Check out the results for SOL boys’ soccer teams in action. To view photos of the Neshaminy/CR North and North Penn/CB West games, please visit the Photo Gallery.
American Conference
Plymouth Whitemarsh 3, Upper Dublin 2 (OT)
Last season, Plymouth Whitemarsh took a 2-0 lead into the half against Upper Dublin only to see the Cardinals come out victorious in overtime. On Thursday, the exact opposite happened.
A 2-0 halftime lead wasn't enough for Upper Dublin, which lost by one goal in overtime to conference foe and host Plymouth Whitemarsh.
The Colonials (5-0-0, 4-0-0) were able to remain undefeated and alone atop the American Conference standings after defeating the Cardinals, who were previously unbeaten in conference play.
"Last year, they did the same thing to us, so we returned it a little bit," PW coach Devon Landgraff said. "The wind and the sun helped both teams out, as both goals in each half were scored in the same direction. It was a pretty good battle and they just broke us a couple times with great possessions in the middle of the field and a couple of missed calls by our backs and center-mids. They just chipped it over the keeper both times in the first half."
Anthony Wisdo scored both first half goals for Upper Dublin, but it was a much different story from the opening whistle of the second half.
Dominic Wlodarczyk scored off a pass from Alex Bilodeau in the game's 41st minute. In the 79th minute, with regulation winding down, Cam Johnson scored on a header with the assist going to Dylan Ensslin. In overtime, a throw-in found its way to Wlodarczyk, who raced to the ball and beat Upper Dublin goalkeeper Thomas Juelke.
"We didn't have energy coming off a big win over Wissahickon, and we kind of went through the motions , but the guys rallied," Landgraff said. "After we came up really flat in the first half, we went over a few points of emphasis and that's what this team does. They find ways to win and it's fun to be a part of. It was good. It was a good feeling."
PW was forced to play much of the second half without Bilodeau, one of the Colonials' better offensive players, who went down with a concussion shortly after the Colonials got on the scoreboard.
In net, Juelke stopped six shots, while his counterpart, Shane Smith, also made six saves in net for PW.
Back-to-back wins over Wissahickon and Upper Dublin (3-2-1, 3-1-0) have given the Colonials’ sole possession of first place in the conference standings. Not a bad week for Landgraff and the Colonials.
"We have the utmost respect for the Upper Dublin and Wissahickon soccer programs," the PW coach said. "They've always been the staple in our conference and just to be up there with them and competing with them and having some success going head to head with them the last couple years has been great. The guys are excited and we're going to keep trying to move forward and stay consistent in a tough conference this year."
Upper Dublin 2 0 0 2
Plymouth Whitemarsh0 2 1 3
Springfield 4, Upper Moreland 1
Four different players scored goals for Springfield in a one-sided affair and victory over visiting Upper Moreland. The win improved Springfield's record to 4-2-0 overall and 2-2-0 in conference play.
Riley Woron, Corey Cottone, Mike Bonacci and Colin Criniti all scored goals for the Spartans, while Cottone added a pair of assists. Crinityi and Trevor McCaffrey also added assists for the Spartans.
The Bears' lone goal came from Kenny Mitchell. Upper Moreland now sits at 0-5-0 overall and 0-4-0 in conference play on the young season.
Wissahickon 3 Upper Merion 2
Wissahickon improved to 4-1-0 overall and 3-1-0 in conference play following a victory over Upper Merion in a battle of conference teams at Wissahickon High School.
For the Trojans, it was Cole Kropnick who led the way from start to finish. Kropnick scored both of Wissahickon's first half goals, and then netted the game-winner while earning himself a hat trick with a goal in the 56th minute to break a 2-2 tie.
Shane Fallen, Alex Chiodo-Ortiz and Joe Maiale all contributed assists for the Trojans, while John Carrozza stopped four shots in net to earn the win. Wissahickon outshot the Vikings 19-10.
Angelo Misseri scored both goals for Upper Merion (1-3-0, 1-3-0), which got six saves in net from goalkeeper Kyle Roberts. Brendan Magdamo added an assist.
Upper Merion 1 1 2
Wissahickon 2 1 3
National Conference
Bensalem 2, Abington 1
Ryan Molz and Chris Juergensen each scored goals for Bensalem as the Owls were able to pick up their first conference win of the year on their home field.
Omar Luviano contributed an assist for Bensalem, which now sits at 2-3-0 overall on the season and 1-2-0 in conference play.
"It was huge for us,” Bensalem coach Joe Leone said of his team notching its first win. "We had a good non-league win over the weekend (over La Salle), and we have to realize that to make the playoffs, we have to win in our league. Beating a quality opponent like Abington gives the kids some confidence and hopefully it will carry over to the next game."
Molz scored midway through the first half to put Bensalem on top 1-0. Juergensen scored early in the second half to give the Owls a 2-0 lead. Abington responded with a goal by Juan Castillo, but Bensalem goalkeeper Greg Citrino, who stopped 10 shots in net, was a difference maker and kept the Ghosts from tying things up.
"Greg kind of held us in there," Leone said. "It was a good win for us and it kind of gets us back on track in the league. Abington is a tough team and well-coached and the players played well and put a lot of pressure on us, but Greg came up big.
