Check out the recaps for SOL boys’ soccer teams in action Wednesday. Lower Moreland/New Hope-Solebury photos provided courtesy of Karla Donohoe. Check back for a gallery of photos.
SOL Colonial
Pennridge 1, North Penn 0
Jared Hess broke a scoreless tie with a goal off an assist from Jeff Stritzl as Pennridge pulled within a point of first-place North Penn in the SOL Colonial Division standings.
It was Pennridge’s first win over North Penn since 2015, a stretch of 12 straight wins for the Knights.
“For us, this is big,” coach Pete Valimont said. “It’s one of the teams we’ve struggled with for years and years, maybe close results but not the results we wanted. So for us, this was a big one.
“Position-wise, this is deceiving. It puts us ahead of them, but they have an extra game. We have three games left and they have four. I told the guys, ‘All we can do is do our best to win the games we play, and if everything works out, great, and if it doesn’t, we’ve done everything we could.’”
This was a back-and-forth struggle throughout and both teams had offensive opportunities.
“To be honest, we had a handful of chances but nothing really dangerous,” Valimont said. “They took it to us for a good portion of the second 20 in the first half. They had a couple of close ones that we were fortunate were just wide. It was pretty even for the most part.”
Then, with 13 minutes, 47 seconds remaining, the Rams took advantage of a scoring chance.
“Jeff Stritzl, our back, was able to slot a ball up and through to Jared Hess, and he was able to get by the defender,” Valimont said. “The goalie came out, and he was able to bury it from 20-25 out, give or take. He was on the far side, so it was from the left to right. It was just a great goal. From our angle, it looks like it’s possibly going out, and the next thing you know, we hear the twine in the back of the net, and everyone is jumping up and down, going nuts.”
After the goal, things got a little physical between the two rivals.
“As always, that wasn’t the end of it,” Valimont said. “Maybe about 30 seconds later, it got a little testy, some pushing and shoving. Yellow cards were given, both of our teams had to come back to their benches to cool heads and calm down a little bit.
“At the end of the day, we did a great job defensively against a very good offensive team. They’ve got a number of weapons over there. Chris DePeppe and his staff are doing a great job. It doesn’t matter if they’ve graduated Carter (Houlihan) or Josh (Jones). They always have guys that are threatening. They’re in the position they’re in because they’ve done a good job.”
Valimont added that there were plenty of contributors in this one.
“Our whole back line and our keeper – Ryan Saville, Jeff Stritzl, Tommy McKinney, Shane Velez,” he said. “CJ Dimmick had a couple of fantastic saves, really smart play at the end with game management. Every one of those guys was fantastic the entire time.
“Offensively, Pat Fannon, our sophomore center mid, Nicky Williams and Jared Hess really worked their butts off in the middle to compact and keep their skilled guys under control, and then Jake Saville up top. Jake Saville is playing big man ball with his back to goal, creating chances, setting people up. The kid’s just a warrior. Everything he’s done has just been so fantastic. We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for his play.”
Pennridge (10-2-2, 8-2-2 SOL) plays at CB West on Friday. North Penn (10-3, 9-2 SOL) next plays at Souderton on Saturday morning.
Pennridge 0 1 – 1
North Penn 0 0 – 0
Central Bucks South 2, Central Bucks West 0
Coming off an overtime loss to Souderton on Monday, Central Bucks South had a big second half and put away rival Central Bucks West for the shutout victory.
“I was really happy with the result, really happy with the bounce-back after a couple matches didn’t go our way,” said Titans coach Joe Coscia. “I wasn’t at the Monday match (a 3-2 OT loss to Souderton) because of a family issue, but I saw the game tape and heard from Mike McMonagle, my assistant coach, what happened. It was definitely a tough one, so very happy to bounce back with the win.
“For once, we actually have two days to recover before we play CB East on Saturday.”
Neither team scored in the first half.
“The first half was pretty evenly matched,” Coscia said. “We know (CB West coach Stefan Szygiel’s) MO and how he plays, and unfortunately, we were trying to play the same way, and they kept putting pretty good pressure on us, making sure that we didn’t hold the ball and ran it right back down our throat. Luckily, our goalkeeper, Aydan Horniak, did really well and cleaned everything up in the back, and Logan (Campbell) did another great job organizing the back. I think we caught them offsides 12 or 15 times.”
AJ Peev broke the scoreless tie in the 50th minute.
“In the second half, I was really pleased because we made a couple of adjustments, talked to a couple of guys about some key things we wanted to change, and they made the changes,” Coscia said. “We started holding onto the ball more, we possessed more, we combined better, we started playing through them, not playing kick and run like they were trying to against us.
