Check out the recaps for SOL boys’ soccer teams in action Tuesday. (CB East/Pennridge photos provided courtesy of Kelly Reid.)
SOL National
Council Rock North 3, Bensalem 0
CR North scored three times in the second half to score an important SOL National win and help it in a quest for a District One Class 4A playoff berth. For Bensalem, it was its first loss since Sept. 10, as it had gone 10-0-1 in its previous 11 games.
“The first time we played them (a 4-3 Bensalem win), they played very well in the middle of the field and were able to organize and get things on track,” Rock North coach Joe Stackhouse said. “Today, we shifted our normal tactical piece, and we put an extra guy in the middle and tried to break everything up.
“One other thing that needs to be said, they were missing one of their best players (Kal Ivanov), who’s done for the rest of the year. The other thing was we specifically man-marked Jon Larbi, who’s been scoring a lot of goals for them. What we started to do a couple of games ago – we’re putting in three and four subs at a time every 10 minutes and trying to run at people on purpose. We’re even changing the two outside defenders every 10 minutes too. That’s unusual. I don’t like doing that, but I think it’s keeping us fresher.”
Vinny Colon broke a scoreless tie for the Indians, off an assist from Ethan Blatz 18 minutes into the second half. Luke Walstrum then scored off of an Aaron Abraham assist to make it 2-0.
“(Bensalem) pushed two guys up – the goal was on a counterattack and we ended up breaking them down, and we went 3-on-1,” said Stackhouse of Walstrum’s goal that turned out to be the game-winner.
Abraham then concluded the scoring with one of his own.
“It was all on him,” Stackhouse said. “He broke a guy down the outside of the field. Their goalie played great all day, but I think he was looking into the sun, and he got beat to the far post.”
Stackhouse credited the performance of his defense comprised of Ethan Blatz, Ryan Sirota, Jeremy Smithline, Spencer Bateman and Jake Block. Junior Christian Wierzbowicz picked up the shutout in goal.
“The last couple of games we’ve been dropping Zane Saidi, who’s also the kicker for our football team, into the back to play a defensive role, and he’s played real well there,” Stackhouse said.
CR North (9-6-2, 6-4-1 SOL) is currently No. 23 in the District One Class 4A power rankings, and another important game Thursday night in the Unity Cup game against Council Rock South. Bensalem (10-6-1, 7-4-1 SOL) is No. 21 in the power rankings. It will host a nonleague game against Downingtown East on Thursday afternoon.
Bensalem 0 0-0
CR North 0 3-3
William Tennent 2, Council Rock South 1 (2 OTs)
Sophomore Jimmy Manning scored off a Damian Dangler assist with two minutes left in the second overtime, as Tennent scored a key win in its hunt for a District One playoff berth.
“The ball came down the left side where Damian took a touch and served the ball far post and was met on the far end by Jimmy Manning,” Tennent coach Nick D’Andrea said of the game-winner.
Tennent scored to open the second half off the kickoff by Sean Zolk, who was assisted by Dan Higgins. CR South tied it with 10 minutes left, as Sean Armstrong scored off an Andrew Rosenfeld assist.
D’Andrea credited the strong play of South’s Sean Armstrong, Andrew Rosenfeld and Dylan Bennett.
“The game was a typical SOL National battle, and we ended up fortunately winning,” the Panthers’ coach said. “Colin Hires played well in the back for us.”
The Panthers (8-8, 5-6 SOL) are currently on the outside looking in at No. 30 in the power rankings for the 24-team tournament. They play at Harry S. Truman in its conference finale on Wednesday night.
The Golden Hawks (5-11-1, 2-8-1 SOL) played at rival CR North on Thursday.
Tennent 0 2-2
CR South 0 1-1
Pennsbury 3, Harry S. Truman 1
Evan Reichard scored early in the second half, breaking a 1-1 tie, and first-place Pennsbury pulled away for the win Tuesday night.
With win, Pennsbury (11-4-2, 8-2-1 SOL) moves back into first place with one game remaining on the regular season docket. It plays at second-place Neshaminy in a winner-take-all regular season finale on Thursday night (6 p.m.).
The Falcons entered the day in the No. 14 position in the District One power rankings.
Reichard assisted on a Jayden Haig goal early to put Pennsbury up 1-0.
“Josh Panero played a nice ball in on a restart, and Evan Reichard beat everyone to the end line and headed it back into the middle, and Jaden Haig finished it,” said coach Tom Stoddart said.
Truman tied it up later in the half and that’s where the score stood going into halftime.
Reichard scored off a Haig assist early in the second half, and then Haig added his second goal of the game with 18 minutes remaining to conclude the scoring.
“Josh Panero served it in, and he beat the keeper to the far post, but the ball came back out, and Jaden Haig finished it,” Stoddart said.
It was a solid win for the Falcons heading into the biggest game of the regular season on Thursday.
“I thought we moved the ball well tonight, I thought we had a really nice rhythm,” Stoddart said. “It was overall a pretty good performance by the whole team.”
Truman (5-10-2, 0-9-2 SOL) concludes its season at home Wednesday against William Tennent.
