By Alex Frazier
Meet…Kevin Bailey
Pennridge was shocked in the first round of the district playoffs, but the Rams may never have gotten that far had it not been for Kevin Bailey.
“Our team went from 5-13 last year to 12-6-1 overall (9-4-1 SOL) and we got a ninth seed in District One,” said coach Pete Valimont. “Kudos to him. He accounted for 13 out of our 47 goals. You take him away, and we wouldn’t be where we’re at. He’s a major contributor to our turnaround this season. He’s a joy of a player to be around.”
After scoring just four goals all of last year, Bailey finished with 13 goals, including two game winners, and eight assists for 33 points.
“He’s a great finisher,” said Valimont. “He’s a very quiet leader. He doesn’t say much to motivate people but by his actions and the way he carries himself, leads by example. He gets along with everyone from the sophomores to the seniors, a player that everyone on the team looks to.”
When it comes to crunch time Bailey can be depended upon.
“He scored the goal when we were down a man against C.B. East to send us to overtime,” said Valimont. “(C.B. East coach) Mike Gorni even told me at the time that Kevin Bailey was at that time the only Continental League player to score two goals against the C.B. East defense.”
Bailey grew up following in the footsteps of his older brothers, who were soccer players. He started with Pennridge, moved to Montgomery and now plays for the Ukrainian Nationals.
Growing up, Bailey played a lot of center midfield, but the past three or four years he has been a forward, which he likes.
“It gives you a scoring aspect, which is always good, and the heroism,” he said. “You’re able to put the game away.”
Bailey has been on the road a lot playing soccer. Two summers ago, he traveled with the Ukrainian team to Denmark to play in the Tivoli Cup. The team made it to the U-15 semifinals.
“It was a tremendous experience,” he said.
He has also traveled up and down the East coast from Florida to Massachusetts.
“It’s definitely a lot of fun and it’s good competition,” he said. “It challenges you.”
Last year as a freshman, Bailey started occasionally for the Rams, but this year he has been a regular up top. At 6-3, he has good size.
“I’m so happy he’s only a sophomore, I’ve got two more years with him,” said Valimont.
With Bailey, the future looks bright.
“I’m really looking positive to the future because our jayvee team went 16-2 and won the Continental League,” said Valimont. “Seven out of our 12 starters are coming back next season. Kevin’s going to be a leader. I look for him to be possibly a junior captain.”
Patriots power ahead – There’s one big difference in this year’s Central Bucks East squad as it heads into the post-season.
The Patriots are healthy.
“We’ve had our share of injuries during the year, but right now we’re pretty healthy except for some nicks,” said coach Mike Gorni. “We’ve got our lineup and it’s just a matter of us showing up and playing.”
Hopefully that will parlay into a deeper run into districts and states.
Last year East finished fourth in the district and made it to the state quarters after upsetting No.1-ranked Manheim Township in the opening round. The Patriots then lost to eventual state champ Peters Township.
But a drawback with success is that every team gets up for an upset.
“This year we were named one of the top teams from the beginning,” said Gorni, “and we’ve been the hunted the entire season and getting everybody’s best game. That’s made it difficult from the psychology and from the pure soccer end that everybody that comes out to play you is elevating their level.”
During the regular season the Patriots lost just twice, once to Abington (1-0) and the other to Downingtown West (2-0) in a game, which neither side took too seriously.
In the tough and balanced Continental Conference, East ran the table until the last game when the Patriots tied Pennridge, which finished a distant second to East in the final standings (40 points to 28).
“No one normally wins the Suburban One Continental by more than a game,” said Gorni.
East finished the regular season at 15-2-1 and 13-0-1 in the SOL Continental.
Goalie Jake Pickering is having another great season. After recording 19 shutouts last year, he has 13 so far this season, Credit for that should also go to the Patriots’ strong defensive unit of Mike Whitaker, John Owens, Chris Eisold and Ryan Apt, which has given up just seven goals in 19 games.
“They’ve all given us a very good season,” said Gorni, “and our midfield is good too.’
At the other end of the field, East has been getting good goal production from Sean Peckham (10 goals, 14 assists) and Alex Shubert (12 goals, 3 assists). The offense has produced 42 goals.
One of the players Gorni has been most pleased with his senior utility player Michael Vare.
“He’s played just about every position this year,” said Gorni. “He works very, very hard.”
Against Bayard Rustin, he started in midfield and then moved up to forward, where he scored the game-winning goal with 20 minutes left.
“It was the only goal of the game and an important one,” said Gorni, “and one he’s worked extremely hard for all year. He has given us the most versatile season of any of the role players. He’s played well wherever we’ve moved him.”
The Patriots are heading to a showdown with No. 2-ranked Downingtown West, which handed them one of their only two losses.
“Lower Merion and Downingtown West are the top two seeds in the tournament for a reason,” said Gorni. “They have a better wealth of offensive talent, that’s for sure. But on a given day we can beat either one of those teams. The problem is that we can also be upset by another four or five teams ourselves.”
Around the league – Neshaminy has picked the best time to be playing its best soccer.
In the second round of the district playoffs, the No. 12 Redskins knocked off No. 5 West Chester Henderson, a team that gave No. 2 Downingtown West its only loss of the year, 2-1, on goals by freshman Sean Sheridan and a penalty kick by Kyle Soroka.
“It was the best 60-65 minutes we played all year,” said coach Rich Reice. “If we had better finishing, it could have been four or five to one.”
The Redskins will be making their third state appearance in the last four years after beating archrival Pennsbury, 2-1, in the quarterfinals.
The Falcons have not been able to clear that quarterfinal hurdle as they have lost in that round for the past three years.
Neshaminy had beaten Pennsbury in their two league meetings in the regular season.
