Check out the results for SOL boys’ soccer teams in action on Tuesday. Check back for Keith Clemens’ photo gallery of the North Penn/Tennent game…CLICK HERE.
American Conference
UPPER DUBLIN 1, WISSAHICKON 0
In the 60th minute, Anthony Wisdo found the back of the net for a goal that turned out to be the game winner.
“The assist was from a Chris Touchet through ball, and basically, it was a breakaway – one-on-one with the goalkeeper,” UD coach Derek Priest said. “As the goalkeeper came out, he slid the ball under the goalkeeper.”
The game was a typical war between the neighboring rivals.
“The first half was a real midfield battle,” Priest said. “We had one chance and maybe they had one chance, but there were very few chances.
“The second half was a little bit more open, but it was a very close game with relatively few chances.”
The win kept the Cardinals alone atop the conference standings.
“It was a very big win,” Priest said. “We have three very important games this week – Wissahickon today, Plymouth Whitemarsh on Thursday, then Father Judge on Friday.
“It’s a nice way to start the tough week.”
Priest lauded the strong showing of Wisdo, who has five goals in four games, as well as forward Matt Adams and right midfielder Ryan Huggins.
While Upper Dublin (4-0, 3-0 SOL) will host Plymouth Whitemarsh on Thursday, Wissahickon (1-2-1, 1-2) will be on the road at Hatboro-Horsham.
Wissahickon 0-0 0
Upper Dublin 0-1 1
HATBORO-HORSHAM 2, QUAKERTOWN 0
Ryan Cole and Colin Bateman proved to be double trouble for the Panthers tonight, teaming up for a goal in each half to lead the Hatters to the road win.
Ten minutes into the opening half, Ryan Cole played the ball into the box after a corner kick, and Bateman chipped it over the keeper to put the Hatters on the scoreboard.
The Hatters’ second goal also came after a corner kick, and this time it was Cole finding the net.
“Colin won the initial head ball, and their goalkeeper made a great save, and Ryan was there to put the rebound in inside the six-yard box,” coach Kyle McGrath said. “Colin and Ryan played well.
“I thought my one center back, Colin Davis, had a good performance. He kind of controlled the back line for us and put a good shift in and definitely played well.
“We just got a solid performance from a lot of guys. We were able to get guys off the bench into the game, which was good. I thought Danny Harman had a good performance. He didn’t get on the scoresheet, but he was constantly putting them under pressure, which was good to see.”
With the win, the Hatters remain just two points behind conference-leading Upper Dublin, and although it’s early, McGrath is enjoying life in the American Conference so far.
“It’s nice for the kids,” the Hatters’ coach said. “Playing in the Continental was a battle every game, and it was just a grind.
“That’s not to say the American Conference isn’t a grind, but obviously, for the kids, it’s good to have some success when you’re playing well as opposed to playing well and still going down in defeat. The three teams we’ve played so far have been comparable in size, which makes such a difference. I’m just happy for the boys, for sure.”
Hatboro-Horsham (3-1-1, 2-0-1 SOL) will host Wissahickon on Thursday, and Quakertown (1-3, 0-3) will host Cheltenham on Thursday.
Hatboro-Horsham 1-1 2
Quakertown 0-0 0
CHELTENHAM 3, UPPER MORELAND 0
The Panthers needed a win after opening the season with back-to-back losses.
“We lost a tight one at Abington, 1-0, where we had two goals called back on us,” coach Chuck Gesing said. “We really lost focus and got crushed by Upper Dublin 6-0, so this was a nice turnaround.
“This early in the season – there shouldn’t be any must-win games, but we were feeling this was a must-win game.”
Junior David Katzenberg scored his first varsity goal in the fourth minute, and then found the net with his second in the 56th minute. Seven minutes later, freshman Andrew Moreland also connected for his first varsity goal.
The change in strategy heading into Tuesday’s game, according to Gesing, was subtle but significant.
“We just decided to play simpler, instead of too many guys trying to do too much, and really just play to our strengths,” the Panthers’ coach said. “Once we did that, it was a lot easier.”
The Panthers received a clutch performance in goal by Justin Grady, who earned the shutout. Gesing also lauded the efforts of two of his center backs – RJ Magallanas and Wes Paik.
