Check out the recaps for SOL boys/girls soccer teams in action Friday.
Boys
SOL National Conference
NESHAMINY 3, WILLIAM TENNENT 0
The Redskins broke a scoreless tie with three second-half goals en route to the shutout win.
“We had most of the possession and created several opportunities in the first half but could not get it past Tennent goalkeeper Caleb McLain,” coach Tom Foley said.
Christian Rodgers put the ‘Skins on the scoreboard with a goal that turned out to be the game-winner, using a Mike Albarran assist. In the 60th minute, Gavin Rowan added an insurance goal.
“(It was) a really nice goal,” Foley said. “We worked it from the right side to Mike Thomas on the left flank. He collected the ball, hit a great cross to Gavin Rowan who rifled it past the keeper.”
Ramir Cofield scored his first goal of the year to give the Redskins their final margin of victory.
“Ramir made it 3-0 when he broke it wide of the right side off the goal, hammered the ball off the left post,” Foley said.
The Redskins’ coach went on to acknowledge his team’s defense.
“We played a really solid defensive game,” he said. “Sophomore Mike Albarran stepped in for our injured center back (Kais Jawawdeh) and did a great job anchoring our ‘D’ along with Ryan Buczek, Alex Daeche and Lou Salmi. Freshman Matt Lamb, who missed a big portion of the season due to an injury, returned to the lineup and gave us a spark off the bench today.
Neshaminy (8-7, 7-4 SOL) will host Downingtown West on Saturday at 10 a.m., and William Tennent (4-9, 3-7) will host Archbishop Wood on Saturday at 7 p.m.
William Tennent 0-0. 0
Neshaminy 0-3. 3
Non-league
BENSALEM 3, DOCK MENNONITE ACADEMY 2
Lew Mladjen can’t explain it. One minute his Owls’ squad looked as though it didn’t have much of a pulse after Dock scored a pair of goals in the opening 10 minutes of the second half. The next, the Owls came alive, scoring three unanswered goals to close out the game.
“The first half we had some opportunities – did a really good job of creating chances but just didn’t finish,” Mladjen said. “We came out flat in the second half those first 10 minutes. That’s the game of soccer.
“I don’t know – something woke up in them after that second goal went in, and come the end of the game, I was just proud of the guys because we can’t let anything slip from us at this point. I think the boys and myself all felt this was a game we could have, but we obviously needed to turn things around and we did. It was just great to see the resilience.”
Dock’s Aiden Kelly and Micah Kratz scored back-to-back goals in just over two minutes to spot the hosts a 2-0 lead. Four minutes later, Brian Gibson trimmed that lead in half with goal.
“The keeper had come out and made a play, and it was a rebound – a one-time shot,” Mladjen said.
Midway through the half, Jon Larby found the net with the equalizer, using a cross by Gibson.
“It was a nice ball that Gibson took down the line, crossed it in, and Jon got on the end of it,” Mladjen said.
With 12 minutes remaining in regulation, Kal Ivanov scored off a Jordan Lee throw-in.
“Jordan has a pretty long toss,” Mladjen said. “It was just a bang-bang play. My guy was inside the six, right on the keeper, and he got a touch on it.”
The Owls’ defense held the rest of the way. Mladjen pointed to a clutch play by goalie Austin Shay as key in the win.
“When we made it 2-1, Dock had a great chance on goal where a guy was cutting to the right and shot back to the left, and my goalie made one of those lights-out, highlight reel saves,” the Owls’ coach said. “Had he not made that save, I’m not really sure how the game may have turned out.
“He’s kept us in every game. He’s one of our senior captains, and it was just a huge save in a big moment.”
Shay was credited with six saves in the win.
Bensalem (7-7, 5-6 SOL) will host Central Bucks South in a non-league game on Monday.
Bensalem 0-3 3
Dock Mennonite 0-2 2
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 4, HARRY S TRUMAN 0
The Titans opened up a 3-0 halftime lead and never looked back on their way to the shutout win.
“We played a lot of subs to give some of our starters a break, but we did let the starters get us a couple of goals early and then we started to filter the other players in and out,” coach Jarrett Cutsler said. “We wanted to give our players an opportunity to get a win under their belt going into another tough week going against North Penn and (Central Bucks) West.
