Check out the recaps for SOL boys’ soccer teams in action Wednesday. CB West/CB South photos provided courtesy of Tracy Valko. Lower Moreland/New Hope-Solebury photos provided courtesy of Karla Donohoe. Check back for galleries of both games: https://solsports.zenfolio.com/f131331739
SOL Freedom Division
Cheltenham 2, William Tennent 0
After going 2-15 one short year ago, Cheltenham has already surpassed that win total after just three games and remained unbeaten with a solid 2-0 shutout over William Tennent.
“The game plan was to try to get an early lead with the heat being such a factor,” said Cheltenham coach Bill Tonkin. “Once we got the goal in the first half, I was able to run through the bench to try to keep everyone hydrated and as fresh as possible. I was pleased with the effort I got from everyone.”
Midway through the first half, Cameron Rhoades scored off an assist from Beck Toledo to put Cheltenham up 1-0.
“Beck Toledo sent a great ball through to Cameron, who went 1v1 with the (goalkeeper) and beat him with the shot,” Tonkin said. “I thought Tennent played very well with their possession game.
“We had a game plan defensively that worked really well for us throughout the game. Noah Jutzi was given an assignment before the game, and he performed very well with it. Arlo Kemmerer-Scovner also performed well with the same assignment when Noah was off the field.”
Cheltenham went ahead 2-0 as Keegan Peet scored with the assist from Zach Rosser.
“Keegan beat the GK around the 30-yard line and walked the ball into the goal,” Tonkin said. “It was the boost we needed at the time.
“I thought Tennent started to put a lot of pressure on us early in the second half, and we kind of laid back a little too much. Zack won a ball in the midfield and played a fantastic pass to Keegan.
“Jeremiah Montcriffe got the shutout in goal, making a few great saves, including one on a PK.”
Cheltenham (3-0, 3-0 SOL) will host Upper Moreland on Friday.
William Tennent (1-2, 1-2) will host New Hope-Solebury Friday.
Cheltenham 1 1 – 2
William Tennent 0 0 – 0
Lower Moreland 4, New Hope-Solebury 1
Playing for the second time in two days, Lower Moreland survived the playing conditions and New Hope-Solebury to post the 4-1 win Wednesday.
“Tough second game today on a back-to-back in the heat,” said LM coach Bob Barnhart. “We were able to get the better of New Hope, but not sure we were the better team by much today.”
LM scored on an own goal, King Ibrahim had one goal and Temur Temirov scored twice.
“Both teams were worn down by the heat, and on the turf it feels like over 100 (degrees),” Barnhart said. “The flow of the game was interrupted with the water stoppages, which was tough for us to deal with, although I know it is necessary.
“We were happy to be able to come away with the win and now we need to rest and recover for two huge inter-divisional games Friday and Monday.”
Lower Moreland (2-1, 2-1 SOL) hosts unbeaten rival Springfield on Friday.
Bew Hope also plays Friday, at William Tennent.
William Tennent 1
Lower Moreland 4
SOL Liberty Division
Abington 1, Upper Dublin 0 (2 OT)
It took 91 minutes, but Abington survived a hot one, getting past Upper Dublin in double overtime to remain unbeaten in SOL Liberty play.
“It was another barnburner,” said Galloping Ghosts coach Randy Garber. “We played 91 minutes before we finally put the ball in the back of the net. We had chances but just can’t put the ball in the back of the net.
“We played terrific defense, but scoring goals are tough to come by.”
Jose Rosario-Martinez picked up the game-winner for the Ghosts, assisted by Oscar Hoffmann.
“Both teams at the end got very direct, hoping that someone was going to make a mistake, and it came with a ball played right to the edge of the box,” Garber said.
“Oscar Hoffmann headed the ball right near the box, and Jose went to the ball and just beat the goalkeeper – just beat the goalkeeper from coming out. He dove and Jose touched it around him just enough that his second touch was in the back of the net with an open goal.
“The goalkeeper was stretched out somewhere around the 18-yard line. He was that far out. Jose’s a big guy, he’s a really big, strong kid of ours, and he just touched it enough around the goalie’s hands that his second touch was in the back of the net in an open goal. That’s the difference in the 91st minute.