The Falcons took a 1-0 lead at the half on a penalty kick, but 20 minutes into the second half, Dominic Tucci tied the game and then Rick Domico iced the win with a low angle shot that ricocheted off the far post and into the goal.
“It was satisfying,” said Reice. “We matched up well with them.”
In other quarterfinal action, Downingtown West eliminated Council Rock North 2-0.
The Central Bucks East and Strath Haven game was postponed until Monday at 3 p.m. at War Memorial Stadium in Doylestown.
•••
Every year there are a few surprising upsets in the district playoffs. This year was no different. The playoffs started Oct. 21 with No. 25 Hatboro-Horsham, which placed fifth in the Continental Conference, knocking off No. 8 Abington, 2-1 in overtime. Greg Hill put the Ghosts on the board with a throw-in goal, but Hatboro-Horsham’s Connor McInerney tied it in the 32nd minute. Sean New banged in a rebound off a shot by Maek Abbonizio in the second overtime to give the Hatters the victory.
No. 9 Pennridge, runner-up to C.B. East in the Continental Conference, was jolted by No. 24 Radnor, which slipped past the Rams on penalty kicks.
The Rams were playing without coach Pete Valimont on the sidelines. The first-year coach was suspended in the final game of the year against North Penn.
He went to scout the Hatboro-Horsham game, the winner of which would have been Pennridge’s next opponent if they had won. When he called his assistants with the results, the Rams were just about to start the penalty kick phase.
Pennridge lost the penalty kicks 8-7, thanks to a diving save by Radnor goalie Ryan Devine on a shot by the Rams’ Dan Caya.
No. 18 Wissahickon blasted No. 15 Great Valley 4-1.
In a non-SOL game, No. 19 Bayard Rustin edged No. 14 Owen J. Roberts 1-0.
Some people may have been surprised at the lopsided score by which No. 13 Upper Dublin ousted No. 20 North Penn, 3-0, but it was legit.
Council Rock North’s Anthony Manero scored the only goal on a header 25 minutes into the second half to eliminate Kennett.
There were no major surprises in the second round, with the exception of No. 12 Neshaminy eliminating No. 5 Henderson
But it was unusual to have a No. 25 team (Hatboro-Horsham) competing against a No. 24 seed (Radnor). The Hatters’ couldn’t mount any offense as they fell 1-0 in overtime.
Central Bucks East’s Michael Vare scored the only goal to get the Patriots past a scrappy Bayard Rustin.
SuburbanOneSports.com’s SOL Top Five
1. Central Bucks East
2. Neshaminy
3. Pennsbury
4. Council Rock North
5. Abington
Southeastern Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association Rankings
(Through Sunday).
1. Lower Merion. . . 14-1-1
2. Downingtown West. . . 18-1-0
3. Central Bucks East. . . 15-2-0
4. Father Judge. . . 14-2-1
5. Pennsbury. . . 13-4-1
6. Holy Ghost Prep. . . 15-2-2
7. North Catholic. . . 12-1-3
8. West Chester Henderson. . . 13-4-0
9. St. Joseph's Prep. . . 12-4-0
10. Archbishop Wood. . . 17-0-1
11. Strath Haven. . . 13-2-2
12. Council Rock North. . . 11-5-2
13. Abington. . . 13-4-1
14. Haverford School. . . 9-1-1
15. Upper Darby. . . 13-2-3
16. Germantown Academy. . . 10-3-2
17. Pennridge . . . 12-5-1
18. William Tennent. . . 12-5-1
19. Octorara. . . 15-3-1
20 (tie). Neshaminy. . . 10-5-2
Owen J. Roberts. . . 13-4-1
Others receiving votes: Upper Dublin, Bartram, Shipley, Conestoga, Lansdale Catholic, Pottsgrove, Great Valley, Central Bucks South, Wissahickon, Rustin, North Penn, Christopher Dock, La Salle, Washington, Delco Christian.
PSCA/Angelo's Soccer Corner Fall Poll
(Oct. 19-Final)
1. Lower Merion (1) previous rank 1
2. Downingtown West (1) 2
3. Central Bucks East (1) 3
4. Father Judge (12) 5
5. Manheim Township (3) 8
6. Mt. Lebanon (7) 9
7. Bethlehem Freedom (11) 10
8. Redland (3) 4
9. Warwick (3) 6
10. Nazareth (11) 7
Honorable Mention: Abington (1), Council Rock North (1), Erie Cathedral Prep (10), North Catholic (12), Pennsbury (1), Penn Trafford (7), Red Lion (3), Upper Darby (1), Wyoming Valley West (2).
NSCAA/adidas® Region III National Rankings
(Oct. 21)
1. Lower Merion (Ardmore, Pa.) 14 - 1 - 1
2. Downingtown West (Downingtown, Pa.) 18 - 1 - 0
3. St. Benedict's Prep (Newark, N.J.) 14 - 1 - 0
4. Rancocas Valley (Mt. Holly, N.J.) 13 - 0 - 1
5. The Pingry School (Martinsville, N.J.) 10 - 0 - 1
6. Ramapo (Franklin Lakes, N.J.) 8 - 0 - 2
7. Central Bucks East (Doylestown, Pa.) 15 - 2 - 1
8. Father Judge (Philadelphia, Pa.) 14 - 2 - 1
9. Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.) 11 - 2 - 0
10. Manheim Township (Lancaster, Pa.) 16 - 2 - 2
11. Harrison (N.J.) 12 - 1 - 0
12. Paramus Catholic (Paramus, N.J.) 11 - 1 - 0
13. Mount Lebanon (Pittsburgh, Pa.) 17 - 1 - 0
14. Columbia (Maplewood, N.J.) 11 - 1 - 1
15. North Catholic (Philadelphia, Pa.) 10 - 1 - 3
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