“The first goal got started just like that. We won a ball that they cleared, collected it, got it out wide to Colin O’Hara. He played it in to AJ Peev’s feet. AJ did a little shimmy move, and from outside the box, he put it top corner on their goalkeeper onto the far post. An absolutely spectacular goal.”
Braeden Black made it 2-0 in the 65th minute.
“We kept the pressure up, we missed a couple of other really good chances. AJ (Peev) actually had taken the ball, collected it out wide, beaten their outside back and put a beautiful cross in,” Coscia said. “Jaimin Fee went up, it was kind of at this weird height where he wasn’t sure if he should head it or volley it. It just missed over the bar, and they started trying to press us more to get back in the game.
“Our second goal came on the counterattack. We got the ball to AJ. He took on their one back, drew their defense to him, and Jaimin (Fee) and Braedan Black made great runs down the middle of the field. AJ flicked it over to Jaimin. One guy tried to poke it away from Jaiman, so he kept it going to Braeden, and Braeden slipped it right in past the goalkeeper. Two really good goals. We just cleaned everything up in the back from there.”
Valimont had plenty of praise to go around.
“Logan Campbell again, Aydan Horniak, our goalkeeper, had another great game,” the Rams’ coach said. “I think it’s his seventh or eighth shutout. Jaimin Fee had a really good match, Thijs Popma had a really good match, and Nolan Helsel was excellent in the middle of the field.”
West goalie Griffin Blokker recorded six saves.
“We did some good things, just once again struggling to find the back of the net,” West coach Stefan Szygiel said.
CB South (9-5-1, 7-5-1 SOL) plays at CB East on Saturday afternoon. CB West (5-9-1, 5-7-1 SOL) hosts Pennridge.
CB South 0 2 – 2
CB West 0 0 – 0
SOL Patriot
Neshaminy 2, Pennsbury 0
After back-to-back ties, Neshaminy needed this one and avenged a loss to rival Pennsbury from back on Sept. 14 thanks to second-half goals from Matt Lamb and Jose Rivera.
“It was an overall good win,” said Neshaminy goal Tom Foley. “It was nice to get a couple of goals in the course of play.”
The first half was a standstill as neither team could capitalize on scoring chances.
“The first half was kind of nondescript,” Foley said. “We’d get to good positions, and we wouldn’t get good wood on it, and we’d just hit a dribbler at the goaltender. We had three or four opportunities like that that didn’t amount to much, and they were pretty much the same way.
“The last 10 minutes of the first half I thought we started picking it up a bit. The second half we started slowly but surely finding our way and took control. They had a couple of flurries that fortunately they shot over the goal. Our goalkeeper didn’t have to make any difficult saves today. He played corners nice today, but he didn’t really have a lot to do as far as saves go”
In the 60th minute, Neshaminy’s Lamb broke the scoreless tie.
“The ball went down the right side and found its way to Tim Trapp, who flicked it on to Matt Lamb who was at the top of the ‘D’,” Foley said. “He took a touch, and it was still in the air and hit a side volley that had topspin on it, and he got really good wood on it. It was one of those shots – the goalie had no chance. It was one of those that was probably above the bar as it was getting to him, and the topspin took hold, and it went in. It was a great shot.”
In the 77th minute, off a free kick from Vince DiMaria, Rivera headed the ball in to make it 2-0.
Foley also gave credit to JoeJoe Maxwell.
“(Maxwell) probably played as complete a game as I’ve seen him play,” Foley said. “He was winning balls, he was beating guys to the balls, he was getting one or two touches on the ball and spraying them wide, getting our outside people involved, so he really got us going today, got us in motion very well today, so that was a plus.
“Josh Anderson, who’s a freshman, came off the bench today and gave us some real solid minutes. He worked really hard, especially in the second half, and Tim Trapp came in for one of our injured midfielders, and he did a really nice job today too.”
The win evened Neshaminy’s record at 5-5-4 (4-4-4 SOL). It hosts Harry S. Truman on Friday. Pennsbury (4-7-2, 4-7-1 SOL) hosts Council Rock South.
Neshaminy 0 2 – 2
Pennsbury 0 0 – 0
Bensalem 4, Harry S Truman 3 (2 OT)
Truman led by two goals with 15 minutes remaining, only to see the Owls rally to tie the game in regulation in the final minute, and then pull out the come-from-behind thriller in overtime.
“The game had a weird start to me – we were very quiet,” Bensalem coach Rob Brown said. “The first 5-10 minutes we controlled the game and played well but then we got into a funk and couldn’t shake it.
