Check out the results for SOL boys/girls soccer teams in action Friday and Saturday.
Boys
PENNRIDGE 2, UPPER MORELAND 0
The Rams celebrated Senior Night in style, scoring a pair of late goals to earn the shutout win in their regular season finale.
The win not only was the seventh in a row for the red hot Rams but also vaulted the team into the District One AAA Tournament, an unlikely scenario as recently as a week ago, but with their backs pressed firmly against the wall, the Rams – led by their eight seniors – simply refused to lose.
Saturday’s win over the Golden Bears was the fourth of a remarkable week.
“We were 4-7, and we had to basically win every game remaining on our schedule, and we did that,” coach Pete Valimont said. “We were told even if we would have tied somewhere in those seven games – we would have been the first one out.
“Take away Central Bucks East’s amazing 18-0 run, and I think we have the second best winning streak. We’re defending well, we’re scoring goals. It doesn’t matter who we play right now – we’re ready.”
Ten minutes into the second half of Saturday’s game against the Bears, Brian Zuluaga turned a Cameron Sheva assist into a goal that turned out to be the game winner. With 10 minutes remaining, Cayce Giblin tacked on an insurance goal, also with a Sheva assist.
This is the Rams’ first trip to districts since 2010 after three straight trips in Valimont’s first three years at the helm.
“We kind of took it for granted,” the Rams’ coach said of earning a district berth. “We went to the first round and lost in PKs, and the second and third year we lost in the quarterfinals in PKs, a couple shots away from going to states.
“We haven’t been there since, and we’ve been pummeled. We’ve lost a lot of games in those four years, and these kids were part of it. It’s a testament to my seniors – they have the will to win.”
Those seniors have all been major contributors in the Rams’ late-season run – senior Brody Giblin in goal, defensive backs Jeremy Baum and John Montano, midfielders Cayce Giblin, Cameron Sheva, Caden Hall and Brian Zuluago, and forward Dylan Henry.
“They have been kind of starters, kind of on-the-bench, kind of swing players the last three years,” Valimont said. “I’m telling you – they have blown my mind with their ability to come together as a team and just do great things against good competition – the Suburban One League is tough.
“We didn’t get scored on this whole week – four games in six days. Three or four of those games were 0-0 at the half. They did a great job.
“If you had told me we would be 11-7 and playing in districts – I thought this was going to be a rebuilding year, and I told the guys they proved me wrong, and I couldn’t be happier for them because they’ve earned it. I just hope the ride continues.”
Pennridge closed out its regular season with an 11-7 record overall (7-7 SOL) while Upper Moreland was 6-11-1 (5-8-1 SOL).
Upper Moreland 0-0 0
Pennridge 0-2 2
Friday, Oct. 23
Boys
PENNSBURY 4, STRATH HAVEN 1
Four Falcons contributed a goal each in Pennsbury’s convincing win over visiting Strath Haven in Friday’s regular season finale. Finding the net for the Falcons were John Griffin, Tyler Williams, Zach Lobasso and Colin Marks.
The Falcons closed out the regular season with a 12-4-2 record (9-3-2 SOL). Strath Haven finished the regular season 10-6-2.
CHRISTOPHER DOCK 2, SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP 1
The Spartans got on the board just over a minute into the game with an own goal, but the Pioneers knotted the score in the 34th minute when Kyle Wells (Jesse Kolb assist) connected to make it a 1-1 game at the intermission.
Sergey Curtis (Elias Gehman assist) scored the game winner seven minutes into the second half.
The Pioneers held a 9-3 advantage in shots on goal. Springfield keeper Ben Zimmerman stopped nine shots.
Springfield was 2-15 overall (1-13 SOL).
Christopher Dock 1-1 2
Springfield 1-0 1
PENNRIDGE 2, CHELTENHAM 0
The visiting Rams used first-half goals by Dylan Henry and Cayce Giblin to open up a 2-0 halftime lead. They went on to win by that score in Friday’s non-league game.
Pennridge 2-0 2
Cheltenham 0-0 0
Girls
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 4, UPPER DUBLIN 0
The Patriots won Friday’s battle of SOL conference champions, opening up a 2-0 halftime lead and adding a pair of goals in the second half.
Bri Talbot scored both goals in the opening half – the first with an assist by Carli Whiton 13 minutes into the game and the second with a Hannah Zach assist 31 minutes into the game.