“They both really managed the game well for us and did a nice job – I don’t think Upper Moreland had any shots in close, and almost all their shots were from outside the 18,” the Panthers’ coach said. “Elijah Reese, our senior center midfielder, had about three or four really good opportunities, and their keeper made a nice save. He was real close on a lot.”
Cheltenham (1-2, 1-1 SOL) will be on the road at Quakertown on Thursday night (7 p.m.), and Upper Moreland (1-2-1, 0-2-1) will host Springfield Township.
Upper Moreland 0-0 0
Cheltenham 1-2 3
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 1, PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 0
Zach Harley turned a Trevor McCafrey pass into a goal for the game winner, giving the Spartans the dramatic double overtime win.
Springfield (1-3, 1-1 SOL) will travel to Upper Moreland on Thursday, and Plymouth Whitemarsh (2-2, 2-1) will host Upper Dublin Thursday.
Springfield 0-0-0-1 1
Plymouth Whitemarsh 0-0-0-0 0
Continental Conference
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 3, CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 2 (2 OT)
Overtime games – even double overtime games – are nothing new when these neighboring teams do battle. In last year’s regular season finale, West edged South 1-0 in double overtime. On Tuesday night, the Titans returned the favor when Colin Fagan converted a penalty kick in the 97th minute – his third goal of a brilliant performance – to send South home a winner.
“Last year we lost to them in overtime on a free kick on one of those freaky things,” South coach Don Brady said. “That loss made a difference for us in the playoff rankings.”
Making Tuesday’s win especially gratifying was the fact that the Titans found themselves staring at an early 2-0 deficit after goals by Jack Galt (CJ Lang assist) and August Meyer (Marcos Urffer assist).
Fagan cut that lead in half with his first goal – this one with an assist from Jason Reimert. Early in the second half, he turned a pass from Dom Monchek into the equalizer.
“In the second half, we were untouchable in terms of possession,” Brady said. “We just kept coming at them and coming at them.
“I was surprised we didn’t get the game winner. We played some beautiful soccer in the second half.”
The 2-2 score stood until the final minutes of the second overtime when the Titans were awarded a penalty kick.
“Gianni Goss, our center forward, got in the box working really hard, got taken down just getting into the box, and that earned us the PK,” said Brady.
The Titans’ coach lauded the performances of several players.
“Kevin Berntsen – besides making some great defensive plays for us, he really does try to initiate the attack from the back in a lot of different ways,” Brady said of his center back. “He had a spectacular game as well.
“Our goalkeeper, Brady Day, came up big late in the overtime to make a great save – punched the ball up over the bar.”
The double overtime win came on the heels of a week that saw the Titans play four matches in seven days.
Sophomore keeper Dylan Smith kept the Bucks in it with 15 saves.
Central Bucks South (3-1-1, 2-0-1 SOL) will host William Tennent on Thursday, and Central Bucks West (2-2, 1-2) will host Central Bucks East on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Central Bucks South 1-1-0-1 3
Central Bucks West 2-0-0-0 2
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 2, PENNRIDGE 0
The Patriots picked up their third conference win without a loss and find themselves in a familiar spot after three games – at the top of the SOL Continental Conference standings. Since settling for a 1-1 tie with Spring-Ford in their season opener, the Patriots have reeled off four straight shutout wins.
All of this with pretty much a brand new lineup and a brand new coach.
“It still early,” coach Jeremiah White said. “My main focus was on the defensive tactical side. My thing is always not to let up goals.”
An interesting philosophy from a coach who led the ACC in scoring as a sophomore at Wake Forrest, and White – who went on to play professional soccer – admits it’s an approach most don’t expect from him.
“My time in France sort of re-trained my thinking, so I focus on the defensive tactics first, and then once we’re able to keep goals out, then we focus on the other side of the ball, and that’s what we’ve done,” the Patriots’ first-year coach said. “We started now to work on how we want to score goals.
“It’s just a process. We don’t have a whole lot of time. There’s a lot of training and teaching you have to do during the season to get these guys at peak and optimal levels at the right time. To their credit, they’re doing pretty well. We’re not where I kind of see us going, but we’re taking some decent steps.”
In five games, the Patriots have allowed just one goal, and White credited the efforts of his back line.
