Check out the recaps for SOL boys/girls soccer teams in action Monday.
Boys
Non-league
HARRY S TRUMAN 6, ACADEMY PARK 0
Edwin Teah connected for a hat trick to lead the Tigers to their first win of the season – a convincing one, to be sure.
Teah set the tone for the decisive win, scoring a pair of goals in the first half and propelling the Tigers to a 2-0 halftime lead.
“Edwin played an outstanding game today,” coach Matt Terry said.
In the second half, Zack Hopely scored a pair of goals, both off of direct kicks. Mert Yildirim scored on a header set up by Rich Hrouda’s direct kick.
“We played well on defense, shutting down some dangerous players,” Terry said. “Hopefully, we can keep the momentum up.
“We scored some nice goals today and played together.”
Terry credited the effort of his entire team, pointing to the standout efforts of defenders Artie Dingley, Adam Fask, Gaige Vargas, Edwin Rivera and keeper Andy Lucero as well as Nick Ortez Wells in the midfield.
Harry S Truman (1-6, 0-5 SOL) will travel to William Tennent on Tuesday.
Academy Park 0-0 0
Harry S Truman 2-4 6
ABINGTON 1, CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 0
Sean Touey scored a first-half goal to propel the visiting Ghosts to a 1-0 halftime lead over the Patriots. That lead stood the rest of the way.
Abington (8-1, 5-1 SOL) will travel to Cheltenham on Tuesday, and Central Bucks East (1-7-1, 1-4) will host Central Bucks West on Thursday.
Abington 1-0 1
Central Bucks East 0-0 0
WILLIAM PENN CHARTER 3, COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 1
Penn Charter converted a penalty kick and took that 1-0 lead into halftime. The Golden Hawks knotted the score five minutes into the second half on a Sean Armstrong goal (Jake Brossman assist), but Penn Charter scored two goals – including another PK – in two minutes to put the game out of reach.
“Penn Charter is a very good team,” coach Alan Nicholl said. “It’s hard spotting them two PKs and still trying to compete.
“They didn’t get many looks at goal today in the run of play, so to give up two set pieces was disappointing.”
Council Rock South (3-6, 3-2 SOL) will face archrival Council Rock North on Tuesday.
William Penn Charter1-2 3
Council Rock South 0-1 1
Girls
SOL Continental Conference
Central Bucks West 2, Central Bucks South 0
There aren't a lot of surprises when any two of the three Central Bucks schools face each other in a match.
"It was another hard-fought conference win. South played a very hard and physical game," said West coach Mike Moyer, whose team won its fifth straight game. "I have a ton of respect for Betsy (Bullock) and what she does with that program."
The Bucks found themselves battling both the Titans and a strong wind in the first half of Monday's contest.
"It was hard to possess the ball," Moyer said of the first half conditions. "We did have a couple really good chances. Trish Hauck was in a couple of times and we hit the crossbar a couple of times, but we couldn't put one away."
CB West has gotten strong play across the board, but two of the team's breakout players this fall have been twins Erin and Ryan Fitzsimmons. Fittingly, they would both have a mark on Monday's outcome.
"Finally, Ryan Fitzsimmons played a great through ball to Alex Craine, who took it in stride and hit a great ball side-netting to give us a 1-0 lead at halftime," Moyer said.
After the half, the Bucks had the wind at their backs and a desire to match the physical Titans and increase their own lead.
"Having the wind was a huge advantage," Moyer said. "We were in their half a lot in the second half and finally managed to get our second goal with about five minutes left in the game and seal the deal."
The Fitzsimmons provided it, with Ryan notching her second assist of the day.
"It was a corner kick that Ryan hit to her sister Erin, who had a great header," Moyer said. "The Fitz's are playing so well right now and for Erin to get another goal for us is huge for her confidence going into the second half of our season."
CB West is coming together as a group, and its defensive unit posted another shutout.
