
Check out the recaps for SOL boys soccer teams in action Thursday. Pennsbury/CR South photos courtesy of John Gleeson. Check back for a gallery of photos.

SOL Patriot
PENNSBURY 4, COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 3
The Falcons took a 3-0 lead into halftime, but any thoughts that this was going to be easy were put to rest in the second half. Pennsbury needed a goal as time was about to expire by Damian Kostrzewa that was set up by Jaden Haig to eke out the exciting win.
“Jaden was able to get the ball down to the endline and just pick out Damian Kostrzewa coming across, and he knocked the
game-winner in with 17 seconds showing on the clock,” coach Tom Stoddart said. “It’s always good to pull off a dramatic win like that, it was also good not to have to go to overtime again, but no matter what the score was at some points, it was bound to be a close game, so I’m glad we ended up being on the right end of it.”
Haig – who had a hand in all four goals – scored the game’s first goal.
“We were doing a good job of being patient, keeping the ball and getting Council Rock South to spread out, and we were kind of catching them off guard,” Stoddart said. “We were able to get them to chase a little bit across our back and then we knocked the ball out to our right back, who put a beautiful ball in and caught Jaden streaking through, and he just knocked it in like he does.”
Shortly thereafter Haig drew a penalty kick and then converted the PK to put the Falcons on top 2-0.
“I thought Council Rock South actually had a chance to narrow the gap – we lost our rhythm a little bit there,” Stoddart said. “Right at the end of the first half with three minutes to go, Jaden (Haig) actually made another great play and knocked the perfect ball across to Erik Mauro, who came straight through the box and buried it for our third goal to put us up 3-0 going into the half.”
The game was far from over as the Golden Hawks staged a remarkable comeback.
“We were on the road, and Council Rock South played well enough to be in the game in the first half despite what the score
was,” Stoddart said. “I thought we did a good job of keeping our composure.
“They were able to get their first one in pretty early and then they were able to continue to work and got their second one. I was pleased that we didn’t waste a lot of negative energy. Even as they were mounting their comeback, we still stayed with our game plan. There were a couple of things we could have done better, but for the most part, I just really like where our temperament stayed.”
The Golden Hawks connected on the tying goal with approximately 12 minutes remaining in regulation.
“We as coaches kind of sat back and tried to put the boys in a successful situation to see if they could figure it out,” Stoddart said. “Council Rock South’s third goal was just a weird scramble in the box, and that’s when you’re like, ‘Uh oh, things just aren’t running our way.’
“The next six or seven minutes were definitely a little nerveracking, but then I thought we did a good job of calming ourselves down and putting the right pieces back on the field. We seemed very fresh because we got a lot of work off our bench in the first half. I thought the boys settled in, and Council Rock South had to chase so hard to get back, and they were kind of tired.”
The stage was set for Kostrzewa’s game-winner that was set up by Haig, who finished with two goals and two assists.
“Jaden was fantastic,” said Stoddart, who was without senior Evan Reichard (injury). “I don’t know that I could come up with a goal that we scored this season that Jaden hasn’t had his hands or his foot on it. The other guys are feeding off of that, which is good to reward his hard work.
“I thought our two center backs – Aidan Tonrey and Trevor Hart – did a nice job, especially in the beginning of the game and what we asked them to do – be a little bit more patient. Our goalie – despite giving up three goals – there were plenty more that could have gone past him, so Michael Caissie did a really good job in goal. We had a chance to figure some things out today, which was good.”
Pennsbury (3-3-1 SOL) is scheduled to host Council Rock North on Tuesday, and Council Rock South (2-4-1, 1-4-1 SOL) will host Bensalem on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Pennsbury 3-1 4
Council Rock South 0-3 3
SOL Colonial
PENNRIDGE 1, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 0
The Rams and Bucks have had a pair of classic battles this season. Both games were 1-0, both were Pennridge wins.
On Thursday, the Rams needed a late goal from Jake Saville to win it. With 3:40 remaining in regulation, Saville turned a pass from teammate Ben Scary into a goal, propelling the Rams to the exhilarating victory.
“Jake was able to get by the defense and get a toe poke on the ball past CB West’s goalie,” Pennridge coach Pete Valimont said. “We were fortunately able to ride out the last three minutes, parking the bus basically.”
