Check out the recaps for SOL boys’ soccer teams in action Tuesday. CR South/Neshaminy photos provided courtesy of John Gleeson. Check back for a gallery of photos.
SOL American Conference
Hatboro-Horsham 2, Wissahickon 0
Hatboro-Horsham avenged an early-season loss to Wissahickon by blanking the Trojans the second time around.
“We lost 2-1 the first time and gave up a late penalty kick, so we were a bit disappointed,” Hatboro-Horsham coach Kyle McGrath said. “Tonight, all the guys were focused, and they bought into a game plan that we put in place. We were able to defend for 80 minutes, and we created lots of opportunities as well, so that was good to see."
The game was scoreless through 60 minutes before Bradan Mallon (off a feed from Matty Harmon) made it 1-0. Then, with less than 10 minutes left in regulation, Ryan Cole (from Brad Bornstein) put things away for the Hatters.
“Both goals were great individual efforts from first Matty and then Brad,” McGrath said.
“They both beat at least one or two guys on the dribble. The first goal Matty played a beautiful ball across the box, and Bradan just attacked it with fearlessness and was able to head it home.
“The second goal, Brad beat two or three guys on the dribble, got to the end line and, in a super unselfish play, played a cross over to Ryan Cole, who tapped it into the open goal."
McGrath once again lauded the efforts of his defense.
“We just did a really good job of shutting down their attacking players who have been scoring goals the last two weeks or so,” the Hatters’ coach said. “We really keyed in on Eddie Fortescue and Trey Schwartz and wanted to limit their opportunities. My back four again played outstanding and Zack Kim in goal was a difference maker.”
Kim finished with eight saves to earn the shutout.
McGrath also praised the play of sophomore center back Fran Moio.
“He just always puts himself in the right spot, and he did that tonight,” the Hatters’ coach said. “Zack came out and Fran dropped back to the goal line and was able to clear the ball off the line for us to keep it at 1-0. We came down and scored a couple of minutes later, so that was a big play by Fran to keep the ball out of our own goal."
The Trojans (6-3-2, 5-2-2 SOL) will host Springfield Township Thursday while the Hatters (6-5-1, 4-4-1) will travel to Upper Moreland Thursday.
Wissahickon 0-0 – 0
Hatboro-Horsham 0-2 – 2
Cheltenham 2, Upper Dublin 1 (OT)
Cheltenham used a penalty kick in overtime to net a 2-1 win over visiting Upper Dublin.
“We played well today,” Cheltenham coach Bill Tonkin said. “It was good to get back on the winning track.”
Tonkin praised the work of Julian Mendelsohn for setting up the penalty kick in overtime.
“Julian was really working hard (in the overtime) and got the PK for us. And Max Brown converted it for the win,” the Panthers’ coach said. “We played more together today and got back to the things we are good at and our effort was there again.”
The Cardinals took a 1-0 lead to halftime before Lionel Smoler-Schatz converted off a corner kick from Brown to knot things at 1-1 midway through the second half.
“Justin Grady had another great game in goal for us and we need to continue playing this way so we can get ourselves into the position we want to be,” Tonkin said.
The Panthers (5-4-1, 4-3-1 SOL) will host Plymouth Whitemarsh on Thursday, and Upper Dublin (3-5-3, 3-4-2) will be on the road at Abington Thursday.
Upper Dublin 1-0-0 – 1
Cheltenham 0-1-1 – 2
Springfield Township 3, Plymouth Whitemarsh 1
Springfield Township used a pair of second-half goals to knock off Plymouth Whitemarsh and also pick up its first conference win of the season.
The Spartans’ Matt Schmidt and the Colonials (3-4-2 conference) Jacob Sandcroft exchanged goals in the first half before Evan Hincapie (off a feed from Dylan Davis) and Max Doll found the net for Springfield Township after intermission.
Springfield Township (3-6-3, 1-6-2 SOL) will travel to Wissahickon on Thursday, and Plymouth Whitemarsh (3-5-3, 3-4-2) will be on the road at Cheltenham on Thursday.
