Jarrad Saffren previews the District One Tournament that includes 10 SOL teams in the Class 4A field and one in Class 3A.
District One Boys Soccer Playoff Preview: SOL teams make up most of 4A field
By Jarrad Saffren
The 2016 boys soccer regular season is over. The District One playoffs start Tuesday. The Class 4A field—which features the biggest D1 schools—may as well be the Suburban One League field.
SOL teams earned five of the eight byes and 10 of 24 playoff spots. Eleven of 22 SOL teams earned playoff spots overall. Upper Moreland made the Class 3A field.
Three of the five that earned byes—Council Rock North, Pennsbury and Neshaminy—came from one league, the Suburban One League National Conference. Four of the five SOL teams playing in the first round—Upper Dublin, Wissahickon, Hatboro-Horsham and Central Bucks West—are higher seeds than their opponents.
All three SOL conferences sent at least three teams to the playoffs. The National and American conferences sent four.
The SOL teams, by sheer abundance, should dominate headlines this district playoff season.
Here are snapshots of every team and first round matchup involving an SOL team.
CLASS 4A
No. 3 Council Rock North (Bye)
• 14-2-2 overall
• 10-2 in SOL National play
• Won first SOL National title since 2011
• 6-2-2 against District One Class 4A playoff teams
• Indians have 10 shutouts this season and are led by defenders Eric Levine and Noah Ehlin. Nikia Ihlin leads the offense.
No. 4 Pennsbury (Bye)
• 15-3 overall
• 9-3 in SOL National play
• Finished second in SOL National behind CR North
• 5-2 against D1 4A playoff teams
• Opened season with 12 straight wins
• Zach LoBasso leads a dangerous attack that has not been shut out all season.
No. 5 North Penn (Bye)
• 14-3 overall
• 10-2 in SOL Continental play
• Won first league title since 2007
• 3-2 against D1 4A playoff teams
• Won five straight to close out season
• Led by four-year varsity veteran Mike Kohler
No. 6 Neshaminy (Bye)
• 13-5 overall
• 8-4 in SOL National play
• Finished third in SOL National behind CR North and Pennsbury
• 6-3 against D1 4A playoff teams
• Boasted an eight-game winning streak late in season
• Dan Grindrod leads a Redskin team that has been shut out just once all season.
No. 8 Central Bucks East (Bye)
• 11-4-3 overall
• 9-2-1 in SOL Continental play
• Finished second in SOL Continental behind North Penn
• 2-3-3 against D1 4A playoff teams
• Veterans Will Eisold and Stephen Sheehan anchor a defense that has 13 shutouts
• Two-time defending District One Class 3A champions (District One boys soccer had three classes before 2016)
• Defending PIAA Class 3A champions
No. 24 Penncrest at No. 9 Upper Dublin
Upper Dublin
• 14-2-2 overall
• 11-1-2 in SOL American play
• Won SOL American for second straight year
• 1-2-2 against D1 4A playoff teams
• Attack led by senior Anthony Wisdo
Penncrest
• 10-4-1 overall
• 6-3-1 in Central Athletic League play
• Finished fourth in CAL
• 1-4 against D1 4A playoff teams
No. 23 Garnet Valley at No. 10 Wissahickon
Wissahickon
• 12-4-2 overall
• 10-3-1 in SOL American play
• Finished second in SOL American behind Upper Dublin
• 2-3-1 against D1 4A playoff teams. The he Trojans are led offensively by Tom McHale, Trey Schwartz & Eddie Fortescue
Garnet Valley
• 11-7 overall
• 8-3 in CAL play
• Finished third in CAL behind Conestoga and Lower Merion
• 2-3 against D1 4A playoff teams
No. 22 Owen J. Roberts at No. 11 Hatboro-Horsham
Hatboro-Horsham
• 12-3-3 overall
• 9-2-3 in SOL American play
• Finished third in SOL American behind Upper Dublin and Wissahickon
• 3-2-3 against D1 4A playoff teams
• Danny Bateman leads a Hatter attack that was shut out just once all season
Owen J. Roberts
• 10-6-3 overall
• 9-2-2 in Pioneer Athletic Conference play
• Finished second in PAC-10 Liberty Division behind Spring-Ford
• Fell to Pottsgrove in PAC-10 semifinals (2-1)
• 2-3 against D1 4A playoff teams
• Led by Brandon Ott (8 goals, 6 assists), Graham Pugh (9 goals, 4 assists) and Taurean Lee (9 goals)
No. 20 Haverford at No. 13 Central Bucks West
Central Bucks West
• 9-7-2 overall
• 5-5-2 in SOL Continental play
• Finished fourth in SOL Continental
• 2-3-1 against D1 4A playoff teams
• Sophomore goalkeeper Dylan Smith has seven clean sheets
Haverford
• 9-5 overall
• 5-4 in CAL play
• Finished fifth in CAL
• 1-5 against D1 4A playoff teams
No. 17 Abington at No. 16 Downingtown West
Abington
• 11-6 overall
• 7-5 in SOL National play
• Finished fourth in SOL National
• 2-5 against D1 4A playoff teams with wins over #4 Pennsbury and #8 CB East
• Sean Touey leads Ghost attack
Downingtown West
• 9-3-6 overall
• 8-1-4 in Chest-Mont League play
• Finished second in Ches-Mont National Division to West Chester Henderson
• 2-3 against D1 4A playoff teams
• Attack led by Corron Covington
CLASS 3A
No. 9 Marple Newtown at No. 8 Upper Moreland
Upper Moreland
• 7-10-1 overall
• 3-10-1 in SOL American play
• Finished seventh in SOL American
• Did not play a 3A playoff team in regular season
Marple Newtown
• 4-9-1 overall
• 2-7-1 in CAL play
• Finished ninth in CAL
• 0-1 against 3A playoff teams
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