Check out the recaps for SOL boys’ soccer teams in action Monday. Upper Moreland/Upper Dublin photos provided courtesy of Kathy N. Leister Photography. Check back for a gallery of photos.
SOL National
William Tennent 1, Pennsbury 0
Dan Higgins scored off a Sean Zolk assist midway through the second half and Tennent held on for the upset of the year in the National Conference thus far.
“We had a lot of energy,” said Panthers coach Nick D’Andrea. “It was our Senior Night, and we had six seniors play in the game. Our seniors played with so much energy, but to be honest, Pennsbury was a bit unlucky tonight. They had a lot of chances and some of the calls went our way.
“Our goalie, James Richie, made a big save at the end of the game. (Pennsbury’s) kids are outstanding players.”
Seniors for Tennent included Higgins, Zolk, Derin Ahyam, Francesco Giacco, Evlad Fonda and Colin Hires.
And the Panthers had their hands’ full against a Pennsbury team that lost for just the second time in league play.
“Pennsbury has the best player in the league in Niles (Cayemitte),” D’Andrea said. “We know he’s the man and we had to do something to contain him, but he’s awesome. They also have Jaden Haig. We knew we had to try to contain their offense.
“Hires played deep as a sweeper, and Ben Weir matched 1-to-1 with Niles, and had his hands full. Niles had his chances. They just didn’t go in for Pennsbury tonight.”
Tennent (6-7, 4-5 SOL) plays Franklin Towne Charter in a nonleague game Wednesday. Pennsbury (9-3-2, 6-2-1 SOL), still tied for first in the win column, plays at Council Rock South on Thursday.
Pennsbury 0 0-0
Tennent 0 1-1
Bensalem 3, Council Rock South 2
Jon Larbi scored two goals in the final six minutes of the game and Bensalem rallied for the 3-2 win, its 10th straight game without a loss.
“A lot of credit to CR South for playing so hard and making us grind through the match,” said Bensalem coach Rob Brown. “They honestly deserved to win and out-played us for 95 percent of the game.”
CR South opened the game with a goal by Conner Weinberg in the first half.
“After talking to the team at halftime, the Owls came out and still didn’t get a lot going,” Brown said. “It honestly just seemed like today wasn’t our day. However, we got a throw-in close to the Hawks’ net and were able to capitalize on the throw by Jordan Lee.”
The Owls tied it as Matt Edwards scored after a scrum in front of the net in the 65th minute, but the Golden Hawks quickly bounced back and regained the lead on a Sean Armstrong goal in the 69th minute.
Bensalem tied at 2-2 in the 77th minute, as Larbi converted a header off a cross by Hunter Shay.
“It was do or die, and we switched the lineup and formation a bit and went after the tying goal,” Brown said. “The team was really pumped to tie up the game.”
Two minutes later, Ryan Antry found an open Larbi for a breakaway goal that made it a 3-2 final score.
“We switched back to the original formation and it produced a breakaway for Jon Larbi, who finished another one for the 3-2 win,” Brown said. “The break was set up by a great pass from Ryan Lantry.”
For the Golden Hawks, it was another heartbreaking loss in a close game.
“We are very disappointed with the result, especially having led twice,” Rock South coach Alan Nicholl said.
Owls’ goalkeeper Chris Rowan recorded eight saves.
Bensalem (9-5-1, 6-3-1 SOL) is tied for first in the National Conference with 19 points. It hosts Harry S. Truman Thursday for senior night. CR South (5-8-1, 2-6-1) will host Pennsbury on Thursday.
CR South 1 1-2
Bensalem 0 3-3
Neshaminy 2, Council Rock North 1
Jason Spencer scored the game-winner with 1 minute, 48 seconds remaining in the second overtime, as Neshaminy squeaked out this National Conference thriller on Monday night.
“They had the wind in the first overtime, and we managed to hunker down and struggled to get the ball out of our end,” coach Tom Foley said. “The second half (of OT) we had the wind, and they couldn’t get out of their end. We pressured, and with two minutes left, Jonaton Lopez had a heavy shot that skipped off the ground, their goalkeeper made the initial save, and Jason Spencer came in and buried the rebound with 1:48 left in the second overtime.
“It was a good game. The wind was a major, major factor. We didn’t have that luxury in the first half – it was just a mild breeze in the first half, but the second half as the rain got heavier, the wind got stronger. It was a real struggle. We couldn’t get out of our end at all, and when they had the wind in their faces, they couldn’t get out of their end. It was obviously the deciding factor. They got lots of pressure with the wind, and we managed to withstand the pressure in the first overtime.”
