Check out the recaps for SOL boys’ soccer teams in action Tuesday. CR North/Unionville photos provided courtesy of John Gleeson. Check back for a gallery of photos: https://solsports.zenfolio.com/f131331739
#5 CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 3, #28 SOUDERTON 0
The Patriots broke a scoreless tie with a pair of goals in the final two minutes of the first half on their way to the shutout win over Colonial Division foe Souderton in Tuesday’s open round.
“We came out, and we were in their defensive half for a good 80-90 percent of the time, and we just couldn’t convert early,” East coach Josh Isaacsohn said. “I think we had six corner kicks in the first 20 minutes of the game, and we were either kind of hitting it at the keeper or just missing, but we really, really had the foot on the gas and were going at them and felt it was eventually going to drop, but in the low-scoring game of soccer, you can’t do that for too long.
“They really put on the heat with a couple minutes left. We had a few more chances in the second half and just held them at bay and really worked for that shutout. It was just really, really good soccer. I’m really proud of the guys.”
In the 38th minute, Joey Roth – whose two-goal effort led the Patriots – scored with an assist from Sean O’Donnell, and a minute later Michael Montabana converted a penalty kick to put the Patriots on top 2-0 heading into halftime.
Roth found the net with his second goal at the 70-minute mark.
“Basically, a ball went up in the air, and he headed it and deflected it over the goalie,” Isaacsohn said. “Joey Roth just knows where to be soccer-wise (as evidenced by) that second goal he had.”
The Patriots’ coach credited the strong play of Daniel Frye and Koen Reid in the midfield.
“I’d also liked to give props to Sean O’Donnell, our outside midfielder,” Isaacsohn said. “When the score was zeroes, he actually beat two guys and just played a lofted ball over the top, so that it could be finished for our first goal.”
Central Bucks East (17-1-1, 15-0-1 SOL) will host #12 Council Rock North in a second round game on Thursday at 7 p.m. Souderton closed out its season with a 7-10-1 record, 6-9-1 SOL.
Souderton 0-0 0
Central Bucks East 2-1 3
#6 ABINGTON 4, #27 PENNCREST 1
The Ghosts opened up 3-0 lead and never looked back on their way to the opening round win. Four different players scored goals for the Ghosts.
“The first 10 minutes of the game they came out very strong, and they tried to get forward and create some chances – the first 10 minutes it was ugly,” Abington coach Randy Garber said. “Then, all of a sudden, they slowed down a little bit, we got our feet on the ground, and we kept the ball in their end of the field for the next 20-25 minutes, scoring some goals on corner kicks.”
Fifteen minutes into the game, Brady Hartman put the Ghosts on the board, turning a Brian O’Neill corner kick into a goal. That was followed 10 minutes later by goals from Braeden Delgado (Oscar Hoffman assist) and Jose Rosario-Martinez in a four-minute span. Rosario-Martinez also scored on an O’Neill corner kick, this time to put the Ghosts on top 3-0.
“We had eight corner kicks in the first half and got two goals out of it,” Garber said. “We just kept pressuring and pressuring, and we finally went up 3-0, and then we gave a soft goal away on a ball that was played over the top. Our goalkeeper came out to just basically take an average ball and slipped on the turf, the ball bounced over his head, and a kid touched it in for them – just followed the ball up. Our goalkeeper is on the bottom, and he taps it in.
“The last seven or eight minutes brought some life to them, and they started pressing again. I said to them at halftime, ‘The first 10 minutes, they’re going to come out, they’re going to push people forward, they’re not going to sit back,’ and they did exactly that and made a good run up until 15-20 minutes into the second half.”
Senior Euan Silva’s goal midway through the second half put an exclamation point on the Ghosts’ win.
“Euan Silver – he’s a reserve player – went and scored a goal that made it 4-1 and took the steam right out of them, and that was the difference,” Garber said. “They were a big, strong, aggressive team. They play in a good league, so they’re used to playing good teams, and they never gave up. They did a nice job.”
The Ghosts’ coach credited several players in the win.
“Daniel Oliveira did a nice job playing in the central midfield,” Garber said. “Jose Rosario-Martinez, one of our captains, did a nice job, and Braeden Brownholtz, who didn’t score, controlled a lot of the midfield.
“The difference with our team is we have several guys who can score goals. Tonight showed it again – four different goal scorers.”
Abington (17-2, 15-1 SOL) will host #11 Harriton in a second-round game on Thursday.
