Check out the results for SOL soccer teams in action Wednesday.
Boys
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 3, SOUDERTON 1
Losses have been few and far between during what has been an unforgettable season for the Patriots, and on the heels of their first conference loss to CB West on Monday, the Patriots – who closed out league play 13-1 – responded with a big win over the Indians to clinch sole possession of the Continental Conference crown.
“We had one hiccough, if you will, the other night,” East coach Mike Gorni said. “West really needed the game. They played great and they deserved to beat us.
“We didn’t do a great job. I didn’t have the kids prepared the right way, and we fell. We made it hard. We knew we had clinched a tie for at least a co-championship, but, of course, you want to win the whole thing yourself. That was important to us.”
The conference crown is the ninth in 10 years for Central Bucks East, and making this title especially memorable is the fact that the Patriots start just two seniors.
“We didn’t expect this one,” coach Mike Gorni said. “The reality is we won the league at 12-2 last year. This year we’re 13-1.
“Last year going into playoffs, we were 15-3, and this year’s we’re 16-2. Within games, they’ve been very difficult, but at the end of day, the team that has our schedule and wins this league with one loss and at 18 games is 16-2, you have to give credit where credit is due. The boys really played well.”
The Indians got on the scoreboard midway through the first half on a goal by Danny Sullivan, but late in the half, Evan Vare answered with the equalizer, using a J.R. Eisold assist. The two teams went into halftime deadlocked 1-1.
A Vare goal six-and-a-half minutes into the second half turned out to be the game winner.
“Justin Chomick served the ball in, Brian Gilligan made a real good touch and pushed it off to Evan, who finished it,” Gorni said.
Vare completed the hat trick, this time turning a through ball from Alex Parasky into a goal on a breakaway.
“I thought we got a great game today from J.R. Eisold and Brian Gilligan,” Gorni said. “Especially in the second half, they were terrific in the midfield.
“We had really good efforts from our two outside defenders – Ian Lutz and Booker Farrier. It was a good team effort, especially in the second half. It’s great to get the win.”
The Indians closed out league play with a 7-5-2 record. They are 8-7-3 overall.
Souderton 1-0 1
Central Bucks East 1-2 3
PENNSBURY 4, WILLIAM TENNENT 0
Goalie Eric Gagliardi continued his remarkable string of shutouts, notching his third straight and ninth overall.
He wasn’t the only standout on a night that saw Keion Randolph score a pair of goals and Alex Kardos add a single goal with the fourth an ‘own goal.’
“We’re playing really well in all facets of the game,” coach Tom Stoddart said. “We’re a really balanced team.
“Not only do we have nine shutouts, we have three or four one-goal games, and those one goal (losses) were on penalty kicks, so Eric’s playing as good as any goaltender around.”
Also playing at a high level is center back Justin Chapuis.
“When he’s on the field, we’ve been next to impossible to score upon,” Stoddart said. “When he’s had to come off the field for different reasons, that’s when we’ve been vulnerable.”
The Falcons closed out league play with an 11-3 mark, second only to conference champion Neshaminy. Pennsbury is 12-4-2 overall.
“We’re playing extremely well,” Stoddart said. “We have a nice rhythm, and we’re looking forward to seeing what the matchups will be. We’re really looking forward to the playoffs.”
William Tennent closed the regular season with a 7-7 record in conference play (9-9 overall).
William Tennent 0-0 0
Pennsbury 2-2 4
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 2, NORRISTOWN 1
In a game that was halted early in the second half because of the weather, it was the Colonials turning their 2-1 halftime lead into a win that clinched sole possession of their second consecutive American Conference title.
Nick Lockard and Alex Bilodeau accounted for PW’s goals. Joe Dellobuono scored for the Eagles. Norristown received a strong game in goal from Anthony Mitchell, who capably filled in Will Baltrus (concussion).
The Colonials closed out their regular season with a 13-1 record in conference play (16-2 overall). The Eagles closed out league play with a 1-10-3 mark.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 2-0 2
Norristown 1-0 1
Girls
ABINGTON 3, HARRY S TRUMAN 2 (OT)
The Ghosts closed out their season with a dramatic win over the Tigers, thanks to a perfectly-executed corner kick with three minutes remaining in the first overtime period. Marissa Heath converted a short corner that was executed by Gabbie Nolan. Nolan passed to Jamie Gosselin whose cross to the far post was knocked home by Heath.
Truman took a 2-1 lead with 18 minutes remaining when the Tigers – whose first goal was an ‘own goal’ – converted a free kick. Madeline Doyle (Mary Gene Mugnier assist) scored the Tigers’ first goal, and it was Mugnier connecting for the equalizer late in regulation.
The Ghosts closed out conference play with a 3-11 record (5-12-1 overall). The Tigers are 0-14 in league play (0-16-1 overall).
PENNSBURY 5, WILLIAM TENNENT 0
The Falcons opened up a 4-0 halftime lead on their way to the shutout win at Tennent.
Shortly after sophomore Riley Rudd scored an unassisted goal in the 13th minute, the game was halted due to lightening. Undeterred by the weather, the Falcons picked up where they left off when play resumed. Sophomore Kelly Amador (Uche Onuoha assist), Onuoha (Rudd assist) and Meredith Webber (Caroline Foley assist) each had added first-half goals. Sara Kervick accounted for the only goal of the second half, using Rudd’s second assist of the night.
Goalie Kayla Kunde had three saves to earn the shutout. Rachel Beri delivered a goal line save in the first five minutes of the game to keep the Panthers off the scoreboard, effectively setting the tone for the big win.
With one conference game remaining against Council Rock South on Friday, the Falcons are 11-0-2 in league play (15-0-2 overall). The Panthers closed out league play with an 8-5-1 mark (11-6-1 overall).
Pennsbury 4-1 5
William Tennent 0-0 0
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 6, NORRISTOWN 0
The Colonials clinched at least a share of the conference crown with their shutout win over the Eagles. Upper Dublin has a chance to win a share of the title with a win over Springfield on Thursday.
PW closed out league play with a 12-2 record (14-2-1 overall) while the Eagles are 1-13 in the league (2-15 overall).
Norristown 0-0 0
Plymouth Whitemarsh 4-2 6
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