Spencer also scored Neshaminy’s first goal off an assist from Alex Daeche after a throw-in by Mike Albarran.
“The first half we played a real solid defensive game,” Foley said. “We didn’t give them many chances at all. Overall, it was a really good half.
“The second half rolled around, and it started to rain, the wind was blowing in our faces. Council Rock had the wind at their back, and we struggled getting the ball out of our end.”
CR North’s lone goal came on a Vinny Colon penalty kick with 1:45 left in regulation after a hand ball.
“Overall, we were very, very good defensively,” Foley said. “We didn’t give them many really good looks. Cole Jackson was really, really strong in the defensive midfield today.
“Jason (Spencer) was obviously our ‘Man of the Match’ today, but Cole played a great game. The whole back line played really well — Alex Daeche, Dan Nogueira and Lou Salmi. I thought it was our best defensive effort of the year. I thought we did a really nice job on them.
“We focused on limiting Vinny Colon’s touches on the ball, and I thought we did a really good job with that. Obviously, he got a PK, but you can’t really mark a guy when he’s taking a PK. He didn’t really do too many dangerous things tonight, so we were pretty pleased with that. We played a pretty solid defensive game. Considering we had to play 50 minutes with a pretty strong wind in our face, I thought we did a pretty good job.”
Neshaminy took over first place in the SOL National with the win, as it is now 7-3 in the conference, two points ahead of Besnalem and Pennsbury in the standings. It is 10-4 overall and hosts William Tennent on Thursday. CR North slipped to 5-4-1 in the conference (7-5-2 overall). It plays a nonleague game at Abington on Friday.
CR North 0 1 0 0-1
Neshaminy 1 0 0 1-2
SOL Continental
Central Bucks East 1, Souderton 0
Michael Ferrante scored in the 65th minute to give Central Bucks East the 1-0 win at home on Monday.
Trevor Jopling picked up the assist on the goal.
“Trevor Jopling received a head ball flick from Jackson Russell and used his strength and foot skills to dribble in the box and ended up assisting Ferrante,” East coach Josh Isaacsohn said of the game-winner. “As the game went on, we gradually found our groove and were able to go to goal more.
“Credit to their team, their keeper Riley Finger in particular, and coaching staff as it was a hard fought game.”
Finger was credited with seven saves in goal for the Indians.
Isaacsohn – whose team battled the Indians to a scoreless tie in the initial meeting between the two squads – credited his defense in the shutout win.
“Tyler Okin was solid in goal, and our defensive unit really anchored us the whole game,” the Patriots’ coach said.
The Patriots (7-5-2, 6-3-1 SOL) remained in second place in the Continental Conference with the win and next plays Thursday night at Quakertown. Souderton (6-6-2, 3-5-2 SOL) will travel to Pennridge on Thursday.
Souderton 0 0-0
CB East 0 1-1
Central Bucks South 1, Pennridge 0
Kevin Rylack scored the game-winning goal for CB South midway through the second half in a win that was very important or the Titans’ playoff hopes. Jake Heilig picked up the assist on the game’s only score.
“The first half was pretty well contested by both teams, very physical,” coach Joe Coscia said. “But like many of the teams we play, we’re pretty privy to what to expect in their play style, and I think we denied their strengths and their strongest players really well.
“We made some tactical adjustments at halftime and just reminded some of the main guys what we needed to do to accomplish that. It was that course of play that put Kyle into a great opportunity to score the finish, splitting their center backs and slipping him into that dangerous spot where the goalie doesn’t know whether to come out or stay put and he just buried it.”
Coscia also credited the play of his goalkeeper, Gavin Campbell, and defensive midfielder Owen Davis.
“Gavin Campbell had probably a season-saving save in the second half, actually two,” Coscia said. “One of their center midfielders came up and absolutely whacked (the ball) and Gavin palmed it over the bar.
“Late in the second half, one of their stronger players did a nice move on my center back and let a really nice shot fly. If not for Gavin’s fingertips pushing it onto the post, it probably would have ended in a tie game or sent us into overtime. Those two saves probably kept us in playoff contention. It was absolutely huge. Owen Davis also had a really fabulous match.”