Pennsbury 1 2-3
Truman 1 0-1
SOL Continental
Central Bucks East 1, Pennridge 0
Adam Zortea scored the game-winning goal in the 65th minute off of a Nolan Case assist as CB East blanked Pennridge on Tuesday afternoon.
“Credit to their team and coaching staff, as it was a back-and-forth game,” said Patriots coach Josh Isaacsohn. “I feel we started the game and had the better of play for the first 20, and then they came on stronger and stronger for the rest of the first half.
“We had the better of play for about halfway into the second half and held on for the win.”
Isaacsohn credited captain Case’s play in the second half, as well as Zortea and Michael Ferrante at the midfield.
“The goal was scored by Nolan Case dribbling up through the midfield and into the box and sliding to Adam for the solid finish,” he said. “All in all, it was a great game against a strong and very fast team.”
CB East (10-6-2, 9-3-1 SOL) entered Tuesday at No. 17 in the most recent District One power rankings. It has a nonleague game at Delaware County Christian on Friday. Pennridge (10-6-1, 4-6-1 SOL) was No. 16 to start the day. It hosts North Penn on Thursday.
CB East 0 1-1
Pennridge 0 0-0
North Penn 5, Central Bucks South 3
An early two-goal deficit didn’t deter North Penn, which maintained its projected No. 1 seed for the upcoming District One Class 4A playoffs.
“In a game like that, you still didn’t feel a lead was safe,” coach Paul Duddy said. “It was a barnburner, as they used to say. It was not a typical Continental Conference game with that many goals. South broke us down pretty well in the first half. They’re a very good team. I’m just hoping they get into the district playoffs because, in my opinion, they can beat a lot of teams. Joe (Coscia) does a great job with them.
“We’re glad we survived. Credit to our guys for coming back, but if we give up three goals in a district playoff game, we’re going home.”
Corey Bethel scored on a free kick four minutes into the game to give the Titans the early advantage. Owen Davis made it 2-0 later in the half off of a corner kick.
At that point, North Penn turned it on with three goals in the final six minutes of the half. Jack Durkin scored off a Ryan Stewart assist, Carter Houlihan from Josh Jones, and then Ryan Stewart off a Jamie Stewart assist.
The Knights went up 4-2 with Ryan Stewart’s second goal, off of a Houlihan assist midway through the second half.
A Kyle Rychlak goal for CB South then cut it to 4-3 four minutes later, only to see North Penn wrap it up a minute later, with Ryan Stewart’s third goal, assisted by Michael Chaffee.
“Ryan Stewart had a tremendous game; he’s a great player,” Duddy said. “He can strike a ball, and he’s smart. We move him around, he defends when we need him, and we put him up top when we need him.”
North Penn (16-1, 10-1 SOL) will wrap up conference play on Thursday at Pennridge. While CB South (9-6-2, 5-4-2 SOL) hosts rival CB West in a game with huge playoff implications for the Titans, who are entered Tuesday as the No. 24 in what will be a 24-team Class 4A playoff field.
CB South 2 1-3
North Penn 3 2-5
SOL American
Cheltenham 2, Springfield 1 (OT)
Senior Findlay Peet beat two defenders and nailed a blast from 25 yards out with 12 minutes left in regulation to send the game into overtime, where Cheltenham won it with a penalty kick for its first victory in SOL American play this season.
“Findlay has been a one-man wrecking crew this season,” Cheltenham coach Bill Tonkin said. “We have struggled to get him the ball a lot during games this year, but if you give him a few inches of space, he will make you pay.
“That goal, along with Matt Montes’ screamer against Wissahickon, are the two best goals I’ve seen this season – for or against us.”
With five minutes remaining in the second overtime, Peet was pulled down in front of the goal, setting up a penalty kick, which Montes buried to end the game in the Panthers’ favor.
“I’m so proud of them for continuing to fight even though the season didn’t go the way we wanted it to,” Tonkin said. “They never quit and never gave up. We lost four games in OT this year, and gave up early leads in way too many games.
“Tonight, the seniors led the way. Findlay, Drew Moreland, Montes and Chris Booth all gave great efforts and I’m so happy that we could salvage a little bit of the season in front of all their parents.”
Michael Iller scored in the first half with a Leo Castro assist, propelling the Spartans to a 1-0 halftime lead.
Cheltenham (4-13, 1-12 SOL) concludes its season Thursday night at Abington. Springfield (6-10, 3-10 SOL) will host Upper Dublin.
Springfield 1 0 0 0-1
Cheltenham 0 1 0 1-2
Upper Moreland 0, Plymouth Whitemarsh 0 (2 OTs)
These two teams played through regulation and two overtimes, before settling with the scoreless tie on Tuesday.
Upper Moreland (7-8-2, 4-7-2 SOL) is right on the bubble for the eight-team District One Class 3A Tournament, sitting at No. 9 to start the night. The Golden Bears play at Wissahickon in a must-win game on Thursday afternoon.
“Both teams fought hard and had chances,” said UM coach Matt Duffey. “Our goalkeeper Aaron Snyder played really well. I was pleased with the effort all over the field. We need the same level of effort for our final game against Wissahickon.”
PW (5-10-1, 5-7-1 SOL) will conclude its season Thursday night at home against first-place Hatboro-Horsham.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 0 0 0 0-0
Upper Moreland 0 0 0 0-0
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