Check out the recaps for SOL boys’ soccer teams in action Tuesday. CB East/Cheltenham photos courtesy of Tracy Valko. CLICK HERE for galleries of photos for SOL BOYS’ SOCCER.
Non-league
SPRINGFIELD TWP 3, UPPER DUBLIN 2 (2 OT)
Chase Rubincam turned Brendan Noonan’s free kick near midfield into the game-winner in the closing minutes of the second overtime.
It was Rubincam’s second goal of the night. The senior center back opened the scoring in the 18th minute with an assist from Harry Bates. An own goal four minutes later sent the Spartans into halftime with a 2-0 lead that turned out to be anything but secure.
Just as the Spartans dominated play in the first half, the Cardinals did the same in the second. Seven minutes into the second half, Reilly McLaughlin scored with an assist from Kaleb Abebe, and the score was deadlocked after Corey Abramson scored with an assist from Chase Rappaport, setting the stage for overtime.
Tuesday’s win wrapped up a nine-day stretch that saw the Spartans face a pair of last year’s first place teams (Council Rock North and Central Bucks East) as well as a New Hope-Solebury squad that was in first place in the Freedom Division heading into Friday’s game and a Great Valley team ranked sixth in the latest District 1 4A power rankings.
The Spartans capped off that stretch with a non-league game against an Upper Dublin team that is 11th in the latest district power rankings. They finished 3-0-2 in that difficult five-game stretch.
“Obviously, we feel like we feel like we have won all of them, but I guess everyone feels like that,” Springfield Twp coach Dan Meder said. “To come out with three wins and two ties – if you had told me that in the beginning of the season, I would have been really happy with it.”
Scoring Summary
First half
Chase Rubincam (S) from Harry Bates 18th minute
Own Goal 22nd minute
Second half
Reilly McLaughlin (UD) from Kaleb Abebe 47th minute
Corey Abramson (UD) from Chase Rappaport 77th minute
First OT – No score
Second OT
Chase Rubincam (S) from Brendan Noonan
Springfield coach Dan Meder on the game: “Our first goal was 18 minutes into the first half, and eight minutes later, we kind of forced them into an own goal, so it was 2-0 at halftime.
“In the second half, we just went out flat. I don’t know if we thought we’d already won. We weren’t as sharp in the second half, and Upper Dublin made us pay for it because they’re a good team.
“I’m really happy with the reaction to that setback. I wasn’t happy with the performance in the second half, but I’m happy with the way they responded. I don’t know that anybody had their best game today, but everybody worked hard.”
–The OT game-winner: “In overtime, we seemed to get our intensity back. It was back and forth – the whole game was back and forth. We had a free kick from about midfield – just on their half of the field. Brendan Noonan, one of our backs, served a beautiful ball in, and Chase got in on it and redirected it perfectly into goal.”
–Man of the match: “It’s not often your center back scores two goals. (Chase Rubincam) was the player of the game in that rite.”
Upper Dublin coach Noah Johnson on the game: “Springfield dominated the entire first half. We just weren’t really ready or mentally here. It just felt like we were just really confused as to what was going on.
“In the second half, we flipped a switch on and were able to dominate the second half and fight all the way back to bring the score to 2-2.
“Both teams were obviously super tired going into overtime. We unfortunately fouled someone right on our side of the 50, and with that foul, they were able to get a free kick and set themselves up for a chance to score. This kid (Chase Rubincam) did an absolutely amazing job of not looking at the goal and flicking it on to the goal.
“Whenever we don’t do well, it’s on me. It’s definitely not the boys’ fault, but tomorrow we’ll make sure we hit the training ground and make sure things like this just don’t happen anymore.”
Up next: Springfield Twp (10-1-3, 4-1-1 SOL) does not have another game until next Tuesday when the Spartans will host Lower Moreland. Upper Dublin (8-4-1, 5-0-1) will host Abington in a battle of Liberty Division leaders next Tuesday.
Upper Dublin 0-2-0-0 2
Springfield Twp 2-0-0-1 3
BENSALEM 2, ABINGTON 2 (2 OT)
The visiting Owls – behind a pair of goals from Abou Bayo – rallied from an early 1-0 deficit to take a 2-1 lead into halftime. The Ghosts knotted the score in the second half, and neither team scored the rest of the way.
While it wasn’t a win, a tie against the Ghosts – who own a share the top spot in the SOL Liberty standings – felt pretty close to a win for the Owls. Especially since they were down a player for the entire overtime after one of their players received a red card late in regulation.
“This was definitely huge for the boys,” Bensalem coach Kevin Bock said. “They played really great tonight.”
Assisting on Bayo’s goals were Tejas Sasan on the first and goalie Matt Rowan on the second.
First half
Abington goal
Abou Bayo (B) from Tejas Sasan
Abou Bayo (B) from Matt Rowan
Second half
Abington goal
First overtime – No score
Second overtime – No score.
Bensalem coach Kevin Bock on the game: Abington scored first but our boys responded right away as we scored about a minute after they did on a quick transition from the back where our keeper played a quick ball out to Humza Baig, who then found Tejas Sasan who was able to play Abou Bayo through on the left wing where he slotted one home. We ended up scoring a second goal right before the half when our keeper, Matt Rowan, punted a ball out and Abou was able to receive the ball and ultimately score his second goal of the night with some impressive individual work.