Maddie Myrtetus (Zach assist) scored in the 66th minute, and then it was Erin Lutz (Brook Zarzycki) finding the back of the net to close out the scoring.
Katie Dolf and Kristin Obetz combined for the shutout in goal.
Coach Paul Eisold lauded the defensive play of Paige Weiss, Megan Mannato, Katie Bloom, Jillian Pawelski and Cailyn Hankins.
Central Bucks East closed out the regular season with a perfect 18-0 mark (14-0 SOL). Upper Dublin finished the season 12-4-1 overall (12-2 SOL).
Upper Dublin 0-0 0
Central Bucks East 2-2 4
PENNSBURY 8, CONESTOGA 2
The Falcons opened up an early lead and never looked back in Friday’s non-league contest at Conestoga.
Jadyn Peto (Caroline Foley assist) scored in the second minute, and Riley Rudd (Meredith Webber assist) found the net four minutes later. In the 14th minute, Kelly Amador (Lizzy Kirk assist) scored to put the Falcons on top 3-0. Conestoga’s Monica Borzilla broke the Falcons’ run with a goal in the 31st minute to make it a 3-1 game at halftime.
The Falcons dominated play in the second half. First it was Cara Thomas (Peto assist) scoring in the 53rd minute. Jenna Peters (Abby Wick assist) scored in the 66th minute, and four minutes later, Foley (Karina Raykova assist) found the back of the net to make it a 6-1 game. Whitney Roth (Kirk assist) and Conestoga’s Nia Scott exchanged goals in the 74th minute, and Sara Kervick scored an unassisted goal in the 77th minute for the 8-2 final.
Pennsbury closed out its regular season with a 17-1 overall record (13-1 SOL) while Conestoga was 5-12-1.
Pennsbury 3-5 8
Conestoga 1-1 2
NORTH PENN 1, METHACTON 0
The Maidens rolled to their sixth consecutive win, shutting out the Warriors in Friday’s regular season finale.
Anna Pedicone scored on a penalty kick – earned by Emelia Eshraghi – with 3:20 remaining in the contest.
North Penn keeper Hannah Lambert turned away seven shots in another strong performance.
“It was an overall great effort by the team,” coach Jim Dehner said. “Methacton’s goalie played really well.”
Methacton keeper Elizabeth Stender was credited with eight saves.
North Penn closed out the regular season with a 9-7-2 record overall (6-6-2 SOL).
North Penn 0-1 1
Methacton 0-0 0
WISSAHICKON 3, CHRISTOPHER DOCK 2
In the opening minute of the contest, Maddie Elwell carried the ball down the left wing and then beat the last defender for a 1v1 versus the keeper. Her shot went just wide of the goal but the tone had been set.
“The team came ready to play, communicating well, completing nice passing strings and leading to eight shots to five at the half,” coach Shannon Creamer-Franke said.
The Trojans’ work rate paid off at the 20-minute mark when a rocket off the foot of Elwell that took down Dock’s center back still found the back of the net, brushing off keeper’s finger tips.
Dock answered with a goal of its own near the end of the half to knot the score. Dock took a 2-1 lead early in the second half. At 49:49, Krysta Memis picked up a pass from Jasmine Bishop and dribbled down the center for a shot that evened the score 2-2. Alexis Smith picked up a through ball from Elwell for the game winning goal with 20 minutes remaining.
“Gabby Unipan had a terrific game with on-point passing and awesome tackles,” Creamer-Franke said of her center mid. “She read the field so well.
“The team played so well today and so well all week – three games, three wins, including a win over rival Upper Dublin. An awesome way to end the regular season play. We have hit a couple of rough patches this season, but when this team pushes, there is no limit to their success – a very talented and fun team to watch.”
Wissahickon closed out the regular season with a 12-5-1 mark (11-2-1 SOL).
Christopher Dock 1-1 2
Wissahickon 1-2 3
WEST CHESTER RUSTIN 1, NESHAMINY 0
The Redskins fell to a streaking Rustin squad that owns the top spot in the Ches-Mont American Division standings. Rustin broke a scoreless halftime tie with a Cassie Cheeseman goal in the 51st minute. The win was the sixth in a row for the Golden Knights, who posted their 12th shutout of the season.
Neshaminny closed out the regular season with a 12-5-1 record (10-3-1 SOL). West Chester Rustin is 16-2 overall (12-1 Ches-Mont).
Rustin 0-1 1
Neshaminy 0-0 0
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 8, MOUNT ST. JOSEPH 1
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