“It was a good game. They have a good team. They played well, they were well organized.”
Upper Dublin coach Noah Johnson agreed.
“It was a great game from both sides,” Johnson said. “Credit to both teams. With it being 100 degrees outside, for the boys from both sides to perform the way they did, I think they did very, very well.
“It’s a love-hate relationship playing Abington. I love their staff. They were very welcoming to me when I first started coaching. Randy has been around forever, and he’s a legend. From playing at the club level, I know a lot of their boys as well. That’s where the love is at, but the hate part is I hate losing to them. Every year it’s like big brother versus little brother. Little brother is feeling good, and the big brother gives him a little smack and wakes him up a little bit.
“I think today for us was definitely a wake-up. I don’t mean anything bad but just showing us that even losing 18 seniors last year we’re still able to compete at a high level. The level really hasn’t dropped that far for us, so it’s definitely a wake-up call that we just have to finish our opportunities the next time.
“We can’t be too hard on ourselves about a loss like this. Some games you get lucky, and some days you don’t. I think luck just went their way, and they got fortunate in that second overtime to get a ball in the back of the net. Besides that, it was a great game by both sides. It definitely felt like a playoff game rather than a league game.”
The weather affected both sides, but the game was stopped for water breaks midway through each half.
And both teams had chances to score, in regulation and OT.
“Both of us had some chances,” Garber said. “I think we had a few more chances than they did. Brady Hartman hit the post in the last five minutes of the game. It could have ended the game, but it hit the post and came out instead of going in. That was a chance we missed.
“Their goalkeeper (Gabe Copley) was a huge keeper, a big guy. He had to be every bit of 6-4 or 6-5, and he played extremely well for them.
“They had a couple of chances. The run of the play of the game was pretty even. They possessed the ball as much as we did.”
The Ghosts’ coach credited the efforts of several players in the win.
“Our defense played extremely well,” Garber said. “Peter Cleary played well in the back. Sean Westmoreland, a freshman who played in the midfield, played 91 minutes, and he was really good. He did a heck of a job.
“Brady Hartman up top, (Braeden) Delgado – every time he gets the ball, he’s double teamed. Oscar Hoffmann with the assist that won the game, and Jose (Rosario-Martinez) with the game-winner. Justin Waterfall, our goalkeeper, had another shutout. We’re playing good defense.”
Abington (4-1, 3-0 SOL) next plays at Wissahickon on Friday.
Upper Dublin (3-1, 2-1 SOL) looks to bounce back at Plymouth Whitemarsh on Friday.
Abington 0 0 0 1 – 1
UD 0 0 0 0 – 0
Wissahickon 2, Quakertown 1
Andrew Gajan scored in the 68th minute to give the visiting Trojans the 2-1 win on Wednesday.
Charlie Fortescue assisted on the game-winner.
“Quakertown did a great job, and it was a very even game which could have resulted in a win for either team,” Wissahickon coach Stuart Malcolm said. “After taking the lead in the first half on a set piece from Lex Agou, it was disappointing to give up the tying goal so early in the second half but the goal had been coming.
“We created some good clear chances but failed to capitalize. However, with his first varsity goal, Andrew Gajan was on-hand in the six-yard box to fire the ball home with about 15 minutes to go. Quakertown continued to play a controlled game the rest of the way but we managed to hang on for the win.”
In the 20th minute, Wissahickon jumped up on a Lex Agou goal, assisted by Charlie Stehlik.
“We didn’t play our style of soccer in the first half and credit to (Wissahickon), they took advantage,” said Quakertown coach Bill James. “Started to play our soccer in the second half, got it to 1-1 and, honestly, not sure how we didn’t make it a few more and then Wiss got that much-needed goal that both teams were striving for.
“Tough one to swallow, but in these types of games, one half of play will never be enough.”
Dylan Chauhan scored for the Panthers, with Carter Hull picking up the assist.
Michael Maltin recorded seven saves to earn the win in goal for the Trojans.
Wissahickon (2-2, 1-2 SOL) hosts Abington on Friday.
Quakertown (1-2,1-2 SOL) looks to bounce back at home against Hatboro-Horsham Friday.