“We also wanted to work on playing our game and getting some good combination play and just working on our possession. It was a pretty solid match for us. We were pretty much pushing up the entire game, so our defenders got a little bit of a break too.”
RJ Visco scored a pair of goals while Jake Heilig and Tasso Malitas each added a goal.
“We’ve been playing a freshman, Tasso Malitas, up top because of injuries and being banged up late in the season,” Cutsler said. “He’s got a lot of speed, and he’s been a good helper up top. The past week we’ve been giving him some minutes.”
Central Bucks South (8-6, 5-5 SOL) will travel to Bensalem for a non-league game on Monday at 7 p.m., and Harry S Truman (1-13, 0-10) will be on the road at Pennsbury on Tuesday.
Harry S Truman 0-0 0
Central Bucks South 3-1 4
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 2, LOWER MORELAND 0
Jacob Friedman contributed a goal and an assist to lead the Spartans to the non-league win. Friedman's first-half goal – with an assist from Dylan Davis – proved to be the game-winner. In the second half, he assisted on a goal by Max Doll for the 2-0 final.
Springfield Township (4-8-3, 1-8-2 SOL) will host Upper Moreland on Monday.
Springfield Township 1-1 2
Lower Moreland 0-0 0
Girls
SOL Continental Conference
QUAKERTOWN 3, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 1
Ashley Gluck found the back of the net twice in a 15-minute period early in the second half, leading the Panthers to their first conference win.
“It was nice to get a league win,” coach Mike Koch said. “I have so much admiration for CB East and Paul (Eisold) and what they’ve done over the years, the quality of that program. It is meaningful to beat them, no doubt about it.”
It’s been tough going for the Panthers in their return to the Continental after two years in the American, but this squad, according to Koch, has never lost its fight
“I’m just so proud of how resilient they are,” the Panthers’ coach said. “I’ve had teams with this type of record in other years when I was at Quakertown in the Continental Conference, and generally, by this point in the year, a little of the edge is just gone.
“These kids just come out and compete every game, every game, and battle and battle, and every coach that we play knows it too. I believe we’ve maximized our efforts every game, and even in the years we were winning, there were games where I didn’t feel that was the case. I feel like we have maximized our efforts every game this year.”
As for the game, Gluck’s first goal was a well-struck ball from 30 yards out off a Haley Pursel assist. Her second goal came off a through ball from Gianna Monastra and was another quality finish, according to Koch.
Haley Hangey gave the Panthers a 3-0 lead on a great move off a Maddie Drennan assist.
“We got three brilliant goals today,” Koch said.” It was good stuff.”
Gabby Learn scored with two minutes remaining to put CB East on the scoreboard.
Morgan Sipprell recorded five saves in the win in goal. Kristen Obetz had three saves for East.
Koch acknowledged Haley Pursel, Melina Jagiello, Maddie Smith , Cori Pursel and Brenna Foster for their strong defensive play for the panthers.
Quakertown (3-10-2, 1-8-1 SOL) will host Lansdale Catholic in a non-league game on Saturday at 7 p.m., and Central Bucks East (5-8-2, 2-7-2) will host Pennsbury on Saturday at noon.
Quakertown 0-3. 3
Central Bucks East 0-1. 1
SOL National Conference
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 2, BENSALEM 1
For the second time in four days, the National Conference foes did battle, and for the second time in as many games, the Golden Hawks emerged victorious, although the Owls – who fell 3-0 on Tuesday – put up a valiant battle.
All three of the game’s goals were scored in the first half.
“I felt like we held the majority of possession in the first half,” South coach Nick Heim said. “Bensalem goalie (Kat Rivera) came up with a few really solid saves to keep the score 0-0.”
South broke through on an Erin McStravock header with an assist from Allie Jones. A goal by Jones (Carly Hickey assist) a few minutes later gave the Golden Hawks a 2-0 lead. With three minutes remaining before the intermission, the Owls cut that lead in half. That 2-1 score stood the rest of the way.
