Check out the recaps for SOL boys’ soccer teams in action Monday.
American Conference
Wissahickon 6, Abington 0
The early goal gets the win?
Okay, we took some liberties there with the old saying, but it worked for Wissahickon on Monday as the Trojans handed Abington its first Suburban One League American Conference loss in five games while improving to 3-0 themselves in conference play.
"As a coach, obviously, you'll more than take it when you get an early goal," Wissahickon coach Stuart Malcolm said. "Neither team was really settled into the game at that point, but we were obviously thrilled to score."
That first goal came just two minutes into the game from Trey Schwartz and eight minutes later Eddie Fortescue scored to put the hosts up 2-0.
"We actually missed a penalty kick after our first goal, but then Eddie scored and then Trey got another one five minutes after that," Malcolm said.
"In the 25th minute we made it 4-0 when Eddie scored again, and, at that point, I told the players to just stay settled down and let's try and get to halftime with a zero on the board for them and we were able to do that. That fourth goal was really important for us."
Schwartz finished off the hat trick with 10 minutes to go before Adam Bowerman capped the scoring with a tally in the 75th minute.
"The game is about putting the ball in the net and we were fortunate to do that," Malcom said. "Abington is definitely a very good team, but I think they might have been a little shell-shocked after giving up the early goal.
"It was just one of those days where things went our way."
Fortescue added a pair of assists while Bill Bishop, Bowerman and Christian Vorchheimer each had one.
Wissahickon is eighth in the latest District One 4A power rankings and Abington is 15th.
Wissahickon (3-0-2, 3-0 SOL) hosts Upper Dublin on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. Abington (6-1, 4-1) will host Hatboro-Horsham on Thursday.
Abington 0-0 0
Wissahickon 4-2 – 6
Cheltenham 2, Hatboro-Horsham 1
Combine superb goalkeeping and timely scoring and good things usually happen.
They did for Cheltenham as Justin Grady was stellar in net and Julian Mendelsohn deposited a huge goal to lift the Panthers past a Hatboro-Horsham squad that was coming off an impressive non-league win over perennial PCL power Archbishop Wood.
"We knew it was going to be a great game today," Cheltenham coach Bill Tonkin said. "They (Hatboro-Horsham) are a very well-coached team and we battled and came out on top today. I'm starting to see our team progress and become the team that we want to be."
Mendelsohn broke a 1-1 halftime tie when he scored off a throw-in from Lionel Smoler-Schatz.
"Julian showed great composure on his goal," Tonkin said. "He chipped it in over the goalkeeper and really did a good job. And our goalie, Justin Grady, came up with some huge saves for us."
The Panthers' first goal was an own goal on a cross in the center of the goal that Matt Montes headed toward the net.
"A Hatter player attempted to clear it out and kicked it into the net," Tonkin said.
Findlay Peet, according to the Panthers' coach, also had a great chance with a free kick late in the game that hit the post.
Cheltenham (3-2-1, 2-2-1 SOL) will travel to Springfield Township on Thursday, and Hatboro-Horsham (3-4-1, 1-3-1) will be on the road at Abington.
Hatboro-Horsham 1-0 – 1
Cheltenham 1-1 – 2
Plymouth Whitemarsh 1, Upper Dublin 0
Plymouth Whitemarsh made an early goal stand up in posting a win over Upper Dublin.
Chad McNally's tally, off a cross from Andrew Strickland, with just four minutes gone in the game was all of the offense the Colonials would need.
"Our goalkeeper, Conner Smith, had some huge saves for us," Plymouth Whitemarsh coach Ryan Brazuk said. "He really played well."
Plymouth Whitemarsh (2-2-3, 2-1-2 SOL) will host Upper Moreland on Thursday, and Upper Dublin (2-4-1, 1-3-1) will be on the road at Wissahickon.
Upper Dublin 0-0 0
Plymouth Whitemarsh 1-0 – 1
Upper Moreland 2, Springfield Township 1 (OT)
Upper Moreland tied the game with five minutes left in regulation and Sam Brown connected on the game-winner from 30 yards out in overtime to post the victory.
Dylan Davis, off a feed from Ian Short, had the goal for the Spartans.