Penncrest 1-0 1
Abington 3-1 4
#9 UPPER DUBLIN 1, #24 CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 0
The game was destined for overtime. Or at least so it seemed.
But then came a direct kick by Campbell Heckler as the final seconds ticked off the clock that changed everything.
“The ball is being dumped into the box because we are pressing to try and get a goal,” UD coach Noah Johnson said. “They cleared the ball, and Campbell Heckler from about 30 yards out just hit a rocket, literally, into the upper 90.
“It hit the bottom of the crossbar, and it went down and in. I believe that was the true goal, but the referees weren’t sure, and Kaleb Abebe tapped it in. Everyone was saying Campbell’s shot went in, so I’m going to give it to Campbell. It was so stressful – beating them with 14 to spare, but I’m really proud of my boys.”
The Cardinals survived some anxious moments, not the least of which was a penalty kick by the Bucks early in the first half that was turned away by senior goalkeeper Gabe Copley.
“The PK was unlucky – three kids fell on top of each other basically, and it was unlucky that my boys were the bread of the sandwich and (the West player) was in the middle of them,” Johnson said.
Add to that a bizarre turn of events late in the game when -with the two teams locked in a scoreless tie and just over six minutes remaining – Copley was given a yellow card for a most unusual reason and had to leave the game for five minutes.
“They said he was slowing the game down,” Johnson said. “He rolled the ball, but when he rolled it, it went past the kid he was rolling it to, and the kid just let it go, and the refs gave Gabe a yellow card for it. I’m not really sure why they did that.”
Sophomore Anthony Ginaldi stepped into goal and was pressed into immediate action.
“Anthony Ginaldi had a huge save during a free kick to keep the game alive – his first play was a direct free kick at him, and he was able to push the ball over the top of the crossbar and keep the game alive for us,” Johnson said. “Gabe Copley had a PK save early in the first half to keep the game alive. Just a lot of big wins by our goalies today. I am thankful every single day that I have good goalies, good kids that don’t care if they start or not – they just know when it’s time to get called up, it’s time to go. Our goalies definitely gave us that win today with three big saves. I’m really blessed and lucky to have them.”
Johnson tipped his hat to his opponent.
“CB West is a very good team,” the UD coach said. “They had chances, we had chances. It was just an unlucky day for them. Maybe on another day – maybe they get lucky, and they get one in just like we did.
“Their goalie is outstanding. I thought he did an excellent job, and unfortunate for him, the ball hit the bottom of the crossbar and went in, but he did well all game.”
Johnson went on to credit his players for their mental maturity.
“Not letting little things rattle them and trusting in one another and trusting in me to fight for them as much as I possibly can,” Johnson said. “Even though the PK happened, there was never a moment where we put our heads down and were like, ‘Man, we almost lost there.’ It was always, ‘We just have to keep fighting.’
“I have to give a shoutout to Kyle Spirt. He’s been an excellent leader all year, and just to be able to keep motivating the boys for 80 minutes straight – I think that is something special to ask from a 17- or 18-year-old boy. To be so mature and be able to guide and motivate his team to fight, to keep pushing and to keep wanting to win. Well done by him.”
Upper Dublin (16-3, 14-2 SOL) will travel to #8 Lower Merion for a second-round battle on Thursday at 1 p.m. Central Buck West closed out its season with a 9-10 record overall, 9-7 SOL.
Central Bucks West 0-0 0
Upper Dublin 0-1 1
#12 COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 3, #21 UNIONVILLE 0
Logan Adams scored a pair of goals to lead the Indians to an opening round win that was even more decisive than the final score suggests.
“For the most part, we not only limited their shots on goal, but we limited their ability to penetrate the back third of the field,” Rock North coach Joe Stackhouse said. “They were decent on the ball through the midfield, but our depth just happened to overwhelm them.
“Tonight we played 19 kids. Everybody that didn’t get a chance to play in the last couple of tight games got off the bench and got at least 10 minutes. It was good.”
The Indians got on the scoreboard 17 minutes into the contest when Will Kamp scored with an assist from Jack Randolph. With 11 minutes remaining in the half, Logan Adams found the net with a Michael Pinho assist.
“A beautiful ball – he drove up the field about 50 yards, and Logan headed it over the keeper,” Stackhouse said.
Fourteen minutes into the second half, Adams scored his second goal of the game for the 3-0 final, this one also with a Pinho assist.
“It was another head ball goal – he basically flicked it over the keeper’s head on a throw-in from Michael Pinho,” Stackhouse said.
