By Alex Frazier
It seems in every district tournament there is at least one upset.
Tuesday it happened again when No. 12 seed Hatboro-Horsham knocked off fifth-seeded William Tennent 2-1.
Upset isn’t a word that Hatboro-Horsham coach Ben Winderman would use to characterize the Hatters’ win, especially since they beat (a somewhat depleted) Tennent earlier in the season 5-1.
That being said, Winderman noted, “There’s nothing like winning to reinforce the progress the team has made. It’s great to see them so excited. We played a lot of games this year where we played well but didn’t win.”
The young Hatters seem to be clicking late in the season. A 4-2 win over C.B. West in the last week of the season had to give them a great deal of confidence heading into the playoffs.
Ironically, by virtue of beating Tennent, Hatboro-Horsham will face C.B. West again Thursday on War Memorial Field at 5 p.m.
“It will be interesting,” said Winderman. “I’m looking forward to it. Our team is in a good spot. They’re not intimidated by anyone. They know if they go out there, stay focused and play hard they’re going to be tough to beat.”
Ramsey McMenamin scored the first goal of the game in the 11th minute when she took a cross from Kelsey Shafer and buried it in the back of the net.
Tennent tied the game in the 20th minute.
Marty Kate Bateman scored the game winner in the 52nd minute when she took a feed from Amariah Baker and two-touched it inside the far post. It was her 12th goal of the season.
Lindsey Day, a converted field player who took over goaltending duties midway through the season, came up with six saves.
“She’s a star,” said Winderman. “She’s brave and athletic and didn’t bobble anything in the second half on a wet night.”
#4 Central Bucks West 1, #13 Wissahickon 0
With the win, West becomes the only District One team to win a district playoff game in every season since the inception of spring soccer in 1992.
A pretty amazing statistic.
Coach Chris Freudig also hopes to be the first District One team to qualify for states in the first and last years of spring soccer. He can do that if his team defeats Hatboro-Horsham Thursday. The two teams split during the season with West winning the first game 3-1 and losing the second 4-2.
Lindsay Horst scored the game winner 14 minutes into the first half in which West outshot the Trojans 8-0.
The second half was a bit different as Wissahickon tied the Bucks in shots with four and had a couple of good opportunities.
Bre Benedict made three saves for West.
#1 Council Rock South 6, #16 Cheltenham 0
Coach Tim Keddie was more nervous for this game than almost any other in his coaching career after being ousted from the tournament last year in the first round by Wissahickon.
But his nerves were quickly dispelled as the Golden Hawks showered goals on Cheltenham.
Lauren Heath and Jamie Vaniver led the deluge with a pair of goals each, while Paige McDowell and Chrissy Vollrath added single tallies.
Jess Levy (one save) and Lola Buonomo (one save) combined for the shutout.
The Hawks out shot Cheltenham 16-2.
Panther keeper Jackie Kershaw recorded six saves.
#9 Pennsbury 3, #8 North Penn 1
After losing to North Penn 4-3 in the second game of the season, the Falcons earned a measure of revenge when it counted most.
“We’re a completely different team at this point,” said Pennsbury coach Kaitlyn McGinniss. “Our record has turned around since then.”
Lindsay Jones gave Pennsbury a 1-0 lead at the end of the first half on a re-start goal. Molly Phillips made it 2-0 in the second half when she buried a deflection following a good stop by the North Penn keeper on a long direct kick.
Phillips notched the third goal on a penalty kick.
“Molly played very well for us in the middle of the field,” said McGinniss. “She was winning all the 50/50 balls and taking control of the game.”
North Penn averted the shutout with a late goal.
Falcon goalie Cassie Meade stopped seven shots.
“Our defenders played very, very well,” said McGinniss. “Our goalkeeper didn’t have to make too many difficult saves because they were playing very organized in the back.”
Pennsbury is hoping to settle a debt with Council Rock South Thursday afternoon, having lost to the Golden Hawks twice this season.
“We’re ready to play and capable of showing them the Pennsbury team we are,” said McGinniss.
#2 Pennridge 2, #15 Souderton 1 (2 OT)
Pennridge coach Jorge Rodriguez admitted he was a bit scared, especially since Souderton took the lead following a set piece and held it until about nine minutes left when the Rams’ Sarah Senoyuit notched the equalizer.
Mollie O’Brien scored the game winner in the second overtime.
“They played tough defense,” said Rodriguez.
Ram keeper Ashley Schoelkopf made just one save.
#7 Neshaminy 2, #10 Council Rock North 0
After losing to North last week, Neshaminy coach Rich Reice switched up his system and it paid dividends.
Kimber Kisselback scored both Neshaminy goals.
Her first came in the first minute and a half when she dribbled past a North defender and fired the ball into the corner from about 15 yards out.
In the 38th minute, she blocked a North clearing pass and scored inside the near post for her 17th goal of the season.
“She’s really blossomed,” said Reice. “She’s been a blessing.”
Neshaminy keeper Lauren Gecht stopped six shots.
Up 2-0 at the half, Reice wasn’t secure knowing he had been up by the same score and lost to the Indians before.
“We reminded the girls we were in that situation before,” he said. “We played well and gave ourselves lots of opportunities to score.”
Rock North also missed some close opportunities, hitting two crossbars and a post.
“I thought they improved the most since the first time we saw them,” said Reice. “They’re very athletic, quick. They pounce on loose balls. They were in our end quite a bit. I was happy to get out of there with a ‘W.’”
#3 Central Bucks South 7, #14 Abington 0
As coach Joe Bocklet said, “It was a good day for us.”
Indeed it was, as five different players hit the net. Ashley Saylor and Sam Berneski each tallied twice. Emily Casey, Casey Walsh and Kaitlin Deibler scored single goals.
In goal, Meghan Kaminski stopped four shots.
#6 Upper Dublin 2, #11 Central Bucks East 0
The Patriots had been playing the spoiler in the last weeks of the season, but they couldn’t do it again Tuesday as Upper Dublin celebrated its first-ever playoff win.
“The girls were really excited,” said coach John Topper. “They played well all year. It was a big deal for us.”
Carolyn Meier scored the game winner in the first half, when she poked in a hard-fought goal from a scrum in front of the net.
Emily Marvill added the insurance goal in the second half after she deked a defender about 30 yards out and went in all alone on goal.
Cardinals’ keeper Allie Dayno stopped 17 shots.
“I was worried about giving up second chances with the wet conditions,” said Topper, “but she held on.”
East goalie Sam Gladnick made seven stops.
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