Nine SOL boys’ soccer teams will be in action in the District One 4A Tournament Monday. Upper Moreland, the top seed in Class 3A, will also be in action. Check back for recaps. UM/Tennent photos by Kathy Leister Photography. (Abington & William Tennent photos provided)
CLASS 4A
#15 PENNSBURY at #2 WILLIAM TENNENT (Monday, Nov. 2, 4 p.m.)
William Tennent rolled through the regular season without a loss, capturing the program’s first title since 1994. It was a memorable season no one was sure would even happen.
“Honestly, I think it was hard for the whole team to be excited for the season because we didn’t know if we were actually going to have a season,” Tennent senior co-captain Sean Metz said. “Once we knew we were going to have a season, everyone had high expectations for us to win the league this year.”
The Panthers displayed a knack for winning the close games with seven of their 11 wins by one goal.
“Our theory is – good teams are lucky, and lucky teams are good,” Metz said. “We’ve just had a high confidence level the whole season.”
Metz and teammates Ben Weier and JT Stone play on the same club team. Many of the players, according to Metz, have known each other since they were eight years old.
“We kind of knew that once we had everyone together with the great chemistry we had, we would be good our senior year,” Metz said. “We just tried to play it game by game. Every single time at practice we say – ‘Just focus on the next game. Focus on one game at a time.’”
For the seniors, it is their first trip to the postseason.
“The last three years we missed districts by the last game of the season every single year,” Metz said. “
Pennsbury was 4-2 in its last six games after a 1-2-1 start. The winner of Monday’s game will face the winner of #7 Neshaminy vs. #10 Great Valley.
William Tennent
- 11-0 overall
- 8-0 SOL Freedom Division champions
- Captains Ben Weir (D) and Sean Metz (F) lead a squad with a large senior class that includes JT Stone (F), Patrick Molz (M out for season), Damian Dangler (M), Mike Liddy (F), Carlton Walters (F), Mykola Yuriniuk (M), Collin DiRenzi (D) and Michael Borkowski (D).
- Junior Pat Corley has been stellar in goal and boasts a 0.45 goals against average
- Junior Jimmy Manning was voted captain for next season and has been outstanding at center mid, junior Christian Huslin is having a great year at forward, and junior center back Aidan Markowski holds down the back line.
- Pair of wins over District One 3A #1 Upper Moreland (2-1 & 2-1).
Pennsbury
- 5-4-1 overall
- 4-3-1 SOL
- The Falcons are anchored by the team’s 14 seniors: Michael Caissie (GK), Colby Goldschmidt (D), Trevor Hart (D), Erik Mauro (M), Colin Plunkett (M), Alec Snedaker (S), Alvin Wang (D), Aidan Tonrey (D), Damian Kostrzewa (M), Zachary Summer (D), Jaden Haig (M), Gustavs Mednis (M), Evan Reichard (S), Danny Snyder (D)
- Senior Jaden Haig leads the Falcons’ attack with nine goals and three assists. Erik Mauro has three goals, and Zach Summer has two goals and two assists. Evan Reichard has three assists in four games since his return to the lineup.
- Mike Caissie, who has three shutouts, anchors the Falcons’ defense in goal.
- Win over Class 2A #3 Holy Ghost Prep (4-0) and tied #7 Neshaminy (0-0)
Coach Tom Stoddart says: “What a great opportunity to play against an undefeated team. We have always had great respect for Coach D’Andrea’s program at William Tennent. What a great accomplishment completing an undefeated season. We look forward to the challenge of our old league rival. We have had an up and down season, we should be sharp and ready for the District 1 playoffs.
“We are really excited to carry a lineup of 14 seniors, including a healthy Evan Riechard who led the league in scoring as a junior. They will bring an extra sense of urgency as they protect the end of their high school soccer careers.”
#12 PENNRIDGE at #5 ABINGTON (Monday, Nov. 2, 7 p.m.)
Abington has had a history of success under coach Randy Garber, but this year’s SOL Liberty Division title might have more significance than most even though it was in the COVID-19 pandemic shortened season.
“Honestly, going into it, no one really knew if we’d have a season – it was definitely up in the air,” senior captain Bryce Lexow said. “We just continued to train individually and in small groups until we found out and got the decision.