"I really want to give credit to my defenders and goalie Jenna Abazza," Moyer said. "Megan Gallagher, Arianna D'Elia, Keely McGlone, Gracie Miller and Allie Evan are playing lights-out. We are starting to gel in the back and make it very difficult for teams to score."
The Bucks (8-2, 4-2 SOL) will host CB East in the annual Kick for Pink game at 7pm Wednesday at War Memorial Stadium. Central Bucks South (4-3-1, 2-2-1) will host Quakertown on Thursday night.
Central Bucks West 1 1 – 2
Central Bucks South 0 0 – 0
Goals: CBW – Alex Craine, Erin Fitzsimmons
Non-league
Central Bucks East 2, Abington 0
No doubt, this was a pivotal match for the Patriots.
East got a big-time result on the road against an unbeaten foe, using a defensive effort that's been the hallmark of the program in recent years plus a couple of good goals.
"We came to play tonight," Patriots’ coach Paul Eisold said. "It was something we've been missing. We've had three shutouts in a row, we're starting to come around, but we're still not where need to be. We're seeing progress and that's the positive."
Facing an extremely potent attack in the Ghosts' core of Casey Touey, Camryn Lexow and Kailey Horton, East got a total effort from its entire formation. The back line, as it has of late especially, covered for each other and played strong.
Ashley Balderson, Erika Ives and Olivia Portner had their moments, while fullback Anna Bound held her own dealing with Horton up and down the left wing all match.
"We've been really known for our defense and we've been really lackluster so far," Eisold said. "Part of that might have been my fault by design, but they're starting to step up now.
"Anna (Bound) kept her pushed out, and every time we thought (Abington) would get through – there was cover. It was Ashley, it was Erika, Olivia, whoever, they all gave that cover. It's all about confidence, knowing you have that cover allows you to take risks."
Abington still created plenty of chances. The opportunities the Ghosts were able to put on frame were stopped all night by sophomore keeper Kiera Donnelly.
Donnelly – the third keeper on the depth chart at the start of the season – has been pushed to the starting role due to injuries and came up huge for her team time and again on Monday.
"Our goalkeeper was outstanding," Eisold said. "She was tremendous, key saves, key plays. Our back line defended and boxed them out, but Kiera was there for them."
Marissa Plack gave the Patriots the kind of shot in the arm they needed early when she took a chance on a shot from about 30 yards out. With wind criss-crossing the field, the midfielder struck the ball hard and true, driving it into the back of the net with the match not yet four minutes old.
"We were still concerned – one goal is not enough against a very, very good team," Eisold said. "We knew how we had to play them, the girls got up for it and did everything we needed to do."
East's forwards love to press the ball, and that pressure led to the team's second goal. Brooke Zarzycki came up on a short six-yard kick, won the ball and burst through the back line, taking her chance well for a 2-0 lead with about 25 minutes left in the contest.
"They're doing the right things right now, so we just have to keep doing what we're doing well," Eisold said. "We have to improve on the things we're not doing well and see where you can go from there."
The Ghosts (7-1, 6-0 SOL) resume play on Tuesday when they face next-door rival Cheltenham in SOL American play. East (4-4-1, 2-3-1) plays CB West in its annual Kick for Pink game on Wednesday night at 7pm at War Memorial Field.
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 1 1 – 2
ABINGTON 0 0 – 0
Goals: CBE – Marissa Plack, Brooke Zarzycki
Upper Dublin 2, Strath Haven 1
No player may better sum up Upper Dublin's season so far than Laura Pendleton.
The junior has played all over the field this fall and on Monday, with senior Sascha Keitz out sick, she found herself playing center back. Pendleton came through, as did her teammates, and the Cardinals picked up a quality win over a team that came into play rated No. 3 in District I's 3A ranking.
"Maddie Sanders has been doing a great job of stepping up and not letting creative players have space in there, and Pendleton – I don't think she's been able to play the same position two games in a row," UD coach John Topper said. "Whether it's center mid or center back, she's an absolute stud."