The two teams battled to a scoreless halftime tie.
“It was an even game – they had a restart in the first half that hit the post, which was a fantastic shot,” Valimont said. “We had a couple of quality chances but nothing threatening in the first half.
“Stef (Szygiel) and their coaching staff – I know some of their guys are young, but they did a fantastic job. That was probably one of the best games that we’ve played this season back and forth with either team. Chances on either side, the flow of the game was pretty even. We were fortunate enough to get a ball that got through, and our guys were able to finish the one chance that we needed to get.”
The Rams’ coach handed out props to several players.
“Colin Monahan and Shane Velez, our two center backs, did a fantastic job tonight,” Valimont said. “Dalton Guthrie, another center back, did a fantastic job. Those three really held it down.
“Carlos Erazo is our never-ending engine in the middle. He just absolutely did everything he could trying to give us chances, chances and chances, and finally one was able to get through.”
West coach Stefan Szygiel said his team – even with the wind at its back in the second half – never really got into the game.
“Personally, I thought Pennridge deserved all three points. We deserved to lose 100 percent,” the West coach said. “The kids know that and hopefully we’ll learn from it. I’ll always be honest with them. I think today was that kind of game. They didn’t show up, and that’s not going to work in this league.”
The Bucks’ coach said the Rams owned Thursday’s game.
“With this group that’s a little younger, we don’t have a lot of goals in us so you can’t not show up,” Szygiel said. “The first half they had the wind at their back, and they just poured it on us, and we just had to hang in there.”
Thursday’s loss was the fifth of the abbreviated season for the young Bucks – all five were by identical 1-0 scores.
“If you would have told me we let up seven goals in eight games and we had the record we have, I probably would have told you that you were a little crazy, but that’s how it’s broken this year,” Szygiel said. “We’re in every game but just not able to break to the next level, and that’s on us. We have to be better, and the kids know it.”
Pennridge (4-4 SOL) will travel to Souderton Tuesday for a 7 p.m. contest, and Central Bucks West (2-5-1) will be on the road at Central Bucks East Tuesday (3:45 p.m.).
Central Bucks West 0-0 0
Pennridge 0-1 1
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 2, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 0
Senior Nights have not been particularly kind to the Titans in recent years, but this year’s was one to remember for the team’s seven seniors.
“The past couple of years we have not had a good track record on our Senior Night,” coach Joe Coscia said. “Usually in the past, the stands have been packed because we typically play East or West, so whether it’s home fans or away fans, it’s always a hot atmosphere. Luckily tonight, it was pro South, very encouraging and it felt good.”
Sophomore Sean Reiber put the Titans on the scoreboard 15 minutes into the game, using an assist from Anastasios Malitas.
“A ball came in from in off a corner, (Malitas) kind of received it, a defender stepped at him, he pushed it out, and Sean passed it into the bottom corner,” Coscia said. “But really from the start, we pressed them high and hard and made them make
mistakes and not be able to launch their fast guys in behind us.
“As we continued to shut down their through balls, we continued to deny them any offensive opportunities.”
The Titans took that 1-0 lead into halftime and added to it 10 minutes into the second half when Corey Bethel found the back of the net.
“He took a shot, a little ambitious, from about 30 yards out, and it was blocked,” said Coscia said. “I wasn’t too pleased with it at first, but he stepped by the defender that blocked it and hit it off the half volley from about 25 yards and beat the keeper.”
That 2-0 lead stood until the final whistle.
“It was a great game,” Coscia said. “Even without Corey in the back – we stepped him up this game, my back line of Shane Landue, Morgan Campbell, Dennis Cleary and Eric Green played absolutely spectacular, and Ryan Gross stepped up and got the shutout and made a couple of really nice saves along the way to it too.”
The Titans’ coach reflected on this year’s group of seniors that included Corey Bethel, Nick Biello, Zachary Buehl, Ryan Gross, Shane Landue, Garrett McClay and Kyle Rychlak.
“They’re just an awesome group of kids,” Coscia said. “Not only are they good soccer players. They are just really, really good young men.
“The accolades they can put behind their names, not related to soccer, are impressive. At least five of the seven are in National Honor Society. They’re all looking at top colleges next year. Ryan Gross is already committed to Lehigh University for soccer.
