Check out the recaps for SOL boys’ soccer teams in action Monday. CB South/Bensalem photos provided by Darryl Rule of J&D Photography.
SOL American Conference
UPPER MORELAND 2, SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 1 (2OT)
Chris O’Donnell has been clutch for the Golden Bears this season, and the UM senior Mateo Infante (assist) delivered yet again when he beat the goalie on a one-on-one breakaway, putting the ball in the back of the net two minutes into the second overtime.
“(Coach) Dan (Meder) and I are always commenting to each other – it doesn’t matter what our records are, we always play each other tough,” UM coach Matt Duffey said. “Even last year when we (won one game), both of the games were really good games. We fought hard and had a lot of good chances. They were one of our only ties last year.”
Prior to Monday’s win, the Golden Bears were seventh in the District One 3A power rankings – eight teams advance to the postseason.
“This is a situation where – one of my coaches said – it’s been 10 years since Upper Moreland has had a chance to get in the playoffs,” Duffey said. “This is huge for us. The kids are really, really excited.
“To go from 1-15-1 last year to even making the playoffs at this point, I’m thrilled, absolutely thrilled.”
If the Golden Bears needed a wake-up call, they got one when the Spartans scored three-and-a-half minutes into the game.
“They came out really, really strong and were really pressuring us hard, and our boys initially weren’t responding,” Duffey said. “Springfield came out and played really hard right off the bat.
“One of the things we’ve been stressing to the boys is we just can’t keep coming out slow and trying to work our way into the game. We have to come out strong, and they got the message and they came out really strong in the second half. To Springfield’s credit, they gave us everything we could handle today just like they do all the time.”
The Spartans’ 1-0 lead held up until the 67th minute when Samuel Brown connected on the equalizer, setting the stage for overtime.
“Samuel Brown scored on a diving header that we able to pinch past the goalie,” Duffey said. “At halftime, I said, ‘Listen boys, you know we need to win this game. You either rise to the occasion or you get crushed underneath it. Which is it going to be?’
“They really picked it up, they played well in the second half. We just kept the pressure on in the second overtime and it paid off.”
The Golden Bears’ coach credited the efforts of several players.
“We’ve been rotating goalkeepers, and Greg Wiley played really well in the second half,” Duffey said. “Our midfield pulled together in the second half and our defense pulled together.
“I think in our last four games we’ve only let up a total of five goals, and the defense is playing a lot better.”
Comprising the Golden Bears’ defense are Tyler Holman, Jake Navarra, Travis Lear, Josh Henderson and Joey Kane.
Upper Moreland (6-6-3, 5-6-1 SOL) will host Plymouth Whitemarsh in its Senior Night game Tuesday at 7 p.m.
“Tomorrow is going to be huge,” Duffey said. “We have to beat Plymouth Whitemarsh to help our chances to move up in the (district) standings.”
Springfield Township (4-9-3, 1-9-2) will travel to Cheltenham on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Springfield Township 1-0-0-0 1
Upper Moreland 0-1-0-1 2
SOL Continental Conference
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 1, SOUDERTON 0 (2OT)
In a game begging for a hero, Adam Zortea delivered, redirecting a long throw by Jacob Jackson into the back of the net in the second overtime, propelling the visiting Patriots to the hard-earned win.
“The boys played a fairly even first half,” East coach Josh Isaacsohn said. “I felt we had a bit better of the play for most of the second half and had a few chances that we just couldn’t convert, taking us to overtime.
“In the second OT, we had a long throw by Jacob Jackson that made its way into the box where Adam Zortea was able to redirect it for the win.”
The Patriots’ coach lauded the strong play of both Zortea and Jackson.
Mitchell Race came up big for the Indians, recording nine saves in net.
Central Bucks East (4-11-1, 4-7 SOL) will host Pennridge on Tuesday at 4 p.m., and Souderton (2-13-1, 2-8-1) will host Archbishop Carroll in a non-league game on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
Central Bucks East 0-0-0-1 1
Souderton 0-0-0-0 0
Non-league
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 2, BENSALEM 1
The Titans scored a pair of first-half goals and held on to earn the non-league win in a game played on the turf at Harry S Truman due to unplayable field conditions at Bensalem.
“It was a real good match for us,” said South coach Jarrett Cutsler.
RJ Visco scored a goal early in the contest to spot the Titans a 1-0 lead.
“He was at the top of the box and just turned around and volleyed it,” Cutsler said. “It was a really nice goal. The keeper had a little bit of trouble handling that one because of the wet conditions.”
Jake Heilig headed in a rebound to send the Titans into halftime with a 2-0 lead.
“Jake had a really good game,” Cutsler said. “He got the goal, but other than the goal, he’s always a really strong player.”
The Owls got on the scoreboard with five minutes remaining when Brian Gibson found the back of the net.
“They kind of caught our defenders off guard and hit a ball to the opposite side of the field,” Cutsler said. “It was a really nice switch, and the kid pretty much had no one there, dribbled it in and just put it past our keeper.
“We made a lot of substitutions to rest up a lot of our starters going into the North Penn – (Central Bucks) West games. We tried not to kill the guys with the slippery conditions, give them a little bit of rest because tomorrow is going to be a really tough one against a really good North Penn team.”
Cutsler credited the play of his defense.
“We have a really, really good bunch of backs right now,” the Titans’ coach said. “Julian Stewart, who’s our senior left back, had a really good game. Cory Bethel had a good game, but I think Julian was super consistent tonight for us.
“He really commands the back and talks and dictates where the ball goes once we’re building out of the back. I think he did a really good job for us tonight. He’s sort of a silent leader for us.”
Central Bucks South (9-6, 5-5 SOL) will travel to North Penn on Tuesday for a 7 p.m. contest, and Bensalem (7-8, 5-6) will be on the road at Council Rock North on Tuesday (7 p.m.).
Central Bucks South 2-0 2
Bensalem 0-1 1
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