Check out the results for SOL boys’ soccer teams in action. Upper Moreland/Hatboro-Horsham photos provided courtesy of Kathy Leister Photography. Check back for a gallery of game photos.
By Jarrad Saffren
Heat, in the 95-100 degree range, postponed Friday’s Cheltenham v. Springfield boys soccer game.
Eight other Suburban One League boys soccer games were scheduled Friday.
Each started, reached halftime and finished without a player melting.
These are soccer players after all. They run for almost two hours without stopping. They are in better shape than any other athletes.
Why do you think FIFA actually believes it can pull off a World Cup in Qatar?
(That’s a great line to end on. It is 100% the first time “Qatar” has been published on suburbanonesports.com).
Friday’s results and recaps are below.
SOL American
Plymouth Whitemarsh 2, Wissahickon 1
The SOL American title will come down to a round robin: Plymouth Whitemarsh, Wissahickon, Upper Dublin.
Whichever team beats the other two most often will win this league. That’s how it always works in the American Conference. The trio has won every SOL American title since 2007.
“With what’s gone on the couple of years from what I’ve seen myself—Upper Dublin, Wissahickon and Plymouth Whitemarsh have kind of been the top teams going forward,” Colonials coach Jeff Heaton said.
That history makes this a huge early win for PW.
“Playing them on the road early in the season, it was a big win for us,” Heaton said. “Our pressure defense won the game today.
“Wissahickon is a quality team with a quality coach. Both teams really wanted it today. It’s early in the season, and we’ve been working on a lot of pressure defense, pushing it up the field, to make them make mistakes and try to counter on those mistakes.”
Wissahickon led 1-0 at halftime. Brad Schwartz scored his second goal of the season in the 39th minute.
The Colonials answered right after halftime. Gavin Hendrick blasted a penalty kick past the keeper.
Hendrick assisted on the winning goal five minutes later. Kyle Blumenthal scored.
“Blumenthal, Alex Lefkowitz and Tyler Goldman played well,” Colonials coach Jeff Heaton said.
The Colonials’ coach also lauded the performances of Wissahickon’s Jacob Cohen, Jacob Kaffey and Tom McHale.
Alex Lefkowitz is becoming a recurring name on Heaton’s “played well” list.
“Alex Lefkowitz played up top for us today,” Heaton said. “We’ve played some different lineups in different games depending on matches. He was all over the place. He created a lot of chances today.
“He was responsible for the first goal with his individual effort, but all day he had their defense scrambling to try to cover him and mark him up.”
Goldman may also become a recurring name.
“Tyler Goldman did extremely well today. He’s one of our seniors. He didn’t score, he didn’t get an assist, but he was one of our defensive midfielders that was in everyone’s face,” Heaton said. “He was all over the field and created havoc that did not allow them to get into any rhythm.”
Wissahickon outshot PW 10-6. Colonials keeper Patrick Corpus made six saves. Trojans goalie Jun Yuh stopped four shots.
PW (2-1, 2-0 SOL) has won two straight since losing its opener to North Penn 4-0.
“Even the North Penn game, if someone just looked at that score, they might say, ‘Wow, they got blasted.’ We really didn’t get blasted. We carry a deep bench, and I tried to get a lot of players some playing time,” Heaton said. “I’m new to the program, so I wanted to see what some of the kids could do. It really wasn’t a reflection of what our team is. We’ve got a bunch of talented players and some younger kids that are getting a lot of playing time.”
The Colonials play Springfield Tuesday at 3:30. Wissahickon (1-1-1, 1-1-0 SOL) takes on Upper Dublin on the same day and time.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 0-2 2
Wissahickon 1-0 1
Upper Dublin 6, Quakertown 0
Upper Dublin—the third team in the contending triumvirate—has won two conference games by a combined score of 12-0.
Plymouth Whitemarsh and Wissahickon are formidable, but Upper Dublin is the favorite right now. Coach Derek Preist’s team is, as the cliche goes, clicking on all cylinders.
In Friday's shutout, the Flying Cardinals, who received goals from five different players, opened up a 3-0 halftime lead on their way to the convincing win.
Kevin Devlin put the Cards on the board when he turned a Chris Tourchet pass into a goal in the ninth minute, and nine minutes later, Anthony Wisdo found the net, using a Jerry Bardol assist. An own goal with a Josh Saitsky assist closed out the scoring in the opening half.
Jake Chin (Jose Palomeque assist) connected for a goal in the 47th minute, and then it was Garratt Breslin scoring to put the Cards on top 5-0, using a Bardol assist. A goal by Saitsky (Quinn Middleton assist) closed out the scoring.
Upper Dublin (3-0, 2-0 SOL) hosts Wissahickon Tuesday at 3:30. Quakertown (1-2, 0-2 SOL) plays Hatboro-Horsham Tuesday at 7.