The Indians controlled play from wire to wire.
“They only really knocked on the door twice that (goalkeeper) Calvin Hopkins had to make two saves on,” Stackhouse said. “Calvin got the shutout, but across the back, Michael Pinho, Chris Pinho and Dom Czachor in defensive roles played really well.
“Our defensive center midfielder, David Igval, is nursing an injury so Isaac Morais came in and played his role for the evening and played very well. He probably played about 50 of the 80 minutes in that role and played very, very well for us.
“Ari Pollack and Jack Randolph had their usual good games in the flow of the midfield. Our depth is really helping us. Other than David Igval being nicked up, everybody’s healthy, and we’re in a good spot.”
Council Rock North (14-2-2, 12-2-2 SOL) will travel to #5 Central Bucks East for an all-SOL second round contest on Thursday at 7 p.m.
“It’s two different styles and approaches – we’ll see which one wins out,” Stackhouse said. “It’s a shame it’s the second round because somebody’s going home now.”
Unionville 0-0 0
Council Rock North 2-1 3
#20 NORTH PENN 2, #13 DOWNINGTOWN WEST 1
The Knights pulled off the upset of the opening round, scoring a pair of early goals and holding on for a win that sent the 13th-seeded Whippets home for the season.
“We did not have our best game, and credit to West because they have pace and they battle,” NP coach Chris DePeppe said. “This win was more about doing the dirty work defensively and getting the right matchups.”
The Knights got on the scoreboard in the fifth minute on a goal by Bruno Bmardic.
“It was a left foot volley from inside the box after Matt Haines drove into the 18 and the ball popped loose, and a defender couldn’t clear it,” DePeppe said. “Bruno didn’t get much on it, but it was always fading away from the keeper, and it found the far corner.
“We were fortunate to have that early lead because West had the ball in our third quarter a bit in the first half, but when we did get forward, we were dangerous.”
About 25 minutes in, the Knights earned a direct kick from a few yards outside the box.
“It favored a left foot, and fortunately, we had Shafiq Henaidy in the game,” DePeppe said. “He stepped up in a big spot and hit a beautiful curling ball over the wall and inside the near post. The West keeper played well, but he didn’t have a shot at that one.”
The Knights took that 2-0 lead into halftime.
“We made adjustments at the half, especially to slow down #10 (Zach Kilpatrick), who is a terrific player and to contain their two wingers,” DePeppe said. “The Regan brothers – Fion and Eion – did that job very well in the second half, and Ian Balisalisa was a force in center midfield.
“We knew we had to score the third goal or, we would sweat it out, and I think we might have gotten one if we hadn’t run offsides 10 times.”
With nine minutes left, the Whippets made things real interesting with a goal to pull to within 2-1.
“Sure enough, with nine minutes left we gave them a free kick from the left flank, and it was one of those dangerous inswingers that needed a little redirection, and it was,” DePeppe said. “The last nine minutes were hairy, but we did enough to hold on.”
The Knights’ coach lauded the efforts of several players in the win.
“Our center backs – Caiden Myers and Brian Scott – are the unsung heroes for this team, and they had to make some brave tackles and win a ton of balls,” DePeppe said. “We had a few players come off the bench too, and they were crucial in securing the win.
“Seniors Ian Labadie and CJ Leonardo really knew their roles coming in and gave us important minutes. And I have to praise Demetri Ilovski and Conor Sullivan because when your best players are as hardworking and tireless as those two guys, it motivates the rest, and we will surely need more of that on Thursday, but I’m sure we will be up for the challenge.”
North Penn (8-6-5, 6-5-5 SOL) will head back to Downingtown for Thursday’s second round game – this time against #4 Downingtown East at 3:45 p.m.
North Penn 2-0 2
Downingtown West 0-1 1
#14 CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 2, #19 STRATH HAVEN 1 (2 OT)
There were some anxious moments, but the Titans eked out a win in Tuesday’s opening round thriller. Anthony Bice scored the game-winner with five minutes remaining in the second OT.
“A ball popped up in the box, and Anthony Bice met it with a nice half volley,” South coach Kyle Pettican said. “It was a typical playoff game. Strath Haven was a very good side.”
The Titans actually found themselves staring at a 1-0 deficit early in the first half.
“It was the same old story,” Pettican said. “It was an even game to begin. I felt we were the better team, but Strath Haven caught us off guard and got a breakaway that put them up 1-0 about 15 minutes in. We continued to dominate the game but didn’t create chances.”
