Check out the results for SOL boys’ soccer teams in action Thursday.
By Jarrad Saffren
The stretch run continues across all three Suburban One League conferences. Thursday was mostly upset-free in the National and Continental, but madness reigned in the American. The results and recaps from all 12 games are below.
SOL Continental
Central Bucks South 3, Pennridge 0
The hottest team in the SOL dismantled another conference rival, improving to 6-0-1 in its last seven games.
The game might well have been over in the second minute, for all intents and purposes. In the opening minute, Pennridge floated the ball to an open man in the box, who headed it over the net. One minute later, South’s Colin Green took possession, streaked down the far sideline, and finished.
“From there, they were jacked up,” said Pennridge coach Pete Valimont. “Our energy level went down and we never became a threat at all.”
The Titans scored two more goals – both by Colin Fagan – in the second half and coasted the rest of the way. Fagan found the net in the 48th and 61st minutes – both with Green assists. South outshot Pennridge 12-3.
“We moved the ball and (possessed) the ball really well,” said South coach Don Brady. “Our defense played real well too.”
South keeper Matt Gorman earned his fourth shutout of the season.
“We came out flat, with no energy, and just got it handed to us,” Valimont said.
CB South (9-2-1, 7-2-1 SOL) goes to Abington Monday for a non-conference showdown with the Ghosts. Pennridge (4-7, 3-7 SOL) also plays a non-league game, at Saucon Valley Friday afternoon.
Central Bucks South 1-2 3
Pennridge 0-0 0
Central Bucks East 3, Hatboro-Horsham 0
The Patriots stayed undefeated on a night when their best player revealed an important decision for his future.
Senior forward Evan Vare, who scored the last two goals in this game, committed to play soccer at Lafayette College in Easton, Pa. He will join fellow CB East graduate Ben Marks on the Leopards.
“Evan had a good number of choices from the Patriot League schools and others,” Gorni said. “It was a great academic choice and a great soccer choice.”
“Soccer-wise, it’s a place where he can go in and contribute and play right away,” added Gorni. “I’m glad for him. He now gets to relax and he knows where he’s going to school.”
Before Vare moves onto a bigger stage, he has a final act to finish as a Patriot. The riveting spectacle continued against Hatboro-Horsham,
Liam Creedon (Will Eisold assist) put East in front early and Vare followed later in the half to make it 2-0.
The senior added another goal to put the game away in the second half. Will Eisold Andrew Walters, and Stephen Sheehan assisted on the goals. Austin Prime earned the shutout in his second game back from injury.
Gorni was especially pleased with his team’s first goal from Creedon with an Eisold assist.
“About 16 minutes in, we had a ball that was crossed in—it was a secondary pass, and from about 15 yards out, Liam buried a low liner into the far corner, and that ended up being the game winner, so great for him,” the Patriots’ coach said. “Two people got involved in the scoring who aren’t our typical scorers.”
Gorni said his defense also played well in its second game without center midfielder JR Eisold (injury).
“Will (Eisold), Ian (Lutz), Andrew (Walters), and Stephen Sheehan all played great again in front of Austin,” Gorni said.
Walters started his second game in a row in place of Andrew Zach, who moved up to center-mid to replace JR Eisold.”
CB East (14-0, 10-0 SOL) battles scorching hot CB South Tuesday in the matchup of the year in the SOL Continental. Hatboro-Horsham (6-7, 4-6 SOL) travels to Boyertown Saturday for a 1 p.m. contest.
Central Bucks East 2-1 3
Hatboro-Horsham 0-0 0
Central Bucks West 3, Souderton 0
Three Bucks scored and Dylan Smith stoned two shots to earn his eighth shutout of the season.
Jack Tilley, Brandon Morris, and Tarin Morris beat Souderton’s keeper and blew the game open before halftime. Joel Acaster, Tilley, and Sean Burke assisted on the goals.
CB West (10-4, 6-4 SOL) plays North Penn on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Souderton (2-10-1, 2-7-1 SOL) battles Pennridge at 7:30.
Central Bucks West 3-0 3
Souderton 0-0 0
North Penn 3, Quakertown 0
North Penn bounced back after dropping a heartbreaker to CB East Tuesday.
Liam Parker turned a Matt Shade pass into a goal that gave the Knights a 1-0 lead at the intermission. In the second half, the Knights received single goals from Aiden Jerome (Nate Baxter assist) and Collin Jerome (Nick Terchek assist) for the 3-0 final.
North Penn (8-2-2, 6-2-2 SOL) buses to Holy Ghost Prep Friday for a 3:45 p.m. start. Quakertown (2-12, 0-10 SOL) travels to Hatboro-Horsham Tuesday for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
North Penn 1-2 3
Quakertown 0-0 0
SOL National
Pennsbury 1, Bensalem 1 (2 OT)
Two days after regaining first-place with a convincing 5-0 win over CR North, the Falcons dropped back into a tie with the Indians, who won on Thursday.
The tie snapped a two-game losing streak for the Owls.
After a scoreless first half, Alfardy Ali blasted the ball into the net to put Bensalem up 1-0. Midway through the half, Pennsbury tied it up on a goal by Matt Frank off a corner kick.
Bensalem coach Joe Leone said both teams had opportunities to break the tie, but the keepers didn’t allow it.
“They made good saves,” said Leone. “Our keeper (Greg) Citrino had a real good save midway through the second half and theirs (Anthony Rosso) had a real good one in OT.”
Pennsbury (6-3-2, 6-2-2 SOL) hosts Downingtown West Saturday morning. Bensalem (6-4-1, 5-4-1 SOL) has four days off before playing Abington Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.
Pennsbury 0-1 1
Bensalem 0-1 1
Neshaminy 1, William Tennent 0
Neshaminy won for the third time in four games, breaking a scoreless tie in the 53rd minute.
