Check out the results for SOL boys’ soccer teams in action. To view photos of the CR North/CR South game, please visit the Photo Gallery.
National Conference
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 1, COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 0
Tight games have become an area of familiarity for Council Rock North.
All seven of the Indians matches prior to Thursday night’s showdown with archrival Council Rock South had been decided by a single goal, so it was no surprise when this match turned out to be decided by the same margin.
The difference, though, was that unlike their previous four games, the Indians were on the winning side. In a low-scoring affair, North finally struck in the second half and held on for a 1-0 victory.
“I think the kids would have really started to put their heads down,” Indians coach Joe Stackhouse said when asked what another one-goal setback would have meant. “I think this is a morale builder. I think this is a turnaround game for us.”
The difference in this one came from Alex Lean, who scored on a shot set up by Joe Definis that proved to be the game winner. That’s because the defense, led by Kevin Jonovich and Chris Ugras, stuffed the South attack, making it a three-save night for Indian keeper Matt Moller. Center midfielder Nick Hartwell also had a nice effort in the victory.
“The kids have been working really hard and playing really well as compared to last year’s team,” Stackhouse said.
The win improved North to 3-5 overall and 3-4 in the SOL National. It will have a chance to add another win to that total Saturday in a match against Owen J. Roberts in non-league action. The Golden Hawks, though, fell to 2-5-2 with the loss and are 1-4-2 in league play.
Council Rock South 0 0 0
Council Rock North 0 1 1
NESHAMINY 3, PENNSBURY 1
It’s the midway point of the SOL National slate, and Neshaminy has risen above the rest of the competition so far.
The only question heading into Thursday night was whether or not the Redskins could be the favorite over Pennsbury. The answer came in their favor as Neshaminy never trailed and ultimately pulled away from the Falcons in a 3-1 home win.
Nick Tucci topped the scoring chart for the Redskins, as he scored the last two tallies for his team on the night. Two minutes into the second half, he popped in a penalty kick following a foul in the box committed against teammate Kenny Herrmann to put the Redskins on top 2-0. That proved to be the game winner, though there were some tense moments after Pennsbury’s Charlie Rushing cut the lead to 2-1. But Tucci got that goal back shortly thereafter when he took and converted on a left-footed shot from about 20 yards away to give the Redskins’ a two-goal advantage.
Earlier, Dan Martin also got on the board for Neshaminy, as his goal opened the scoring in the fourth minute. The win kept the Redskins undefeated at 7-0-2 and 5-0-2 in the SOL National, while Pennsbury fell to 5-2-1 and 5-2-1 in the league.
Neshaminy 1 2 3
Pennsbury 0 1 1
WILLIAM TENNENT 2, TRUMAN 0
Johnny Ciarlante had another quality night for the Panthers in Bristol Township Thursday night. His two tallies proved to be all that Tennent needed to down Truman as the Panthers improved to .500 at 3-3-1 in the SOL National with the victory.
“It was a good organized effort against a side that moved the ball extremely well,” said Tennent coach Luke Gibson.
The Tigers, meanwhile, dropped to 3-6-1 on the year with the setback and begin the second half of their league slate Tuesday night when Neshaminy visits.
William Tennent 1 1 2
Truman 0 0 0
American Conference.
CHELTENHAM 3, NORRISTOWN 2
For the second straight game, Norristown saw a promising start slip away.
On Tuesday, the Eagles led Wissahickon in the second half only to fall by a 3-2 score. That trend continued Thursday afternoon at Cheltenham where the Eagles – who led 2-1 at the intermission - allowed the Panthers to tie things up before going ahead for good in a 3-2 victory.
“It was a hard-fought battle,” Panthers coach Chuck Gesingsaid. “I was proud of the boys’ effort, and it was nice to get a win.”
Norristown received goals from junior Drew Baltrus and sophomore Shane Hammer to go ahead at the break. Justin McNab evened things up for Cheltenham in the second half with a goal of his own. Later in play, midfielder Joe Galtman popped the game winner past the Eagles keeper for the final margin.
It was Galtman’s second goal of the day. In the first half, Tim Taliferro drew a penalty kick which Galtman took and scored from.