“They’re just going to be really, really great additions to society even after their playing career is done, and I think that’s what makes me most proud as a coach. They’re just great intelligent young men. I wish them nothing but the best. I know they’re all going to be extremely successful in whatever they put their minds to.
“This class in particular – I’ve seen them since they were freshmen at South. Corey and Kyle were on varsity all four years. Even the boys who started on jayvee and rose to varsity have made amazing contributions to the program, and their parents have been awesome as well in supporting us. The fact that they got their celebration tonight even though it was more limited – I’m just happy they got to celebrate.”
Central Bucks South (4-4 SOL) will travel to North Penn on Tuesday and Thursday will host Pennridge to close out the regular season. Central Bucks East (3-4-1) will host Central Bucks West on Tuesday.
Central Bucks East 0-0 0
Central Bucks South 1-1 2
NORTH PENN 2, SOUDERTON 1
The Indians handed the Knights their first loss of the season back on Sept. 29. The Knights hadn’t forgotten.
On Thursday, they exacted a degree of revenge. Jovani Gonzalez and Josh Jones each scored a first-half goal, leading the Knights to a win that avenged the 2-0 loss to Souderton.
“Maybe the most important play of the game was the coin toss because it was pretty windy when we kicked off,” NP coach Chris DePeppe said. “Josh (Jones) even won that. We took the wind at our back and really knew we had to get the early goal or get the first goal.
“Last time we played them, we missed a PK early and didn’t convert an easy one. It took the wind out of our sails. When Souderton is up, they’re very dangerous because they’re big and strong. They’re a tough team.”
The Knights took a 1-0 lead midway through the first half on a Gonzalez header. Nate Kim was credited with the assist.
“Nate Kim – who has been outstanding – had a nice touch inside and got his head up and curled a lovely ball onto Jovani’s head,” DePeppe said. “He got a bit of snap on his header and tucked it under the bar.
“The first game where we didn’t convert chances and they got a goal on us – we had to come up a little higher in the back and put some pressure on to get back in the game, and that’s when we made a mistake and they got behind us. So we really, really knew we had to get the first goal. We put a lot of pressure on them.”
Jones (Alex Stewart assist) found the back of net late in the half to send the Knights into the intermission with a 2-0 lead.
“Our midfielder – Alex Stewart – really created Josh’s goal,” DePeppe said. “It was his play to win a ball with just incredible courage, he came in and won it cleanly. He’s been doing it all season.
“The whole Stewart clan has been heroic for us for years, and he’s built in the same mold. He’s just a really, really strong, smart, tough player. Last game he had a great assist on Josh’s goal where he weighted a pass against Pennridge, and today he just did it with sheer determination.”
The Indians cut the Knights’ lead in half with a goal in the 58th minute by Thomas Smith with assists by TJ Hibsman and Tyson Bui.
“They had the wind in the second half, which wasn’t as strong,” DePeppe said. “Naturally, you start playing more defensively, no matter how much I yelled at them to keep attacking.
“We gave Josh one last stint up top to see if we couldn’t get the third. With about 15 left – we moved him back, and he won a lot of balls in the air. I would love to play him at one position, his best position, all the time, but he’s such a great team player, and he understands that when he’s needed somewhere, that’s his job.
“As striker, if he scores four in the first half again, he’ll always stay there. Josh has been just tremendous, and I think the changes we made in the back – Kevin Murphy and Ryan Mindick are just really solid.”
Souderton keeper Aidan McClure was credited with six saves.
North Penn (6-2) will host Central Bucks South on Tuesday, and Souderton (3-3-2) will celebrate Senior Night when it hosts Pennridge Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Souderton 0-1 1
North Penn 2-0 2
SOL Liberty
ABINGTON 3, HATBORO-HORSHAM 2
The Ghosts opened up a 3-0 lead and then held off a tenacious Hatter comeback to clinch at least a share of the division title with two games remaining in the regular season.
“We still got to take care of business,” Abington coach Randy Garber said. “Hatboro never gave up. They played a tough, tough game. They did a nice job. They could have very easily gone in the tank, and they did not do that. They worked hard and came back. It could have very easily gone into overtime.”
