Three SOL boys’ soccer teams – Bensalem, William Tennent and Central Bucks West – advanced to Saturday’s District One Class AAAA quarterfinals. To view photos of the Bensalem/PW game, please visit the Photo Gallery.
#9 BENSALEM 1, #8 PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 0
On Tuesday, Bensalem found the back of the Sun Valley net five times to earn a trip to Plymouth Whitemarsh.
On Thursday, it was the Owls turn to play cardiac kids. With 50 seconds to go before a sudden death overtime would have been required, Eric Corry found Brian Kilcoyne with throw-in. Kilcoyne took advantage with a shot that connected for the game winning and only goal.
After not winning a playoff game in 16 years, the Owls have now won two in three days to open up districts.
Bensalem will have to keep that up, though, in order to take down 19-0 Great Valley on the road Saturday. That squad eliminated Wissahickon Thursday in penalty kicks and has yielded just six goals this year. If they can pull it off, though, the Owls will clinch a spot in the state playoffs and advance to the district semifinals.
“We’re happy to be where we are right now, but we still have a lot of work to do,” said Owls coach Joe Leone.
The big difference in this one proved to be defense, as the Owls stifled Plymouth Whitemarsh’s attack to the tune of about two shots on goal. The back line, which included Alec Rosenfeld, Avery Nyekan and Jimmy and Greg McDowell, made for a relatively comfortable night for keeper Chris Kilcoyne. He needed to make only a handful of stops to earn the shutout.
“Our back line played real well,” Leone said. “[Forward] Mike Henry had a real strong game and [midfielder] Jack Lee had a real strong game.”
“Their keeper did a nice job of holding them in it,” he added about Plymouth Whitemarsh.
The Colonials had a great run this year, one which included a share of the SOL American title with Upper Dublin and the school’s first playoff victory in over 30 years. They concluded their season at 15-3-2
Bensalem 0 1 1
Plymouth Whitemarsh 0 0 0
#22 WILLIAM TENNENT 1, #27 SOUDERTON 0 (OT)
In what has become a wide open tournament, William Tennent is making a name for itself as a threat to challenge for a spot in the state tournament.
First, the Panthers put together an outstanding effort in an opening round upset of Upper Dublin. Then came Thursday night’s win over an upstart Souderton squad that was fresh off a shocker of its own over Spring-Ford. It was far from easy, but the Panthers finally broke through in the first 10 minutes of sudden death to prevail by a 1-0 score.
“We demonstrated a lot of resiliency, and I couldn’t be prouder of the way our guys responded in the first overtime,” said Panthers coach Luke Gibson.
The game winner came from J.R. McCabe, who beat Souderton keeper Adam Strogis (4 saves) with a shot that found the back of the net.
“They came out with a ton of energy and were really buzzing around,” said Souderton coach Matt Benner. “We generated many opportunities and put ourselves in a position to win, but ultimately those opportunities were squandered.”
On Tuesday, the Panthers rallied from behind at Upper Dublin to win, 3-1 and advance to the round of 16. With Thursday’s win, Tennent is now 10-7-2 on the year and has a chance at advancing to states Saturday if it can take down undefeated 14th seed West Chester Rustin, which upset #3 Neshaminy to advance to the quarterfinals.
Tennent is now the lowest seed remaining in the tournament after taking down Souderton. The Indians had held that title following their huge upset of Spring-Ford in penalty kicks Tuesday.
Souderton, though, can celebrate their five straight victories to advance to the second round of districts. The last of those shook up the district field Tuesday with a penalty kick triumph at #6 Spring-Ford. The Indians finished their campaign at 8-10-2, which included a fifth place showing in the SOL Continental.
“Every single one of our seniors stepped up and played with a tremendous amount of heart and leadership tonight,” complimented Benner of a class that included Strogis, Nick Stulb, Tyler Eckardt, Justin Rodzewich, Felipe Silva and Jordan Rawa.
“I think our season had its ups and downs,” he added. “But to the credit of all the boys in the program, they stayed with it.”