“Abington came out and put a lot of pressure on us to start the second half and ultimately scored a goal to tie it. The game then became very back and forth with high energy from both teams. We ended up getting a red card towards the end of regulation and played the entire overtime a man down. “
–Props: “Our defense played great the whole night. Strong performances from Tommy Hurst, Tyler Anderson, Isaac Matthieu, Nick Petrone, and Humza Baig. Matt Rowan made several great saves throughout the night. Also hit strong midfield play from Andrew price, Chase Esposito, and Brian Bock.”
Up next: Bensalem (4-7-2, 2-4-0 SOL) will host Lansdale Catholic in a non-league game Saturday at 10 am. Abington (8-3-3, 5-0-1) will travel to Upper Dublin for a Liberty Division showdown next Tuesday.
Bensalem 2-0-0-0 2
Abington 1-1-0-0 2
PENNRIDGE 3, COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 1
Jace Soto scored a pair of goals to lead the Rams to the non-league road win. Logan Lamaina added a goal and assist, and Parker Annan had two assists as the trio combined for the Rams’ three goals.
Lamaina’s goal 10 minutes into the game with an Annan assist gave the Rams a lead they would not lose. Soto followed with a goal (Annan assist) before the Golden Hawks scored on a penalty kick to make it a 2-1 game at halftime.
Soto’s second goal, this one with a Lamaina assist, gave the Rams their final margin of victory.
The Rams, winners of three of their last four games, have rebounded nicely from a 1-5 start. They are 4-2-2 in their last eight games.
Scoring Summary
First half
Logan Lamaina (P) from Parker Annan
Jace Soto (P) from Parker Annan
Reid Vandemark (CRS) Penalty kick
Second half
Jace Soto (P) from Logan Lamaina
Pennridge coach Aaron Rapinski on the win: “We knew that South was missing a few key players, but we knew that we had to take advantage of that and attack those areas of the field. Credit to coach Nicholl and the boys over there. They generated a handful of chances and could have gotten another goal or two, but we played what probably was our most complete game today. We’re happy with the win and need to roll this momentum into next week.”
–The game: “We came out strong early and were able to score within the first 10 minutes of the game. Parker Annan sent Logan Lamaina in on a through ball, and he was able to hammer it home. A little past the halfway point of the first half, Parker beat a defender in the box with a really nice move and found Jace Soto on the six for a finish. We had an unfortunate handball call go against us in our own box to give up a PK with about five minutes left to go in the half which they converted.
“They came out of halftime strong, but we weathered the first portion of their attack. We regained some possession and were able to get on the score sheet again. Logan Lamaina got in behind the defense, got caught up with a defender and their keeper, then the ball popped out to the PK spot and Jace Soto was there to put away his second of the game.”
Council Rock South coach Alan Nicholl on the game: “We gave up a goal three minutes in, and our lack of energy cost us in the first half today- unsurprising with our fifth game in eight days. They scored a second on a bad giveaway in our end, and we responded with a PK (Reid Vandemark) before halftime.
“I felt we came out with much more energy in the second half and took the game to Pennridge – we just couldn’t capitalize with a goal. Pennridge put the game away with a third as the half wore on. We don’t play until next Tuesday, so a few days off is just what we need to get ready for the run-in.”
Up next: Pennridge (5-7-2, 1-4-1 SOL) will host Central Bucks East next Tuesday (7 pm), and Council Rock South (7-5-2, 3-2-1) will host Neshaminy Tuesday (7 pm).
Pennridge 2-1 3
Council Rock South 1-0 1
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 5, CHELTENHAM 0
The Patriots celebrated Senior Night with a decisive non-league win over Cheltenham.
They led by just a 1-0 score at halftime, thanks to a goal by Aidan Pasternak, but they exploded for four second-half goals – one each by seniors Devan Donskoy, Keon Reid, Nick Bonargo and Timmy Reimer.
Bongargo’s one-goal, two-assist effort led the Patriots, who also received assists from seniors Chris Gulbish and Sean O’Donnell as well as junior goalie Liam Harding.
Scoring Summary
First half
Aidan Pasternak (CBE) from Sean O’Donnell 21st minute
Second half
Devan Donskoy (CBE) from Nick Bonargo 42nd minute
Koen Reid (CBE) from Chris Gulbish 57th minute
Nick Bonargo (CBE) from Liam Harding 75th minute
Timmy Reimer (CBE) from Nick Bonargo 78th minute
Central Bucks East coach Josh Isaacsohn on the game: “I’m very proud of the seniors and especially the kids that might not be getting the time they want because they stepped up and really played great for their families on a big Senior Night.
“We’ve been frustrated the last three or four games, feeling like we played really good games. We just couldn’t find the net. On Senior Night, we challenged the seniors to step up, and they really, really did, and most of them played almost the whole game, so it was nice to see.
“We kind of knew Cheltenham would be tired because they played a double overtime game last night, but credit to them. They just kept coming at us.”
–Seniors show their character: “We have 11 seniors, and as a coach, I did want to put them all in, but none of them are goalies, so I had an issue where it would have been one guy sitting. When I spoke to the captains about it, they said – ‘How about the two senior captains sit – start our goalkeeper and (junior captain) Dan Frye, our all-state player,’ and they’d sub in, and that’s what they did. To show the character that they did by doing that is just a huge, huge thing. It makes me very, very proud.”
–Props: “Nick Bonargo ended up having a big game. He was a bit frustrated trying to find the net for a while, and quite honestly, that was the story of us.”
Up next: Central Bucks East (6-5-2, 3-3-0 SOL) will travel to Notre Dame High School (NJ) on Saturday for a 10 am contest. Cheltenham (7-5-1, 3-2-1) will be on the road at William Tennent next Tuesday.
Cheltenham 0-0 0
Central Bucks East 1-4 5
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