Springfield Township 1-2 – 3
Plymouth Whitemarsh 1-0 – 1
Abington 5, Upper Moreland 0
Surging Abington picked up a shutout win over Upper Moreland to remain in first place in the conference.
Sean Touey and Nevin Baer each connected for a pair of goals, and Jayden Joyce added a single goal for the Ghosts, who led 4-0 at halftime.
The Ghosts (11-1, 7-1 SOL) will host Upper Dublin on Thursday, and Upper Moreland (4-5-3, 3-5-1) will host Hatboro-Horsham Thursday.
SOL Continental Conference
Central Bucks South 1, Central Bucks East 0
In Tuesday’s rivalry game, Central Bucks South notched a shutout over Central Bucks East.
“It was a good win for us,” South coach Jarrett Cutsler said. “East put us under a lot of pressure in the final 15 minutes of the second half, but our boys stood their ground and held on.”
Senior Justin Rieber’s goal late in the first half was all the offense the Titans needed as he netted what would be the game-winner off a feed from senior Kyle Bethel.
“We were able to dominate in the first half and got a goal from Justin Rieber,” Cutsler said. “Kyle Bethel put the ball over the top and Justin was able to run onto it and toe-poke it around the keeper who was coming off his line.”
Cutsler also praised the play of junior goalkeeper Gavin Campbell.
“He had an extremely strong showing,” Cutsler said. “He came up so huge for us on some set pieces towards the end of the game.”
The Titans (7-3, 5-3 SOL) will travel to Souderton on Thursday, and Central Bucks East (1-9-1, 1-6-0) will host North Penn on Thursday.
Central Bucks East 0-0 – 0
Central Bucks South 1-0 – 1
Central Bucks West 2, Souderton 0
In the “we’ve heard this before” category, put Central Bucks West’s shutout win over Souderton right at the top.
The Bucks, again, blanked another opponent, marking the ninth time they’ve won without allowing a goal this season.
They’re now 7-1 in conference and 9-2 overall.
Nine wins and nine by shutout. Wow. Senior goalkeeper Dylan Smith, who has all nine of the clean sheets, turned away two shots to record his latest blanking.
The Bucks scored single goals in each half with Bailey Moyer netting the first one while Alan Zlotin (from Moyer) capped the scoring after intermission.
Souderton goalkeeper Mitchell Race also turned in another solid performance as he notched 10 saves.
Up next for the Bucks (9-2, 7-1 SOL) will be a game against Pennridge on Sunday (1 p.m.) at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, home of the Philadelphia Union. Souderton (1-9-1, 1-5-1) will host Central Bucks South on Thursday.
Souderton 0-0 – 0
Central Bucks West 1-1 – 2
Pennridge 3, Quakertown 1
It was a solid effort on Senior Night for Pennridge as the Rams were able to topple Quakertown.
“All of our seniors got in the game and played great,” Pennridge coach Pete Valimont said.
The Panthers received a first-half goal from Brendan Kishbaugh (assisted by Adam Wunsch off a corner) while the Rams countered with a goal from Jack Taplett (from Marco Grenda) to send the sides to intermission tied at 1-1.
After the break, the Rams picked up tallies from Grenda (from Matt Stevenson) and Taplett, with his second goal of the night, this one from Stevenson, to put the game away.
Up next for Pennridge (9-2-1, 4-2-1 SOL) will be a game against Central Bucks West on Sunday (1 p.m.) at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, home of the Philadelphia Union. Quakertown (1-10, 0-8) will host Council Rock South in a non-league game Thursday.
Quakertown 1-0 – 1
Pennridge 1-2 – 3
SOL National Conference
Council Rock North 1, Harry S. Truman 0
Zach Saifer netted his fourth goal of the season and Council Rock North continued its stingy defensive play in picking up its fifth-straight shutout, this time coming against Harry S. Truman.