“The second half saw some chances for both teams,” Heim said.“It wasn’t the best we’ve played by any stretch, but playing a quality league opponent twice in the same week is a unique challenge. Bob (Crawford) has really done a great job this year with Bensalem, and they are a defense that is tough to break down. Their center backs and goalie are quality and can keep them in any game.”
The Golden Hawks’ coach acknowledged the efforts of several players.
“Lauren Smith played very well for us defensively in the midfield, winning key 50-50 balls,” Heim said. “Both Allie Jones and Sammy Jones created dangerous chances for us offensively throughout the game and worked very hard on transition defense to help secure a win.”
Council Rock South (10-3-1, 6-2-1 SOL) will travel to Pennsbury on Monday for a 7 p.m. contest, and Bensalem (6-7-2, 5-5-1) will host Council Rock North on Monday.
Council Rock South 2-0 2
Bensalem 1-0 1
NESHAMINY 4, WILLIAM TENNENT 1
Neshaminy found itself down early in Friday's match, so Brooke Mullin stepped up.
"We came out a little sluggish, I think we were still a little tired from the week but we did well," Neshaminy coach Renny Papendick said. "Tennent was physical and came out fiesty. I know their coach (Bill Hontz), he's a great guy and a great coach. They went up on a shot from about 18 out that caught our keeper a little off-guard."
Papendick said Mullin took charge after the opening goal and eventually found the equalizer, which allowed Neshaminy to go into the half 1-1.
"She scored a nice individual goal," Papendick said. "We evaluated and made some changes at the half."
Emily Tantala had a brace in the second half to back up a Michaela Boyd goal as Neshaminy seized control of the match.
Papendick credited Tennent for being ready to play and testing his side throughout the match.
"You look at the results throughout the Suburban One National, and a lot of it doesn't make sense, one game says this, another says that but there's just a lot of quality," Papendick said. "There are so many quality players in the National and it's always interesting."
Tantala, another of Neshaminy's soccer and basketball playing standouts, turned her recent run of good form into a couple of needed goals.
"She was so active," Papendick said. "She was able to run by a few girls and make a couple double-moves. She scored two but probably should have had four, she was really good today."
Aside from Mullin, Papendick felt Mel Prinos helped give Neshaminy energy and won a lot of the tough challenges on the field that led to scoring chances.
"We're hitting our stride," Papendick said. "It was a good team effort."
Neshaminy (10-3, 8-2 SOL) will host Council Rock South on Monday, and William Tennent (5-9, 3-6) will host Upper Dublin in a non-league game Monday.
NESHAMINY 1 3 – 4
WILLIAM TENNENT 1 0 – 1
Goals: N – Emily Tantala 2, Michaela Boyd, Brooke Mullin
SOL American Conference
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 1, UPPER DUBLIN 1
The Colonials have a promising future on the defensive side and it was on display Friday.
"We stuck to the game plan, played physical and aggressive," PW coach Ryan Zehren said. "All the things we know we need to do to put ourselves in a position to win a game."
Freshman Kaitlyn Flanagan and sophomore Gabby Cooper have solidified the Colonials' back line. Cooper had a strong effort against the Cardinals, even finding the back of the net to help PW earn a point from the match.
"Gabby is the type of player that it takes 5-10 minutes to get into the game, once she gets to that high competitive level in a game, she is tough to beat defensively," Zehren said. "She had improved immensely since the start of the season and today proved that."
The sophomore has a strong leg, which has made her an easy choice to take set pieces for PW.
"Gabby has consistently played great free kicks from about 35-50 yards all season," Zehren said. "Today, she placed one in a dangerous spot in front of the keeper and it was able to find the back of the net."
Alyse Caffrey, Anni Shula and Natalie Lannie provided a strong performance for PW. Zehren noted the match was very even with both teams getting their share of opportunities.
While PW is a young team, it does have a couple of excellent senior leaders in Caffrey and Josee Tassoni.
"They are like big sisters to the rest of the squad," Zehren said. "We have over 20 sophomores in our program, so leadership like theirs is needed day in and day out both on and off the field."
Upper Dublin (8-6-1, 7-4-1 SOL) will travel to William Tennent for a non-league game on Monday, and Plymouth Whitemarsh (6-8-1, 5-6-1) will host Hatboro-Horsham on Tuesday.
