Check out the recaps for SOL boys’ soccer teams in action. Abington/Neshaminy photos provided courtesy of John Gleeson. Check back for a gallery of photos.
SOL Liberty/Freedom Crossover
LOWER MORELAND 2, WISSAHICKON 0
If the Lions were looking for a bounce-back win – and they were, they got just that with an impressive shutout win over their hosts in a crossover game.
“It was important for us to get back on the field after Tuesdays tough loss at Hatboro Horsham,” LM coach Bob Barnhart said. “We know Wissahickon has been a tough SOL team for years, and they were coming off a big win against Upper Moreland earlier in the week.
“I told my guys that we got away from ‘our game’ a little bit against HH, and I just wanted us to get back to what we have been doing well this season. We have some guys that are so competitive they don't like to lose at anything. Even in training, they expect to win even in a 3v7 scenario, so the loss on Tuesday was still in their mind. I said to them that I wanted us to look to strike early and often, and we were able to slot one home in the first five minutes.”
John Kroll connected on the Lions’ first goal that turned out to be the game-winner.
“John Kroll has been playing solid so far for us this season, so it was nice to see him get a goal today,” Barnhart said. “After that, I thought Wiss put on some significant pressure and got us a little out of our game. The game started to get a little disconnected with all the stoppages in the second half, but we were able to put a second goal away before halftime and go up 2-0.
“I was able to get some of the guys deeper on the bench into the game in the second half, which will hopefully pay off for us as we get later into the season. This group just keeps on finding ways to fight every inch on the field and that is the brand of soccer that I think is the most enjoyable to watch. We’re at the midpoint in the season, and I can say this has been one of the most enjoyable groups to watch play the game.”
Lower Moreland (5-1-2 SOL) will host Upper Dublin on Monday, and Wissahickon (4-5-1, 4-4) will be on the road at Cheltenham Monday.
Lower Moreland 2-0 2
Wissahickon 0-0 0
Non-league
ABINGTON 1, NESHAMINY 0
Abington’s Liam Hartman connected on a penalty kick midway through the second half of Friday’s non-league battle, and that goal was the difference in the game. The PK, according to Abington coach Randy Garber, was awarded when Thiago Danielle was tripped in the box.
“It was a good game,” Neshaminy coach Tom Foley said. “We put a lot of pressure on the last 10 minutes. We had a free kick from probably 25 yards out. Jose (Rivera) hit it off the crossbar, and it bounced straight down.
“We couldn’t tuck that in. It’s just one of those things. We can’t seem to find the goal. I always like playing Abington. They’re big, they’re physical, they’re fast, and they have two kids that can actually throw the ball in a country mile so that was very, very dangerous. We buttoned that down pretty well, we matched them physically, we traded body blows. They got a break, we didn’t, and that’s soccer.”
The Redskins have scored just one goal in their last four games.
“It’s just the way things are going,” Foley said. “They got a penalty kick today, we should have gotten a penalty kick yesterday. We hit the crossbar, it bounces straight down and doesn’t go in, then we hit the rebound over the goal. We just can’t catch a break. It’s a shame because the kids have played legitimately well. We’re just not scoring the ball.
“We gave them the weekend off. I’m sure the kids are dead tired. We’re just going to regroup. We play Souderton on Monday, we’re going in thinking the season is 0-0 and looking to get that first win for the second half of the season and take it from there. We told the kids to keep their heads up, they played well, but they don’t have anything to show for it right now. It’s one of those unique situations. It’s tough to be critical of your team. They’re, for whatever reason, just not scoring goals. Hopefully, they start to come for them sooner or later.”
Friday’s game was the third in four days for both teams and the second in as many days.
“It’s tough, and I think both teams were a little tired,” Foley said. “We played three games in four days, and that’s brutally unfair to ask of high school kids. They don’t even ask the pros to play that kind of schedule. I thought we looked physically tired as the game wore on, but we still competed and did a nice job and gave a very good Abington team all they could handle.
“They probably had the better of the dangerous chances, but we got forward and did some things and put some pressure on them. It was probably one of their better tests as well also. It was one of those games it was high risk high reward. If we win, we get big points. If we lose, we lose an opportunity to get points. If we had won, it would have paid off big for us, but we didn’t get that break today.”
Foley acknowledged the strong play of his goalkeeper.
“Logan Gildea had a couple of nice saves, and he managed the box well on those dangerous long throws,” Foley said. “Jose Rivera worked his butt off up top. Overall, defensively all four kids in the back did really well. That’s a very dangerous team they have. They have some guys up top that are big and strong and physical. They’re technical, they’re a handful. For the most part we buttoned them up. Overall, it was a pretty competitive game. I enjoy playing Randy’s team, they’re every bit as good as their record.”
Abington (9-0-1, 7-0-1 SOL) will host Springfield Township on Monday, and Neshaminy (4-4-2, 3-3-2) will travel to Souderton on Monday.
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 4, UPPER DUBLIN 0
Logan Campbell’s brace led a potent Titan attack, and it was Campbell putting the Titans on the scoreboard with a goal that would stand as the game-winner. Sean Reiber’s goal on a free kick sent the Titans into halftime with a 2-0 lead.
In the second half, Campbell tacked on his second goal, and Braeden Black connected on his first varsity goal.
“Logan Campbell and Dennis Cleary were phenomenal in the back and shut down any and all opportunities for Upper Dublin,” South coach Joe Coscia said.
Central Bucks South (7-2-1, 5-2-1 SOL) will host Pennsbury on Monday, and Upper Dublin 4-6, 4-4) will travel to Lower Moreland on Monday.
Upper Dublin 0-0 0
Central Bucks South 2-2 4
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