The Ghosts celebrated the team’s 14 seniors, leaving the Ghosts’ coaching staff with the challenge of playing 13 (one was injured) and finding themselves with some unusual combinations on the field. They not only gave everyone playing time but notched the important win.
“All the seniors played well,” Garber said.
The Ghosts took a 1-0- lead into halftime, thanks to a goal by Tommy Santangelo seven minutes into the contest..
“Bryce Lexow hit a direct shot from 20 yards out on the right-hand side,” Garber said. “The goalkeeper saved it on the ground, but when he saved it, he batted it on the field and Tommy followed it up and put it in.
“We talked at halftime, and we knew they had to be pushing up because a tie wouldn’t have done them any good. They had to score two goals to beat us.”
Ten minutes into the second half, the Ghosts upped their lead to 2-0 on a goal by Nikko Spagnolo with an Arsene Bado assist.
“Then it was 2-0, and they pushed everybody up,” Garber said. “We got the third goal from Gavin O’Neill on a counter 20 minutes into the second half.
“They came down and scored a good goal on the right-hand side – the kid just crushed it to make it 3-1.”
The Hatters pulled to within one when they converted a penalty kick.
“It was a dogfight for the last 15 minutes,” Garber said. “It was just knocking balls out, trying to be safe to secure the win.”
Abington (7-1 SOL) will be on the road at Plymouth Whitemarsh on Tuesday, and Hatboro-Horsham (4-3) will host Plymouth Whitemarsh on Monday (6 p.m.).
Hatboro-Horsham 0-2 2
Abington 1-2 3
UPPER DUBLIN 5, PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 3
PW celebrated its Senior Night, but it was a trio of Upper Dublin sophomores – Nick Fiore, Chris McMeel and Tommy Clayton – that stole the spotlight, accounting for the first four Flying Cardinal goals.
“The three sophomores just put us over the edge,” UD coach Andy Meehan said. “They started the scoring, and they scored the important goals – the first goal and the goal that put us up after PW tied the game. They came through for us and for the team. It’s exciting to see because we have a very talented group of younger guys coming up, and to see them starting to produce and starting to develop is something that I’m very, very excited for our future.”
Six minutes into the game, Fiore put the Cardinals on the scoreboard.
“He opened the scoring on a wonderful goal,” Meehan said. “The ball came out about 25-30 yards, and he was able to hit a one-time into the top corner for the first goal of his varsity career.”
Three minutes later, McMeel turned a Zach Berman through ball into his first of two goals. The Cardinals led 3-0 when Clayton connected for his first varsity goal, using a Berman assist.
“In the first half, we probably played the best soccer that we’ve played all season,” Meehan said. “We were able to stop their attack.
“It was their Senior Night, and they were very motivated and excited, and we were able to match that excitement and that physicality, and we were able to play the way we wanted to play in that first half.”
Down but not out, the Colonials came roaring back, reeling off three straight goals by Luke Edwin, Dean Allen and Brendan Corpus and knotting the score midway through the half.
“The second half they really took it to us,” Meehan said. “For about 20-25 minutes, they were all over us. They came out flying, and they were able to take advantage of our mistakes. Give a ton of credit. Coming from 3-0 down is quite a feat.
“They’re a very physical team, and to their credit, they don’t give up, and it showed. They were able to crawl back and make it 3-3 basically with a lot of hard work. I almost felt we forgot how to play soccer for a brief stretch.”
With 15 minutes remaining in regulation, McMeel turned Ethan Hill’s corner kick into the go-ahead goal.
“It was a huge relief,” Meehan said. “We took a short corner. Ethan took a couple touches down the end line, and he was able to put a great ball in to the back post, and that’s where Chris McMeel was waiting for it, and he just buried it home.
“He’s been playing very well and developing nicely this season. He was on varsity last year, but this year he’s really starting to come into his own which is excellent to see. Once that happened, the momentum just stopped for PW.”
Senior Sean Seabrook added an insurance goal for the 5-3 final.
“It was getting physical at the end – both teams were going back and forth,” Meehan said. “We got a throw-in in the corner, and Sean Seabrook was able to get the ball, he kind of turned and while falling down, he hit a shot from the corner of the 18 that went into the top corner. It was a beautiful goal, and that just sealed the deal right there.”
Meehan lauded the play of a pair of veterans in the win.