Strath Haven took that 1-0 lead into halftime.
“Finally, we upped the intensity in the second half and created more chances,” Pettican said. “For a while, it felt like nothing was going to give.”
A late goal by Luke Fromal saved the day for the Titans and set the stage for OT.
“A ball found its way through on the righthand side where Luke Fromal picked it up in the box and slotted it home,” Pettican said. “I actually thought Strath Haven played their best after we scored.”
Overtime was back and forth, and with PKs looming on the horizon, the Titans found the back of the cage.
Pettican credited both Bice and Fromal for delivering timely goals.
“Also, Rowan McDonald, Evan Rumford, and Sean Clevenstine were huge players for us tonight on the defensive side,” the Titans’ coach said.
Central Bucks South (14-3-2, 11-3-2 SOL) will travel to #3 West Chester Henderson for a second round game on Thursday at 7 p.m.
Strath Haven 1-0-0-0 1
Central Bucks South 0-1-0-1 2
#15 BOYERTOWN 5, #18 COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 2
The visiting Golden Hawks found themselves deadlocked 1-1 early only on in Tuesday’s opening round game only to watch the Bears reel off four straight goals on their way to the win.
“We gave up an early goal in the second minute and then tied it 10 minutes later with Sean Davis scoring off a George O’Brien throw,” Rock South coach Alan Nicholl said. “Then they scored four more before halftime – seemingly, everything they kicked went in.
“We couldn’t get out of our own way and looked lost at times, the worst we’ve looked all season.”
Trailing 5-1 at the intermission, the Golden Hawks put on a much better showing in the second half.
“We flipped the script in the second half, and Reid Vandemark scored in the 60th minute (Anthony Abreu assist) to give us a life line, but Vandemark endured a leg injury that required the ambulance on the field and a 30-minute delay.
“We played out the last 20 minutes, but you could tell his injury took the heart out of us. It says a lot that the team was more concerned about their fallen teammate than the result. At the end of the day, they know what’s important, and I couldn’t be more proud of that.”
Council Rock South closed out its season with an 11-5-2 record, 10-4-2 in the SOL.
Council Rock South 1-1 2
Boyertown 5-0 5
#11 HARRITON 4, #22 WILLIAM TENNENT 1
The visiting Panthers fell behind early and spent the rest of the game playing catchup.
“We played a good team, and we were a bit nervous,” Tennent coach Angelo Albanese said. “This was the first playoff game for everyone with the exception of Connor Hanratty, who played in one when he was a freshman.”
The Panthers fell behind 1-0 in the first 20 minutes, and then Harriton converted a penalty kick to go into halftime with a 2-0 advantage.
“We played better to start the second half, and as we became a bit more comfortable, they scored a third goal on a nicely executed counterattack,” Albanese said.
Another Harriton penalty kick made it a 4-0 game before Connor Hanratty found the back of the net late in the second half.
“The goal came off an assist by Patrick Gillespie who received a nice pass from Bryce deFonteney,” Albanese said. “It’s never nice to lose, but we were very proud of the progress of the boys. Making the playoffs was a just reward for their hard work and improvement.
“The boys were a very special bunch. I’ll miss those seniors – they’re great kids with wonderful attitudes and deep friendships among them.”
William Tennent closed out its season with a 10-9 record (9-7 SOL).
William Tennnet 0-1 1
Harriton 2-2 4
#8 LOWER MERION 3, #25 CHELTENHAM 0
The Panthers saw their successful season come to an end at the hand of the favored Aces in Tuesday’s opening round.
“I am very proud of the way our boys performed today and throughout the season,” Cheltenham coach Bill Tonkin said. “They gave their all and accomplished the goal of making the district playoffs for the first time in over 20 years. We will be back next year. We will lose some very talented players, but we still have many talented players returning.”
The visiting Panthers trailed by just a 1-0 score at halftime but saw the Aces add a pair in the second half.
“I honestly thought we were the better team,” Tonkin said. “We had some opportunities, and I don’t think they were expecting us to be a good team.
“They got a goal in the first half, and the second half they held some players back. Their field was very narrow – only 60 yards wide, and they have a player that has a long throw. Their first two goals came off the throw when we didn’t win a head ball. Their third goal came from us pushing players forward at the end of the game. “
Cheltenham – one year removed from a two-win season – closed out its season with a 10-8-1 record. The Panthers were 8-7-1 in the SOL.
Cheltenham 0-0 0
Lower Merion 1-2 3
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