Upper Moreland (3-2-2, 2-2-1 SOL) will travel to Interboro for a non-league game Tuesday, and Springfield Township (1-3-2, 0-3-2) will host Cheltenham on Thursday.
Springfield Township 1-0-0 – 1
Upper Moreland 0-1-1 – 2
National Conference
Council Rock South 3, Pennsbury 1
A good remedy for a slow start is a good win. And Council Rock South picked up a good win by topping Pennsbury.
"It was nice to get a win at Pennsbury," CR South coach Alan Nicholl said. "We didn't play a game last week after we played five games in the first seven days, so it was nice to get a chance to play.
"This one was much closer than the scoreline showed. It was a 2-1 game late and they threw the kitchen sink at us and we were able to get the last goal on a counter attack."
A penalty kick by Joe Ficarotta gave the Falcons a 1-0 lead, but Zach Shefsky (from Sean Armstrong) connected on the equalizer. That 1-1 tie stood until the second half. Nick Kennerly (on a penalty kick) and Justin Segal (from Andrew Rosenfeld) each scored a goal for the Golden Hawks after the intermission with Segal connecting on the goal that sealed the Falcons’ fate.
Drew Bresnan made 11 saves to record the win.
"Our goaltender just made some great saves," Nicholl said. "And our back four on defense showed a lot of composure.
"Our senior captain, Nick Kennerly, led the way, and our young freshman, Shane Cohen, really played well in the back, too. He was in there battling and never got rattled. And Keith Charlton in the back was so consistent and just played a solid game. All of our boys were up for it today."
Council Rock South (2-4, 2-1 SOL) will host William Tennent on Thursday, and Pennsbury (4-2, 3-1) will travel to Harry S Truman on Friday.
Council Rock South 1-2 – 3
Pennsbury 1-0 – 1
William Tennent 2, Neshaminy 1
William Tennent used a pair of first-half goals and then held off Neshaminy after intermission to net the victory, the first in conference in four tries for the Panthers.
"We've been struggling," Tennent coach Nick D'Andrea said. "We've had some really key injuries, but we're starting to come together a bit.”
The Panthers have been without captains Matt D’Ambra (central midfielder) and Jon Lotrean (central defender).
Jared Meltzer had the first goal for Tennent before Joe Roller, off an assist from Max Schulze, pushed the advantage to 2-0.
“We actually played a very good first half, we kept possession very well. We had close to 70 percent possession,” D’Andrea said. “The second half was equal possession.
“We played very undisciplined, but I think it was because Neshaminy was attacking us so much. They were really aggressive after us.
“We’ve been very competitive, but we’re just having a hard time putting together a whole game. We have been on the down side of all three games, so this was a good feeling for the boys. It was a good team win. Hopefully, we’ll string together some wins.”
D'Andrea praised the play of goalkeeper Patrick Corley.
“We had a freshman goalie, who I thought played out of his mind the second half,” D’Andrea said. “He was under pressure all night in the second half.
“We had a big contribution from our center back, Jack Forbes. I thought he did a nice job filling in. He typically is an outside back, but he’s been playing center back, and he’s been doing a great job. He’s the leader on the field right now. He’s playing fantastic."
William Tennent (1-3 SOL) will travel to Council Rock South on Thursday.
Neshaminy 0-1 – 1
William Tennent 2-0 -2
Bensalem 4, Harry S. Truman 0
Jon Larbi, who provided a goal early in the first half and another midway through the second, helped lift Bensalem past Harry S. Truman.
Larbi's first goal, just 13 minutes into the game off a feed from Brian Gibson, gave the visitors all the offense they would need.
His second (from Hunter Shay) came 13 minutes into the second half and was followed four minutes later by a tally from teammate Ryan Antry (from Ethan Fan).
German Contreras, with 10 minutes remaining, capped the scoring for the Owls.
Bensalem (3-3, 2-2 SOL) will host Holy Ghost Prep in a non-league game Tuesday, and Harry S Truman (0-5, 0-4) will host Pennsbury on Friday.
Bensalem 1-3 – 4
Harry S. Truman 0-0 0
Continental Conference
Central Bucks East 1, Quakertown 0
Central Bucks East made an early goal stand up on the way to its first victory of the young season.