“Two of our players that didn’t come out of the game at all were Sean Seabrook, a forward, and Sam Moss, who’s our holding mid,” the Cardinals’ coach said. “They were all over the place. They were controlling the middle, matching their physicality, and they were able to control their areas very well.
Upper Dublin (4-3-1 SOL) will host Wissahickon on Tuesday at 3:45, and Plymouth Whitemarsh (2-3) will travel to Hatboro-Horsham Monday for a 6 p.m. game.
Upper Dublin 3-2 5
Plymouth Whitemarsh 0-3 3
WISSAHICKON 5, QUAKERTOWN 0
A Christian Vorchheimer penalty kick sent the Trojans into halftime with a tenuous 1-0 lead. They erupted for four unanswered goals in the second half, celebrating Senior Night with the no-doubt-about-it win.
“We battled Quakertown in the first half, and we managed to get a penalty kick, and Christian, our senior captain, took it,” Wissahickon coach Stuart Malcolm said. “It was a nice penalty kick. That got us started as it were.
“We came out well in the second half. We struggled a little bit in the first half. We got into the flow a bit in the second half.”
Senior Jake Slackman scored 10 minutes into the second half, and the Trojans were off and running.
“We got a fortuitous second goal,” Malcolm said. “I don’t know how it went in. It bounced around inside the six-yard box and ended up in the back of the net, but after that, things started to fall a little bit more.”
Sophomore Andrew Slackman – just pulled up from the jayvee one day earlier – connected on his first varsity goal to put the Trojans on top 3-0. Vorchheimer’s second goal – this one with a Julian Memis assist – was followed by a goal from central defender Sam Baker, who found himself in an unusual spot.
“I told him to go up and play as a striker, and he managed to get the fifth goal, so that was nice for him,” Malcolm said.
Prior to the game, the Trojans recognized seniors Christian Vorchheimer, Jake Slackman, Aidan Stiegelmann, Alex Soloman, Jack Schmidt, Anthony Piccone, Idan Jaffe, Hunter Graefe, Ethan Glass and Daniel Cuquej Milian.
“One of the things that was unfortunate for a lot of these guys is that when they were sophomores we had a very strong and large senior class, so some of them only had a chance to play a couple of years of varsity,” said Malcolm, who is hoping the Trojans can extend their season. “With the playoffs, I’m just hoping we don’t get penalized for playing as many games.
“We had a game earlier in the season where I basically just let people play, not thinking the point system was going to come into play. I’m really hoping that I didn’t keep us out of the opportunity to play. Now all these other schools are creeping back in, and with the six-game minimum, you can make the playoffs, and it’s just wrong.”
The Trojans’ coach isn’t alone in his thinking. It’s a sentiment that’s been expressed repeatedly.
Wissahickon (3-3-2, 3-3-1 SOL) will travel to Upper Dublin on Tuesday, and Quakertown (0-8, 0-7) will host Palisades in a non-league game Saturday at 10 a.m.
Quakertown 0-0 0
Wissahickon 1-4 5
SOL Freedom
UPPER MORELAND 2, SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 1 (OT)
Michael Kane has been scoring big goals all season but none loomed larger than Thursday’s game-winner two minutes into overtime that keeps the Golden Bears in the hunt for a division title.
“Two minutes in, we have a free kick, the ball gets banged out, Mateo Infante winds up putting it back in, Logan Taylor goes to shoot it, and it gets blocked,” UM coach Justin Allegra said. “Michael Kane – who has been there all year – just cleans up, puts the ball off the post and in for the game-winner.
The Golden Bears got off to a slow start.
“We’ve been off for about a week, and we came out first 10 minutes and missed three golden opportunities, I mean golden opportunities,” Allegra said. “On one, the ball was rolling into the net, and if our guy didn’t touch it, it would have rolled into the net, but he ends up shooting it and shot it over the net.”
While the Golden Bears didn’t capitalize on their opportunities, the Spartans did, and 15 minutes into the contest, they took a 1-0 lead when Riley Martin turned a Grant Williams pass into a goal.
“Our guys looked tired, they looked very lethargic,” Allegra said. “We’ve been rolling the past couple of games, and they just thought we were going to show up and win.”
