SOL District Boys/Girls Soccer Previews (Semifinals)

Four SOL soccer teams – one boys and three girls – will be in action in Wednesday’s District One AAA Tournament.

Central Bucks East, the top-ranked team in the latest PSCA/Angelo’s Soccer Corner Poll, is the lone SOL boys’ team in action in the District One AAA Tournament. The Patriots, who have already secured a berth in the state tournament, will face fourth-seeded West Chester Henderson in a semifinal game at Council Rock North High School (5 p.m.). The winner will face the winner of Wednesday’s semifinal pitting second-seeded Conestoga against third-seeded Springfield-Delco, a contest that will be played at William Tennent at 7 p.m.

The top four teams in the most recent Southeast PA Coaches Association poll – Central Bucks East, Spring-Ford, Council Rock North and Downingtown West – will do battle in the district semifinals. Pennsbury, ranked fifth in the latest poll, will take on a Central Bucks South squad that is ranked ninth in a must-win playback contest at Pennsbury. The winner will take on the winner of the other playback game that will feature 12^th-seeded Owen J Roberts at sixth-seeded West Chester Henderson as four teams battle for one remaining state berth.

District One AAA Boy’s Soccer Semifinal
#1 CENTRAL BUCKS EAST vs. #4 WEST CHESTER HENDERSON (@ Council Rock North, 5 p.m.)

Central Bucks East

20-0-0 overall
First undefeated, untied regular season in 21 years under coach Mike Gorni
14-0-0 Suburban One League Continental Conference champions
Third consecutive and tenth SOL Continental title in 12 years
8-0 against District One Class AAA playoff teams
Senior forward Evan Vare scored 32 of team’s 64 goals during regular season.
Vare had four hat tricks and three game-winning goals

How they got here:

In Saturday’s district quarterfinals, the Patriots battled SOL Continental rival North Penn, the tournament’s eighth seed, to a scoreless tie after regulation and two overtimes. The Patriots – sparked by the play of keeper Austin Prime – earned a 3-1 win in penalty kicks with Evan Vare, Andrew Zach and Brian Gilligan connecting on PKs.
After an opening round bye, the Patriots defeated 16^th-seeded PW 4-0, breaking a scoreless halftime tie with four second-half goals. Evan Vare and Alex Parasky each had a pair of goals.

West Chester Henderson

17-3 overall
12-1 Ches-Mont National Conference champion
Regular season wins over Great Valley (2-1) and Unionvillle (5-0)
Thirteen shutouts over course of regular season
Scored 72 goals in regular season.

How they got here:

In Saturday’s quarterfinal contest, West Chester Henderson defeated 12^th-seeded Downingtown East 2-1. Aiden McFadden scored both goals for the Warriors, including the game winner in the 55^th minute after the two teams battled to a 1-1 halftime tie.
After an opening round bye, the Warriors opened up a 2-0 halftime lead on their way to a 3-2 win over 20^th-seeded Central Bucks South. Richie Schlentz connected for a hat trick.

District One AAA Girls’ Soccer District Semifinals
#1 CENTRAL BUCKS EAST vs. #4 SPRING-FORD (@ Council Rock North, 7 p.m.)
Central Bucks East Patriots

19-0-1 overall
13-0-1 in league play; SOL Continental Champions
Regular season wins over #19 Upper Dublin (4-0), #6 West Chester Henderson (3-0), defending Class AA state champion Villa Joseph Marie, #24 Central Bucks South (1-0 & 1-0), #8 Pennridge (3-2 & 1-0).
Only blemish a 1-1 tie on Oct. 21 to #25 Souderton
Last season: Lost in PIAA state semifinals to Canon-McMillan, 2-1.
Offense led by arguably the state’s best player, senior UPenn-commit Emma Loving. Bri Talbot and Paige Weiss have been solid up front as well. Hannah Zach is an underrated threat at midfield.

How they got here:

In Saturday’s quarterfinal, the Patriots defeated archrival Central Bucks South, the tournament’s 24^th seed, 2-1. A goal by Emma Loving (Megan Mannato assist) put the Patriots on top 1-0 at halftime, and Mannato’s goal in the 51^st minute made it a 2-0 game before South’s Kelly Senour connected for the 2-1 final.
After an opening round bye, the Patriots – sparked by Emma Loving’s hat trick – defeated 16^th-seeded Wissahickon 6-1 in a second round game. Hannah Zach added a pair of goals, and Abby Brown scored a single goal.

Spring-Ford

17-3-2 overall
11-0-2 PAC-10 Liberty Division champion
Fell to fifth-seeded Boyertown 1-0 in PAC-10 Tournament title game
Regular season wins over #3 West Chester Rustin (3-1), #5 Boyertown (1-0), #12 Owen J. Roberts (2-1, 5-0)
Regular season losses to the District 3’s top-seeded and undefeated Cumberland Valley (1-0) and #9 Downingtown East (1-0)
Led offensively by St. Joseph’s recruit Gabrielle Vagnozzi (17 goals, 3 assists) and Alayna Gairo (7 goals, 3 assists)

How they got here:

In Saturday’s quarterfinal round, Spring-Ford defeated 12^th-seeded Owen J. Roberts for the third time, this time by a 3-1 score. Gabrielle Vagnozzi scored a pair and Kelly Franz converted a penalty kick.
After an opening round bye, Spring-Ford defeated 13^th-seeded Harriton 2-0 with Laura Suero and Gabrielle Vagnozzi each scoring a goal in the second half.

