Check out the recaps for SOL girls’ soccer teams in action in Saturday’s District One 4A quarterfinal found. Pennridge/Neshaminy photos provided courtesy of Althea Tomlinson/Pennridge Girls’ Soccer.
No. 9 Pennridge 2, No. 16 Neshaminy 0
It’s all fuel for the Rams.
They’ve heard the detractors say their state championship last year wasn’t the same due to the unusual playoff structure and certain teams not taking part in the postseason.
“We’re playing with a chip on our shoulders with something to prove to everybody that we did deserve to be in Hershey last year and this is why,” Rams coach Audrey Anderson said. “We are not going to go down easily and we’re going to fight for every opportunity and that’s what we did tonight.”
Saturday’s win also secured the always important bid to the state tournament for Pennridge, which now turns its attention fully to trying for a third consecutive district title.
“I had hoped for it and planned for it, but no matter how many times we get there, it’s still a great feeling,” Anderson said. “We finished two big goals, that was the difference maker on our end, putting enough into the game to make sure we finished enough scoring opportunities.”
Pennridge beat Neshaminy 5-0 in the regular season but expected a much tougher game with a state playoff spot on the line. The SOL Patriot co-champions are a team that thrives on winning headers and creating set pieces, but it was Pennridge that owned the skies on Saturday.
“It was incredible the amount of balls our defenders and Hannah Primwhere won out of the air, I have no other word than incredible,” Anderson said. “We were prepared for a direct style of game. Our conference prepares us for so many styles because every team plays a little differently.”
Offensively, Pennridge wanted the quartet of Leah Malone, Emily Kriney, Tori Angelo and Joey Tomlinson to isolate against defenders and take players on. Between the four of them, with their pace, off-ball runs and ability to attack from different angles, the idea was to tire out a defense that has been playing very well over the last three weeks.
“Leah, Kriney, Joey and Tori are a nightmare for anyone,” Anderson said. “We felt like it was going to happen, the diagonal balls were on all night long, we were trying to find feet and were unpredictable.”
Senior Riley Hepler, who has poured a lot of work into her midfield role this fall, broke through late in the first half to get the Rams on the board.
“Riley’s goal was so good and I’m so happy for her,” Anderson said. “Our forwards have done a lot of the goal scoring but for her to get that goal and it turn out to be the game-winner, it’s a great confidence booster for her.
“For her to get in there, beat her player and finish it the way she did was incredible.”
Tomlinson has been a catalyst off the bench for the Rams all season, spelling the other three forwards and just being a general nuisance for defenders. She’s not only quick, but if she loses the ball, it takes about a half-second before she’s right back pressing the ball to get it back.
The junior hasn’t scored a ton this fall, but her efforts have not gone unnoticed by her team. When she does score, as she did in the second half Saturday, it’s extra-special.
“She was taken down around the box earlier in the game and it was pretty much the same play, but this time (she) kept her dribble, took the keeper on 1-v-1 and finished it,” Anderson said. “She works really hard, and in the postseason, that’s when you want to be on and she’s been on these last few games.”
As well as the Rams have played this postseason, they still feel like they’re leaving goals on the field.
Where the team isn’t leaving goals is in the back end, where the Rams have now posted three straight shutouts in the playoffs. While Casey Malone and Anna Croyle played every game last year, they’re still sophomores and sophomore Lindsey Balmer and freshman Lauren Murphy are first-year starters to round out the back line.
“We take everything personally,” Anderson said. “No matter what position we play, we want to be the best at that position. We work on competing every practice and talk about what it means to be at the top and stay there.
“For us to work that hard not to let up shots and for our keeper (senior Sierra Shaeffer) to come up and make stops, it says a lot.”
Pennridge will go back on the road Tuesday to face No. 4 Downingtown East in the semifinals. The teams met in a preseason game, but Anderson said that’s not even worth considering with how much time has passed and so much more on the line.
Every season brings a new team and a fresh record, but this a group with a lot of holdovers from last fall and they’ve got ears too.
“They have something to prove,” Anderson said. “People wanted to say last year was an asterisk year and I think it tore some of the girls up a little bit that we did deserve to be there and we’re going to show you why.”
PENNRIDGE 1 1 – 2
NESHAMINY 0 0 – 0
Goals: P – Riley Hepler, Joey Tomlinson
No. 3 Conestoga 1, No. 22 Hatboro-Horsham 0
The Hatters were minutes from a shootout when they had their hearts broken.
A goal by the Pioneers late in the second overtime period ended Hatboro-Horsham’s underdog run in the district tournament winner’s bracket despite another all-out effort.
“It is not the way we wanted it to end but I will tell you we never gave up and everyone played the best that they could,” HH coach Kelsey Daley said. “Conestoga is a very talented team with a lot of talented players. They move the ball well and connect the passes.”
A long road trip and an early start had the Hatters a little slow out of the gates, as did Conestoga’s skill and possession but that soon changed.
“Once they got a couple minutes into the game we were prepared to fight. Everyone stepped up and did what they had to do,” Daley said. “It’s hard to give credit to anyone specific when the entire team gave everything they had from our forwards, the midfielders and the defense.”
Keeper Sam Hollish continued her streak of strong play for the Hatters. Hatboro-Horsham’s defense was also solid again, continuing to play all-out to break up every chance.
“Sam made some amazing saves and kept us in the game. She was always in the right spot at the time,” Daley said. “Another player who put her entire life on the line for us today was defender Abby Waeltz. I can’t say enough about this girl. She throws her body on the line for us every game and never gives up for her teammates. The heart she has on the field definitely uplifts us as a team.”
Resiliency has been a hallmark of this Hatters group and they’ll look to battle back for a chance to reach the state tournament for the first time in program history.
“We had some good chances but just couldn’t find the back of the net. Losing in double overtime is tough and so is playing our third playoff game in less than a week. Everyone is mentally and physically exhausted at this point,” Daley said. “But we have a couple days to rest and regroup and we get a chance to go to states starting on Tuesday. The Hatters are not finished yet.”
The Hatters will face No. 7 Avon Grove on Tuesday in the first playback round with only the winner advancing.
CONESTOGA 0 0 0 1 – 1
HATBORO-HORSHAM 0 0 0 0 – 0
No. 4 Downingtown East 3, No. 5 Central Bucks East 2
The Patriots had their dreams of a district title dashed by the Cougars but are not done yet.
Despite a game effort, East couldn’t find the tying goal and will have to play its way into the state tournament starting on Tuesday.
East will host Neshaminy in playbacks on Tuesday but only the winner moves on. The Patriots beat Neshaminy 2-1 during the regular season.
DOWNINGTOWN EAST – 3
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST – 2
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