“Our defensive unit played well and recorded our fifth-straight shutout, this time with Jake Zllotshower in goal,” Council Rock North coach Joe Stackhouse said.“Truman played well, too. They had stellar performances from Art Dingley, Edwin Teah and Andy Lucero in goal.”
Saifer’s goal came midway through the first half off a feed from Kyle Dearie. The Indians outshot the Tigers 12-3.
“It was a good physical game,” Harry S. Truman coach Matt Terry said. “We gave up some chances and lost on a header off a corner.”
In addition to the Truman players Stackhouse cited for playing well, Terry was pleased with the play of Wendell Matthews, Jon Hamilton and Adam Fask.”
Council Rock North (8-2-1, 7-0-1 SOL) will be on the road at William Tennent, and Harry S Truman (1-9, 0-8) will host Neshaminy on Thursday.
Harry S. Truman 0-0 – 0
Council Rock North 1-0 – 1
Council Rock South 1, Neshaminy 0
Council Rock South played another close game and came out on the right end with a victory over Neshaminy.
“Most of the games we’ve played this year have been pretty tight,” Council Rock South coach Alan Nicholl said. “I like to think if we get to the (PIAA District One) playoffs that having all of these close games will help us.
“The problem is, most of the teams in the National Conference are all sitting around .500 and we’re all beating each other. The way it’s going, instead of maybe getting four or five teams in districts, we might just get one or two.”
All of the game’s scoring came early in the second half when Justin Segal scored off a feed from Oliver Buynevich just three minutes after halftime.
“It was a good goal just as the second half was starting,” Nicholl said. “It was well built up and we were able to get in behind their defense. That doesn’t happen often because Neshaminy is such a hard-working team. I think we just might have caught them a bit and the one goal turned out to be enough.”
Senior Drew Bresnan notched the shutout in goal for the Golden Hawks and was aided on defense by center backs Nick Kennerly and Keith Charlton.
“My defense was good and the goalkeeper was flawless,” Nicholl said. “Any ball that made it through, he was there.
“We stayed calm and very disciplined. Neshaminy makes you work for any space and we did a pretty good job.”
Council Rock South (5-7, 5-3 SOL) will be on the road at Quakertown for a non-league game Thursday, and Neshaminy (5-5, 4-3) will travel to Harry S Truman on Thursday.
Neshaminy 0-0 – 0
Council Rock South 0-1 – 1
William Tennent 2, Bensalem 1
A complete team effort helped William Tennent slip past Bensalem.
“It was a very even match,” William Tennent coach Nick D’Andrea said. “And both teams really played well.
“Bensalem outshot us and was a little bit snakebitten at times. They really played a good game.”
The Panthers took a 1-0 lead on a goal from Max Schultz off a feed from Colin Hires.
“It was a beautiful pass from Colin Hires,” D’Andrea said. “And a very nice goal.
“But Bensalem came right back and scored on a penalty kick that was deserved. It was a good call and they did a nice job converting it. That tied the game at 1-1 at the half.”
The teams went back and forth after intermission before Tennent’s Danny Higgins scored with only two minutes left in regulation.
“One of our outside backs, Danny Higgins, tried to cross the ball and overhit it,” D’Andrea said. “He told me after the game that it was supposed to be a cross, but it ended up going over their keeper’s head and into to the net.
“That was a nice break for us and we were able to hang on for the win. And our freshman goalie, Patrick Corley, made every save we needed him to make and played a very solid game.”
The Panthers, who have been nagged by injuries all season, are beginning to get some of their regulars back.
“Matt Gamble returned from injury for us, and that was great to see,” D’Andrea said. “We’re almost back to .500 (in the conference) and that’s with missing almost seven starters to injury.
“Our center back, Jack Forbes, has been fantastic all season. He’s a senior, and with everybody out of the lineup he’s done a great job keeping everything together.”
William Tennent (4-5, 3-4 SOL) will host Council Rock North on Thursday, and Bensalem (4-5, 3-4) will be on the road at Pennsbury on Thursday.
William Tennent 1-1 – 2
Bensalem 1-0 1
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