#15 COUNCIL ROCK NORTH vs. #10 DOWNINGTOWN WEST
Council Rock North Indians

14-4-3 overall
9-3-2 in league play; third place in SOL National
Key regular season wins over #17 Abington (1-0 twice), #2 Pennsbury (1-0), and #21 Mount St. Joseph (8-1)
Ties to Neshaminy (1-1) on October 13, Council Rock South (0-0) on October 15, and Haverford (0-0) on October 17
Last season: Lost in District One AAA first round to CB South in PKs.
Goalie Jeri Belardo has registered 11 shutouts on the season
Offense led by Becca Margolis (7 goals and 4 assists), Tori Hill (4 goals and 16 assists), Mia Scalamandre (4 goals), and Kayla Robinson (19 goals and 5 assists)

How they got here:

Sparked by a pair of Kayla Robinson goals and the shut down performance of its defense, Council Rock North upset sixth-seeded West Chester Henderson 2-0 in Saturday’s quarterfinal round. Goalie Jeri Belardo was credited with five saves.
In the Indians’ second round 2-1 upset of third-seeded West Chester Rustin, sophomore Meredith Hill broke a 1-1 halftime tie in the 74^th minute, using a Casey McAlister assist. Tori Hill (Brielle Wright assist) gave the Indians a 1-0 lead, but Rustin came back to knot the score.
In an opening round game, Council Rock North defeated 19^th-seeded Upper Dublin 5-1, scoring four second half goals to blow the game wide open. Kayla Robinson led the Indians with the hat trick. Becca Margolis and Sydney Allen added single goals. Lauren D’Amelia, Mia Scalamandre, Tori Hill and Caitlin Duffy contributed assists. Jeri Belardo had six saves in net.

Downingtown West

15-5-0 overall
11-2 Ches-Mont National Division second place behind West Chester Henderson
Propelled by goalie Morgan O’Loughlin, the Whippets boast 14 shutouts – 12 during regular season
Led on attack by sophomore Gina Peraino with 16 goals, including the game-winning goal in all three district playoff games.
Regular season wins over #9 Downingtown East (4-0) and #23 West Chester East (1-0)
Regular season 2-0 loss to #11 Neshaminy

How they got here:

In Saturday’s quarterfinal, Downingtown West upset second-seeded Pennsbury 2-1, scoring the game winner on a penalty kick by sophomore Gina Peraino. Emily Feeney (Sydney Amparo assist) scored to send the Whippets into halftime with a 1-0 lead. Pennsbury outshot the Whippets 13-1 in the second half.
In a second round 1-0 win over seventh-seeded Strath Haven, Gina Peraino (Sydney Amparo assist) scored the game winner while O’Loughlin delivered a game-saving stop in the net.
In an opening round game, the Whippets defeated 23^rd-seeded West Chester East 1-0, using a second half goal by sophomore Gina Peraino.

District One AAA Girls’ Soccer Playback
#24 CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH at #2 PENNSBURY (3pm)

Pennsbury Falcons

18-2-0 overall
13-1-0 in league play, SOL National champions
Key regular season wins over #28 Garnet Valley (5-1), #17 Abington (4-1 & 4-2) # Council Rock North (4-0), Neshaminy (6-3 & 3-0)
Only regular season loss came against #15 Council Rock North (2-1) on October 6.
Last season: Won District One AAA Championship; Lost in PIAA AAA quarterfinals to CB West, 2-1.
Offense led by Caroline Foley, Cara Thomas, Riley Rudd, and Kelly Amador.
Nany Santiago has been strong in net all season long.

How they got here:

Pennsbury dominated play in Saturday’s quarterfinal game against 10^th-seeded Downingtown West but fell 2-1. Meredith Webber (Karina Raykova assist) scored the Falcons’ goal to knot the score 1-1.
After an opening round bye, Pennsbury defeated 15^th-seeded Radnor 3-0, sparked by a pair of goals from Kelly Amador and a single goal by Caroline Foley.

Central Bucks South Titans

12-7-2 overall
7-5-2 in league play; Third place in SOL Continental
Key regular season wins over #27 North Penn (4-1 & 2-1), #23 West Chester East (1-0) and 14-6-1 Archbishop Wood (1-0)
Close regular season defeats at the hands of #1 CB East (1-0 both times), #25 Souderton (2-1) and Villa Joseph Marie (2-1)
Ties with #8 Pennridge on October 8 and Souderton on September 21.
Last season: Lost in District One AAA second round to Great Valley, 3-1
Offense led by Aleksa Peev (8 goals and 3 assists) and Kylie Walsh (5 goals and 7 assists)
Goalie Sophia Boggs has been clutch for the Titans in net, registering 8 shutouts.

How they got here:

Central Bucks South fell to top-seeded Central Bucks East 2-1 in a quarterfinal game Saturday that saw the Patriots open up a 2-0 lead. A goal by Kelly Senour cut that lead in half.
In the second round, CB South upset SOL Continental Conference rival and eighth-seeded Pennridge 2-1 in double overtime when Courtney Taylor scored (Aleksa Peev assist) with six minutes remaining. A goal by Kylie Walsh spotted the Titans a 1-0 lead in the opening half, but the Rams knotted the score in the second half, setting the stage for OT.
In an opening round contest, Central Bucks South upset ninth-seeded Downingtown East 2-1, scoring a pair of second half goals to erase a 1-0 halftime deficit. Freshman Brooke Steigerwalt (Krysta Redding assist) and freshman Mackenzie Edwards (Courtney Taylor assist) each scored a goal, and Sophia Boggs came up big in the net.