Check out the preview capsules for SOL boys’ soccer teams in the District 1 Tournament that begins Tuesday.
Class 4A
#3 SPRINGFIELD TWP (Opening round bye)
14-1-3 overall
8-1-1 SOL Freedom
Freedom Division champions
Only loss to #20 Cheltenham (2-1) on Sept. 17
First year in 3A after advancing to the PIAA 3A final the last two years.
Smallest school in Class 4A with just 322 boys
Players to Watch: Sr. M Ben Hubley, Sr. M Kayden Sowell, Sr. D Chase Rubincam, Jr. F Harry Bates, Sr. GK Owen Hastings, Jr. M Henry Drapkin
Key wins: #8 Council Rock North, #10 Abington, #18 Upper Dublin, #20 Cheltenham, #28 Wissahickon, Class 3A #3 Holy Ghost Prep, Class A #2 New Hope-Solebury (twice)
Next up: Springfield will host the winner of #14 CB East and #19 Unionville in the second round on Thursday.
#4 CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH (Opening round bye)
15-3 overall
9-1 SOL Colonial
Colonial Division champions
Second division title in the last three years
Players to Watch: Sr. F Anthony Bice, Sr. M Brennan Franklin, Sr. GK Pat VanLuvanee
Key wins: #7 Souderton (twice), #11 North Penn, #13 Downingtown West, #14 Central Bucks East (twice), #18 Upper Dublin, #25 Council Rock South, Class 3A #3 Holy Ghost Prep
Coach Ed Brnardic said: “When you look at the brackets, you realize just how many good teams are out there. There are no easy games, but we are excited for the challenge.”
Next up: The Titans will face the winner of #20 Cheltenham and #13 Downingtown West on Thursday.
#25 Council Rock South at #8 Council Rock North (Tuesday, 5 p.m.)
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH
8-7-3 overall
4-4-2 SOL Patriot
Third place Patriot Division
Two teams battled to a 1-1 tie on Sept. 11 & CR North won the rematch 2-1 on Oct. 14.
Key wins: #18 Upper Dublin, Class 3A #6 Lower Moreland
Coach Alan Nicholl said: “It’s unfortunate we drew North on Tuesday because I think we’re both a handful for any team, and seeing a team for a third time is never ideal. But with that said, we play for big games, and you’re not getting bigger than this. We tied 1-1 and lost 2-1 in two overtimes the last time out. We’ve proved it’ll be a battle. That’s what playoffs is all about.
“I’ve always said, big players do big things in big games, and you’re not getting bigger than this. I’ve told my players when the whistle blows, rankings go down the toilet with all the other crap, so just do your job. When we stepped on the field in early August, it was in preparation for a chance to play in a game like this. We’re battle tested and have shown great maturity and discipline this year. I feel like it’s been an eight-week tryout for an 80-minute opportunity, and we are ready to take this head-on. Let me put it simply, I wouldn’t want to play us.”
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH
14-3-1 overall
8-1-1 SOL Patriot
Patriot Division champions
Indians were 8-0-1 in first nine games of the season.
Players to Watch: F Zayd Najimi, F Will Kamp, F Logan Adams, M Landon Lentz, D Isaac Morais, D. Darek Miller
Key wins: #12 Neshaminy, #14 Central Bucks East, #25 Council Rock South
Next up: Winner will face the winner of # 9 Phoenixville and #24 Avon Grove in the second round on Thursday.
#20 Cheltenham at #13 Downingtown West (Tuesday, 5:30 p.m.)
CHELTENHAM
10-7-1 overall
6-3-1 SOL Liberty
Second place Freedom Division
Second straight trip to districts for the Panthers after a two-win season two years ago.
Biggest win of season over Springfield Twp on Sept. 17 (2-1)
Players to Watch: Xavi Chanoine (Sr/Midfield), Jordan Rodriguez (Sr/Midfield), Ean Justice (Jr/Center Back), Emile Chanione (Soph/Center Back)
DOWNINGTOWN WEST
11-6-1, 6-1 Ches-Mont
Second Place Ches-Mont National
Players to watch: Senior captains Liam Kolbay (M), Dylan Cicero (D) & Ethan Stancato (D)
Key wins: #6 Great Valley, #19 Unionville, #23 Oxford, #24 Avon Grove, #26 West Chester East
Next up: Winner will face #4 CB South on Thursday.