Quakertown 0-0 0
Upper Dublin 3-3 6
Hatboro-Horsham 3, Upper Moreland 3
Hatboro-Horsham remains undefeated as an SOL American team.
The Brothers Bateman—Colin and Danny—scored goals for the Hatters. Joe LaRouche scored also. Hatboro-Horsham’s Chandler Ryan and Danny Harmon had one assist each. Harmon has two assists in his last two games.
Hatboro-Horsham (2-1-1, 1-0-1 SOL) travels to Quakertown Tuesday for a 7 p.m. start. Upper Moreland (1-1-1, 0-1-1 SOL) buses to Cheltenham Tuesday for a 3:30 start.
SOL Continental
Pennridge 1, Central Bucks South 1
Pennridge’s Matt Stevenson scored in the 74th minute to put Pennridge up 1-0. But Central Bucks South answered a couple minutes later.
That’s how it ended. 1-1.
“All we had to do was play keep away for six minutes,” Rams coach Pete Valimont said. “But we couldn’t do it. I’m still happy with our effort. People were underestimating us because we beat two Lehigh Valley teams.”
Rams keeper Josh Jarrett stoned 10 shots. |
“He stood on his head and got us a tie,” Valimont said. “It was tough for Josh to get in last year with Brody Giblin in front of him. But we knew he was a varsity goalie.”
Stevenson’s goal was his third in three games.
“He may give me a chance to put him up for First Team all-league,” Valimont said. “He reminds me of my brother.”
Matt Valimont was a two-year captain at Pennridge and an All-American as a senior in 2004.
“He’s probably the best player I’ve seen at Pennridge,” Pete Valimont said. “Matt Stevenson can be that good.”
Pennridge (2-0-1, 0-0-1 SOL) plays CB East Tuesday afternoon.
“This is what our league is like,” Valimont said. “Rugged, from one game to the next, every year.”
CB South (2-1-1, 1-0-1 SOL) takes on CB West Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Pennridge 0-1 1
Central Bucks South 0-1 1
North Penn 2, Central Bucks West 0
The Knights bounced back after a tough loss to Central Bucks East Wednesday.
Aidan Jerome and Luke McMahon scored in the first half to put North Penn up 2-nil at the break.
Central Bucks West’s Dylan Smith made three saves.
North Penn (2-1, 1-1 SOL) hosts William Tennent Tuesday afternoon. CB West (1-1, 1-1 SOL) goes to Archbishop Ryan Saturday night for a 7 p.m. start.
North Penn 2-0 2
Central Bucks West 0-0 0
Central Bucks East 2, Souderton 0
SOL National
Neshaminy 4, Bensalem 1
Neshaminy blitzed Bensalem in the first nine minutes. But the Redskins did not score.
Finally, in the 10th minute, after several near misses, Dan Grindrod booted a 25-yard free kick past the keeper. 1-0 Neshaminy.
Jack McCourt crossed the ball to Matt Leonhauser in the 22nd minute. Leonhauser scored. 2-0. In the 24th minute, Leonhauser crossed to Grindrod. He headed the ball into the net. 3-0.
Neshaminy went up 4-0 in the 43rd minute. Vince Hosephros toed the ball up to Chase Rider on a breakaway. Rider kicked the ball past the keeper. Neshaminy coach Tom Foley called Hosephros’s ball a “beautifully slotted pass.”
Bensalem scored in the 68th minute to make it 4-1.
“This was our first game of the year so we were really chomping at the bit to play someone. We brought a lot of energy in the first half,” Foley said. “We created several quality opportunities and were rewarded with three first half goals. It was a great team effort.”
Foley played all 20 of Neshaminy’s field players.
Neshaminy (1-0, 1-0 SOL) battles Holy Ghost Prep Saturday at 10 a.m. Bensalem (0-3, 0-2 SOL) takes on Council Rock North Tuesday at 3:30.
Neshaminy 3-1 4
Bensalem 0-1 1
Council Rock North 1, Council Rock South 0 (2 OT)
Seumus Crossett scored the game winner with an assist from Noah Ehlin, bringing to a dramatic end the hotly-contested battle between the neighboring rivals with just three minutes remaining in the second overtime.
The Indians held a 13-4 advantage in shots, but the 10-save effort of keeper Nolan Gaudet kept the Golden Hawks in the game. Rock North goalie Anthony Caruso was credited with three saves in the shutout win.
Council Rock North (2-0-1, 2-0 SOL) will host Bensalem on Tuesday, and Council Rock South (2-2, 0-2) will host Harry S Truman on Tuesday.
Council Rock North 0-0-1 1
Council Rock South 0-0-0 0
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