“His effort was awesome like it always is,” Gesing praised of Galtman.
Keepers Lucas Grund and Jon Winneg combined for 10 saves for Cheltenham. The win bumped the Panthers to 2-8 on the year, while the Eagles fell to 2-7.
Cheltenham 1 2 3
Norristown 2 0 2
UPPER DUBLIN 5, UPPER MERION 0
There could have been the potential of a letdown for first place Upper Dublin.
After a thrilling 3-2 overtime victory Tuesday over previously unbeaten Plymouth-Whitemarsh, the Cardinals got a visit from dangerous Upper Merion Thursday afternoon.
Any questions about potential trouble, though, were quickly answered as the Cardinals went ahead in the 15th minute and never looked back while cruising to a 5-0 victory.
“We pressed hard throughout the game in spite of Upper Merion’s dangerous forwards,” said Cardinals coach Rick Schmidt. “Great defensive effort on the part of our backline kept Upper Merion’s shots on goal to just two.”
Upper Dublin got big days from Zach Arnold, Alex Browndorf and Alex Demchick. Arnold popped in the game winner and the Cardinals third goal. Browndorf and Demchick both had a goal and an assist, while Josh Franklin added the other tally.
Justin Greene and Glenn VanOrden also had assists in the win, and the goalie tandem of Charlie VanOrden and Scott Wexler combined for a shutout. The Cardinals improved to 7-3 on the year and 7-0 in the league, while the Vikings dropped to 5-3 overall and 4-3 in the American. Goalie Kevin O’Sullivan stopped eight shots in defeat.
Upper Dublin 2 3 5
Upper Merion 0 0 0
WISSAHICKON 4, UPPER MORELAND 0
While Upper Dublin and Plymouth Whitemarsh top the standings in the SOL American, defending champion Wissahickon remains right behind both squads and in contention for another title. The Trojans have been on a roll lately, and Thursday night at home, they continued that stretch with a 4-0 win over Upper Moreland.
An impressive first half and balanced scoring proved to be the difference in the match as seven players put their names on the scoring chart for Wissahickon. Neal Guaglianone scored the game winner 14 minutes into the first half, and less than two minutes later, that advantage increased when Tommy McHale also found the back of the net.
Cole Kropnick then scored to give the Trojans a 3-0 halftime edge, and Joe Maiale added another with 15 minutes to go to set the final margin.
All told, the Trojans outshot the Golden Bears by a 32-6 total. Alex Chiodo-Ortiz contributed two assists for Wissahickon, while Drew Geller and Alec Schwartz added one each, and keepers John Carozza and Guaglianone combined for the shutout.
“Tommy McHale, a freshmen, scored his first varsity goal,” said Trojans coach Stuart Malcolm. “In the second half, Wissahickon carried on the momentum and Joe Maiale, also a freshman, scored his first varsity goal after only entering the field three minutes earlier. Upper Moreland put some pressure on the Wissahickon goal late, but the defense held out for the shutout.”
Wissahickon has now won four in a row and five of its last six. The Trojans only two setbacks have been to Upper Dublin and Plymouth-Whitemarsh, making them 7-2 on the year and 5-2 in the SOL American. Upper Moreland fell to 2-9 with the loss.
Wissahickon 3 1 4
Upper Moreland 0 0 0
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 2, SPRINGFIELD (MONTCO) 0
Goals by Oliver Palamidas and Austin Betterly proved to be the difference as Plymouth Whitemarsh rebounded from a heartbreaking setback to Upper Dublin Tuesday with a 2-0 triumph at Springfield (Montco). The Colonials improved to 7-1-1 on the year and 6-1 in the SOL American with the win, while the Spartans dropped to 2-6 (2-5 in the league).
Plymouth-Whitemarsh 1 2 3
Springfield (Montco) 0 0 0
Continental Conference
NORTH PENN 2, PENNRIDGE 2 (2 OT)
Draws can be reason for celebration.
For Pennridge, that was the case Thursday afternoon at North Penn. The Rams found themselves staring at a second half deficit against a Knights’ team ranked fifth in the state this week.
