Check out the recaps for SOL boys’ soccer teams in action Thursday. Abington/New Hope-Solebury photos courtesy of Karla Donohoe. Check back for a gallery of game photos: https://solsports.zenfolio.com/f660777489
SOL Colonial/Patriot Crossovers
Pennridge 2, Neshaminy 1
After a rough start to the season, Pennridge won its third straight league game, going on the road to edge Neshaminy in a crossover game on Thursday.
“Hats off to (coach Tom Foley) and Neshaminy,” said Rams coach Aaron Rapsinski. “You can tell they have really been working technically and trying to be a possession-based team. They were really knocking the ball around us in the first half.”
Wolvo Mokhnastskyi gave Neshaminy the 1-0 lead middway through the first half.
“We came out much better than the North Penn game,” Foley said of his team’s 2-1 overtime loss to the Knights on Tuesday. “We were moving the ball around, finding openings in their defense. Finally, we got a long throw, and we cleaned up one and Wolvo Mokhnastskyi tucked it in with about 12 minutes left in the first half.
“Overall, I was really happy with the way we played. The boys did a really nice job getting stuck in. It was a really good half.”
In the second half, however, momentum changed.
Logan Lamaina tied it for the Rams, and with seven minutes remaining, Parker Annan knocked home the game-winner.
“(In the second half), we came out with a lot of energy,” Rapsinski said. “We were able to score a really well-worked goal three minutes into the half.
“Pat Fannon stepped up and won a ball off their defender and played Logan Lamaina in behind. Logan beat the defender and hit a really good ball into the bottom corner.
“We kept up a lot of pressure throughout the half and were able to get the game winner with 7 minutes left. Luca Angello stepped up and won a ball around midfield and played a great through ball to Parker Annan. Parker was able to get around the defender and bury it when he was 1v1 with their keeper.”
The Rams’ coach credited the strong showings of several players.
“Just like Tuesday, we had guys step up that don’t always appear in the write ups,” Rapsinski said. “Logan Fultz stepped up for us at outside back and played a heck of a second half. Dean Gunning had a great second half in the back too. Guys that came in even for a few minutes brought us great energy throughout. Chase Rabinowitz and Andrew Levush had really good games as well.”
For Neshaminy, a couple mistakes in the second half were the difference.
“The second half I think maybe they had a feeling they won the game already,” Foley said. “They came out flat, and Pennridge was all over us. They did a really nice job controlling the game, and they managed to get a goal six minutes into the second half.
“That startled us a little bit, but about four minutes later, we kind of took over the half and had most of the play. We kept plugging away, plugging away. We had dangerous opportunities, but we couldn’t cash in.
“Then it’s almost to be expected with us, we make a colossal mistake, and we let their guy go in on a breakaway from about 35 yards out, He was all alone on our keeper, and he had no chance.
“Again, we kept playing, playing and playing, but we just couldn’t get that equalizer in. I thought we deserved a little bit better fate today, but the powers that be don’t seem to be smiling on us.”
Foley said the team did get a big contribution from one of its younger players.
“Christos Vasilarakis, a freshman, started today and probably played his best game with us so far,” the coach said. “He was laying his body on the line and getting balls where we needed to get them too. I thought he did a good job.
“Overall, I think our group maybe deserved a little better fate, because we played well, but we don’t have that polished finisher, but they don’t grow on trees anymore, unfortunately.
“We’re looking for the reincarnation of our best goal scorer in Mark Ozoroski, and he’s just not coming anytime soon. We just have to keep trying to find somebody to get those scrappy throw-in goals. We’re getting there. We’re a work in progress. We’re really young, so we’ll figure it out. It’s the Jewish holiday, so we gave them a couple of days off and we’ll get back at it on Monday
Pennridge (3-5, 3-4 SOL) plays at SOL Patriot-leading Council Rock North on Wednesday.
Neshaminy (1-6-1, 1-6-1 SOL) hosts Souderton on Wednesday.
