Check out the recaps for SOL boys’ soccer teams in action Friday. Upper Moreland/Bensalem photos provided courtesy of John Gleeson. Check back for a gallery of photos. CLICK HERE to go directly to Suburban One Sports’ BOYS’ SOCCER GALLERIES.
SOL non-league crossover
UPPER MORELAND 5, BENSALEM 4
The Upper Moreland Golden Bears boys’ soccer team secured a hard-fought and character-building 5-4 victory over Bensalem this afternoon, bouncing back with significant grit after a disappointing loss yesterday.
The Golden Bears’ offense was powered by an incredible performance from Gabe Hendrickson, who scored four goals for Upper Moreland, including the crucial game-winning goal. Adding to the tally was Kosta Toumbanakis, who netted one goal to contribute to the win.
Upper Moreland had to battle to maintain their lead as Bensalem mounted a determined comeback in the second half, managing to tie the game. However, demonstrating impressive resilience, the Golden Bears refused to falter. The team showed true grit to rally and secure the 5-4 victory, making a strong statement after Thursday’s defeat.
Up next: Upper Moreland will visit Springfield Twp at 7 pm Monday. Bensalem will visit Council Rock South at 7 pm Monday.
NESHAMINY 3, CHELTENHAM 2 (2OT)
Neshaminy overcame two deficits. It overcame having to wait to finish the game – which Cheltenham had led 1-0 late in the first half before weather forced a stoppage with five seconds left before halftime.
Through it all, Neshaminy stuck together. And the hosts were rewarded when Christos Vasilarakis knocked home the game-winner in second overtime from a Ryan MacMullen setup to lift Neshaminy to a 3-2 double-overtime victory in Friday’s SOL Crossover game.
MacMullen also added a goal in the second half, knotting the score at 2-2.
Scoring summary
First half
Cheltenham goal
Dean Goodwin (N) from Brody Collins
Second half
Cheltenham goal
Ryan MacMullen (N) from Connor Choi
First overtime
No scoring
Second overtime
Christos Vasilarakis (N) from Ryan MacMullen
Neshaminy coach Tom Foley:
—A quick score: “We were losing 1-0 and we had a free kick just outside the top corner of the 18 on our left side. We talked about it at practice. Their goalkeeper – who’s very good – got yellow-carded on the play so he had to sit for five minutes.
“They don’t really have a backup, so our plan was to just put it in the box and see what happens. We couldn’t have drawn it up any better. Brody Collins served it into the box, Dean Goodwin got a head on it, and we tied it up.”
—The second half: “Cheltenham scored again. We had a bone-headed play and gave them basically a clean breakaway to an open net, and all they had to do was push it in. So we gave it back to them two minutes later.
“We had some speed on the flanks, and we were able to get behind them a lot today. We kept pressuring, pressuring, and pressuring. We had some really good opportunities, and you’re starting to think it’s going to be one of those days that we can’t get the equalizer.
“Eventually, with just a little under five minutes left, Connor Choi got down the right flank and just put a nice ball across the middle. Ryan MacMullin just had to push it into the open net, and we got the tie, 2-2.”
—Overtime: “The first overtime we were all over them. Their goalkeeper made probably the best save I’ve seen this season. I don’t know where the kid came from. It was outstanding. He made another good save, but he was in the right place at the right time. We came in and cranked the ball, and it went right to him. Anywhere else it would have gone in. And we missed a head ball coming in that we should have done better with.
“In the second overtime, we kept going down the flank. Ryan McMullin got down the right side, he knocked the ball across, it hit some traffic, Christos Vasilarakis got it around the penalty spot and side volleyed it in for the game-winner. It was nice.”
—Props: “It was a team effort. Connor Choi has lethal speed, and he got up and down the right side with regularity and did a great job. Zach Hargraves got up and down the left side, just constantly beating those guys on balls they played down the flank, and they just created dangerous opportunities for us all day. I was just glad we finally cashed in. It was a great team win because when we get behind, we’ve struggled scoring goals this year, so I was happy we were finally rewarded for some of our hard work and got a goal or two.
“This gives us a little bump up in the district rankings, so that was good, too. It would have been rather bleak going in if we lost today, and everything would have been a must-win. You never want that to happen to you. It was a good confidence-builder. Hopefully, those goals will keep going in for us.”
Cheltenham coach Danny Shields:
–On the game: “The game started with a free kick outside the corner of the penalty area on the left side. The wall was set, and the defense was supposed to be set up at the same line as the wall, giving a buffer of around 14 yards for the keeper. Next thing, everyone was camped in the six-yard box, leaving Neshaminy unable to be offside. The ball came in and was headed into the goal, leaving the game tied at 1-1.
“Very shortly afterward, Ean Justice delivered a ball into the box, Emile Chanoine headed it onto the post. Billy Fishman was given a through ball which he tucked into the right-hand side netting, leaving Cheltenham 2-1 up. From then on the Cheltenham players for some unknown reason, seemed to check out of the game mentally. The Neshaminy team just kept on attacking our defense time after time. Wolf Brown was, once again, called upon to bail the team out, time after time after time. Some of his saves were out of the world class goalkeeper highlights. Ean Justice , Emile Chanoine, and Nate Leary were the only other players that looked like they wanted to win this game. Wolf, Ean , Nate and Emile fought valiantly to try and secure the win, but with no help from the rest of the team, the inevitable happened with about 4 minutes left in regular time the right winger drove a ball across the box and it was put into the goal by another Neshaminy player, leaving the score tied at 2-2 after normal time.
“During the break, the discussion was about the lack of effort from the rest of the team and to try and get some help from them. It was also discussed that a tied result was not a bad thing. Unfortunately, nothing got better, and with about 4 minutes to go in extra time, Neshaminy scored the winner.
–Props: “It was a pity there wasn’t a scout watching this game because, there is no doubt in my mind that he would be approaching Wolf, Ean, Emile, and the right winger for Neshaminy. These young men were outstanding. Cheltenham players will need to redeem themselves going into Monday’s game against New Hope.”
Up next: Cheltenham visits New Hope-Solebury at 3:30 pm Monday. Neshaminy will visit Bensalem at 7 pm Wednesday.
Cheltenham 1 1 0 0 – 2
Neshaminy 1 1 0 1 – 3
WILLIAM TENNENT 2, METHACTON 1 (OT)
Julian Krapivnitskiy scored off a corner by Chase Criss in overtime as William Tennent spoiled Methacton’s Senior Night with a 2-1 overtime win in Friday’s nonleague game.
Josh Laskowski scored Tennent’s first goal unassisted.
William Tennent coach Angelo Albanese: “Great game in a big atmosphere as it was their Senior Night. They controlled much of the possession but we found ways to score.”
Up next: Tennent looks to continue its winning ways when it visits Lower Moreland at 7 pm Monday.
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