North Penn, Neshaminy & Pennridge will be in action on the boys’ side, and Pennridge and Abington will do battle on the girls’ side in District One 4A Tournament action Tuesday. Check back for recaps of all three games.
Boys
2020 Knights creating their own legacy
They entered the season with a bullseye on their backs.
It’s the kind of thing that’s expected when your team won 25 of 26 games on its way to conference, district and state titles, but that was just fine with the Knights. Despite the loss to graduation of key players from that squad, including All-American Carter Houlihan, the players were eager to carve out their own identity and create a legacy of their own.
On Tuesday night, North Penn will face Neshaminy with the winner advancing to the District One 4A final.
Listening to Roman Ilkovski tell it, confidence has been the key to the Knights’ success.
“We know that every player on our team can do their job,” the senior co-captain said. “It starts with our keeper, Sawyer Meade. We know he’s going to be trustworthy. We trust him back there.
“We trust our two center backs – Kevin Murphy and Ryan Mindick. They’ve been really, really good for us this year. Our right back, Nate Kim, has put up really, really good balls into the box.”
Ilkovski continued to list teammates all the way up the field, ending with Louisville commit Josh Jones up top.
“I think it’s just a confidence in every player that we have, and also coming from our coaches, we know to do our job and we’re just confident out there,” he said.
After losing just one game all of last season, the Knights lost two of their first six games this season.
“Obviously, we were a little upset when we first lost,” Ilkovski said. “A lot of times you need to lose – we had to get our heads straight.
“I think the losses we had were because of little mistakes, and we all knew that. We knew if we wouldn’t make those mistakes again we’d be okay. I think getting those losses made us get more hyped to win those next games because we knew we had to. Especially coming from the state championship – we want to defend our title as much as we can.”
The Knights – winners of six straight since those two losses – went on to capture the SOL Colonial Division crown, but they have their sights set higher.
“I think every player has what it takes and every player knows that every other player has what it takes, so it’s just get the job done,” Ilkovski said. “We have to do that.”
#7 NESHAMINY at #6 NORTH PENN (Tuesday, Nov. 10, 7 p.m.)
North Penn
- 10-2-0 overall
- 8-2-0 SOL Colonial Division champions
- 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).
- Knights, winners of six straight, have five shutouts on the season.
How they got here: In a second round contest, North Penn defeated #14 Central Bucks South 2-1 in overtime. Senior Dominik Gedek scored the game-winner in OT. Josh Jones scored in regulation.
In an opening round game, North Penn edged #11 Perkiomen Valley 1-0 in overtime. Jojo Dalwadi came off the bench to score the game-winner with an assist from Josh Jones with six minutes remaining in the first overtime.
Neshaminy
- 10-1-2 overall
- 6-0-2 SOL Patriot Division champions
- 10 shutouts in 13 games
- Redskins scored eight goals in first eight games and 15 in last five.
- 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)
- Only loss at hands of PCL power La Salle (0-3).
How they got here: In a second round contest, Neshaminy defeated #15 Pennsbury 3-0. Gavin Rowan scored a pair of goals and Ryan Schoeneman also had a goal.
In an opening round game, Neshaminy defeated #10 Great Valley 3-0. Gavin Rowan had a hand in all three goals, scoring a pair and assisting on the third. Jose Rivera also had one goal.
The winner will face the winner of #9 Spring-Ford vs. #12 Pennridge in the District One 4A title game.
#12 PENRIDGE at #9 SPRING-FORD (Tuesday, Nov. 10, 7 p.m.)
Pennridge
- 9-5-0 overall
- 5-5-0 SOL Colonial Division, tied for second
- Rams – who have eight shutouts this season – are 5-1 in last six games with all five of those wins by the score of 1-0.
- 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.
How they got here: In a second round contest, Pennridge defeated #13 Upper Dublin 1-0. Ben Scary scored a goal that turned out to be the game-winner nine minutes into the contest, using a Shane Velez assist.
