Check out the recaps for SOL boys and girls soccer teams in action Wednesday.
Boys
SOL Patriot
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 2, BENSALEM 2 (2 OT)
Settling for a tie was not what either team wanted, but in a season filled with challenges, it might well have been an appropriate finish.
“It was a well-played game to close out the season for both squads,” Rock North coach Joe Stackhouse said, noting that both teams endured sloppy, slippery conditions.”
The Owls got on the scoreboard first on a nifty goal by John Groves. Fifteen minutes later, North midfielder Xavier Guerrero tied it up with his fourth goal of the year. The teams went into halftime deadlocked.
North took the lead midway through the second half on a goal by Louis Bloechi, but Hunter Shay converted a penalty kick for the Owls, knotting the score 2-2 with nine minutes remaining in regulation.
“Both teams had good opportunities in overtime and couldn’t convert,” Stackhouse said.
CR North and Bensalem closed out the season with identical 2-71 records (2-5-1 SOL).
Bensalem 1-1-0-0 2
Council Rock North 1-1-0-0 2
Non-league
PENNRIDGE 1, HATBORO-HORSHAM 0
A district playoff berth was hanging in the balance for both teams when the Rams travelled to Hatboro-Horsham Wednesday afternoon. When it was over, the Rams were seeded 13th in the District One 4A power rankings. The Hatters were 19th in what will be a 16-team field.
“Basically, we were able to find a game, which was the biggest thing for us,” Pennridge coach Pete Valimont said. “It was a situation where you could not play and maybe get in or you could play and guarantee you get in if you win.
“We were very fortunate that Kyle (McGrath) and Hatboro were willing to play us – great coach, great staff, and it was a fantastic game. Any other year, they’re in playoffs and they’re a second round or maybe even farther type of team.”
With 1:40 remaining in regulation, Shane Velez scored the game’s only goal.
“Jake Saville’s corner kick found Colin Monahan’s head, who put it back in the middle for Shane Velez to finish,” Valimont said. “It was very back and forth – they had a good run of play.
“First half and second half, they had a couple of good chances, an excellent chance in the first half. Our goalie, CJ Dimmick, made a fantastic save. We had a couple of set pieces that just missed in the second half, and we were able to get the corner kick to pay off.”
The Rams’ coach lauded the strong efforts of his back line.
“Shane Velez, not only the scoring, but he played fantastic,” Valimont said. “Colin Monahan was all over the field.
“Our forward up top, Aiden Castle, got tossed all over the place, but he’s the Energizer Bunny. It was just overall a great effort. It was do or die – if we lose the game or tie the game, our season’s over. It’s that simple.
“The game was a very tight game just like it was years ago when I started and they were in our conference. They’re a fantastic team in a tough division, and we were fortunate to get out of there with a win and allow our season to go on.”
Pennridge (7-5, 5-5 SOL) is 13th but the seedings were not official.
“We know we’re going to be on the road, which is fine with us,” Valimont said. “We just wanted to get in. Whoever we play – let’s do it.”
Hatboro-Horsham closed out its season with a 6-5 record overall (6-4 SOL).
Pennridge 0-1 1
Hatboro-Horsham 0-0 0
Girls
SOL Liberty
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 3, ABINGTON 1
Talk about happy endings, this was definitely it for a PW squad that – after enduring more than their share of challenges this season – handed the Ghosts their first loss of the season.
“It was nice to see my full squad out there,” PW coach Ryan Zehren said. “Last Wednesday or Thursday we finally got our full team back. At one point, we were down eight starters. We couldn’t even field a team at the beginning of last week.
“A lot of girls were allowed to come back the middle of last week. It’s great to have everybody back, but you don’t practice and to try and implement any type of game plan, it’s really difficult.
“We didn’t play well a lot of the games last week, but after playing together the whole week – we knew what we had, and it came together today. It really showed the resilience, the character, the pride – any positive word that you can think of that these seniors and the whole entire team has.
“It would have been easy to just lay down at any point this season and just throw your hands up in the air and say, ‘Whatever,’ but they never did. We got through it – at least we got a complete season in, which was great.”
The Colonials were actually without one player – Angelina Balcer, who, according to Zehren, has played well all year, but it was as close to a full squad as they’ve had.
A look back at the game would show that Abington got on the scoreboard first, connecting four minutes into the game on a goal by Carley Slavin.