Neshaminy 1 0 – 1
Pennridge 0 2 – 2
Central Bucks South 3, Council Rock South 1
Two big second-half goals broke a tie game open and gave CB South the big win over CR South after tying Patriot Division-leading Council Rock North on Tuesday.
“Today was a really good day for us,” said CB South coach Kyle Pettican. “I thought we set up correctly against a very good CR South side. It was one of those days that everything was just going right. Our set up, game plan, work rate, play style, lucky bounces, etc.”
A goal by George Simon (Reid Vandermark assist) gave the Golden Hawks a 1-0 lead, but 10 minutes later, the Titans came back with a goal by Patrick Chrzanowski.
“I thought we started off really well and then we conceded around the 15th minute,” Pettican said. “I was kind of in shock because we were playing so well. I just told my boys to keep their heads up and keep going exactly what they are doing, we’ll be fine.
“About 10-15 minutes later, we equalized when a ball popped through to Patrick Chrzanowski where he nodded it over the keeper.”
“(Tied) 1-1 at the half, I sent my guys back out onto the field after five (minutes) since there wasn’t more to say. I knew if we kept playing the way we did then we would get a result.”
Anthony Bice broke the tie midway through the second half. Chrzanowski then made it 3-1 with his second goal of the game.
“He took the ball down the outside to the end line and struck it towards the 6-yard box, and again with a bit of luck, it flew over the keeper, hit the back post and went it,” Pettican said of Chrzanowski’s second goal. “Like I said, sometimes you need the luck to go your way, however, Pat’s work rate and putting the ball in a dangerous area resulted in a fantastic goal.
“This was a huge week for us. Coming away with four points from both Council Rock teams is great. Alan Nicholl is a great guy, great coach, and has a great team, so to get a result tonight meant a lot to the boys.”
The Golden Hawks trail division-leading Council Rock North by four points after Thursday’s loss.
“I was happy to be level at halftime today because Central Bucks was the better team,” Nicholl said. “I thought we came into the game better in the second half, but CB broke the tie with a ball over the top that caught us flat. It was disappointing to give up that goal – very uncharacteristic of us to get beat on a ball like that.
“CB scored with 12 minutes left on a spectacular goal from outside the box and no angle to the goal – it ricocheted off the far post and back into the net. That seemed to put the game to bed as we just didn’t respond. CB does a nice job of taking care of the ball, and we spent too much energy chasing them around today. We had little left in the tank as the game came to a close.”
CB South (4-2-1, 4-2-1 SOL) is off until Wednesday when it hosts Bensalem.
CR South (6-2-1, 5-2-1 SOL) hosts North Penn on Wednesday.
CR South 1 0 – 1
CB South 1 2 – 3
Central Bucks West 5, Bensalem 2
After a wild first half that saw the teams combine for four goals, the Bucks took control of the game in the second half with three unanswered goals to pull away from Bensalem in a crossover game on Thursday.
“In the second half, we really came out with the intensity and focus that was required,” said CB West coach John Adair. “When we paired that with the way that we like to play, we grabbed control and never really looked back.”
Cole Barrett and Brandon Terry scored two goals each for the Bucks, while Jason Lee also had a goal.
“To get guys like Cole Barrett and Brandon Terry going and confident, both with braces, and for Jason Lee to grab his first (goal) will do us a world of good going forward.
“Our guys have gone down early in a handful of games already this season, but I’m just really proud with the way that we continue to respond. It could easily be a huge negative and really detail a season, but our guys have always been up for it. When we start to settle into games quicker, this team can be really dangerous.”
With the win, CB West is now 4-4 overall (4-3 SOL) heading into Friday’s nonleague game at small-school power Faith Christian.
Bensalem (2-6, 2-6 SOL) next plays at Central Bucks South on Wednesday.