“We gave up a counter-attack goal and the second was a call that, as usual, went against us and a 50/50 ball was called a PK. Their #11 scored on the kick despite a great effort by our keeper Arjun Patel. We were own 2-0 at the half. We hit the crossbar and post a few times and had two golden opportunities that we somehow didn’t score. It was probably easier to score than miss and we found a way to miss it.
“We talked and regrouped at halftime. We thought about switching formations and going more on the attack but stuck to what we were doing, and if we finished chances, we would be ok. We finally got a goal on a nice give and go between Tom Khmil and Omar Padilla. Tom was able to take the ball and pass it into the corner for a nice goal, and we finally showed some life.”
The goal pulled the Owls to within one but didn’t turn the tide as the Tigers answered with a goal to go on top 3-1.
“I think the boys thought we could just have our way in the second half, and we got caught out of position and gave up a third goal,” Brown said. “We have had a tough season, and we could have given up, but the boys did not want to lose this game. We held off on a formation move again, and we played well and were creating more chances. Nikita Schaefer stepped up after a free kick was awarded to us and he scored on a great shot. This is something we have talked and worked on in training.”
The Owls still trailed 3-2 with time winding down on the game clock.
“I believe with about nine minutes left we moved a defender up and went with three in the back,” Brown said. “We had a bunch of opportunities and came so close. We were able to score during a bit of a scramble in front of the net after a corner kick. We had everyone up and crashed the goal, and Nate Rosas was able to knock one in. It was really nice to see since he plays defense and is such a hard worker. I love seeing defenders score goals.”
Rosas’ equalizer set the stage for a scoreless first overtime period. The Owls won it in the second OT when Tom Khmil scored on a follow of his own shot.
“In the second overtime, we earned a corner kick from our pressure, and we hit one to the keeper who dropped it,” Brown said of the sequence leading to the game-winner. “Tom Khmil got the rebound and shot into the keeper’s stomach and it bounced back. He got another shot that he curled in the left side of the goal for the goal and more importantly the win! We dominated the whole overtime, and I had a feeling the goal was coming, and I knew we would get one.
“I wasn’t nervous in this game – I was frustrated we put ourselves in that situation by not finishing. We have been a very dangerous at times. I would like to see that team play for a full 80 minutes.”
The Owls’ coach acknowledged the play of the Tigers.
“Number 11 from Truman is such a great player, he works so hard and is so good with the ball at his feet,” Brown said. “They used him well up top and then moved him back with the lead. I wish them luck as their new coach works on things there.”
Emre Aydin, Ayoub Fask and Juan Ramirez scored goals for the Tigers. Kevin Sides, Connor Morgan and Juan Pajoy all had solid games for Truman, as well.
Next up for Bensalem (4-10-1, 4-9 SOL) is a re-match at Council Rock on Thursday for their Senior Night (7 pm).
“I love playing against North – Joe is a great guy and coach and I always look forward to playing and talking with him,” Brown said.
Truman (0-14, 0-13 SOL) plays at Neshaminy on Friday.
Bensalem 0-3-0-1 4
Harry S Truman 2-1-0-0 3
SOL Liberty
Abington 4, Wissahickon 0
Liam Hartman scored two first-half goals and Abington had an outstanding effort in goal from keeper Kevin Kretschman to post the shutout victory to improve to 13-1-1 on the season (11-1-1 SOL).
“Today again, Wissahickon possessed the ball and did a nice job, and we score goals, and that’s the difference,” said Galloping Ghosts coach Randy Garber. “(Wissahickon) had chances. Kevin Kretschman had an outstanding game, probably one of the best games he’s had all year. The saves he was making were incredible. He had a shutout, and I got to play all the players today, which is a good thing, but Kevin was the difference. He took away everything they shot.
“Wissahickon worked hard and did some good things, and Kevin had just an outstanding game that kept them from scoring goals. It was the same way against Upper Dublin – the 3-0 (win) doesn’t tell you the story. We’re fortunate we have kids that can score goals.”
Thiago Danielle assisted on Hartman’s first goal 10 minutes into the game. Later in the half, Hartman drew a penalty kick and converted to make it 2-0. Hartman is now 7-for-7 on PK attempts this season.
“I said to (assistant coach) Jimmy DiFerdinand, who’s been with me since Day One, ‘Have you ever seen a season where we had this many?’” Garber said. “He said never. It’s unheard of.”
In the second half, Volmer Fletcher scored to make it 3-0.
“Thiago Danielle shot it, it hit the crossbar and landed on Fletch’s feet, and Fletch tapped it in,” Garber said. “He came off the bench and was in the right place at the right time.”
Simeone Paek capped off the scoring off a Pat Capone assist.
Garber lauded the efforts of several players who were key in the victory.