With two minutes to play, however, the Rams came through with an answer. Off a long throw-in, right outside back Adam Gebert got himself open for a shot and beat the Knights keeper for the equalizer. The squads battled from there through 20 minutes of scoreless overtime to finish in a 2-2 deadlock.
“They had a couple chances, we had a couple chances, back and forth,” said Rams coach Pete Valimont about the game. “They’re not ranked for nothing.”
The tie was the second straight for North Penn after a 7-0 start, but they remain undefeated at 5-0-2 in the SOL Continental, which is good for first place. The Rams are now 5-5-1 and 2-4-1 in the league, though they have not won since Sept. 16.
Pennridge took the early advantage when Dylan Henry sent a ball at North Penn’s first half goalie, Jordan Katz, who made the initial save, but senior captain Justin Csaszar was right there for the rebound and putback for the Rams.
Katz and Vernon both stopped four shots for the Knights. Four players made the score chart for North Penn, as Dylan McMahon set up Tyler Johnston to tie the game in the first half, and Drew McMenamin sent a corner into the box that was headed for a goal by Brad Deckel in the second frame.
“It was a pretty exciting game - there was a lot of emotion involved,” said Knights coach Paul Duddy. “I’m disappointed that we gave it up with two minutes left, but they earned it.”
It was a solid effort by Pennridge’s defense, which included senior co-captain Gebert and juniors Brandon Greb, Ryan Biresch and Henry Savage.
“We put some new guys in today and they played really well,” said Valimont. “They did a really nice job stepping up.” |
North Penn 1 1 0 (OT 1) 0 (OT 2) 2
Pennridge 1 1 0 (OT 1) 0 (OT 2) 2
SOUDERTON 4, QUAKERTOWN 1
Despite the return of striker Kyle Woulfe, the injury-riddled Panthers were unable to match the Indians might in a 4-1 loss at Souderton Thursday night. The Panthers slipped to 4-6 overall and 2-4 in league play with the setback and have now lost three in a row.
Quakertown did break its goalless stretch, as a tally from Bobby Hertensteiner that was set up by Woulfe gave the Panthers their first score in more than seven halves of game action. Yet, it was far too little too late, as the Indians had already built a 4-0 advantage by that point.
“I was very, very happy - very pleased with the effort that we got out of the boys tonight,” said Souderton coach Matt Benner.
“Of course, it always helps matters when you score two goals in the first 10 minutes,” he added. “We really got off to a fast start. After that, we were able to keep the pressure on and settle into our style of game.”
The Indians exploded to a two-goal advantage, thanks to Nate Verso and Jack O’Leary, who found the back of the net within four minutes of each other early on. In the 25th minute, Dan Sullivan also scored to make it 3-0, while Jordan Rawa put away a penalty kick in the second half for Souderton’s final goal.
Nick Stulb also had an assist on O’Leary’s goal, which helped the Indians improve to 3-6-1 overall and 2-5 in the SOL Continental.
Souderton 3 1 4
Quakertown 0 1 1
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 1, CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 0
Kyle Clow scored two minutes into the second half, and that goal stood for the duration as the Patriots held on for the win.
“J.R. Eisold put a ball through, Evan Vare took it wide and crossed the ball, and Kyle Clow made a back post run and put a great shot in past Matt Weigner,” said coach Mike Gorni. “For 60 minutes, we had the better of play and played really well, and the last 20 minutes, South really worked very hard to try and get the equalizer. We were on our heels.
“For the last 20, it was a different game, but we came out with a win. We’ll take it and run.”
Gorni lauded the play of both keepers – Weigner for South and Dan Chilson for East.
“Their goalkeeper, Matt Weigner, played great,” he said. “In the first half, he made two saves on point-blank shots. On one of them, he actually made a foot save on a real good shot from six yards in and kept the game 0-0 at halftime.
“Both of them came up with a couple of good saves in the second half.”
The Patriots upped their record to 5-2 in league play (7-2 overall) while the Titans fell to 3-4 in the league (5-5 overall). East will host Wissahickon on Saturday at War Memorial Field in an 11 a.m. contest while South will host Pennsbury on Friday.
Central Bucks South 0 0 0
Central Bucks East 0 1 1
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