CB West 2 3 – 5
Bensalem 2 0 – 2
Central Bucks East 9, Harry S Truman 0
Nick Bonargo scored the first two goals, including one just five minutes in as CB East jumped up early in this one and cruised to the big win over Truman on Thursday.
Bonargo’s first goal was off an assist from Joey Roth, the second was unassisted.
Later in the five-goal first half for the Patriots, Roth had a pair of goals himself – the first with a Cole Craney assist and the second with a Bonargo helper. Tim Reimer also had a goal in the first half, using a Jack Thibeault assist.
In the second half, Mattia Arcangeli connected on a penalty kick. Devon Donskoy scored with an Aidan Pasternak assist, and then Donskoy returned the favor, assisting on a Pasternak goal. Ethan Cruz closed out the scoring, using an assist from Ben Walsh.
With the win, CB East (7-1, 7-0 SOL) maintained its two-plus game lead in the SOL Colonial standings. It hosts Souderton on Saturday morning.
Truman (0-9, 0-8 SOL) plays at CB West on Wednesday.
CB East 5 4 – 9
Truman 0 0 – 0
Council Rock North 1, North Penn 0
Sophomore Logan Adams converted a penalty kick with four minutes remaining for the game’s only goal, as CR North maintained its spot atop the SOL Patriot standings with the 1-0 shutout of North Penn.
Now 7-0-2 on the season, the Indians have six shutouts in those seven wins.
“Again, a strong showing by the defensive core of Mike Pinho, Dom Czachor, Darek Miller and Jasper Ring,” said coach Joe Stackhouse.
CR North goalkeeper Calvin Hopkins recorded three saves in the shutout.
North Penn limited CR North to just three shots in the first half. Keeper Troy Nine had five saves in the second half.
The Indians held a 13-5 shot advantage and 9-5 on corner kicks, and according to Stackhouse showed “its bench depth with 19 players getting 20 minutes or more in the match.”
“Overall, North Penn played a pretty good match, and Council Rock North stole some away points today.”
The Indians (6-0-2 SOL) hosts Pennridge on Wednesday.
North Penn (2-4-2, 2-3-2 SOL) plays at Council Rock South on Wednesday.
CR North 0 1 – 1
North Penn 0 0 – 0
SOL Freedom/Liberty Crossovers
Lower Moreland 1, Plymouth Whitemarsh 0 (OT)
It took until the 91st minute, but Lower Moreland won in dramatic style with an own goal to get past visiting Plymouth Whitemarsh in a crossover game on Thursday.
“In the 91st minute, Nathan (Fellah) put a through ball into Maddox Feldman, who took a touch and ripped a shot that one of their backs tried to clear big and deflected it past their keeper,” said Lions coach Bob Barnhart. “We have been preaching that the ‘perfect shot’ doesn’t exist and we just need to be more cognizant of looking to shoot inside 25. This was a big win for us and hopefully it righted the ship for us the rest of the season. I was very proud of the guys today.”
For PW, it was a difficult way to lose, especially in overtime.
“Today was a tough loss to a good team,” said Colonials’ coach John DiCriscio. “Despite the own goal deflection as the OT winner, the boys showed grit and fight to the end. No doubt we will take the loss to learn about ourselves and learn from it.”
Lower Moreland needed the win, coming off of one-goal losses to Springfield and Hatboro-Horsham.
“We met yesterday in a classroom at the high school and just laid everything on the table,” Barnhart said. “We needed to all get on the same page and figure out who we wanted to be as a team after the last two games.
“The collapse against Springfield and the early defensive lapse against Hatboro left a really bad taste in our mouths. With 18 games in two months and all of the holidays, training is tough. As the season goes on, the players’ bodies get beat up and sometimes you have to hit the reset button and that’s what we did on Wednesday afternoon.”
Lower Moreland wasn’t cashing in on its chances, but it played well and pressured PW throughout.
“I thought for the most part today, we executed the principles we talked about in the classroom,” Barnhart said. “We moved the ball really well and our back line played fantastic.