"We had some young guys in the game today and I was really impressed with how they played," East coach Josh Isaacsohn said. "There was a lot of hustle and I really saw some good things.
"I wish we could have put the ball in the net more. But we hit the post and the crossbar. Those things happen."
Sophomore center midfielder Luka Berkovic (off a feed from senior Keegan Cannon) had the game's lone goal about seven minutes in.
"Luke played a good game at center mid and Nick Knepp, who is only a freshman, did a nice job at left outside middie," Isaacsohn said.
Isaacsohn was also pleased with the play of his defense.
"Our center backs, Dillon Maund and Jacob Bing-Zaremba, who are sophomores, have really stepped up," Isaacsohn said. "And our goalie, (sophomore) Kyle Dunigan, has also been very good for us."
Central Bucks East (1-4-1, 1-3-0 SOL) will travel to Pennridge on Thursday, and Quakertown (1-5, 0-4) will host Central Bucks West on Thursday.
Quakertown 0-0 0
Central Bucks East 1-0 – 1
North Penn 4, Central Bucks West 2
North Penn used a furious second-half rally to pick up the win and stay undefeated through three conference games and 6-0 overall.
The Knights, who trailed 2-0 at halftime, netted four goals after the break to earn the victory.
“CB West absolutely outplayed us the first half,” coach Paul Duddy said. “They were absolutely the better team.”
But the second half was obviously a different story, and Duddy credited assistant coach Chris DePeppe for making some changes that turned the flow of the game in the Knights' favor.
“Where credit is due you give credit,” Duddy said. “He said, ‘We’ve got nothing to lose at this point,’ and he was right. It was a great move (the changes the Knights made).”
And a little pep talk before the start of the second half didn't hurt, either.
“Just before we went out, I grouped them together, I wouldn’t say I read them the riot act, but I said, ‘We’re better than we showed in the first half. They’re a very good team, but we’re just as good,’” Duddy said. “We had a good second half. Aidan Jerome scored a goal 12 minutes into the half, and that just gave us a lift. It was a very nice play, a nice goal. It was like, ‘We’re back in this, we know we can play with anybody.’ We got the second goal to tie it up, and everybody on our bench is standing and cheering.”
Jerome's goal was unassisted and then Josh Jones, from Jaimie Stewart, provided the equalizer.
“Josh Jones is our central defender, but he goes up on our corners and our free kicks,” Duddy said. “He went up and got the header, and that just put us back in the game. Our confidence level then just went through the roof against a very good team."
Luke McMahon then gave North Penn the lead for good when he converted a penalty kick before Ethan Brown, from Stewart, netted the fourth goal.
“(West), in my opinion, is one of the best teams in the area and has absolutely the best keeper in the area,” Duddy said of CB West goalkeeper Dylan Smith.“I think we were fortunate, but we hung in. We were kind of resilient. Being down 2-0, you could say ‘We’re done, we’ll come back next game.’ The boys responded.”
The Bucks entered the game at 5-1 with all five wins coming by shutout.
North Penn was coming off a big win over Wilson-West Lawn on Saturday.
“We beat a very good Wilson-West Lawn, and as always, they’ll make the playoffs, and to come back and win tonight, it’s been a good few days," Duddy said."I will always give (CB West coach) Stefan (Szygiel) and that group credit. They’re good."
North Penn (6-0, 3-0 SOL) will travel to North Penn on Thursday, and Central Bucks West (5-2, 3-1) will be on the road at Quakertown Thursday.
North Penn 0-4 – 4
Central Bucks West 2-0 – 2
Souderton 1, Pennridge 1
Souderton answered a late goal from Pennridge with one of its own to forge a 1-1 tie with the Rams.
After a scoreless first half, a Marco Grenda goal put the Rams on the board in the 73rd minute only to see Souderton's T.J. Hibsman head home the equalizer four minutes later with the assist coming from goalkeeper Mitchell Race. Race also recorded 11 saves in the deadlock.
Souderton (0-4-1, 0-2-1 SOL) will travel to Saucon Valley for a non-league game Thursday, and Pennridge (5-1-1, 2-1-1) will host Central Bucks East Thursday.
Pennridge 0-1 – 1
Souderton 0-1 – 1
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