Ryan Kerr tied the game up off a deflected cross for Tennent.
“(New Hope’s) Jake Hausner and Kyle Northrup played very good games for them,” D’Andrea said. “As did Paul Nedeoglo, Matt Jenkins and Jimmy Manning for WT.”
Tennent (2-2-1, 2-1 SOL) plays at Upper Moreland on Monday. New Hope (0-5, 0-3 SOL) looks for its first win at Cheltenham on Monday.
New Hope 1 0 – 1
Tennent 0 2 – 2
Upper Moreland 1, Springfield Twp 1 (OT)
Both teams scored first half goals and settled for a tie in this closely contested SOL Freedom Division game.
Riley Martin scored off of a Peter Schmidt assist for Springfield.
Logan Taylor scored for Upper Moreland
Springfield (2-0-1, 2-0-1 SOL) hosts Lower Moreland on Monday.
Upper Moreland (3-0-2, 1-0-2 SOL) hosts William Tennent.
Upper Moreland 1 0 0 0 – 1
Springfield 1 0 0 0 -1
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