“Nathan Fellah and Alex Pickering are doing a great job anchoring us back there. They have been and will continue to be tested and they just keep us calm. I thought Keegan Courduff had his best game for us in the net.
“We had the better of the shot count going into halftime (7-2), and the only shot on frame we gave up was on a set piece. At the break, after full time, my assistant and I really let the players and senior leadership take the reins in the huddle. We just said they are going to put pressure on you, when it’s your moment be ready.”
Lower Moreland (5-3, 5-3 SOL) will travel to Calvary Christian for a non-league game Tuesday.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (4-4, 4-3) will be on the road at Norristown for a non-league game Tuesday.
PW 0 0 0 – 0
LM 0 0 1 – 1
Wissahickon 3, Cheltenham 2
Dylan Horwitz had two first half goals as the Trojans slipped past Cheltenham for the big crossover victory on Thursday.
“We had a PK converted by Ryan Dowdy to go up 3-1,” said Wissahickon coach Stuart Malcolm. “They pulled back to 3-2 with about 20 to go and we barely hung on for the ‘W.’”
Horwitz put the Trojans on the board with a goal in the 24th minute and added a second goal six minutes later to spot the Trojans the early 2-0 lead. Chanwoo Kim and Charlie Stehlik each contributed an assist. Dowdy converted the penalty kick in the 58th minute, and that proved to be the difference in the game.
On the other side, it was the second tough loss in a row for Cheltenham, which was edged by Abington 3-2 in an overtime heartbreaker on Wednesday.
“Another tough loss,” said Panthers coach Bill Tonkin. “There was definitely a letdown in the first half that carried over from the heartbreak of Tuesday night and a bunch of fatigue running through the team for the first half.
“I told them at halftime that they could win this game even though we were down 2-0 at halftime. I told them to dig deep and find that last bit of energy they had and give it to me for the second half and we could win the game and they really found that.”
Keegan Peet scored off an assist from Noah Jutzi to make it a 2-1 game, only to see Wissahickon answer with Dowdy’s penalty kick.
“Our goalkeeper did everything right as he slid out to attack the ball, got the ball and the carry through of the skid hit the player but they called that a PK,” Tonkin said.
“But the boys didn’t give up. Keegan found the back of the net again shortly after their PK to bring us back within one and we kept the pressure on almost getting another to tie the game a few times. They did a great time of time wasting at the end of the game.
“Very proud of the boys’ effort in the second half. It was the end of a really tough stretch for us with six games in the last two weeks and it showed in the first half. I liked how we battled back in the second half. We easily could have folded but they gave it their all to try to win this game.
“We will get some rest over the long weekend and get back to things next week and hopefully get back on track. We finished 2-4 out of those six games but could have very easily been 5-1 and that’s what I make sure the boys realized after the game. We are right in the mix with everyone, and we are still in the playoff hunt which was the goal for the season. We got a long way to go and the goal is still in reach.”
Wissahickon (5-4, 4-4 SOL) plays at New Hope-Solebury on Wednesday.
Cheltenham (6-4, 4-4 SOL) hosts Upper Dublin on Wednesday.
Wissahickon 2 1 – 3
Cheltenham 0 2 – 2
Springfield Twp 3, Hatboro-Horsham 0
Justin Whang scored two goals as Springfield remained red hot and unbeaten with a shutout crossover win over Hatboro-Horsham Thursday.
The win was the 10th straight for the Spartans, who won a pair of crossover games this week.
What’s been the key?
“All little bit of everything,” said coach Dan Meder. “We’re still ironing out some things that we think we need to work on, but they’ve come together. Guys off the bench have played well. We’ve dealt with some injuries this week and had to start some new guys, and they all played well.
“Justin Whang, who scored two goals today, is a sub, and he played great. We had a couple starters out this week, and the bench players have really made a difference.”