“It was a really nice shot from the corner of the 18 and was really well placed,” Zehren said. “Our goalie didn’t really have a chance.
“Caitlyn Dinh, our goalie, had an amazing game. After that goal went in, I don’t think she let up one rebound. Abington had their chances. They’re a really good team, always well coached, and they always bring their ‘A’ game every game, but Caitlyn never let anything get by her the rest of the game.”
Just minutes after the Ghosts scored, Leah Kaye connected on her first of two goals on the day, this one with an assist from Guadalupe Carmona.
“Guadalupe Carmona is our right back and is a great one-on-one defender,” Zehren said. “She’s really not known for getting forward, but she made the best run I’ve seen her make in four years, winning tackles and just kept winning the ball. She made an absolutely brilliant pass to Leah Kaye, who finished from just outside the box, lower right-hand corner. Their goalie got her fingertips on it, but it was such a well-placed shot, it was really difficult to save.”
Midway through the first half, Kaye – using a Lindsey Berman assist – scored from just outside the 18 to put the Colonials on top 2-1. With 14 minutes remaining in the half, Max Leszcynski connected on an unassisted goal that sent PW into halftime with a 3-1 lead.
“Max created a turnover, won a tackle or two and scored from outside the 18 – lofted one just out of the reach of the goalie,” Zehren said.
That 3-1 lead stood until the final horn, and the Colonials had their biggest win of the abbreviated season.
“We told the girls – we don’t have anymore games left, this is our playoff games,” Zehren said. “It was a chance to play spoiler.
“Our girls went out there and treated it like a playoff game, knowing it was the last game ever for some of them. I questioned so many things sometimes throughout the season, but then you get a win like today, and this is why we coach. I couldn’t be more proud of them for not faltering and not giving up. It would have been easy to. It would have been easy after Abington scored four minutes in today to say, ‘Oh well, we’re going to get killed today,’ but they didn’t do that.
“I love these seniors. They’re a great group of girls, and they’ve worked so hard for four years. I’ve never coached a group like this, and we finished with 12 seniors this year. At one point, we had 18, maybe even 20. The 12 that stuck around and are the core of the program – I couldn’t thank them enough for everything they’ve done for me, for the team and for the program. To build what we were able to build over the last four years – it’s just amazing. I can’t thank them enough.”
The Colonials’ coach praised the efforts of his players in the win.
“Natalie Lannie and Gabby Cooper in the middle of the field really showed their dominance – two seniors that are really athletic,” Zehren said. “Natalie has a high soccer IQ, and Gabby is just a raw athlete. She could play any sport and show her dominance.
“On the back line, Guadalupe had an amazing game, Kaitlyn Flanagan, Kate Yocum and Bella McNew. Lauren Ianniello and Raya Gauntlett gave us some minutes subbing in for our outside backs and really played well in the time they were given. Our girls just played strong. We finally started winning tackles today. Lindsey Berman is not known for her defense but really started playing defense in the midfield.”
Abington coach Rick Tompkins said his team was “thoroughly outplayed” by the Colonials. For Zehren, it was a gift just to see his players back on the field.
“Last year we had an amazing season, and this year a lot of things happened that were not in our control, but that’s life,” the PW coach said. “No excuses. Sometimes things are on your side, and sometimes they’re not, but they came to practice every day, never asked questions, just came ready to work hard and said, ‘Who’s next?’ Let’s keep playing. We’re just happy to have a season at all.”
Plymouth Whitemarsh closed out its season with a 3-6-1 record. Abington (8-1-1) will await its final seed in the District One 4A Tournament.
Plymouth Whitemarsh 3-0 3
Abington 1-0 1
PENNSBURY 5, PHOENIXVILLE 0
The Falcons added to their power point total with a resounding win over a Phantom squad that is fifth in the latest District One 3A power rankings.
Taylor Mays led a balanced Falcon attack with a goal and a pair of assists. It was Mays setting up a Celia Johnson goal to give the Falcons a lead they would not lose. The Falcons benefitted from an own goal to go into halftime with a 2-0 lead.
Gianna Durle – Mays assist – opened the second-half scoring, and then it was Mays converting a penalty kick. Sarah Tuohy scored off a deflection off the post for the 5-0 final.
Pennsbury (6-3, 5-3 SOL) moved up to 14th in the District One 4A power rankings.
Phoenixville 0-0 0
Pennsbury 2-3 5
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