Council Rock North and Central Bucks West will be in action when the PIAA Class 4A Tournament gets underway on Tuesday.
Council Rock North and Central Bucks West will represent the SOL when the PIAA Class 4A Tournament begins on Tuesday. Central Bucks West will take on District 12 champion La Salle, which is ranked sixth in the state in the PSCA/Angelo’s Soccer Corner poll.
Council Rock North is coming off a 2-0 loss to a Conestoga team ranked number one in the state. The Pioneers scored a pair of first-half goals, but the Indians held them off the rest of the way. Rock North will face a Northeast squad that fell to La Salle in the District 12 title game.
#1-4 CENTRAL BUCKS WEST vs. 12-1 LA SALLE (at Northeast High School, 7 p.m.)
Central Bucks West
- 16-6 overall
- 9-3 in SOL Continental play, finished second to North Penn
- First trip to the state tournament since 1982
- Eight-game winning streak snapped in District One 4A semifinal loss to Council Rock North
- Scored 40 goals (2.2) and allowed 17 (0.9) in regular season
- Offense is led by Tarin Morris, Reed Sturza, Carson Snyder, Alan Zlotin and Luke Fehrman
- Defense is led by CJ Lang, Michael Redfield and Nick Centenera
- Goalkeeper Dylan Smith had eight shutouts in the regular season.
How they got here: In Saturday’s third place game, Central Bucks West fell to #13 Kennett 2-1. Kevin Snavely accounted for West’s only goal.
In the district semifinals, Central Bucks West was edged by #19 Council Rock North 3-2 in penalty kicks after the two teams battled to a scoreless tie at the end of two overtimes.
In a quarterfinal game, Central Bucks West battled #2 Lower Merion to 0-0 tie after two overtime periods. The Bucks defeated the Aces 4-3 in penalty kicks with CJ Lang delivering the game winner. Goalkeeper Dylan Smith had seven saves – three in penalty kicks – to record his ninth clean sheet.
In the second round, Central Bucks West – after an opening round bye – defeated #10 Central Bucks East 3-2, using goals from Tarin Morris, Carson Snyder and Luke Fehrman.
La Salle
- 18-1-2 overall
- 10-0-1 PCL champions
- PCL title was the program’s ninth
- Winners of back-to-back District 12 titles
- Offense is led by senior Jacob Mittman, junior Chris Metzler and senior Christian Calabretta.
- Defense anchored by 6-5 goalie Brett Werner, a La Salle University commit.
- Only loss came at the hands of Pennington on Sept. 17 (2-0)
How they got here: In the District 12 title game, La Salle earned a 5-1 win over Public League champion Northeast, blowing open a close game with four second-half goals. Joseph Brigidi, Christian Calabretta, Chris Metzler, Gio Randazzo and Jake Crawford each contributed a goal.
In the PCL title game, La Salle defeated Roman 1-0. Senior Jacob Mittman scored the game’s only goal.
In a PCL semifinal, La Salle downed St. Joe’s 2-0 in penalty kicks after the two teams were deadlocked 2-2 after double overtime. Chris Metzler and Cole Hammel scored for the Explorers in a first half that saw the teams score all four of their goals.
In PCL quarterfinal action, La Salle received single goals from Sean McCallum, Chris Metzler and Christian Calabretta in its 3-0 win over Cardinal O’Hara.
#1-2 COUNCIL ROCK NORTH vs #12-2 NORTHEAST (at Harry S Truman, 7 p.m.)
Council Rock North
- 15-7-1 overall
- Suburban One League National Conference champions (10-1-1)
- Offense is led by Jon Pugh, Ryan Pave, Connor O’Donnell and Sean Finneyfrock
- Defense is led by Akash Shah, TJ Grube, Jeremy Smithline, Zach Saifer and keeper Ed Mancinelli
How they got here: In Saturday’s district title game, Council Rock North fell to #1 Conestoga 2-0. Chris Donovan scored a pair of first-half goals to account for all the scoring.
In the district semifinal, Council Rock North battled #7 Central Bucks West to a scoreless tie after double overtime and then edged the Bucks 3-2 in penalty kicks.
In a quarterfinal game, Council Rock North edged Wissahickon 1-0 when Sean Finneyfrock (Ryan Pave assist) scored 90 seconds into OT.
In a second round game, Council Rock North upset #3 North Penn 3-0. Conor O’Donnell scored twice and Ryan Pave had one goal.
In an opening round game, Council Rock North edged #14 Upper Dublin 1-0. Sean Finneyfrock scored the game winner while keeper Ed Mancinelli stopped eight shots.
Northeast
- 10-3-1 overall
- 8-1-1 Public League champions
- Winners of four consecutive Public League titles
- Attack led by Aleandro Giraldo and Sidiki Fofana
How they got here: In the District 12 title game, Northeast fell to La Salle 5-1. Alejandro Giraldo scored the lone goal for Northeast.
In the Public League title game, Northeast defeated Central 2-1 in double overtime. The win avenged a regular season 1-0 loss to Central.
In the Public League semifinal, Northeast defeated George Washington 5-1. Alejandro Giraldo scored a pair of goals while Juan Arroyo, Sidiki Fofana and Arthur Ferreira each added single goals.
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