In an opening round game, Pennridge edged #5 Abington 1-0. Senior Carlos Erazo scored the game-winner with 40 seconds remaining in regulation.
Spring-Ford
- 9-4-1 overall
- 7-4-1 PAC third place
- Opened season 3-3-1 and 6-1 since then.
- Rams, who start 10 seniors, have three straight shutouts heading into Tuesday’s semifinal.
- Led by senior forwards Colton Pollock and Tommy Bodenschatz while Connor Lynch is key in the midfield.
How they got here: In a second round game, Spring-Ford upset top-seeded West Chester East 1-0. Eric Moriarity – filling in for Logan Hyduke (injury) – had huge game in goal, turning away all eight shots he faced. John Russell scored the game-winner on a rebound in the 64th minute.
In an opening round game, Spring-Ford defeated #8 Boyertown 1-0. Senior Colton Pollock scored the game’s only goal in the 14th minute.
The winner will face the winner of #6 North Penn vs. #7 Neshaminy.
Girls
#3 PENNRIDGE at #2 ABINGTON (Tuesday, Nov. 10, 4 p.m.)
Abington Ghosts
- 10-1-1 overall
- 8-1-1 SOL Liberty champion
- Ghosts, who have scored 31 goals, have not been shut out this season.
- Senior Casey Touey, an all-state selection and Drexel recruit, leads Abington in scoring and with a fiery competitive spirit. Senior Lesha Karaba has been an effective scorer on the wing and freshman Piper McGinley brings a surge of energy.
- The midfield is anchored by senior captain Abby Bautista and sophomore Maura Day, the team’s top assist facilitator and a long range scoring threat. Myana Bebee-Gomberg, Mei Mei Cheng and Carley Slavin give the Ghosts depth.
- Junior Caroline Hughes and senior captain Aly Holden hold the defense at center back with junior Ashley Reilly and senior Camille Mugnier on the outside. Lannen Lare and Alexis Ditri have split time at keeper.
- Only loss came in the final game of the regular season to Plymouth Whitemarsh (3-1)
How they got here: In the second round, Abington defeated #7 Avon Grove 4-0. Sophomore Carley Slavin had a pair of goals while Camille Mugnier and Maura Day each added one goal.
In an opening round contest, Abington rallied from a 2-0 deficit to defeat #15 West Chester Rustin 3-2. Casey Touey had a pair of goals and Myana Bebee-Gomberg scored the game-winner.
Pennridge Rams
- 12-1-0 overall
- 9-1-0 SOL Colonial
- SOL Colonial champion
- The Rams have scored 46 goals in 13 games and have not been shut out this season.
- Senior Lindsey DeHaven, a High Point recruit, leads a Hydra-like midfield that fuels the Rams attack but also works hard for possession and ball-winning. Freshman Liv Grenda is an established scoring threat with good ball skills while Riley Hepler, Zoe Sabol, Jess Levush and Raina Adelman bring different looks to the pitch.
- Attack led by junior Leah Malone flanked by young but energetic players like freshmen Tori Angelo and Sophie Craig, sophomore Joey Tomlinson and junior Riley Hepler.
- Stout defense has allowed multiple goals just once, anchored by keeper Sierra Sheaffer. Freshmen Anna Croyle and Casey Malone along with seniors Kera Dam, Cady McKean and Lauren Atchley make up a back line that also contributes offensively.
How they got here: in a second round game, Pennridge notched a 3-1 win over #11 Pennsbury. Freshman Liv Grenda connected on a pair of goals, and freshman Tori Angelo added a single goal.
In the tournament opener, Pennridge rolled to a 6-1 win over #14 Great Valley. Lindsey DeHaven had a pair of goals, Liv Grenda, Joey Tomlinson & Lindsey Balmer each added a goal. The Rams also benefitted from an own goal.
The winner will face the winner of #1 Downingtown East vs. #5 Spring-Ford.
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