Mike Mandia broke free down the left sideline, cut toward the middle, and kicked the ball to Dan Grindrod, who one-timed it into the back of the net.
Redskins coach Tom Foley praised his defenders after the game.
“Our defense, anchored by Justin Tobin, Nick Kelly, Jon Albarran, and Teddy Krimmel, was very good all day limiting Tennent’s opportunities,” Foley said.
Neshaminy (4-7-1, 4-5-1 SOL) battles CR North Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. William Tennent (8-6, 5-5 SOL) travels to CR South to play the streaking Golden Hawks.
Neshaminy 0-1 1
William Tennent 0-0 0
Council Rock South 4, Abington 2
The Golden Hawks’ offense exploded for four goals in the second half to overcome a 1-0 deficit, and for the second game in a row, South beat a team near the top of the SOL National standings.
“We’ve actually been playing well all year,” said South coach Alan Nicholl. “I’ve been very pleased with the way we knock it around. Struggling at times with our touch sums it up.”
The Ghosts took a 1-0 halftime lead on a goal by Jason Gates. Brent Weinstein connected for the equalizer 17 minutes into the second half, but three minutes later Jacob Katro found the net to put the Ghosts back on top (2-1).
Mike Dawicki answered with a goal to knot the score 2-2 with 17:18 remaining, and Kevin Bowers netted the last two in the final 2:36 of the contest, breaking a 2-2 tie and propelling the Golden Hawks to the win.
Nate Zadjowicz and Nolan Gaudet combined to make nine saves in goal for the Hawks.
CR South (5-7, 4-5 SOL) hosts William Tennent Tuesday. Abington (7-4, 6-4 SOL) plays CB South Monday at 3:30 p.m.
Council Rock South 0-4 4
Abington 1-1 2
Council Rock North 3, Harry S. Truman 2
Truman keeper Fernando Mendez stood on his head, his hand, and any other body part that would prevent the ball from sailing into the net. Mendez made 13 saves, and some, according to North coach Joe Stackhouse, were “absolutely spectacular.”
But it wasn’t enough.
North rebounded from its loss at Pennsbury Tuesday to rip 20 shots on Truman’s vigorous keeper. Three went in, which was just enough.
Nick Guarna netted two and Dennis Karpovitch booted the eventual game winner. Truman’s Angel Rodriguez made it 3-2 late in the second half but the Tigers never scored again.
North (8-2-2, 6-2-2 SOL) clashes with Archbishop Wood Saturday morning. Truman (0-10, 0-9 SOL) welcomes Marple-Newtown.
SOL American
Upper Dublin 4, Upper Moreland 1
Nick Browndorff netted a hat trick as the Cardinals celebrated Senior Night by earning a win that pulled them into a first-place tie with Wissahickon, which lost Thursday.
Browndorff scored the only goal of the first half in the fourth minute. He added goals in the 52nd and 68th minutes to keep Moreland at a distance. Jake Rosen blasted the fourth goal in the 76th minute.
“We played very well and dominated most of the game,” said Upper Dublin coach Derek Priest.
Priest also said Browndorff did more than just score.
“He read the lines well and brought other players in too,” the Cards’ coach said.
Upper Dublin (8-3, 8-2 SOL) goes to Father Judge Friday afternoon. Upper Moreland (3-8-1, 2-7-1 SOL) plays the other Moreland, of the Lower variety, Monday at 4 p.m.
Upper Dublin 1-3 4
Upper Moreland 0-1 1
Plymouth Whitemarsh 2, Wissahickon 1
The Colonials jumped out to an early lead upset the first-place Trojans, taking over sole possession of third-place, four points behind Wissahickon and Upper Dublin.
Tyler Goldman spotted the Colonials an early lead when he scored in the eighth minute, and four minutes later, PW led 2-0 after Austin Betterly found the net. Blake Geisler scored in the 67th minute to break up the Colonials’ shutout bid, but the Trojans would get no closer.
The Colonials held a 10-6 advantage in shots. Wissahickon keepers Brad Schwartz (three saves) and Zach Reiner (two saves) combined for five saves. PW’s Matt Gatta turned away three shots in the big win.
PW (8-2-2, 6-2-2 SOL) hosts Upper Dublin in a big matchup Tuesday. Wissahickon (8-3, 8-2 SOL) battles Upper Merion on the same day.
Norristown 2, Upper Merion 1
Norristown won its second conference game in a row and started its first winning streak of 2015.
In the 10th minute, Ethan Sylvester crossed the ball to the far post, where Carlos Chavez stuffed it into the net. A few minutes later, Marlon Melgares-Romero passed to Brendan Kelly in the box, and Kelly whistled the ball past the keeper to make it 2-0.
Upper Merion scored with eight minutes left but it was too little, too late.
Norristown coach Jared Elias said keeper Enrique Escobedo was “tremendous in the victory.”
Norristown (4-9, 3-8 SOL) plays Phoenixville Monday at 3:30 p.m. Upper Merion (6-5-2, 5-4-2 SOL) battles Interboro at home Friday.
Norristown 2-0 2
Upper Merion 0-1 1
Cheltenham 2, Springfield 0
Cheltenham scored more goals (two) against Springfield than it did in its previous four games. The offensive outburst ended a four-game skid that dropped the Panthers from second to fifth in the SOL American standings.
Eli Tomasic and Brendan Chaplin scored the goals while Derek Zagragen earned the shutout.
Cheltenham (5-5-1, 5-4-1 SOL) will try to make it two in a row at Norristown Tuesday. Springfield (2-10, 1-9 SOL) plays Upper Moreland at 3:30 p.m.
Cheltenham 1-1 2
Springfield 0-0 0
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