The Neshaminy and CB East girls teams advanced to the District One AAA semifinals and also earned a berth in the state tournament. All three SOL boys’ teams in action in Saturday’s district quarterfinals came up short.
GIRLS
#1 NESHAMINY 2, #8 SPRING-FORD 1
Heading into Saturday’s quarterfinals, Neshaminy had given up just four goals the entire season.
The Redskins gave up the fifth 12 minutes into the game when Spring-Ford’s Sammy Stipa took a pass from Kristen Baumgartner and found the net to give the Rams the early lead.
“That was a little frustrating, but still, for us to have only given up five goals at this point in the year is good,” Neshaminy goaltender McKenna Mullin said. “I can’t complain about that.”
Neshaminy had its firsts-half chances. Fran Donato and Gabby Farrell both had near-misses, and in the first half, the Redskins outshot the Rams, 5-3.
After putting in the early goal, Spring-Ford seemed content to try to protect the one-goal lead, but the Redskins weren’t having it, continuing to play aggressively on attack.
That aggressiveness, plus having the wind at their backs, led to an early goal in the second half.
Mullin sent the ball up field to Farrell, who kicked it past Spring-Ford goaltender Jenna Griggs for the equalizer in the fifth minute of the period.
“We’ve come from behind a couple of times this season, so I knew we could do it,” said Mullin, who was credited with the rare assist for a goalkeeper. “Once we scored that first goal, we felt we were back on track.”
Senior Megan Schafer knocked in the game winner with a little over 27 minutes remaining in the game. It was the 97th career goal for Schafer.
“We’re used to dominating, so it’s definitely different for us to be behind,” Farrell said. “But once you get to this level everyone is good, and this was probably the best team we played all year. They came out with a really good game plan and they’re amazing players so this was a great game and a really good win for us.”
The Redskins still have a spotless record at 19-0.
“It’s a lot harder to come back in a playoff game and we haven’t lost a game yet and that makes it more nerve-wracking,” Mullin said. “They were a good team and anything can happen in the playoffs.
“We don’t look at the seedings because really they don’t mean anything and we don’t really worry about who we’re going to play. We just take it one game at a time.”
Neshaminy ended the day with 14 shots while holding Spring-Ford to six.
The Redskins now have a semifinal date with No. 4 Boyertown, a 1-0 double-overtime winner over Pennsbury on Tuesday at a site and time to be determined.
SPRING-FORD 1 0 1
NESHAMINY 0 2 2
#6 CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 0, #3 STRATH HAVEN 0 (CB East wins 3-1 PKS)
Emma Loving’s penalty kick had barely found the back of the net when the celebration began for the Patriots.
“She had no idea when she’s shooting that it’s the game winner,” coach Paul Eisold said. “She shoots and scores and turns around to the players, and, of course, they’re running in and mauling her.
“It’s a moment, it’s a moment. Obviously, scoring in overtime is exciting. Obviously, scoring three or five minutes before the end of the game is exciting, but you play an 80-minute game but you also play the overtime and now you go to PKs – players are walking up to the spot, the ref is blowing the whistle, and everybody is watching. There’s no better way to win, and there’s no worse way to lose.”
Making the penalty kicks even more dramatic was the fact that the Patriots missed on their first two attempts.
“I don’t think our players were prepared for their crowd,” Eisold said. “We actually watched the (CB) East boys when they played before us Thursday and they lost in PKs, and we watched them last year when they actually won in PKs, and that went to 10 or 11 PKs.
“Even though you preach it, you talk about it, you prepare it – it’s still such a different thing when you go through it. We miss our first two, and you’re thinking, ‘This is unbelievable. We’re done.’”
But the Patriots weren’t done.
Despite missing on their first two attempts, the Patriots trailed just 1-0. Abby Emmert connected on East’s third attempt to knot the score at one apiece, and then keeper Paige Marcinkowski delivered a monster save to keep the score deadlocked.
“She made an absolutely tremendous save,” Eisold said.
Holly Moyer connected on her PK, and when the Panthers missed on their fourth attempt, the Patriots had a lead they would not lose. The Panthers’ fate was sealed when Loving buried her shot. The win vaulted the Patriots into the semifinals and also ensured them a berth in the state tournament.
“Watching the boys lose on Thursday even makes you appreciate it more for the girls,” said Eisold, whose son J.R. plays for the boys’ varsity. “Watching my child after that game with his head down after that game and then being able to win tonight was just exciting.”
The Patriots, according to Eisold, had the better of play during regulation but couldn’t get on the scoreboard.
“They had most of their possession in the back and in the midfield,” the Patriots coach said. “Most of their opportunities were on the peripheral, from the 30 and out, and our chances were much closer inside the 18.
“It’s always frustrating when you have opportunities, and you’re just not linking up that last pass to make a sure shot. With that being said, you have to keep working and driving. You have to see it through, and we did that.
“The overtime was definitely our advantage. We had two very great opportunities. In fact, Emma Loving scored one second past the second overtime.”
Loving scored again during penalty kicks, and this one counted, giving the Patriots the dramatic win.
“I have to commend Strath Haven,” Eisold said. “I thought they were very good tonight. They had a really good game plan, they were well prepared.
“I would say our goalkeeper (Marcinkowski) was heads above.”
Eisold also credited the standout performances of fullback Paige Weiss and defensive back Holly Moyer.
“Those two were phenomenal,” he said.
