Check out the recaps for SOL boys’ soccer teams in action on Saturday.
SOL Continental
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 2, PENNRIDGE 1
Stefan Szygiel spends a lot of time talking about how highly competitive the SOL conference games are this season. The West coach isn’t kidding. The Bucks have played nine conference games – seven of the nine have been decided by one goal or ended in a tie.
Saturday afternoon’s game against the Rams was another war for the Bucks, who rallied from a 1-0 halftime deficit to earn the win.
“The first half they completely played us off the field,” Szygiel said. “They were better in every phase of the game, and they scored a great goal.
“They came down the right side, served in a great cross, scored a great header. We’re down 1-0 at halftime. Every game now that we’re winding down – you’ve got to find a way to grab a result. Luckily, second half we stepped up, and I do think that we were the better team in the second half.”
Reed Thompson scored the equalizer, using an assist from Bailey Moyer. Moyer also assisted on Alan Zlotin’s game-winner midway through the second half.
“They put a lot of pressure on us, and we had to defend, defend, defend,” Szygiel said. “Again, the league just continues to be so deep this year – every single team. You can’t get any result without working your tail off this year.
“Luckily, in the second half, we were able to flip the script because the first half we really struggled. They were just miles better than us in the first half.”
Szygiel called Saturday’s victory “another team win.”
“They found a way to grind,” the Bucks’ coach said. “Things are going to happen – you’re going to be down 1-0, you’re going to be tied. You just have to be ready for any spectrum of results with this league.
“The second half was going to be about good old-fashioned hard work and buy-in. The buy-in was there from the players, and that’s all we can ask for. We put in a really good second half, and we were able to turn the tables.
“I always respect Pennridge and Pete (Valimont) and what they’re doing. I think the league overall is having a great year. Everybody needs to strap in. We have two-and-a-half weeks. Strap in and see where everybody ends up.”
The depth of the Continental Conference is underscored by the fact that five of its seven teams – North Penn (1), Pennridge (12), Central Bucks West (17), Central Bucks East (18) and Souderton (19) would be in the District One 4A field of 24 if the season ended today. Central Bucks South – seeded 26th in the latest power rankings – is still vying to earn a spot in the 24-team field.
West goalkeeper Ryan Van Pelt recorded three saves in the win.
Central Bucks West (5-4-2, 4-3-2 SOL) will travel to North Penn on Thursday, and Pennridge (3-4-1, 9-4-1) will be on the road at Central Bucks South on Monday.
Pennridge 1-0 1
Central Bucks West 0-2 2
Non-league
HOLY GHOST PREP 3, PENNSBURY 2
Less than 24 hours after battling Bensalem to a tie after 100 minutes of soccer, the Falcons took on the Firebirds in a non-league contest. They trailed by one at the intermission and exchanged goals with Holy Ghost Prep in the second half.
“It was a good game – well played by both squads,” coach Tom Stoddart said.
The Falcons trailed 2-1 at halftime. Evan Reichard accounted for the team’s lone goal with an assist from Jayden Haig, finding the net after a corner kick.
In the second half, Nyles Cayemitte scored with an Aiden Radovich assist to make it a 3-2 game.
Pennsbury (9-2-2, 6-1-1 SOL) will travel to William Tennent on Monday.
Pennsbury 1-1 2
Holy Ghost Prep 2-1 3
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