Check out the recaps for SOL boys’ soccer teams in action. CR South/Cheltenham photos provided courtesy of John Gleeson. Check back for a gallery of photos. CLICK HERE to go to the SOS photo galleries.
Non-league
PENNSBURY 2, CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 1
With a grueling week that includes four games in six days, the Falcons opened the week with an important non-league win that vaulted the team into the 25th seed in the latest District One 4A rankings. Twenty-four teams will make the district field.
“We’re trying to creep in,” coach Tom Stoddart said. “The way the Suburban One League is set up it’s not very compatible with the district point system, but that being said, we’re working within the system we’re working in.
“We had a big win today, and we have a big week. Tomorrow night we’re playing William Tennent, then Council Rock South, and on Saturday, as far as district playoffs go, it’s a huge game for us against Holy Ghost, obviously a rivalry. It would be a maximum point game because they haven’t lost yet this season, so we definitely have it in our hands to get to where we need to get.”
The Falcons scored both of their goals in the first half – the first by Joe Ficarotta.
“CB South’s bus ran super late and the referees gave them no time to warm up at all, and I think that kind of helped us out a little bit, for better or worse,” Stoddart said. “We’re playing without two senior captains (Matt Tennant and Javier Sosa) who are both out with injuries, so it was good that we got on the board early.”
The second goal – which sent the Falcons into halftime with a 2-0 lead – came on a header by Evan Reichard.
“That second one was one of the nicer counterattacks we’ve had on the year,” Stoddart said. “Evan started the counterattack and was able to finish it on the follow up, so I liked that pursuit.
“Even though we gave up their only goal in the second half, I liked the way that we settled in and kept our composure. If we are going to be a playoff team, we need to show more of the ability to come out on the right side of these one-goal games, so it was good.”
The Falcons’ coach lauded the play of his center backs.
“Trevor Hart and Josh Panero were just super solid,” Stoddart said. “Trevor has been switched into the center replacing Matt Tennant, and he’s been really solid in the back.”
Pennsbury (7-5-1, 4-3-1 SOL) will be on the road at William Tennent on Tuesday at 7 p.m., and Central Bucks South (7-5, 5-4) will host Pennridge on Tuesday.
Central Bucks South 0-1 1
Pennsbury 2-0 2
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 2, CHELTENHAM 1
The Golden Hawks opened up a 2-0 lead before the Panthers scored a late goal in Monday’s non-league game.
Nick Kennerly converted a penalty kick to spot the home team a 1-0 halftime lead. Sean Armstrong (Andrew Rosenfeld assist) found the back of the net midway through the second half to give the Golden Hawks a 2-0 lead before the Panthers got on the board.
“Cheltenham scored with 13 minutes left, which made for a nervous finish,” coach Alan Nicholl said. “We probably should have killed off the game well before then, but our final touch let us down.
“Cheltenham’s keeper (Justin Grady) kept it close. It was a good result at the end of the day.”
The Golden Hawks’ coach credited the effort of a catalyst on offense.
“Zach Shefsky deserved a goal for all the chances he created, and he always works tirelessly,” Nicholl said.
Council Rock South (7-7, 5-3 SOL) will travel to Bensalem on Tuesday, and Cheltenham (6-6-1, 5-4-1) will be on the road at Wissahickon on Tuesday.
Cheltenham 0-1 1
Council Rock South 1-1 2
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 3, HATBORO-HORSHAM 0
The Bucks could have suffered a letdown 24 hours removed from their hard-fought win over Pennridge at Talen Energy Stadium. That didn’t happen.
Instead, the Bucks came out of the gate strong, scoring a pair of goals in the first half on their way to yet another shutout win.
“We came out fast actually, so to follow up yesterday, which was a big venue, big conference game – when you add all of those storylines together, to come out not flat today and to really come out fast was nice to see,” coach Stefan Szygiel said. “We’ve been playing Hatboro-Horsham for years. Kyle (McGrath) always does a great job with them and gets them organized and gets them working hard.
“They just had a slow start, and we had the opposite. He and I as coaches have been on both sides of that before. They’ve come back against us before, and we’ve come back against them.”
Jimi Leder (Reed Sturza assist) and Luke Fehrman (Nick Centenera assist) each scored a goal to spot the Bucks a 2-0 halftime lead. Leder teamed up with Sturza to score his second goal and the only goal of the second half for the 3-0 final.
Szygiel called Monday’s win a team effort.
“We were bought in today,” the Bucks’ coach said. “We did our jobs. I think we got outplayed for about 15 minutes to start the second half, and we hung tough – defended corners, defended restarts and then we were able to get forward a little more.
“I think it was collective – every guy that played today played above average to very good, and that’s a good day.”
Central Bucks West (11-2, 8-1 SOL) will travel to North Penn on Thursday in a key conference battle. The undefeated Knights are seeded second in the District One 4A power rankings.
“We’ve got to pull something special out,” Szygiel said. “We have to be at our best, we have to hope they have maybe a little bit of an off day.
“They’re the best team I’ve seen. No discredit to any other team out there in the district – of the teams we’ve come across and the teams I’ve scouted and even some of the ones I’ve scouted at the potential state tournament level, North Penn is the most complete team I’ve seen so far.
“To have an opportunity to play them again – the last time we played them (a 4-2 North Penn win), it was a tale of two halves. We were better for 40 and scored two, they were better for 40 and scored four. We’ll see how it goes, but we’ll be up for it.”
Hatboro-Horsham (7-6-1, 5-4-1) will be on the road at Springfield Township on Tuesday.
Hatboro-Horsham 0-0 0
Central Bucks West 2-1 3
ROMAN CATHOLIC 1, WISSAHICKON 0
The Trojans gave the PCL’s first place team all it could handle, battling the visiting Cahillites to a scoreless halftime tie. Roman scored the game’s only goal in the second half.
Wissahickon (7-4-2, 6-2-2 SOL) will host Cheltenham on Tuesday.
Roman Catholic 0-1 1
Wissahickon 0-0 0
HOLY GHOST PREP 1, NESHAMINY 0
The Firebirds, firmly atop the District One 5A power rankings, brought a 12-0-1 record into Monday’s non-league game at Neshaminy. They picked up win number 13, but the Redskins didn’t make it easy.
Neshaminy (7-6, 6-3 SOL) will host Council Rock North on Tuesday.
Saturday, Oct. 6
NORTH PENN 3, LA SALLE 1
In a battle of area heavyweights, the visiting Knights – thanks to a Josh Jones goal – opened up a 1-0 halftime lead on their way to the impressive non-league win. Ryan Stewart added a pair of second-half goals for the high-flying Knights.
North Penn (13-0, 8-0 SOL) will travel to Quakertown on Tuesday.
North Penn 1-2 3
La Salle 0-1 1
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