Wissahickon 1 1 – 2
Quakertown 0 1 – 1
Plymouth Whitemarsh 4, Hatboro-Horsham 2
(Additional game info will be added when it is received.)
Isaac Kakiko scored both goals for Hatboro-Horsham in the 4-2 loss.
Plymouth Whitemarsh (1-3, 1-2 SOL) will host Upper Dublin Friday.
Hatboro-Horsham (1-2, 1-2) will travel to Quakertown on Friday.
SOL Patriot Division
Pennsbury 2, Bensalem 0
After a scoreless first half, the Falcons broke it open with a pair of second-half goals to get past Bensalem on Wednesday afternoon.
“Bensalem battled,” said Pennsbury coach Tom Stoddardt of a pesky Owls’ squad that hung tough with both Council Rock North and Council Rock South before falling by just one goal to each.
In the 69th minute, Pennsbury broke the scoreless tie when Shaiden Jennings scored off a Avery Watcher assist.
Then in the 78th minute, Watcher picked up a goal himself, with the assist to Saad Williams for the game’s final goal.
“Ben Bedard made a couple of big saves for the shutout,” Stoddardt said. “Our two center backs, Cooper Gray and Connor Labiak, played all 80 minutes.
“Bryan Sanchez brought some energy and kept his teammates going, despite the first day of school and the heat.”
Pennsbury (2-1-1, 2-0-1 SOL) is back at it on Friday at Council Rock South.
Bensalem (0-3, 0-3 SOL) looks for its first win Friday at Harry S. Truman.
Pennsbury 0 2 – 2
Bensalem 0 0 – 0
Neshaminy 3, Harry S Truman 0
After a scoreless first half, Neshaminy broke through with three goals in the second half to get past Harry S. Truman in Patriot Division action on Wednesday.
“It was a combination,” said Neshaminy coach Tom Foley of the scoreless first half. “Truman was pretty organized. It’s probably as good as Truman’s played in the last couple years. Their new coach has them organized a little better, and they did a nice job. Truth be told, they probably outworked us a little bit, and we were a little passive. That combination made it a pretty dull first half.
“We had possession most of the half, but we missed the target every time we looked to take a shot. Credit to them. They were organized, and they did a nice job keeping us off the scoreboard.
“We told the kids at halftime they had to be more aggressive winning balls back, and sure enough, they did. I don’t think Truman went across the mid-stripe twice in the second half, and we got three goals to boot. We probably could have had two or three more with a little better concentration, but we got out of there with a 3-0 win.”
In the 47th minute, senior Wolo Mokhnastskyi broke the scoreless tie with a free kick goal.
Sophomore Ryan MacMullen – using an assist from senior Jake Delaney – scored to make it 2-0 in the 69th minute.
Ryan MacMullen went right to goal down the left side and buried it in the right panel,” Foley said.
And then a minute later, freshman Christos Vasilarakis made a nice pass to junior Rezi Tebidze for the third goal.
“As a group, we picked it up in the second half and did a much better job of pressuring them,” Foley said. “We really didn’t let them out of their own end. The only criticism I would have of the second half is we have to do a better job of taking care of our chances. We certainly created enough, but we struggled hitting the target.
“Overall, the second half was much better than the first half. We definitely showed up and played the second half.”
Neshaminy (1-1-1, 1-1-1 SOL) plays host to Council Rock North on Friday.
Truman is at home against Bensalem Friday.
Neshaminy 0 3 – 3
Truman 0 0 – 0
SOL Colonial Division
Central Bucks East 4, Pennridge 0
Three second-half goals blew this one wide open as the Patriots remained atop the SOL Colonial standings with the shutout win at Pennridge.
“I have to give major props to Rappy (Pennridge coach Aaron Rapsinski) and his staff because they were really well organized,” said CB East coach Josh Isaacsohn. “Their keeper (Gavin Dimmick) really, really had a great game. The kid played well. The score is not indicative of how good of a game he had. He really had some stellar saves right on the line where the score could have been a little different, had he not done such a good job, especially in the first half.”
CB East went up 1-0 on an own goal.