“It was a waiting process. I was really disappointed when I found out they had to vote on it, and they had to go through three votes. We knew when each vote was, so the whole soccer group chat would be – expect a text from me or our other captain, Gavin O’Neill, to see how the vote went. Everyone was definitely stoked to find out that we had a season.”
In a year when activities are limited, the Ghosts came together.
“This year we have a really young team,” Lexow said. “We have some pretty good freshmen – one starting, and we have some really good sophomores.
“We have a really deep bench, so at practice, there’s a lot of inter-squad competition, so they don’t know if they’ll start one day or come out and not play a single minute. Just having that competition at practice makes everyone try their hardest just so they can earn their minutes. That just pushed everyone, so we could get the best players on the field.
“Last year we came out and lost in the league finals, and definitely coming out and going 9-1 and beating Hatboro to win the league was something big.”
This is the seventh consecutive year the Ghosts have competed in districts.
“We have a bunch of seniors this year – a bunch are not playing in college, so we definitely have told everyone that this could be the last time some of these kids ever play soccer again,” Lexow said. “We’re just going out there and playing as hard as we can and leaving everything out on the field.”
Pennridge returns to districts for the third straight year. The Rams picked up a key 1-0 win over Hatboro-Horsham in their regular season finale to cement their spot in districts. The winner will face the winner of the #4 Downingtown West vs. #13 Upper Dublin game.
Abington
- 9-1 Overall/SOL
- SOL Liberty Division champion
- Ghosts scored 28 goals in 10 games while allowing just nine
- Fourteen seniors on roster – seven will be in the starting lineup
- Led by senior captains Bryce Lexow and Gavin O’Neill, center midfielders who are impact players on both ends of the field.
- A pair of young players, sophomore Liam Hartman and freshman Oscar Hoffman, have also been key in the midfield.
- Seniors Arsene Bado, Tom Santangelo and Nikko Spagnolo contribute at forward
- Anchoring the defense are senior goalkeeper Jalen Harris as well as seniors Tony Ditri and Alex Wall and juniors Steven Fajardo and Jimmy Marino.
- Ghosts earned pair of wins over #13 Upper Dublin (3-1 & 1-0)
Coach Randy Garber says: “This is a great bunch of guys with senior leadership and senior experience. I feel anyone can win District One because I don’t feel that there is a team that is separated from the pack.”
Pennridge
- 7-5 overall
- 5-5 SOL Colonial Division, tied for second
- Forwards Aiden Castle and Kevin Link lead the Rams’ attack while Carlos Erazo, a first team all-league selection last year, and Ben Scary are major contributors in the midfield. Shane Velez and Colin Monahan anchor a solid defense.
- Swept season series with #13 Souderton (1-0 & 1-0) and split games with #14 Central Bucks South (2-0 & 1-3)
Coach Pete Valimont says: “Every player on our roster plays a vital role to our overall team success. We capitalized on our opportunity to qualify for this year’s narrow field of district contenders and will face a very talented opponent in Abington. We plan to give our best effort and leave everything on the field. It should be a great match between two solid SOL opponents.”
#11 PERKIOMEN VALLEY at #6 NORTH PENN (Monday, Nov. 2, 7 p.m.)
North Penn entered the season as the defending state, district and conference champion. The Knights have defended one crown, winning their fifth straight conference title. Perkiomen Valley lost three of four games to close out the regular season. The winner will face the winner of the #3 Unionville vs. #14 Central Bucks South game.
North Penn
- 8-2 Overall/SOL
- SOL Colonial Division championship
- Led by senior captain and Louisville commit Josh Jones (Striker/MF), senior captain Roman Ilovski (Center MF) and senior captain Sawyer Meade (GK)
- Other key players include junior Alex Stewart (MF), junior Ryan Mindick (D) junior Hunter Stites (D), senior Kevin Murphy (D) and sophomore Nate Kim (D).
- Wins over #12 Pennridge (2-1 & 4-1) and #14 Central Bucks South (1-0 & 1-0) and split with #13 Souderton (0-2 & 2-1).