CB South (8-4-2, 4-3-2 SOL) currently sits at No. 23 in the District One power rankings. It plays at Faith Christian in a nonleague game Thursday. Pennridge (9-4-1, 3-4-1 SOL) is No. 15, and the Rams host Souderton on Thursday.
Pennridge 0 0-0
CB South 0 1-1
North Penn 5, Quakertown 1
Four first-half goals set the tone as North Penn remained in firm possession of first place in the conference and the District One power rankings with the convincing win.
Starrett Vesper opened the scoring off a Josh Jones assist just six minutes into the game. Eleven minutes later, Jamie Stewart connected on a free kick to put the Knights on top 2-0. Carter Houlihan buried a penalty kick, and then Ryan Stewart scored on a free kick in the 39th minute to send the Knights into halftime with a 4-0 lead. Ryan Stewart found the net with an assist from Matt Chaffee to close out the scoring for the Knights.
North Penn is now 13-1 overall and 8-1 in the SOL Continental. It hosts CB West Thursday afternoon. Quakertown (2-12, 0-9 SOL) hosts CB East Thursday night.
North Penn 4 1-5
Quakertown 0 1-1
SOL American
Hatboro-Horsham 1, Springfield Township 0
A first-half goal stood up, as Hatboro-Horsham posted its 10th shutout of the year and maintained its share of first place with a win over Springfield.
It was goalkeeper Scott Katherine’s fifth shutout.
“Obviously, that’s something we’re very happy about,” said HH coach Kyle McGrath said. “My back four again was very good, and my goalkeeper Scott Katherine — that was his fifth shutout of the year, so that’s encouraging. I knew going into the year we had a solid group of goalkeepers, so it’s good to see us continue to have success with whoever is back there.”
Katherine stepped into the net when freshman goalie Noah Schlosser was lost for the season.
Nick Katherine scored the game-winning goal off of a Lucas Howieson assist in the 20th minute.
“We started the game well again, had a breakaway that their keeper made a very good save on,” McGrath said. “On our goal, we had a long throw by Zach Joachim, the ball bounced around a little bit, and it fell to Lucas Howieson, who laid it back to the top of the box to Nick Katherine, and Nick took a one-time shot and beat the keeper.”
The Hatters (11-2-1, 9-1-1 SOL) remain in a first-place tie with Abington. They host Cheltenham on Thursday. Springfield (5-8, 3-8 SOL) is also in action Thursday, when it hosts Upper Moreland.
Springfield 0 0-0
Hatboro-Horsham 1 0-1
Abington 3, Plymouth Whitemarsh 1
The Ghosts notched a bounce-back win after Friday’s loss to Upper Dublin. Nevin Baer scored in the opening half to send the Ghosts into halftime with a 1-0 lead. Baer and Bryce Lexow each scored a goal in the second half.
With the win, the Ghosts (11-2-1, 9-1-1 SOL) remained in a first-place tie in the SOL American. They host Wissahickon on Thursday. PW (4-8, 4-6 SOL) is back home Thursday to take on Upper Dublin
Abington 1 2-3
PW 0 1-1
Upper Dublin 2, Upper Moreland 2
Josiah Kutai scored with minutes remaining to knot the score, and Upper Dublin and Upper Moreland played two scoreless overtimes and settled for a 2-2 tie.
UD’s first goal was scored by Giovanni Astorino in an opening half that saw the two teams battle to a 1-1 tie.
Upper Dublin (8-6-1, 7-3-1 SOL) remained in third place in the conference standings and is No. 26 in the district power rankings. The Flying Cardinals play at Plymouth Whitemarsh. Upper Moreland (5-8-1, 3-7-1 SOL) is No. 10 in the Class 3A district power rankings. The Golden Bears play at Springfield on Thursday.
Upper Dublin 1 1 0 0-2
Upper Moreland 1 1 0 0-2
Wissahickon 5, Cheltenham 2
Sparked by goals from five different players, the Trojans celebrated Senior Night with a convincing win over the Panthers, opening up a 3-0 halftime lead and never looking back.
The Trojans received single goals from Jose Cabanas, Christian Vorchheimer, Michael Om, Jake Slackman and Jack Quinn.
Wissahickon held a 13-7 advantage in shots.
Wissahickon (5-8, 5-5 SOL) will travel to Abington on Thursday, and Cheltenham (3-10, 0-9) will host Plymouth Whitemarsh on Wednesday.
Cheltenham 0 2-2
Wissahickon 3 2-5
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