With 13 minutes remaining in regulation, the Golden Bears got the equalizer on an own goal when a cross by Max Gerlach – from just inside the endline – deflected off a Spartan and found the back of the net.
“With 15 minutes to go, we started to pepper them, put a little more shots on, and it was a scrum on the side of the net,” Allegra said. “The goalie made a save, and Max Gerlach wound up crossing it, and it deflected off the goalie and the post and kind of snuck in.”
That set the stage for overtime.
“I said, ‘Guys, we’re the more physically fit team, we’re destined for overtime, and we’re going to score in the first five minutes,’” Allegra said.
That turned out to be prophetic. Just minutes into overtime, Kane scored with an assist from Taylor, giving the Bears (5-1) a win that sets the stage for a Freedom Division showdown with the unbeaten William Tennent Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.
“I would pretty much say it’s for the Freedom Conference,” Allegra said. “We’re not looking past New Hope-Solebury (on Thursday).
“We should have beaten (Tennent) the first time, but we have an opportunity.”
Tennent edged the Golden Bears 2-1 in overtime in the early season meeting between the two teams.
As for Thursday’s win, Allegra credited goalie Aaron Snyder for a standout effort when the Golden Bears were struggling.
“He kept us in it,” the UM coach said. “He saved two breakaways in the first half, and that pretty much was the difference. If they score those two goals there, we lose 3-0.”
Springfield Township (1-5-2, 1-5-1 SOL) will host Lower Moreland on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.
Upper Moreland 0-1-1 2
Springfield Twp 1-0-0 1
WILLIAM TENNENT 3, NEW HOPE-SOLEBURY 0
The Panthers kept their perfect record intact with an impressive shutout win over the visiting Lions.
“That New Hope team is really dangerous,” Tennent coach Nick D’Andrea said. “We knew they were coming off a big win (3-1 over Lower Moreland).
“We’re not trying to think too far ahead. We’re just playing the games on our schedule. Next up is Upper Moreland. It should be another tough, close game.”
Tennent opened the scoring with a goal by Carlton Walters, assisted by Christian Huslin.
“We opened the scoring in the first half with a play down the sidelines by Christian Huslin, who crossed the ball to the center of the box for a one-time finish by Carlton Walters,” D’Andrea said.
In the second half, Sean Metz converted a penalty kick that was created by a Carlton Walters penalty. Tennent’s final goal was set up after a nice passing sequence that culminated with a Christian Huslin goal for a 3-0 lead that stood until the final whistle.
“The goal was set up by freshman Connor Hanratty who played the ball to Henry Guzman who laid the ball off to Christian Huslin who hit a great shot,” D’Andrea said.
One of the game’s unsung heroes was center back Ben Weir.
“We challenged our senior center back Ben Weir with the task of defending Davis Nagg,” D’Andrea said. “He’s probably the best player in our league, and we knew that going in. He is unbelievable. He still got his plays in, and he made some great shots. It was a great battle.”
Also coming up big for the Panthers was goalkeeper Patrick Corley.
“He made a real nice diving save in the first half,” D’Andrea said. “Davis had two free kicks that he hit over the bar. They had their chances. They had several free kicks, but Patrick Corley was up to the task, Ben Weir was up to the task. They did a nice job trying to contain him, which is a hard thing to do.
“A shutout is a shutout. We’re happy with the win, and we’ll see what we have next on our schedule. We’ve been fortunate in our division that nobody’s been shut down. We’ve been really lucky to get our games in and hopefully we can get our last two and let these kids continue to get their season because it’s been a lot of fun. The boys are just having a blast, getting outside and playing. This season is bigger than just the game on the field.”
William Tennent (8-0, 6-0 SOL) will travel to Upper Moreland Tuesday for a contest with title implications. The Golden Bears – who have one loss – trail the Panthers by just one game.
“I’m happy for these kids,” D’Andrea said. “This is our fourth year as coaches, so these players that are seniors are kind of like our guys. They’ve been the guys we came in with.
“We’re really happy for them. They learned a lot from the guys before them, so we’re really pleased with their effort, their energy and everything they committed to during COVID, which was running by themselves trying to prepare for the season. They did a good job.”
New Hope-Solebury (2-4-1) will host Upper Moreland on Thursday.
New Hope-Solebury 0-0 0
William Tennent 1-2 3







