Check out the recaps for SOL boys’ soccer teams in action Tuesday. CR North/Bensalem photos provided by Keith Clemens Photography. Check back for a gallery of photos.
SOL American Conference
Abington 3, Hatboro-Horsham 0
The visiting Ghosts continued their fabulous regular-season play by blanking the Hatters in this one.
Abington, which improved to 12-1 in conference after clinching the conference title last week, also upped its overall mark to 16-1. The only team to beat the Ghosts was Wissahickon and that defeat came nearly a month ago (Sept. 17).
The Ghosts, who close out their regular-season campaign with a home game against Cheltenham on Thursday (7 p.m.), are the No. 4 seed in the latest PIAA District One Class 4A tournament rankings. The top eight seeds will receive a first-round bye.
The Hatters, who wrap up their regular season at Plymouth Whitemarsh on Thursday (7 p.m.), are at No. 19 in the rankings. The top 24 teams in Class 4A will qualify for the tournament.
The Ghosts wrapped up things early as they took a 3-0 advantage to halftime on goals from Sean Touey, Reese Gibbs and Liam Friel.
Abington 3-0 – 3
Hatboro-Horsham 0-0 – 0
Plymouth Whitemarsh 4, Upper Moreland 0
Plymouth Whitemarsh put together a solid showing and it paid off with a victory over Upper Moreland.
“Overall, this was our best team effort (of the season),” PW coach Ryan Brazuk said.
“Everything clicked on both sides of the ball.”
Tom Hoy netted two goals while Kevin Shi and Jacobe Sandcroft each added a single goal.
“Hoy played really well distributing in the midfield,” Brazuk said.“Kevin Shi and Jacobe Sandcroft also played very well for us.”
The Golden Bears are No. 7 in the PIAA District One Class 3A rankings and only the top eight qualify for the tournament.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (4-8-3, 4-6-2 SOL) will host Hatboro-Horsham on Thursday, and Upper Moreland (7-7-3, 5-8-3) will travel to Wissahickon on Thursday.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 2-2 – 4
Upper Moreland 0-0 – 0
Cheltenham 4, Springfield Township 1
It took them some time, but Cheltenham put things together in posting a win over Springfield Township.
“The entire team played great,” Cheltenham coach Bill Tonkin said. “It was a complete team effort and we finally showed that killer instinct that I have been looking for all season.”
The win moved the Panthers to 6-6-1 in conference, a vast improvement from last year when they won just three games in the American Conference.
Findlay Peet had a pair of goals in the victory while Max Brown and Eli Leighton added single tallies.
“We took another lead into halftime, we were up 2-0 this time, and we extended it to 4-0 in the second half,” Tonkin said. “When we did that, it allowed me to give the seniors the curtain call that they deserved.
“I was very proud of all of the boys tonight.
Cheltenham (7-8-1, 6-6-1 SOL) will travel to Abington on Thursday, and Springfield Township (4-10-3, 1-10-2) will host Upper Dublin on Thursday.
Springfield 0-1 – 1
Cheltenham 2-2 – 4
WISSAHICKON 1, UPPER DUBLIN 0
Eddie Fortescue scored a goal in the 15th minute, and that goal turned out to be the game-winner as neither side scored the rest of the way.
Goalkeeper Jun Yuh recorded seven saves in the shutout win.
Wissahickon is 16th in the latest District One 4A power rankings.
The Trojans (9-5-2, 8-3-2 SOL) will host Upper Moreland on Thursday, and Upper Dublin (5-9-1, 3-8-1) will travel to Springfield Township on Thursday.
Wissahickon 1-0 – 1
Upper Dublin 0-0 – 0
Continental
Central Bucks East 0, Pennridge 0 (2OT)
Host Central Bucks East played stingy defense the entire way en route to earning a double-overtime draw with Pennridge.
“Our defense really stepped it up today and played a very solid game through the two overtimes,” East coach Josh Isaacson said.“Pennridge is a good, well-coached team and they played well today, too.”
The Patriots, who lost seven of their first eight conference games, improved to 4-7-1 in conference with the tie.
The Rams entered the day holding down the No. 7 spot in the PIAA District One Class 4A tournament rankings but fell to No. 9. The top eight seeds in the tournament receive a first-round bye.
“We had a great effort overall and were able to dominate in possession and shots, but we just couldn’t find the back of the net,” Pennridge coach Pete Valimont said.
“Aidan Link, Matt Stevenson and Nick Dunn all played really well for us.”
Patriots goalkeeper Kyle Dunigan turned aside a dozen shots in the draw.
“Kyle really showed up for us and had an amazing game,” Isaacson said.
Valimont concurred.
“The CB East goalie was fantastic,” the Rams’ coach said. “He saved about four or five point-blank shots that kept them in the game.”
Pennridge (12-3-2, 6-3-2 SOL) closes out its regular season with a home game Thursday night (7 p.m.) against North Penn. Central Bucks East (4-11-2) will host Bensalem in a non-league game Thursday.
Pennridge 0-0-0-0 – 0
Central Bucks East 0-0-0-0 – 0
North Penn 4, Central Bucks South 3 (OT)
North Penn and Central Bucks South battled all the way into overtime before the Knights picked up the crucial victory.