Whang scored the game’s first goal with an assist from Kayden Sowell, and then Sowell found the back of the net with an Adam DiBattista assist to send the Spartans into halftime with a 2-0 lead.
Whang scored the only goal of the second half, using a Riley Martin assist.
Meder credited several players who weren’t goal scorers for their efforts in the win.
“Nick Marino, our center middle, has been fantastic,” the Spartans’ coach said. “Chase Rubincam has been solid – he’s outstanding back there on defense. Nick Hanushchak is outstanding. The team in general.
“We got great play from a freshman – Adam DiBattista had an assist, and he’s been terrific. Our goalie, Owen Hastings, had big saves today. It’s been a total team effort.”
Springfield (10-0, 8-0 SOL) is back at it on Wednesday at Plymouth Whitemarsh.
H-H (4-4, 4-4 SOL) hosts William Tennent on Wednesday.
Springfield 2 1 – 3
Hatboro-Horsham 0 0 – 0
William Tennent 1, Quakertown 0
Noah Markowski scored an unassisted goal and that made the difference as Tennent went on the road and knocked off Quakertown in a crossover game on Wednesday.
“He stripped the defender of the ball, broke away and slotted an outside-of-the-foot shot in the lower right corner,” said Tennent coach Angelo Albanese.
Albanese said the game was evenly played, and his team got some nice efforts on the defensive end.
“Peter Comans and Emmett Dougherty played outstanding games as defensive midfielders,” he said. “Zach Dinnis recorded his second shutout of the season, with great defensive efforts from Bryce Defontney and Ryan Black.”
Tennent (3-5, 2-5 SOL) has a nonleague game scheduled for Saturday against Malvern Prep.
Quakertown (2-6, 2-6 SOL) also plays a nonleague game Saturday morning at Palisades.
Tennent 1
Quakertown 0
Abington 6, New Hope-Solebury 0
The Galloping Ghosts remained two games in front in the SOL Liberty Division standings with a shutout of New Hope on Thursday.
Braeden Delgado opened the scoring, and then it was Liam Malinowski finding the net to put the Ghosts on top 2-0. Peter Cleary’s goal sent the Ghosts into halftime with a 3-0 lead.
Delgado added another goal in the second half, and then it was Daniel Oliveria and Chase Metzger each scoring a goal for the 6-0 final.
Abington (9-1, 8-0 SOL) returns on Wednesday when it has another crossover game at Lower Moreland.
New Hope (0-7, 0-7 SOL) has a night home game Wednesday against Wissahickon.
New Hope 0 0 – 0
Abington 3 3 – 6
Upper Dublin 2, Upper Moreland 0
Yuvraj Lidder scored a goal in each half as the Flying Cardinals won for the second night in a row, shutting out Upper Moreland in a crossover game on Thursday.
“It was a really good team effort,” said Upper Dublin coach Noah Johnson. “It’s tough playing two games back-to-back, especially when you have a lot of guys that are banged up or injured and hurt.
“It was definitely a good team effort in the second half to make sure that we got away with the win and ended this week 2-0.”
Owen Smith assisted on the first goal, and then in the second half Campbell Hecker picked up the assist on Lidder’s second goal.
With the win, UD improved to 6-2 overall and 5-2 in the SOL. The Cardinals next play Wednesday at Cheltenham.
UM (2-7, 1-7 SOL) plays at Quakertown on Wednesday.
Upper Dublin 1 1 – 2
Upper Moreland 0 0 – 0
Wednesday, Sept. 20
Upper Dublin 2, William Tennent 0
Owen Smith scored in the first half and Upper Dublin never looked back in Wednesday’s crossover victory.
Smith scored off a Yuvraj Lidder assist. And then in the second half, Lee Noel scored off an assist from Kyle Spirt.
“Key players for us were Owen Smith and Jackson Bryan” said coach Noah Johnson. “They did a really good job at helping us get into good opportunities to get some goals.”
Upper Dublin 1 1 – 2
Tennent 0 0 – 0
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