#28 Wissahickon at #5 Lower Merion (Tuesday, 3 p.m.)
WISSAHICKON
10-7-1
6-4 SOL Liberty
Players to Watch: Sr. Jofi Contreras (M), Sr. D Ryan Dowdy, Sr. D Will Fath
Key wins: Hatboro-Horsham (twice), Plymouth Whitemarsh (twice), Bensalem
Coach Stuart Malcolm said: “We are looking forward to our games against Lower Merion. I wanted to thank the efforts of our senior captains (Contreras, Dowdy and Fath), who have done a fantastic job this season on and off the field. We are going to give the game our best effort and are looking forward to good performances from our goalkeeper, Michael Maltin, senior forwards Andrew Gajan and Jayden Kim, and a solid midfield presence from Chan-woo Kim and Justin Reynoso.
LOWER MERION
14-3-1
7-3-1 Central League
Third place Central League
Player to watch: University of Delaware commit Beckett Field (Center mid/center back)
Key wins: #17 Haverford
Next up: Winner will face the #12 Neshaminy and #21 Upper Merion winner in the second round on Thursday.
#21 Upper Merion at #12 Neshaminy, Tuesday, 5 p.m.
NESHAMINY
12-3-3 overall
7-2-1 SOL Patriot
Second place Patriot Division
Remarkable turnaround after winning just three games last year (two in the SOL)
Players to Watch: Sr. F Rezi Tebidze (14 goals), Jr. D Mark Andreyeu, Sr. D Matt Diamond, Sr. D AJ Kollie, Jr. M Damien Castro, Sr. GK Dan Raivitch
Key wins: #6 Council Rock North, #20 Cheltenham, #26 CR South, Class 3A #3 Holy Ghost Prep
UPPER MERION
12-5-1
9-3-1 PAC
Second Place PAC Frontier Division
Lost to Spring-Ford in PKs in PAC semifinals, a loss that napped a seven-game winning streak for the Vikings.
Players to watch: Seniors Ben and Luke Wintersteen
Key wins: #9 Phoenixville, #19 Unionville, #22 Boyertown
Next up: Winner will face the winner of #28 Wissahickon and #5 Lower Merion on Thursday.
#18 Upper Dublin at #15 Owen J. Roberts, Tuesday, 5 p.m.
UPPER DUBLIN
11-6-1 overall
7-2-1 SOL
Second Place Liberty Division
Players to Watch: Sr. D Reilly McLaughlin, Sr.D Brady Hillman, Sr. D Kaleb Abebe, M Frankie Matroni, F Jackson Bryan
Key wins: #28 Wissahickon (twice), Class 3A #2 West Chester Rustin, Class 3A #6 Lower Moreland
OWEN J ROBERTS
12-6, 8-5 PAC
Third Place PAC Liberty Division
Players to Watch: Senior Elijah Purtle & junior Andy Tzoanos lead the attack.
Next up: Winner travels to #2 West Chester Henderson for a second-round game on Thursday.
#26 West Chester East at #7 Souderton, Tuesday, 7 p.m.
SOUDERTON
15-3 overall
7-3 SOL
Second Place Colonial Division
In the hunt for Colonial title until final game of the season after finishing sixth out of six teams two years ago.
Players to Watch: F Tannor Wisznewski (17 goals), M Drew Kerns (15 assists), D Danny Brun, D Colin Hughes
Key wins: #14 CB East (twice), #11 North Penn (twice), #20 Cheltenham, Class A #2 New Hope-Solebury,
Coach Frank DeMas said: “From last year making the last spot in districts to having a home field game this year, we are incredibly proud of this team. A lot can happen in a season and playoffs. But from last year, we’ve made improvements not only in play, but maybe more importantly in character. No matter the situation, this team and community support each other to the end. We want to make our programs something children and people in our community can look up to, and we are on our way toward that.”
WEST CHESTER EAST
9-6-3 overall
Player to watch: Sawyer Spiegel,
Key win: #23 Oxford, Tied #17 Haverford
Next up: Winner plays the winner of #10 Abington and #23 Oxford on Thursday.
#23 Oxford at #10 Abington, Tuesday, 7 p.m.