“One of our guys kind of put it in,” Isaacsohn said. “Sean O’Donnell had it in from Michael Montabana – a bad clearance and just an unfortunate bounce and it went in as an own goal. I think that kind of deflated them a little bit. That’s hard to take.
“I feel like we had a few more opportunities in the first half we probably should have finished them. Our forwards definitely saw a few looks.
“We went into halftime, and we know that 1-0 is a very dangerous spot. We said, ‘We have to see what the character of our team’s like and how we’re going to come out of this. Is it going to be 1-1 or are we going to take control of the game,’ and luckily we did.”
The Patriots scored three goals in a seven-minute stretch of the second half to put the game away.
In the 49th minute, Joey Roth scored off a Wesley Meyers assist, Max Willis connected with the header from Michael Montabana in the 55th minute, and a minute later, Andrew Walloff scored off a Nick Bonargo cross.
“East has a really good team, top to bottom,” Rapsinski said. “Hats off to Josh and his coaching staff over there. They’re well prepared, and they play a good, smart system.
“I thought we played well in the first half. We gave up an unfortunate own goal and went into half down 1-0. They got a couple of goals early in the second half and just got on top of us.
“Gavin Dimmick stood on his head and made a handful of really good saves. It could have been a couple more in the back of the net. He hung in there and did what he could. We have to be better moving forward.”
Isaacsohn credited the play of his back line: Reese Davis, Will Zlogar and Meyers.
“They just held it down and were solid,” he said. “They’re the anchor of our team, and they were lights out.
“What I’m so proud and happy about is again we were able to get any different guys on the field, and every guy on this team just knows their role. They know what they have to do, and the play just does not drop off at all. As a matter of fact, there’s just tons of energy and effort given out from the first guy to the last guy that sees the field.
“I just couldn’t be more proud of them because our goal, although it’s to win, is to get that shutout and keep that zero. The boys that went in just did a phenomenal job.”
CB East (3-1, 3-0 SOL) is back home Friday against Souderton.
Pennridge (0-3, 0-3 SOL) is off Friday, and hosts CB West on Saturday.
CB East 1 3 – 4
Pennridge 0 0 – 0
Central Bucks West 3, Central Bucks South 2 (2 OT)
Twice CB West fell behind and twice it bounced back, and then in the second overtime, the Bucks picked up the game-winner to knock off rival CB South on Wednesday night.
“I’m really proud of the resiliency the boys showed tonight,” said West coach John Adair. “Despite not being at our best for 80 minutes, they competed and bounced back from every moment of adversity.
“This team has a lot of heart to go with the talent and quality that we have in the squad but we’re already moving forward and focusing on Pennridge this weekend.”
Joey Dowd had two goals for the Bucks, the first early in the second half to tie the game at 1, and the second with two minutes left in regulation to tie it at 2 and force overtime.
“Joey Dowd really changed the game for us in the second half,” Adair said. “While we controlled large stretches of play in the first half, we were lacking the incisive final ball and a bit of directness in the final third. Joey gave us every bit of that we could’ve asked for and more. He was a handful for their CBs from the second he came on.”
After a scoreless first overtime, CB West picked up the win on an own-goal, after a scrum inside the box ended with the ball in the back of the net.
With the win, CB West improved to 2-2 overall and 2-1 in the SOL Colonial. It plays at Pennridge on Saturday.
CB South (1-2, 1-2 SOL) hosts North Penn Friday afternoon.
CB South 1 1 0 0 – 2
CB West 0 2 0 1 – 3
North Penn 0, Souderton 0
Both teams had chances, but in the end the defense was solid and neither could cash in, as the two SOL Colonial rivals settled for a 0-0 tie after 100 minutes of soccer.
“It was a really hard fought game between two good teams,” said Souderton coach Frank Dumas. “These overtime games are always tough, but I’m really proud with the hard work Souderton put in. These players continue to work hard and play well.
“Big shout out to our defense and goalkeeping for keeping a clean sheet.”
Souderton (1-1-1, 1-1-1 SOL) plays at first place CB East on Friday.
North Penn (1-2-1, 1-1-1 SOL) plays at CB South on Friday.
North Penn 0 0 0 0 – 0
Souderton 0 0 0 0 – 0
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