Non-league
PENNRIDGE 5, ABINGTON 2
Following the Rams' nonleague win on Friday, coach Audrey Anderson told her players they'd just put together a good week.
Pennridge picked up two wins and a draw, and given the draw also included a rain delay on Thursday night, it made Friday's showing that much more impressive.
"Going into this game after last night, the girls were exhausted and wanted to play smarter, not necessarily harder," Anderson said. "I think the second half, we played a little bit smarter where it wasn't just one touch and sprinting after passes."
The Rams put the pressure on early and it worked in their favor. Abington played flustered at the back, leading to a couple of giveaways that Pennridge spun into goals.
Ashley Groeber played a through ball off a turnover that Leah Malone finished, then Malone's hustle helped lead to another short clearance that Kat Estep volleyed into the net for a 2-0 edge.
"We didn't respond well to it but it's a good lesson," Abington coach Rick Tompkins said. "If you're going to lose, that's the way you want to do it so there's a base to build from."
Casey Touey scored quickly after the second Rams goal, turning a through ball from Abby Bautista into a chip shot, but Pennridge came right back and went up 3-1 on the first of Maddie Anderson's two goals when the junior knocked in Molly Groff's corner.
A frenetic end to the first half saw Pennridge keeper Mary Kate Levush make stops on Camryn Lexow and Touey to hold the lead.
"We have a ton of smart players and they know how to play soccer," Anderson said. "We do pride ourselves on being able to play different styles and different formations. We don't really man-mark because we feel like with our players we can front and back a player and keep playing our style while not playing theirs."
Touey scored on a bizarre sequence barely a minute into the second half to make it a one-goal game, but again, the Ghosts lost any momentum by giving it right back. No one pressured Maddie Anderson outside the box, and the junior took advantage by ripping a shot into the net.
Abby Groff added the final goal when she headed in a 50/50 ball in the box while taking the worst of a collision with the keeper.
Abington (13-2, 12-0 SOL) has three matches left next week with SOL American games against Hatboro-Horsham and Cheltenham and a nonleague battle with Neshaminy. Pennridge (12-2-1, 7-2-1) hosts CB East for its Senior Night on Tuesday, then closes with a scorching-hot North Penn in SOL Continental play.
"I just hope we stay healthy," Anderson said. "It's coming to the end of the season and I want Tuesday to be a great night for our seniors. Not that I'm looking ahead but in preparing for postseason, I want to stay healthy this week."
PENNRIDGE 3 2 – 5
ABINGTON 1 1 – 2
Goals: P – Maddie Anderson 2, Leah Malone, Kat Estep, Abby Groff; A – Casey Touey 2
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 4, LOWER MORELAND 3
The visiting Spartans and Lions spent the better part of the game exchanging goals, but with 15 minutes remaining, Emily Cooney broke a 3-3 tie with a goal that turned out to be the game-winner.
“Lower Moreland really is a strong team,” coach Suzanne Wolf said. “I have a lot of respect for them.
“They have girls who really move the ball well. They move the ball well up front, in the midfield and in the back. They play with a lot of confidence. We actually shut them down because we won every ball – any 50-50 ball, we won, any kind of missed touch that they had, we won, but they also were moving the ball really well. We worked really hard.”
After the Lions opened up a 1-0 lead, Elena Hincapie connected with the equalizer on a rebound. The Lions went back on top 2-1, but Emily Smith answered with a goal to even the score. Sarah Potocki delivered a cross that Samantha Wynne headed into the goal, giving the Spartans their first lead of the game and sending them into halftime with a 3-2 advantage.
“The Sarah-Sam combination – they’re two seniors that I’m really going to miss,” Wolf said. “They combine in a lot of games.”
The Lions knotted the score 3-3, but with 15 minutes remaining, Cooney (Sarah Potocki assist) scored a goal that gave the Spartans a lead they would not lose.
“It was kind of off a corner, but they were scrapping around in front of the net,” Wolf said. “It was a good goal because we needed it.”
The Spartans’ coach lauded the performance of Allison Briggs in goal.