- Knights take a five-game winning streak into postseason
Coach Chris DePeppe says: “Playing postseason soccer seemed unlikely six weeks ago, and we need to keep that in mind and really appreciate this opportunity to continue to compete for the district title. There has not been much opportunity to scout other teams, but I doubt this tournament will play out with much correlation to the seeding, so this promises to be a wide-open tournament. With such a short season, our goal was just to keep improving and hope that we’d be playing our best soccer when it matters most. And that’s right now.”
Perkiomen Valley
- 6-5-1 Overall/PAC
- Fourth place in PAC
- Led by veteran midfielder Matt Holmes, a four-year varsity starter, and defender Steve Warren.
- Split season series with Class 4A #8 Boyertown (2-1 & 0-3) and #9 Spring-Ford (1-0 & 0-2).
#10 GREAT VALLEY at #7 NESHAMINY (Monday, Nov. 2, 5:30 p.m.)
Neshaminy allowed just two goals through its first seven division games en route to the division title after back-to-back second place finishes. This is the Redskins’ first title since 2014. The winner will play the winner of #2 William Tennent vs. #15 Pennsbury.
Neshaminy
- 8-1-2 overall
- 6-0-2 SOL Patriot Division champions
- Seven shutouts in 11 games
- Key players include senior Gavin Rowan (MF), senior Cole Jackson (F), junior Jose Rivera (F), senior Lou Salmi (D), junior AJ Rivera (D), senior Mike Albarran (D), senior Trevor Rush (GK), junior Connor Steele (MF), senior Ryan Schoeneman (D/MF) and junior Richie Faul (D/MF)
- Win over Class 3A #3 Holy Ghost (1-0) and split games with #15 Pennsbury, tying first game 0-0 and winning the rematch 1-0 in overtime.
- Only loss at hands of PCL power La Salle (0-3).
Coach Tom Foley says: “We finished the year finishing our chances and continued to play solid defensively. We know we must finish in the playoffs – if we don’t, there are no second chances this year in the playoffs.”
Great Valley
- 5-3 Overall/Ches-Mont
- Led by a pair of four-year varsity starters in Matthew Wellener (forward) and Quintin Wrabley (goalie)
- Attacking midfielder Ethan Williams is three-year starter.
- Lost final two games of regular season to #4 Downingtown West (0-2) and #3 Unionville (0-1). The loss to Unionville was second of the season to the Indians.
#13 UPPER DUBLIN at #4 DOWNINGTOWN WEST (Monday, Nov. 2, 3:30 p.m.)
Upper Dublin was 2-3-1 after six games but won four straight to finish the season strong, including an important 2-0 win over Hatboro-Horsham to close out the season. This is UD’s first trip to the postseason since 2016. The winner will face the winner of the #5 Abington vs. #12 Pennridge contest.
Upper Dublin
- 6-3-1 Overall/SOL
- Second place SOL Liberty Division
- Flying Cardinals led by senior forwards Sean Seabrook, Luke Rappaport and Josiah Kutai, midfielder Sam Moss and defenders Keran Acharya, Ethan Hill, Zach Berman and goalkeeper Spencer Beidner.
- Seabrook (nine goals), Chris McMeel (four goals) and Berman (three goals) lead the attack.
- UD has scored 21 goals in 10 games and allowed 13.
- Two of three losses to division champion/District One 4A #5 Abington.
Downingtown West
- 7-0-1 Overall/Ches-Mont
- Wins over District One 3A #10 Great Valley (2-0) and 2A #4 Bishop Shanahan (1-0)
- Tied #1 West Chester East (2-2)
- Senior midfielder Dylan Englehart leads an attack that includes forward Matt Lohr and midfielder Kyle Williams.
- Senior Ethan Ernst, a first team all-league selection last year, anchors a stingy defense.
#14 CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH at #3 UNIONVILLE (Monday, Nov. 2, 6:30 p.m.)
Central Bucks South won four of five games to close out the season and makes a return to the postseason for the first time since 2015. The Titans only loss in the last five games was to division champion North Penn (0-1). Unionville – which has not allowed more than one goal in eight games – is a perennial district power. The winner will face the winner of #6 North Penn vs. #11 Perkiomen Valley.
Central Bucks South
- 5-5 Overall/SOL
- Tied for second place in SOL Colonial Conference
- Titan goalie Ryan Gross has three clean sheets.