“Sebastian Krysztofowicz is a midfielder, and he has accepted the responsibility of playing in the back line,” the Patriots’ coach said. “He just took it, and he’s completely owned the position. He’s playing a fantastic right back.
“Kyle Kittleson is doing a great job. He just gets better and better each game, and obviously, (Stephen) Sheehan and (Will) Eisold are doing a phenomenal job. The back line – what they’ve done is they’ve really taken the time to understand the tactics, and also, it’s helping them organize the defensive unit and organize quickly in transition. That’s what I’m most happy about.”
In Tuesday’s win, Stephanos Panos scored off a cross from Ross Burton early in the second half, and midway through the half, Tomasz Ogonowski found the net for an insurance goal that gave the Patriots their final margin of victory.
Central Bucks East (4-0-1, 3-0 SOL) will face Central Bucks West in a rivalry game at War Memorial Field on Wednesday (7 p.m.). Pennridge (2-1-1, 0-1-1) will host Souderton on Thursday night at 7 p.m.
Pennridge 0-0 0
Central Bucks East 0-2 2
NORTH PENN 1, WILLIAM TENNENT 0
Nate Baxter turned a Noah Kwortnick pass into a goal midway through the second half, and that was enough to propel the Knights to win.
“It was a hard-fought game on both sides,” North Penn coach Paul Duddy said. “Both teams played well at times.
“We possibly had more chances than Tennent, but their keeper played well. It was a tough game.”
The Knights’ coach lauded the strong play of several players.
“As always, Mike Kohler played so well,” Duddy said. “Kwortnick is one of our central defenders, and he also played very well.”
North Penn (3-1, 2-1 SOL) will be on the road at Wilson for a non-league game on Saturday, and William Tennent (1-2, 0-2) will travel to Central Bucks South on Thursday.
William Tennent 0-0 0
North Penn 0-1 1
National Conference
NESHAMINY 2, ABINGTON 0
Jack McCourt opened the scoring in the 18th minute off a feed from Eric Clayton, and the Redskins took that 1-0 lead into halftime. In the 58th minute, they tacked on an insurance goal.
“Dan Grindrod played a perfect diagonal pass to Vince Hosephros,” coach Tom Foley said. “Hosephros collected it in stride and buried the ball in the left corner.”
That 2-0 lead stood the rest of the way.
“Overall, we controlled a lot of the game and created several good scoring opportunities,” Foley said. “Abington has always been a difficult opponent, so it’s nice to get the road win against a quality side.”
Neshaminy (3-0, 2-0 SOL) will host Pennsbury on Thursday night in a key conference game at 7 p.m. Abington (3-1, 1-1) will be at Council Rock North on Thursday.
Neshaminy 1-1 2
Abington 0-0 0
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 3, BENSALEM 0
The Indians got on the scoreboard when Eric Levine scored his fourth goal of the year in the seventh minute on an assist from Noah Ehlin. Tyler Becker tallied a goal in the 30th minute on a nifty pass from Nick Guarna.
Three minutes into the second half, Carter Steckbeck sealed the deal with a goal set up by a through ball from Conor O’Donnell.
“(We were) able to empty the bench with 21 players seeing significant minutes,” coach Joe Stackhouse said. “Anthony Caruso was called on to make a diving save in each half for the shutout, his third of the year.”
North outshot the Owls 15-8 and had the better of play.
Council Rock North (3-0-1, 3-0 SOL) will host Abington Thursday, and Bensalem (0-4, 0-3) will host West Chester Rustin in a non-league contest on Friday.
Bensalem 0-0 0
Council Rock North 2-1 3
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 5, HARRY S TRUMAN 0
The Golden Hawks controlled play from start to finish, opening up a 2-0 halftime lead on their way to the decisive win.
Contributing one goal each for the Golden Hawks were Pat Wilczynski (Ethan Benedict assist), Tyler Teufel, Colby Brown (Justin Weinberg assist), Kevin Bowers (Ethan Benedict assist) and Anthony Ritts (Dan Maggio).
Keepers Nolan Gaudet and Kevin McNamee recorded the shutout.
Council Rock South (3-2, 1-2 SOL) will host Archbishop Wood in a non-league contest on Thursday, and Harry S Truman (1-2, 0-2) will be on the road at Bensalem on Thursday.
Harry S Truman 0-0 0
Council Rock South 2-3 5
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