Jarrad Saffren recaps all of Monday’s SOL boys’ soccer action.
By Jarrad Saffren
Seven Suburban One League boys soccer teams played non-league games on Monday. Four played league games.
The results and recaps are below.
Non-League
Abington 2, Central Bucks East 1
Abington’s Sean Touey stole the ball from a Central Bucks East defender and kicked it off another one. The ball rolled out and Touey retrieved it quickly. Then he sprinted to the corner and kicked the ball into the box.
Liam Friel charged forward and headed it in for the winning goal with three seconds left.
“The ball was sent down to the corner and I just tried my hardest to get to it, and I just kicked it off of him (a CB East defender),” Touey said. “It rolled out of bounds and I knew there wasn’t much time left. I looked at the clock and saw 10 seconds, and just kind of whipped the ball in as hard as I could.”
“It was low, right post and I was just in the right place at the right time,” Friel said.
“That’s what happens when players are organized,” said Abington coach Randy Garber of the final goal. “They know to put the ball down, they know to do a quick kick and the ball ended up in the back of the net.”
“We should have run the clock out to get to overtime and regroup,” said CB East coach Jeremiah White. “But credit to them for doing a quick kick and catching us off guard.”
The heady play capped another strong game for Touey. He scored Abington’s first goal, on a breakaway in the 25th minute.
CB East tied the game in the 63rd minute. Ryan Keen buried a crossing pass from Stephanos Panos. But the Patriots could not add another against Abington goalkeeper Nick Brownholtz, who made four saves.
East keeper Jordan Geller stoned seven shots, including a few point-blank shots late in the second half.
“It’s a good, competitive game. Both teams obviously are organized,” Garber said. “It’s just unfortunate for them that it ended that way.”
Abington (8-3, 3-2 SOL) hosts Bensalem on Thursday at 3:30. CB East (4-4, 3-2 SOL) plays Central Bucks South on Wednesday at 3:30.
Abington 1-1 2
Central Bucks East 0-1 1
Quakertown 3, Upper Perkiomen 2 (2 OT)
With four minutes left in the second overtime, Quakertown keeper Zach Mahler punted the ball downfield. Evan Kemp settled it behind the defenders and kicked it past the keeper to give Quakertown the win.
“It was a long punt off of a counterattack,” said Quakertown coach Kevin Woulfe. “He got a breakaway and was able to put it away."
The game was tied 1-1 at halftime. Quakertown took a 2-1 lead on Brandon Strecker’s goal. But Upper Perkiomen tied the game on a penalty kick.
Brad Conklin scored Quakertown’s first goal. Strecker and Caleb Rudloff had assists.
“It was a crazy game. We hit a crossbar twice in one series of play earlier in the game. It was definitely an interesting game,” Woulfe said. “It was so hot. It was supposed to be a night game, and it was moved up to a day game, and it couldn’t have been a worse day to play it.”
“I had four guys on the bench with dehydration late in the game, so it made things challenging. We continued to talk with them and said, ‘Listen guys, you’re not moving the ball well, they’re stepping to the balls and winning the ball,’” Woulfe added. “They just had to get it together. I think we played better in the second half, but it was an odd game. They had two penalty kicks. It was definitely a challenging game.”
Woulfe was pleased with Rudloff, Kemp and two of his backs.
“It was a frustrating game in general, but Caleb Rudolf is one of the center midfielders with Evan Kemp, and he continues to play very well. He’s a sophomore academy player, who stopped playing at the academy and is playing high school now. He’s a very strong player,” Woulfe said. “Senior captains Nate Besch and Ben Wackerman – Nate plays all over the place. He’s kind of a center back, but I use him on the wing as well.
“Ben Wackerman is a senior, and he wanted to play midfield this year, but with our youth, we ended up putting him center back. He’s embraced that role and plays very strong. They’re both doing very well for us. They’re doing a great job for the team.”
Quakertown (2-6-1, 1-4 SOL) plays Springfield Township on Tuesday at 3:30.
Quakertown 1-1-0-1 3
Upper Perkiomen 1-1-0-0 2
Council Rock South 3, Penn Charter 0
Council Rock South turned in a complete performance in this non-league win.
Nick Santos, Anthony Ritts and Conor Sweeney scored goals. Paul Chorobski, Santos and Dan Maggio assisted on the goals. CR South keeper Drew Bresnan made six saves and earned the shutout, his first of the season.
“We were a bit sluggish to start, to be honest. It was very hot on the turf and we were coming off a four-day holiday weekend,” said South coach Alan Nicholl. “But we scored goals at crucial times, which I was very happy about.”
Nicholl was very excited about Bresnan’s performance. “The first shutout of the year was important and well-deserved,” Nicholl said. “Drew is looking very focused as the season progresses. He was exceptional in our last game against Pennsbury and carried that into today.”
CR South (4-5, 2-2 SOL) battles Bensalem on Tuesday at 3:30.
“With Bensalem and Neshaminy this week, it was important to start the week on the right foot,” Nicholl said.
Council Rock South 1-2 3
Penn Charter 0-0 0
Springfield Township 2, Norristown 0
Springfield improved to 6-2 in 2017.
Trevor McCaffrey and Caedmon Curry scored goals for Springfield. Colin Schmitt assisted on McCaffrey’s goal.
Springfield (6-2, 3-2 SOL) hosts Quakertown on Tuesday at 3:30.
Spring-Ford 4, Neshaminy 0
Four different player contributed goals for the Rams, who led 3-0 at halftime on their way to the non-league win.
Neshaminy (2-5-1, 1-3 SOL) will host Harry S Truman on Tuesday.
Boyertown 2, Souderton 0
Souderton fell to 2-4-2 in 2017. The Indians are 0-3-1 in their last four games.
It doesn’t get any easier tomorrow. Souderton (2-4-2, 2-2 SOL) plays 7-2 Central Bucks West on Tuesday night at seven.
SOL Continental
North Penn 4, Central Bucks South 1
North Penn continued to roll, winning its third straight league game and sixth straight game overall.
“We played well. We’re a quick team and South defended very well. Eventually our speed and possession wore them down,” said North Penn coach Paul Duddy. “All in all, our guys are playing well.
“This high school season is a grind – so many games in a short time. But we’re playing well. We’re possessing the ball well.”
Luke McMahon scored two of North Penn’s four goals. Ethan Torry and Chris Caputo scored the Knights’ other two goals.
North Penn (7-1, 4-1 SOL) plays Germantown Academy on Tuesday at 3:45. CB South (1-7-1, 1-4 SOL) battles CB East on Wednesday at 3:30.
North Penn 2-2 4
Central Bucks South 0-1 1
Central Bucks West 2, Pennridge 0
CB West bounced back after a two-game losing streak, improving to 7-2
“You can say we bounced back, and I guess that’s true,” said CB West coach Stefan Szygiel. “But these 18-game seasons are hard. You aren’t going to win every game. That said, I was glad to see us come out and play so well.”
West keeper Dylan Smith made three saves and earned his fourth shutout of the season.
“Dylan was steady,” Szygiel said. “He didn’t really have to make any characteristic Dylan saves. But he did everything he had to. He was aided by strong backline play as well.”
Alan Zlotin and Jack Galt scored West’s goals. Tarin Morris assisted on both.
CB West (7-2, 4-1 SOL) plays Souderton on Tuesday night at seven. Pennridge (4-4, 1-3 SOL) hosts William Tennent on Tuesday at 3:30.
Central Bucks West 1-1 2
Pennridge 0-0 0
About the Author
