SOL Boys’ Soccer District Preview (Opening Round)

Check out the preview capsules for Thursday’s opening round boys’ soccer games. Eight SOL soccer teams will see action in this week’s District One AAA Tournament. Three received first round byes, but the remaining five will begin district play on Thursday.

Talk about a change of plans.

Abington, the 27^th-seed in the 28-team field, was game planning for Tuesday’s opening round District One AAA game against sixth-seeded Penncrest when the Ghosts found out the morning of the scheduled game that an error had been made in calculating the power points used to determine seeding. All games for Tuesday were cancelled, and when the new seedings were announced, the Ghosts found out they needed to win a play-in game at Downingtown West if they hoped to be included in the field of 28.

In the wind and driving rain, the Ghosts – after the long trip to Downingtown – overcame a 1-0 halftime deficit to defeat Downingtown West 2-1, earning the 28^th and final spot in the district tournament field.

Matt Bachmann scored the equalizer, and Jacob Katro found the net on a penalty kick for the game winner.

With less than 24 hours to prepare, the Ghosts will travel to Plymouth Whitemarsh on Thursday for an opening round game against the fifth-seeded Colonials, who moved from seventh to fifth in the new seedings.

While the Ghosts had to play their way into the tournament with the revised seedings, Central Bucks East found itself earning an unexpected bye, moving up from the fifth to the fourth spot. Pennsbury, seeded 16^th in the original bracket, lost its home game and, instead, will be traveling to Radnor, which now owns the 16^th seed. Central Bucks West, seeded 28^th in the original bracket, has moved up to 26^th and will travel to ninth-seeded North Penn.

#2 NESHAMINY (Will host winner of #20 Lower Merion at #15 Boyertown)
Neshaminy

16-2-0 overall
SOL National Conference champion (14-0)
Beat both #17 Pennsbury (2-1 & 2-1) and #28 Abington (3-2 & 3-0) twice.
Recorded six shutouts.

Neshaminy players to watch: James Rowan, senior defender; Kenny Herrmann, senior forward; Devin Metee senior, defender; James McCourt, senior midfielder.

#3 WISSAHICKON (Will host winner of #18 Harriton at #15 Springfield-Delco)

Wissahickon

15-2-0 overall
13-2-0 second place SOL American Conference
Defeated #5 Plymouth Whitemarsh 3-0 and #16 Radnor 2-1.
Knocked #2 Neshaminy from the ranks of the undefeated with a 2-1 win on Sept. 12.
Senior Cole Kropnick surpassed the 50-goal mark for his career this season.
Recorded six shutouts

Wissahickon players to watch: Cole Kropnick, senior attacker; John Carrozza, senior goalkeeper; Devon Memis, senior midfielder.

#4 CENTRAL BUCKS EAST (Will host winner of #20 Methacton at #13 Strath Haven)

Central Bucks East

16-2-0 overall
13-1-0 SOL Continental Conference champions
Beat #9 North Penn twice (1-0 & 2-1).
Defeated previously undefeated District 2 power Coughlin (3-1)
Won first 12 conference games; did not allow a goal until the seventh game of the season.
Split regular season games with #26 CB West, winning the first on Sept. 17 (3-1) but falling in the second on Oct. 13 (2-1)

Central Bucks East players to watch: J.R. Eisold, Brian Gilligan, Evan Vare, Alex Parasky.

#9 NORTH PENN vs. #26 CENTRAL BUCKS WEST

North Penn

15-3-0 overall
12-2-0, second place in SOL Continental Conference
Beat #26 Central Bucks West twice (3-0 & 6-1).
Two of the Knights’ three losses came at the hands of #4 CB East
Defense has not allowed a goal in the past three games and only allowed more than one goal twice all season long.

North Penn players to watch: Drew McMenamin, senior defender; Kevin McKenna, senior forward; Nick Miller, senior midfielder; Brad Deckel, senior midfielder.

Central Bucks West

10-6-2 overall
9-4-1 third place in SOL Continental Conference
Handed #4 Central Bucks East its first conference loss of the season on Oct. 13 after a 12-0 start in conference play for the Patriots.

Central Bucks West players to watch: Jason Douple, senior defender; Conrad Urffer, senior midfielder; Bryan Van Eekelen, senior forward.

#5 PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH vs. #28 ABINGTON

Plymouth Whitemarsh

15-2-0 overall
SOL American Conference champions (13-1-0)
Beat #3 Wissahickon 2-1.
Responded to first defeat of season with six consecutive shutouts of opponents.

Plymouth Whitemarsh players to watch: Alex Bilodeau, senior; Cameron Johnson, senior; David Reina, senior; Austin Betterly, junior.

Abington

9-7-3 overall
Third place SOL National Conference (6-6-2)
Beat #8 Penncrest (1-0) and #17 Pennsbury (3-2).
Earned a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Downingtown West on Wednesday in a one-game playoff to advance to the district tournament.

Abington players to watch: Matt Tracey, senior; Aiden Coyle, junior; Juan Castillo, sophomore; Matt Bachmann, junior.

#17 PENNSBURY at #16 RADNOR

Pennsbury

12-4-2 overall
11-3-0 second place SOL National Conference
Beat #28 Abington (3-0)
Goalie Eric Gagliardi closed out season with three consecutive shutouts; finished the season with nine total.

Pennsbury players to watch: Colin Marks, junior midfielder; Eric Gagliardi, senior goalkeeper; Alex Kardos, senior, midfielder; Alex Tennant, senior defender.

Radnor