Pendleton helped Sanders, Kaitlyn Brown and Katie King handle a speedy Panthers’ front line and played in two long balls that led to the Cardinals' two goals.
On the first, Emily Booth was able to find the ball and fired a shot that hit off the keeper and found its way over the goal line. The second, which broke a 1-1 tie, again found Booth with the forward opting to lay the ball in the path of Tina Haig, who powered a shot in for the winner.
"Emily Booth and Tina Haig have been so consistent with providing the finishing," Topper said. "It was a real team win today."
The entire Upper Dublin midfield played a large role in the outcome. In the middle, led by senior Lexie Moss, the Cardinals put in a lot of physical tackles and set the tone early that Strath Haven would have to find other ways to build chances.
With a lot of play taking place down the flanks, Upper Dublin wingers Anna Desch and Julia Eustace got a chance to shine.
"Julia Eustace is becoming confident and putting backs under a lot of pressure, and we're only going to see better things from her," Topper said. "Anna Desch was effective in playing out in wide spaces."
UD (5-3, 4-2 SOL) finishes the first half of SOL American play on Tuesday against Springfield Township.
It was a nonleague game, but the Cardinals recognized Monday's result was a big one for them.
"We were working without Sascha and had to make some adjustments which earlier in the year might have thrown us for a loop," Topper said. "This team has a lot of resilience and they've been able to go with the flow and it was impressive the way they were able to gut this one out."
UPPER DUBLIN 1 1 – 2
STRATH HAVEN 1 0 – 1
Goals: UD – Emily Booth, Tina Haig
Quakertown 0, Southern Lehigh 0
The Panthers have had a nice run of goalkeepers named Morgan the past few years.
After standout Morgan Small graduated last year, she passed the torch to now-sophomore Morgan Sipprell. All Sipprell has done this fall is make save after save and keep her team in games day in and day out.
"I had a lot of faith coming into the season in her, but there was no real history," Quakertown coach Mike Koch said. "She has absolutely met and even exceeded my expectations."
Sipprell made seven saves on Monday, none more impressive than a back-to-back tandem in the first half.
"They had a penalty kick and she came up with a double save," Koch said. "She laid out flat and saved the first shot, then sprang right up to save the second. She hasn't had all the traditional training in stopping PKs, so that's just her athletic ability at its best."
Koch said Sipprell, who has background as a field player, reads the flow of play very well.
"She's very confident," Koch said. "She trains with our goalkeeper coach John Gingrich, and he's helped her improve technically. I'd say there's improvement there, but she controls the box, comes out to grab crosses and does a lot of good stuff."
Koch felt the match was fairly even and credited his defenders for their play in front of Sipprell.
"We're organized, we don't generally allow teams to get behind us and those three – Cori Pursel, Maddie Smith and Melina Jagiello – work really well together," Koch said. "Melina, she's the one who keeps us organized and where we need to be. They've worked well as a unit together."
The Panthers haven't gotten the type of results they wanted so far in conference play, but they're far from getting shelled and just hanging on either.
"We have to finish," Koch said. "We've had a lot of decent chances in games and just have not been able to finish this year. It's something I knew going into this conference – we weren't always going to see the ball more than the other teams and we'd have to defend, but we've stayed organized and defended well. From an attacking standpoint, we've created chances but haven't finished."
Quakertown (0-5-2, 0-4-1 SOL) will finish the first half of SOL Continental play against Souderton on Tuesday.
QUAKERTOWN 0 0 0 0 – 0
SOUTHERN LEHIGH 0 0 0 0 – 0
Cheltenham 8, Bodine 0
The Lady Panthers received goals from seven different players. Peri Albert had a pair while Zoe Moreland, Donya Baxter, Ella Brown, Iola Jahss, Hope Falon-Mazer and Sydney Franks had one each.
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