“In our conference, there are going to be a lot of one-goal games and it's going to be a tight race for everybody. There are a lot of good teams."
The Ghosts fall to 2-2-0 in league play (3-2-0 overall).
"Abington played well and could've beaten us by a goal today," Leone said. "It just happened that we ended up on top."
Abington 0 1 1
Bensalem 1 1 2
Neshaminy 4, Council Rock North 1
Zach Albarran scored his fourth goal of the season in the game's fifth minute to get things started in what turned out to be a three-goal Redskins victory over the Indians.
The Indians (1-4-0, 1-3-0) tied things up off a cross in the 25th minute to send the two teams into the half tied at 1-1. But it was the Neshaminy show in the second half, as Kevin Goetz and Devlin Mettee each scored for the Redskins, who also tallied an own goal on a ball that went off a CR North defender's head into his own net.
Goetz's goal was also his fourth of the season. Jamen Rowan, Dan Grindrod and James McCourt added assists for Neshaminy, which remained perfect on the young season (5-0-0, 4-0-0 SOL).
Neshaminy 1 3 4
Council Rock North 1 0 1
Continental Conference
North Penn 3, Central Bucks West 0
In a battle of teams vying for position near the top of the conference standings, North Penn came away with the big road win.
The Knights (3-2-0, 3-1-0) received a first half goal from Chris Owens that turned out to be the game winner in a shutout win that saw North Penn goalkeeper Jordan Katz stop all six shots that came his way.
"Any win in our conference is a good win," said North Penn coach Paul Duddy, one of two teams within a game of first place CB East. "That puts us at 3-1 in the conference and it keeps us in the game. It's good - it's a good win. There are still a couple undefeated teams and it's still early, but we need to get the points and continue to stay with them."
Dan Burgoyne scored in the 41st minute, and Brad Deckel capped the scoring for the Knights, who got assists from Kevin McKenna, Mike Koller and Matt Richards. The defense, according to Duddy, did a fantastic job in front of Katz.
"I thought that Jordan (Katz) played well and so did our entire defense," the Knights’ coach said. "I believe it's getting stronger as we go."
The Bucks are 2-2 in the conference (3-2-1 overall).
North Penn 1 2 3
Central Buck West 0 0 0
Hatboro-Horsham 3, Quakertown 2 (OT)
Freshman Colin Bateman scored on a ball off a corner kick in the first overtime period, propelling the Hatters to the dramatic win –the Hatters’ first of the season.
"We have been competitive in almost all of our games, including three one-goal losses so far,” Hatters’ coach Kyle McGrath said. “The boys have maintained a positive attitude and continue to work hard day in and day out.
"I told them that their hard work would eventually pay off, and today, it showed, picking up an overtime victory over a young but improving Quakertown squad."
Tom McElrath and Justin Paluszek also scored for the Hatters (1-5-0, 1-4-0), while goalkeeper Kurt Dick stopped eight shots in net. Paluszek and Dante D'Alonzo added assists for the Hatters.
Quakertown received goals from Isaiah Johnson and Dalton Kemp.
The Panthers fell to 0-6-4 overall and 0-4-0 in conference play.
Central Bucks East 1, Central Bucks South 0
With the possibility of losing the top spot in the Continental Conference at stake, the Patriots took full advantage when an opportunity presented itself late in Thursday’s showdown.
Junior JR Eisold was awarded a free kick in the game's final minutes, and he capitalized, propelling the Patriots to the big victory in a battle of neighboring rivals.
The game-winner came off a set piece from the outside angle right off of the 18 on the left side. Junior Evan Vare played a beautiful restart to the far post, where Eisold made a run and finished the run by knocking the ball inside the near post.
The Patriots knew they would be in for a battle when they took on the Titans (3-2-0, 2-2-0).
"I know about all the rivalry stuff, but our league is just so competitive top to bottom," CB East coach Mike Gorni said. "The kids obviously have a little more of a rivalry when playing (CB) West or South, but we just know that they're a very good team and there are a number of good teams in our league.
“We're in a very tight league, and we are very happy to win a close game and get out of dodge with three points. Each game is so competitive in our league right now. When you get out and get a win, you're very happy with that and ready to face the next day."
Gorni had plenty to be happy about, especially his team’s defense, which has yielded zero goals through six games this season.
In Thursday’s win, goalkeeper Austin Prime make six saves while recording his sixth consecutive shutout.
"Austin has obviously been playing well in goal, but we have been defending well enough as an entire team," Gorni said. "The keeper is getting the shutouts, but we're not scoring at the rate or percentage that we'd like. We are scoring enough to get by right now and it's good for right now, but we're going to have to get better."
The Patriots improved to 6-0-0 overall (4-0-0 SOL).
Central Bucks East 0 1 1
Central Bucks South 0 0 0
Souderton 0, Pennridge 0 (OT)
It wasn't a win for Pennridge, but it also wasn't a loss.
Going up against the undefeated Indians, the winless Rams were able to leave Souderton Area High School with a scoreless draw in a battle of Continental Conference teams.
Pennridge now sits at 0-3-1 in the league and on the season, while Souderton, which got two saves in net from Paul Steingraber, sits a 4-1-1 and 3-0-1.
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