The win kept North Penn (15-1, 10-1 SOL), are the No. 3 seed in the latest PIAA District One Class 4A rankings, in a first-place tie with Central Bucks West atop the conference standings. The Knights close out their regular season on Thursday at Pennridge (7 p.m.).
Aidan Jerome used a Josh Jones assist to score the game-winner at the nine-minute mark in the first overtime for the Knights.
Luke McMahon scored back-to-back goals for the Knights – the first with an assist from Christian Snyder. The second was unassisted. Jaime Stewart (from Mike Chaffee) added a goal midway through the second half.
Cory Bethel netted a pair of goals for the Titans – who took a 2-1 lead into halftime – and Kyle Bethel had the other goal.
“This was a tough one,” South coach Jarrett Cutsler said. “Julian Stewart, Ryan Rieber and Cory Bethel were extremely strong for us in the back.”
The Titans (9-7, 5-6 SOL) close out their regular season on Thursday when they host CB West (7 p.m.).
Central Bucks South 2-1-0 – 3
North Penn 1-2-1 – 4
Central Bucks West 4, Quakertown 0
The Bucks kept themselves on track to either win or share the conference title thanks to a shutout over Quakertown.
With the win, West, which is the No. 6 seed in the latest PIAA District One Class 4A rankings, improved to 10-1 in conference, the same record as North Penn. Both teams have one regular season game remaining.
“Tonight was our Senior Night and it was great to see them all in action,” West coach Stefan Szygiel said.
The Bucks spread the offense around as four players found the back of the net.
Carson Snyder (from Luke Fehrman), David Staxler (from Reed Thompson), Andrew Doyle (from Matt Billemeyer) and Alan Zlotin (from Kanishk Nazareth) delivered the goals in the victory.
West standout goalkeeper Dylan Smith made three saves to earn his 12th shutout of the season.
The Bucks (14-2) wrap up their regular season with an away game at CB South (7 p.m.) on Thursday. Quakertown (2-15, 0-11) will host Souderton on Thursday night.
Quakertown 0-0 – 0
Central Bucks West 2-2 – 4
National
Pennsbury 4, Harry S. Truman 0
It took Pennsbury a little bit of time, but when the Falcons did get their offense cranking, it paid off with a crucial victory as the regular season nears a close.
“It was 0-0 at the half, but our seniors came through in the second half for us,” Pennsbury coach Tom Stoddart said.“That was nice to see because this was their last game on our home field and they played well. I was pleased.”
The seniors did indeed come through as all four of Pennsbury’s goals came from them.
Pranav Chivukula netted a pair of goals while Randy Dickersbach and Scotty Heyman provided single tallies as the Falcons pulled away after intermission.
“All of our goals coming from the seniors was good,” Stoddart said. “All of those guys have meant a lot to the program and I’m happy for them.”
The Falcons (10-6-1, 7-3-1 SOL) are the 24th (and final) PIAA District One Class 4A playoff spot with one game remaining (at Neshaminy on Thursday).
“We need to keep winning,” Stoddart said. “It is always close every year with who gets in to the playoffs and who doesn’t.And we’re right there trying to get in.”
Goalie Peter Beidler earned the shutout for the Falcons, and Stoddart also praised the play of his two center backs, Josh Panaro and Trevor Hart.
“Those guys have been solid all year,” Stoddart said.
Harry S Truman (1-14, 0-11) will host William Tennent on Wednesday.
Harry S. Truman 0-0 – 0
Pennsbury 0-4 – 4
Council Rock North 3, Bensalem 2 (OT)
Bensalem pushed Council Rock North to the limit before the Indians prevailed in overtime.
The Indians secured the win over the Owls when Kyle Dearie, who also scored the second goal, converted with seven minutes gone in the first overtime.
Justin Pagliughi opened the scoring for North with a goal just five minutes into the match.
Paul Leible and Brian Gibson each had a goal for the Owls. Gibson’s second-half tally forced the extra session.
The victory kept the Indians (12-4-1), who clinched the conference title last week, undefeated in the National with a 10-0-1 mark. They wrap up their regular season on Thursday at home against Council Rock South (7 p.m.). Rock North is No. 17 in the latest District One 4A power rankings.
The Owls completed their conference season (7-9, 5-7 SOL), but still have two non-league games remaining including a Thursday matchup at Central Bucks East (4 p.m.).
Bensalem 1-1-0 – 2
Council Rock North 1-1-1 -3
William Tennent 1, Council Rock South 0 (OT)
Host William Tennent posted a dramatic win over Council Rock South on Senior Recognition Night. Tom Defontney found the back of the net in the first overtime period off a pass from Max Schulze.
"It was great to see a senior score on his Senior Night," coach Nick D'Andrea said. "CR South beat us earlier in the year 3-0, so to compete against a skilled team like that was incredible."
The win came on the heels of a 2-0 non-league win over New Hope-Solebury on Monday night. Damian Reyes and Sean Zolk each scored a goal in that one.
With the victory, Tennent improved to 4-7 in conference while the Golden Hawks slipped to 5-6 in conference play.
Council Rock South 0-0 – 0
William Tennent 0-0-1 – 1
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