“Drew Paxson is a rock back there (on defense),” the Ghosts’ coach said. “He’s a guy that makes things happen as far as central defense. Michael Lyou was as strong as can be and Oscar Hoffman. Right up the middle are three strong, hard-nosed players that win a lot of balls for us, and Thiago (Danielle) makes us work. He gets the ball, he creates chances, everyone goes to him, and he finds the open person or goes and scores a goal himself.
“The big game will be Friday against Hatboro-Horsham.”
Abington unofficially sits at No. 4 in the most recent District One Class 4A playoff power ratings.
Wissahickon (6-8-1, 6-7 SOL) plays at Quakertown on Friday.
Abington 2 2 – 4
Wissahickon 0 0 – 0
Plymouth Whitemarsh 2, Hatboro-Horsham 1
Luke Edwin scored the game-winning goal, his second of the night, with 10 minutes remaining to break a 1-1 tie and give the Colonials the win on Senior Night.
“It was Senior Night for our guys as well, so it feels good,” said PW coach Rich Kessler.
PW scored early, as Edwin scored on a rebound to make it 1-0, only to see Hatboro-Horsham answer 10 minutes later to tie it up.
“It was back and forth with both defenses and (goalkeepers) having to come up with big plays,” Kessler said.
PW (9-5, 9-4 SOL) is back in action Friday at Upper Dublin. H-H (9-6, 8-5 SOL) hosts first-place Abington Friday.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 1 1 – 2
Hatboro-Horsham 1 0 – 0
SOL Freedom
Upper Moreland 3, Cheltenham 2 (OT)
The Golden Bears rallied from a half-time deficit and picked up the game-winner in overtime from Mike Soroka to post the SOL Freedom win.
Max Gerlach gave Upper Moreland a 1-0 lead with a penalty kick goal in the first half, but Cheltenham scored twice – by Paolo Musumeci and Cameron Rhoades – to take a 2-1 lead into the halftime break.
Gerlach scored again in the second half, assists by Logan Taylor and Jackson Castello, to tie the game and force overtime.
Soroka’s goal came off a corner kick from Alex Emmell.
With the win, UM is now 7-5-3 overall (5-5-3 SOL) and plays first-place Springfield at home Friday. Cheltenham (2-11, 1-11 SOL) hosts Lower Moreland.
Upper Moreland 1 1 1 – 3
Cheltenham 2 0 0 – 2
Springfield Twp 1, William Tennent 0
Tommy Bailey’s second-half goal ended this deadlocked game with a victory for Springfield in a Freedom Division game.
George Navo assisted on the game-winner.
“It was a hard-fought game,” Springfield coach Dan Meder said. “Both teams had good chances to score, and both goalies made great saves to keep their teams in it. In the end, Tommy Bailey capitalized on a clutch shot from outside of the box. The win was the result of a great team effort.”
The win was the second of the season for the Spartans over Tennent, the defending Freedom champion. Springfield is 9-3-1 in SOL play, and 10-3-1 overall. In last year’s COVID-19 shortened season, the Spartans finished 1-6-2 overall.
Springfield Township plays at Upper Moreland on Friday.
Tennent (6-7-2, 6-6-1 SOL) plays at New Hope-Solebury.
Springfield 0 1 – 1
Tennent 0 0 – 0
Lower Moreland 1, New Hope-Solebury 0
It wasn’t easy, but Lower Moreland claimed the Senior Night win as Ian Alecia knocked in a rebound off a free kick with eight minutes remaining.
“It wasn’t our best game but this late in the season any win is a good win,” said LM coach Bob Barnhart. “When you are seeing teams for the second time you know what they have, and they know what you have. Finishing chances when they are there is the difference in the second go-around in your conference, and we had to grind out the win tonight.
“I told my guys tonight that a win is a win, but we definitely didn’t have our best game tonight. I was glad that we were able to pull out the win for the senior class. They have been through a tough season with the COVID-shortened season, and I was glad we could give them a win. I was also glad to see our fans show out again. Our last two night games we have had awesome support and that makes for a great experience for the players.”
Early in this one, New Hope had the better of play. Lower Moreland had to make adjustments during the break.
“We were outworked and outplayed for the first 40 minutes,” Barnhart said. “They were all over us at the net and had a few very good chances. At halftime, it was 0-0, but we easily could’ve have been down two.
“We made some adjustments at halftime and started to work the ball a little more in the midfield, but still were having trouble finishing.”
Lower Moreland (9-2-2, 9-2-2 SOL) is back in action Friday at Cheltenham. New Hope (1-13, 1-11 SOL) plays host to William Tennent.
Lower Moreland 0 1 – 1
New Hope-Solebury 0 0 – 0
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