Abington boys’ soccer advanced to Tuesday’s District 1 4A semifinals with a win Saturday. Abington/CB South photos provided courtesy of John Gleeson. Check back for a gallery of photos: https://solsports.zenfolio.com/f131331739
CLASS 4A
#6 ABINGTON 1, #14 CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 0
The Ghosts – thanks to a late goal by Braeden Delgado – edged the Titans to advance to Tuesday’s District 1 4A semifinal round. The win also ensured Abington a spot in the PIAA 4A State Tournament.
According to coach Randy Garber, Saturday’s game didn’t feel a whole lot like a district quarterfinal game.
“No soccer was being played today,” the Ghosts’ coach said. “Anybody that was there would agree there was no soccer being played. The ball was in the air most of the time or out of bounds. It was extremely physical, too many fouls. I told the boys – you’re not going to play soccer today, you’re going to play survival.
“It came down to who is going to make the mistake was going to be the difference in the game.”
With only five minutes remaining in regulation, Delgado scored the game’s only goal.
“Their goalkeeper was extremely good, and Delgado hit a ball along the floor, and it had eyes,” Garber said. “The angle I was on – it hit the side netting in the far post that no one saw.”
“We were fortunate. I’m going to admit it. We were very, very fortunate. It could have easily went the other way. The game was extremely physical, and in this day and age, no one wants to see that. It was way, way too many restarts and dead balls.
“It was just first-time balls out of the defense. A ball came into the defense – it was boom. There was no
thought of settling the ball or connecting passes. It was back and forth. It could have been a tennis match. The ball kept going back and forth, back and forth.”
Garber had plenty of praise for his defense in the shutout win.
“Justin Waterfall, our goalkeeper, played an extremely good game,” the Ghosts’ coach said. “He made some key saves.
“My whole entire defense was brilliant – Brandon Escobar, Jose Rosario-Martinez, Daniel Oliveira and Oscar Hoffman – we played him in the defense today, Peter Cleary, and Brandon Murtaj. Those were the guys that headed the ball out and just did a superb job.”
Garber also credited Braeden Brownholtz along with Kyle Sheridan for turning in strong performances.
“It was great weather, a great crowd, but it just was disappointing that the game was played like that,” Garber said. “We survived and got out of it. We’re in states, and we get another game at home on Tuesday night.”
Abington (19-2, 15-1 SOL) will host #7 West Chester Rustin in Tuesday’s District 1 4A semifinal. Central Bucks South (15-4-2, 11-3-2) will host #15 Boyertown in a playback game on Tuesday.
Central Bucks South 0-0 0
Abington 0-1 1
#4 DOWNINGTOWN EAST 2, #12 COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 1
Two days after an emotional win in penalty kicks over fifth-seeded Central Bucks East, the Indians travelled to Downingtown for a quarterfinal game against the fourth-seeded Cougars.
The Cougars scored on an indirect kick with 1:50 remaining in regulation to break a 1-1 tie, a goal that stood as the game-winner.
“We had the wind at our back the first half and controlled most of play the first half,” Rock South coach Joe Stackhouse said. “They had the wind at their back the second half, and they controlled most of play the second half.
“The wind was an aid, but I think we hit the wall after playing the extra 30 minutes the other night. We played well enough to win, but we hit the wall. We have a recovery day tomorrow, and we’ll have a light practice Monday, but we’ve got to get some people to step back up. They all played excellent in the East game. I just think they hit the wall today.”
The Indians took a 1-0 lead 17 minutes into the game when Ari Pollack scored with an assist from Windsor Varady. The Cougars evened the score – also on a restart, and that 1-1 tie held until the game’s final minutes.
“Ari (Pollack) played really well again,” Stackhouse said. “Our defensive core played really well. The last goal we gave up was an unfortunate one.
“Downingtown East was the four seed, and to keep them in check all day, they didn’t overwhelm us. It was a two-half game. We owned the first half, and they probably owned the second half. In the first half, we totally outshot them, outplayed them, out- possessed them, and I think they were happy to get out of there at 1-1 at halftime.”
Council Rock North (15-3-2, 12-2-2 SOL) will travel to #8 Lower Merion for a playback game on Tuesday.
Council Rock North 1-0 1
Downingtown East 1-1 2
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