ABINGTON
11-4-3 overall
8-1-1 SOL
Liberty Division champions for fifth straight season
Lost senior captain and midfielder Brandon Murataj to a season-ending injury
Players to Watch: Sr. D Daniel Oliveira, Sr. F Brady Hartman, Sr. M Brian O’Neill, Sr. D Nicholas Gray, Sr. M Liam Malanowski, Sr. D Brandon Escobar, Sr. GK Justin Waterfall, Sr. Sebastian Morina, Sr. Ben Pratt, Jr. Everett Mumma, So. M Sean Westmoreland, So. M Owen Gesing, So. D Kyle Kretschman, So. F Jazafith Vasquez, So. Aaron Comisar.
Key wins: #8 Council Rock North, #16 Spring-Ford, #18 Upper Dublin, #28 Wissahickon (twice)
OXFORD
10-7-1, 2-3 Ches-Mont
Fourth place Ches-Mont American
Key wins: #19 Unionville
Next up: Winner plays a second-round game Thursday against the #7 Souderton-#26 West Chester East winner.
#19 Unionville at #14 Central Bucks East, Tuesday 6 p.m.
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST
9-7-2 overall
5-5 SOL
Third-place tie, Colonial Division
Players to Watch: F/M Dan Frye -2023 All-State, M Koen Reid, D Matt Walloff, D Eric Schmidt
Key wins: #11 North Penn, #20 Cheltenham,
UNIONVILLE
9-7-2
1-2-1 Ches-Mont
Fifth place Ches-Mont American
Players to watch: Jax Pinkston, Charlie Undorf
Key wins: #17 Haverford, #24 Avon Grove, #26 West Chester East
Next up: Winner plays at #3 Springfield Twp in the second round on Thursday.
#22 Boyertown at #11 North Penn, 7 p.m.
NORTH PENN
11-7 overall
5-5 SOL
Third-place tie, Colonial Division
Players to Watch: Sr.. Ryan Miller, Sr. Demitri Ilovski, Sr. M Ian Baisalisa, Sr. Bruno Brnardic, Sr. Nino Brnardic
Key wins: #4 Central Bucks South, #12 Neshaminy, #14 Central Bucks East, #28 Wissahickon, Class 3A #3 Holy Ghost Prep
BOYERTOWN
6-7-4
5-5-3 PAC
Fifth place PAC Liberty Division
Key players: Chris Bartman & Brayden Burkhardt lead the attack
Key wins: #27 Norristown, Perkiomen Valley, Pennridge
Next up: Winner plays a second-round game against the winner of #6 Great Valley and #27 Norristown on Thursday.
Class 3A
#6 Lower Moreland at #3 Holy Ghost Prep, Wednesday, 7 p.m.
LOWER MORELAND
8-7-3 overall
2-5-3 SOL
Fourth place Freedom Division
Key wins: Class 4A #4 Central Bucks South, Class 4A #20 Cheltenham, Class A #1 Calvary Christian
HOLY GHOST PREP
8-6-4
Key wins: Class 4A #13 Downingtown West, Class 4A #14 Central Bucks East, Class 4A #17 Haverford, Class A #2 New Hope-Solebury, Kennett,
Next up: Winner moves on to the semifinals Monday against the winner of #2 West Chester Rustin and #7 Marple Newtown.
Class 1A
#7 The Christian Academy at #2 New Hope-Solebury, Wednesday 7 p.m.
NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY
11-6 overall
6-4 SOL
Third place Freedom Division
Remarkable turnaround under first-year coach Chris Van Pelt for a Lions team that won just one game last year.
Players to Watch: Sr. F Aramis Shire (23 goals, 7 assists), Sr. M Luca Tersigni (4 goals, 10 assists), Sr. M Joe Picone (3 goals, 4 assists), Sr. GK John Nettles (9 shutouts)
Key wins: Class 4A #20 Cheltenham, Class 3A #6 Lower Moreland (twice)
Coach Chris Van Pelt said: “It’s been a great season so far with some really great performances. It’s a really motivated group with a lot of seniors looking to keep the season going as long as possible. I think this season has prepared us well for playoffs and we’ve built some important momentum over the past two weeks and still have some of our best games ahead of us. I’m excited to see what this group can accomplish.”
THE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
7-9
Key wins: #3 Upper Bucks Christian, #8 Church Farm
Next up: Winner takes on the winner of #3 Upper Bucks Christian at #6 Plumstead Christian on Friday.
About the Author