William Tennent 0 0 1 (OT) 1
Souderton 0 0 0 (OT) 0
#10 CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 1, #26 RIDLEY 0
Everything may be coming together at just the right for CB West.
After knocking out Radnor in the opening round of districts Tuesday, the Bucks got a chance to host a second home game since Ridley upset seventh-seeded North Penn the same day. The Bucks took advantage, getting an early goal and making it stand up behind a great defensive effort in a 1-0 triumph.
“The early goal helped a lot,” said coach Stefan Szygiel. “We’re definitely excited and I was really pleased today with the buy-in of the team.”
The defense, led by Conrad Urffer, Brady Boylan, Jason Douple and Cameron Dukes, made it a tough outing for Ridley. Though there were some chances, Bucks goalie Redd Brown only had to stop one shot to earn the shutout.
The winner came eight minutes in when Stephen Werner connected with Jared Kelly for a shot that found the back of the Ridley net.
“It was a real solid effort by the entire unit,” said Szygiel. “Everybody really played focused and composed.”
The Bucks are now 12-5-3 this season and will host Downingtown West in Saturday’s quarterfinal round with a berth in states for the winner at stake. The Whippets (12-6-1 this season) stunned previously unbeaten Lower Merion in penalty kicks Thursday afternoon after the teams played to a scoreless draw through regulation and overtime.
A win would not only be a signature moment for the Bucks, but would also clinch a district semifinal berth. Even with a loss, though, the Bucks will get a chance to play for the fifth and final state playoff spot available for District I Class AAA teams next week.
“I don’t think it makes it easier. I don’t think it makes it harder,” Szygiel said about playing Downingtown West instead of Lower Merion.
“We’ll be prepared for them, and we'll go out there and we'll try to do our job,” Szygiel said. “We’re not done. They’re not ready for the season to be over and neither am I.”
Ridley saw its season conclude with a 13-5-2 record.
Central Bucks West 1 0 1
Ridley 0 0 0
#15 WEST CHESTER RUSTIN 1, #3 NESHAMINY 1 (RUSTIN WINS 5-4 IN PENALTY KICKS)
The favorite doesn’t always prevail.
And so it was Thursday night at “Heartbreak Ridge,” which lived up to the first part of its billing. Host Neshaminy got a first half goal but was unable to hold off West Chester Rustin before falling in penalty kicks, bringing a great year to an end.
The Redskins lone goal came from Nick Tucci in the 27th minute on a shot set up off a pass from Dan Martin. Rustin, though, answered midway through the second half, which forced overtime after neither squad was able to find a winner.
The same held true after two extra sessions and the first five penalty kicks. The Redskins were unable to convert their first sudden death penalty kick, which allowed Rustin’s converted shot to be the game winner.
Chris Watson made eight saves in the losing effort, while Martin had a solid game from his defensive position for Neshaminy.
“Dan did a nice job for us tonight and all year,” complimented coach Tom Foley of Martin.
Neshaminy, which had a first round bye, will finish the year having not lost a match in regulation. The SOL National champions finished at 15-1-3 on the year.
“I’m very proud of the boys,” said Foley. “They did have an undefeated season. No one can ever take that away from them.”
Rustin, which eliminated Strath Haven Tuesday, is now15-5 this year and will next host 20th seeded Conestoga in the quarterfinals Saturday. Conestoga also pulled an upset Thursday, taking out CB East in penalty kicks.
West Chester Rustin 0 1 0 (OT 1) 0 (OT 2) 5 (PKs) 2
Neshaminy 1 0 0 (OT 1) 0 (OT 2) 4 (PKs) 1
#1 GREAT VALLEY 0, #16 WISSAHICKON 0 (GREAT VALLEY WINS 5-4 IN PENALTY KICKS)
On a day filled with upsets, Wissahickon came very close to pulling off what would have arguably been the biggest. The Trojans fought top-seeded Great Valley to a scoreless draw during the first 80 minutes of play and continued that trend through 20 more minutes of overtime.
Great Valley, the Ches-Mont American Conference champions, had yet to be beaten or tied and stood at 18-0 going into the match. Despite a great challenge from the Trojans, the streak of success continued for Great Valley in penalty kicks, where Wissahickon finally succumbed by a 5-4 count.