“It was so sunny and so incredibly windy, and the sun beat right in your eyes,” Wolf said. “My goalie played phenomenal under those conditions.
“She wasn’t making a ton of saves but ones that were big and we really needed, a couple breakaways, a couple of times where she popped it over the net. Things that we really, really needed.”
The Spartans’ coach also acknowledged the strong play of several players.
“Anne Giampietro had a great game – she played in the midfield,” Wolf said. “Sarah Potocki played excellent at sweeper. She shut everything down and led from the back like she always does.”
Springfield ( 5-10, 2-9 SOL) will host Upper Moreland on Monday.
Springfield Township 3-1 4
Lower Moreland 2-1 3
UPPER MORELAND 7, CALVARY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 0
The Golden Bears erupted for six goals in the first half on their way to the no-doubt-about-it win.
“Today was a great win for us,” coach Lisa Benvenuto said. “We executed our game plan, and we were able to finish.
“The girls moved the ball fluidly from the defense through the offense. Every player on the team contributed today to our win.”
Kathryn Morrow put the Bears on the board three minutes into the game, and Grace Burns followed with a goal. Morrow’s second goal – this one with a Burns assist – gave the Golden Bears a 3-0 lead 11 minutes into the game.
“Grace Burns and Kathryn Morrow played so strongly off of each other,” Benvenuto said. “They created so many opportunities for our team today.”
Morrow assisted on another Burns goal, and then it was Kaitie Opferman (Chloe Gerlach assist) finding the back of the net. A goal by Madison Zachwieja (Gabrielle Wiley assist) sent the Golden Bears into halftime with a 6-0 lead.
Emma Meakim scored with a Megan O’Donnell assist 11 minutes into the second half for the 7-0 final.
Gerlach, Opferman and Wiley all scored their first varsity goals/assists in the win.
Upper Moreland (8-7, 4-7 SOL) will host Springfield Township on Monday.
Calvary Christian 0-0 0
Upper Moreland 6-1 7
SOUDERTON 1, BOYERTOWN 0
(Submitted by Souderton soccer)
From the start of the match, Souderton looked to be feeling the effects of Thursday’s late night overtime match against Pennridge. Fortunately for them, Boyertown was unable to capitalize on Souderton's grogginess. With 22 minutes left in the first half, Boyertown had their best opportunity to go ahead when a shot destined for the back of the net was cleared off the line by senior Sam Harwick, who made a number of similar clearances in the game against Pennridge.
Following Harwick's clearance, Souderton was able to launch a quick counterattack that ended up going out for a goal kick. Nonetheless, Harwick's clearance seemed to breathe life into Souderton, and the Indians quickly worked themselves into the game. In the closing minutes of the half, quality chances were few and far between.
Coming out in the second half, Souderton seemed to have gain a foothold in the match, as they began to press and win the ball more frequently. They were able to retain possession, but it wasn't until the 18th minute that they got their first real opportunity.
Senior Erin O'Keefe found some space in the final third and touched the ball past the last defender. Boyertown's goalkeeper came out to cut off the angle for the shot but O'Keefe did just enough to chip it over and towards the net. The shot hit the crossbar and sophomore Taylor Yoder followed it up and tried to nod home the rebound. Boyertown's defense recovered well and was able to clear the ball off the line.
Souderton continued to push forward, and with 15 minutes left, their efforts paid off. Yoder found some space on the right wing and slipped the ball inside to senior Campbell Power just outside Boyertown's 18-yard box. Power wriggled free of the Boyertown defenders to create just enough space to unleash a shot into the bottom of the far corner to put Souderton up 1-0.
From then on, Souderton appeared comfortable in holding the lead, as they locked down their defense and continued to possess. The match ended 1-0 Souderton.
Souderton (8-2-6, 4-2-5 SOL) will travel to Council Rock North for a non-league contest Monday.
Souderton 0-1 1
Boyertown 0-0 0
CHELTENHAM 2, NORTHEAST 1
Donya Baxter scored a pair of goals to lead the Lady Panthers to the non-league win.
Cheltenham (5-10, 1-10 SOL) will travel to Springfield Township on Tuesday.
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