- Split season series with District One 4A #12 Pennridge (0-2 & 3-1) and #13 Souderton (1-2 & 4-2).
- Leading the Titans are senior center mid Corey Bethel (four goals), senior right back Shane Landue, junior center backs Dennis Cleary and Logan Campbell and junior left back Eric Green (two assists).
Unionville
- 6-0-2 Overall/Ches-Mont
- Indians have allowed just four goals in eight games with four shutouts
- Senior Kyle Ketterer – who scored 21 goals last year and was a first team all-league selection – has a pair of multi-goal games this season.
- Senior Alex O’Leary, a four-year starter and first team all-league honoree last year, anchors the defense.
- Ethan Lord (D), Anthony Zucchero (M) and Peter Murray (M) also return from last year’s successful squad.
- Wins over District One 3A #10 Great Valley (2-1 & 1-0) and battled #1 West Chester East to a tie (0-0).
#16 SOUDERTON at #1 WEST CHESTER EAST (Monday, Nov. 2, 6:30 p.m.)
Souderton returns to postseason play after a six-year absence. The Indians ensured themselves a spot in the playoffs with a 3-0 non-league win over Archbishop Carroll to close out the season. Souderton just missed out on the district tournament last year – finishing 27th in the final power rankings. Defense is the name of the game for the Indians, who have just three seniors on their roster. The winner will face the winner of #8 Boyertown vs. #9 Spring-Ford.
Souderton
- 4-4-3 overall
- 3-4-3 SOL Colonial
- Key players include Aidan McClure (Jr), Ryan Shewe (So), Thomas Smith (Jr), Ethan Lacher (So), Tyler Bovell (Jr), Tyson Bui (So), Nolan Hughes (So), Brandon Fornwall (Jr), Ty Quintois (So), Brody Emery (Sr), TJ Hibsman (Sr), Dillon Barberi (Jr)
- Goalkeeper Aidan McClure, who has four clean sheets, anchors the Indians’ stout defense.
- Senior forward TJ Hibsman (four goals, two assists) leads the attack. Sophomore midfield Ty Quintois has one goal and three assists, and junior defender Thomas Smith has a pair of goals.
- Split season series with #6 North Penn (2-0 & 1-2) and #14 Central Bucks South (2-1 & 2-4).
Coach Matt Benner says: “The team is excited for what will be a hard fought game Monday with West Chester East. Players are healthy and hungry to win.”
West Chester East
- 6-0-2 Overall/Ches-Mont
- Turnaround from last year’s 5-8-5 season
- Vikings tied #3 Unionville (0-0) and #4 Downingtown West (2-2)
- Defeated District One 2A #4 Bishop Shanahan (2-1)
- Vikings, who have scored 10 goals in eight games, have five shutouts
- Led by junior captains Nick Nowak, a second team all-league selection as a junior, and John Regester, who anchors the defense in goal.
- Veterans Eric Betchel, Owen Van Dyke and Ryan Cogill also are key
CLASS 3A
#4 BISHOP SHANAHAN at #1 UPPER MORELAND (Monday, Nov. 2, 7 p.m.)
Upper Moreland was in the hunt for the SOL Freedom Division title until the final week of the regular season. The Golden Bears lost a tightly contested battle with William Tennent (2-1), giving the Panthers sole possession of the division crown. The winner of Monday’s District One 5A semifinal will face the winner of #2 Pottsgrove vs. #3 Holy Ghost Prep in the district title game on Thursday.
Upper Moreland
- 7-2 overall
- 6-2 SOL Liberty Division
- Only losses of the season came at the hands of District One 3A #1 William Tennent. Both were by identical 2-1 scores.
Bishop Shanahan
- 4-3 Overall/Ches-Mont
- Eagles are 4-1 after dropping their first two games of the season to Class 4A #4 Downingtown West (1-0) and Downingtown East (1-0).
- Junior forward Zane Domsohn – who scored 14 goals and earned all-league honors last season – leads the Eagles attack.
- Junior goalkeeper Bryce Domsohn anchors the defense.
- Midfielders Colin Deal and Sean Gingrich as well as defender Evan Cunningham were contributors on last year’s 13-7 squad.
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