The Patriots will face second-seeded Downingtown East in the district semifinals and, more importantly, have guaranteed themselves a spot in states.
“This allows the CB East girls to be recognized,” Eisold said. “It allows them and others to understand it wasn’t a fluke that we went to states last year.
“This kind of validates all the hard work and commitment and everything they’ve been doing coming to fruition. I know every team works hard and every team is committed, but when you have a special team that goes on and continues to go on, it’s something special.”
Last year, the Patriots advanced to states as the fifth place team out of the district.
“This was a goal of ours,” Eisold said. “We didn’t want to do the playbacks.
“After the game, prior to PKs, we realized we might be going to playbacks, so winning the PKs really gave us the confidence to move forward.”
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 0 0 0 0 – 0 (3-1 PKs)
STRATH HAVEN 0 0 0 0 – 0
#2 DOWNINGTOWN EAST 1, #10 COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 0
With five minute remaining in regulation, Linnea Faccenda scored for the Cougars. The district’s second-seeded squad made that goal stand the rest of the way.
The Golden Hawks will travel to Strath Haven for a playback game, one of four teams vying for one remaining state playoff berth.
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 0 0 – 0
STRATH HAVEN 0 1 – 1
#4 BOYERTOWN 1, #12 PENNSBURY 0 (2 OT)
The Bears scored off a corner kick with 7:20 remaining in the second overtime, bringing Saturday’s district quarterfinal game to a heartbreaking end for the Falcons. It was the eighth overtime game of the year for a Pennsbury squad that was coming off a win in penalty kicks over Pennridge.
The Falcons will face Spring-Ford in a playback game in an attempt to win the final state berth.
PENNSBURY 0 0 0 0 - 0
BOYERTOWN 0 0 0 1 – 1
BOYS
#18 DOWNINGTOWN WEST 2, #10 CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 1
The Bucks appeared to be well on their way to their third 1-0 win of the week. The Whippets, however, had other ideas, rallying for a pair of second half goals and stunning the Bucks on their own turf at War Memorial Field.
Making the loss such a bitter pill to swallow was the fact that the Bucks controlled play for the better part of 80 minutes.
“I didn’t look at the stat sheet, but I’m sure we created at least 12 clear-cut scoring opportunities,” coach Stefan Szygiel said. “A conversion rate of one goal is just not good enough in the playoffs.”
Joel Klapper spotted West a 1-0 lead in the 15th minute, scoring after teammate Jared Kelly served a ball into the box from the right side. That 1-0 lead looked secure as the Whippets never seriously threatened.
Until, that is, they were awarded a direct free kick after a hand ball was 
called against the Bucks. Luke Maruca hit pay dirt, and just like that, it was a 1-1 game. With just 4:05 remaining in regulation, Cameron Young found the net with the game winner.
The Bucks remain alive in the battle for the fifth and final state playoff spot. They will travel to Bensalem for a playback game Tuesday.
“We’re not done,” Szygiel said. “For them I think it’s, ‘We were right there, we were so close. We had the 1-0 lead for 40 minutes. We just have to fight this out.’
“Downingtown West is playing their best ball right now, and they’re a tough team to come up against with that kind of energy.
The Bucks had a 14-6 advantage in shots.
DOWNINGTOWN WEST 0 2 – 2
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 1 0 - 1
Photos courtesy of Marge Bullock. To view game photos, please visit the web site www.MargeBullock.com.
#1 GREAT VALLEY 4, #9 BENSALEM 1
The Patriots opened up a 2-0 halftime lead and never looked back. Falling behind early against the top-seeded and undefeated Patriots was the last thing the Owls could afford to do.
“They outplayed us,” Bensalem coach Joe Leone said. “We came out flat.”
Saturday afternoon games have not been especially kind to the Owls this year.
“The last time we had a Saturday afternoon game, we came out the same way,” Leone said. “I don’t know if it’s Saturday, but no more Saturday afternoon games.
“At halftime, I said, ‘This is for a state berth, and you guys are going through the motions.’ The intensity level on our side was down. They’re a good team. They were playing 100 percent, and we were playing 70 percent.”
The Patriots opened up a 3-0 lead before Chris Juergensen (Jim McDowell assist) broke up their shutout bid. That would be the extent of the Owls’ offense, and they now find themselves one of four teams vying for the fifth and final state playoff berth. The Owls will host CB West on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in a playback game.
BENSALEM 0 1 – 1
GREAT VALLEY 2 2 - 4
#14 WEST CHESTER RUSTIN 3, #22 WILLIAM TENNENT 2
The Panthers lost a heartbreaker when – in the 79th minute – Rustin’s Dane Anderson scored the game winner, negating a heroic comeback by the Panthers.
“I was proud of the effort they put forth and the character they displayed,” Tennent coach Luke Gibson said. “Heartbreak is part of soccer, and tonight we are experiencing that firsthand.”
Rustin took a 1-0 lead into halftime, but the Panthers scored the equalizer nine minutes into the second half when Bryan Note (James McCabe) found the net. They took their first lead with 10 minutes remaining when Johnny Ciarlante turned Juliano Amaro’s corner kick into a goal.
That lead stood for all of six minutes when Rustin answered with the equalizer and scored the game winner as time was winding down in regulation.
The Panthers will travel to West Chester Henderson for a playback game on Tuesday at 7 p.m., battling for the fifth and final state playoff berth.
WILLIAM TENNENT 0 2 – 2
WEST CHESTER RUSTIN 1 2 - 3
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