“(It was a) great performance by the Wissahickon team and tough to take losing on PKs again at the same point in the district tournament,” said Trojans coach Stuart Malcolm, whose squad also fell in the round of 16 last year on penalty kicks to Central Bucks East. “(I’m) very proud of the players.”
The victory advanced Great Valley through to the quarterfinals where they will take on Bensalem.
Wissahickon has plenty of good to look back on, though, after wrapping up its campaign at 14-6 and defeating Pennsbury in the first round of districts. That mark included a 10-4 mark in the SOL American, which was good for third place.
Great Valley 0 0 0 (OT 1) 0 (OT 2) 4 (PKs) 1
Wissahickon 0 0 0 (OT 1) 0 (OT 2) 2 (PKs) 0
#20 CONESTOGA 1, #4 CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 1 (CONESTOGA WINS 5-4 IN PENALTY KICKS)
Mike Gorni and his Patriot squad have had a history of classic battles against perennial district power Conestoga, and the veteran coach knew the Pioneers were better than their 20th seed suggested.
“We knew as soon as we saw the draw – we got the respect we deserved and got a bye for our league and for ourselves, and that was great,” Gorni said. “But Conestoga has 15 wins for a reason.
“It was just the way the seeding worked out this year. We met a team we probably shouldn’t have met until the final four. It was two very good teams, and they won 5-4 in penalty kicks. What are you going to say?”
The Patriots had been to states six years in a row, a streak that was broken on Thursday night. The Pioneers have been to states three of the last six years. East advanced to the state semifinal round three years ago, and Conestoga won the state championship two years ago.
“These are two big-time programs, and they actually kind of mirrored each other a little bit this year,” Gorni said. “We had a nucleus of seniors who have been part of it and really needed to bring other kids along.
“They did it and we did it. We probably did it a little better comprehensively during the year, which is why we won the league title. They (the Pioneers) stayed right on people’s heels. Had they gotten the tiebreaker over Strath Haven in their own league, you’re probably talking a five or six seed.
“It was no news bulletin to their coaching staff or us. We knew this was an absolute beast of a second round game, and it was. It happens sometimes. Kudos to them, they won. It’s sad, but everybody has to move on. I think in a couple of days, everyone will know what kind of a great season we had, especially our senior captains.”
Those senior captains were Ryan Vare, Ryan Gleason, Kyle Clow, Broock Weiss and Dan Chilson.
“Those guys leave with three league championships in their four years, three district final fours, three trips to states and a hard way to end not going this year,” Gorni said.
The Patriots got on the scoreboard in the first 12 minutes of Thursday’s game.
“It was kind of an own goal,” Gorni said. “It came off of James Sutcliffe coming in off Evan Vare. He was in some traffic, and I actually think they headed it in
“We were pretty comfortable in the first half. We had the better of it. In the second half, they went with the wind, and I think they had the better of it.”
A goal by David Zipkin knotted the score 1-1 in the second half.
“He hit just a great shot – went down the flank, cut the ball back and hit a ball to the opposite side post,” Gorni said. “It was a very deserved goal.
“Both teams had opportunities to win it in both regulation and overtime, and neither team cashed in on those quality opportunities. There weren’t a lot of them, but there were enough that either team could have won before PKs. In PKs, they got five and we got four.”
The Patriots, who boast a tradition of excellence in soccer, had been to states in 11 of the last 16 years.
“It’s a little bit hard,” Gorni said. “Most seniors would look and say they had a great year at any other school, and our seniors are looking at winning a league title and saying it’s the first time they didn’t go to states and the district final four.
“When two great teams play and they play well, it’s easier to take. I would have been disappointed if we dominated and played a team we were much better than and lost.
“We played a very, very good team, and they came out edging us for a win. I’m disappointed for the kids but certainly proud of what they’ve done all year.”
The Patriots closed out their season with a 14-4 record (12-2 SOL). Conestoga will face West Chester Henderson in Saturday’s quarterfinal round.
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