Six SOL girls soccer teams will be in action when the District One Tournament gets underway Tuesday. Check out the previews for all the games below.
The PIAA's classification changes affected every sport this academic year. Soccer went from three to four classes, and with those changes, the format of the District I playoff brackets altered as well.
Now, in the big school Class AAAA, 24 teams made the cut and will now be fighting for just five state playoff bids. With the changes, it also means the top eight seeds have been granted a bye and a couple of extra days rest, crucial for players who have put in some high-minute regular seasons.
Once again, the SOL is well represented in the ranks of the AAAA tournament, but here's the statistic of statistics that shows it and not just tells it. Of the eight teams that have byes, five of them belong to the SOL. In fact, the top three teams – Neshaminy, Pennsbury and Pennridge, in that order – all hail from the unified ranks of the conference.
In total, 11 SOL teams advanced to the next stage of the season, the one where the weather starts to be more of a factor and a loss – at least for the first two rounds – spells the end of a campaign. There are two first-round matchups pitting an SOL team against another, and the winners of each of those contests would face another SOL team in the second round.
Here's the look at the SOL teams and their opponents.
No. 1 Neshaminy (bye)
Neshaminy's track record speaks for itself as the postseason begins. The only team to defeat Pennsbury this season, Neshaminy also boasts a pair of wins over Council Rock North, perennial District 3 and state power Cumberland Valley among some other quality wins. There's no weak area with this team, which finished the season on a nine-match winning streak and is unbeaten going back through its last 13 matches.
"The girls are very excited for the postseason, especially after the last few games of the regular season," Neshaminy coach Chelsea Lovelace said. "We are hoping to carry that momentum into the playoffs by staying focused at practice, working hard and taking it one game at a time."
– 16-1-1 overall
– 10-1-1 SOL National, second place
– Regular season wins over No. 2 Pennsbury (1-0 Oct. 13), No. 21 Council Rock North (2-0 Sept. 20, 4-1 Oct. 14), No. 16 Council Rock South (3-0 Oct. 20), No. 7 Central Bucks South (4-3 Oct. 17), No. 9 Downingtown West (1-0 Oct. 8), No. 12 Unionville (5-0 Sept. 2), No. 20 West Chester Bayard Rustin (3-1 Sept. 3), District 3 AAAA No. 5 Cumberland Valley (2-1 Sept. 17), Philadelphia Catholic League No. 3 Archbishop Wood (4-0 Oct. 1)
– Brooke Mullin, Riley Nyhus and Alyssa Tobin have been mainstays in the attack with Mullin, a sophomore, scoring some of the team's biggest goals.
-Jackie Ziegler and Brianna Tobin provide a high work rate and consistent passing in the midfield.
– On the back end, dynamic fullback Genna Obringer and fellow defenders Maggie Daeche, Hannah Stonkus and Nicole Palmer have yielded just 12 goals all season.
– Will face the winner of No. 16 Council Rock South and No. 17 Central Bucks East on Thursday.
No. 17 Central Bucks East at No. 16 Council Rock South
Central Bucks East Patriots
The defending state runner-up Patriots expectedly took some time to find their footing after graduating some exceptional players, including first team All-American Emma Loving. East started 2-4 then closed the season 7-2-3 with the defense proving to be a strength all season. The Patriots have yet to concede more than two goals to an opponent in a given match. There are a lot of new faces, but the veterans have the unparalleled experience of winning last year's district title and reaching the state title game.
– 9-6-3 overall
– 6-4-2 SOL Continental, fourth place
– Regular season wins over No. 18 Upper Dublin (3-1 Oct. 21); draws against No. 7 Central Bucks South (1-1 Oct. 20), No. 14 Souderton (1-1 Oct. 5) and No. 10 West Chester Henderson (1-1 Oct. 15)
– Abby Brown, Katie Bloom, Ashley Balderson and Meghan Mannato anchor the defense.
– Hannah Zach has stepped up to be a scoring threat after the graduation of Emma Loving. Zach has authored several multi-goal games. Delaney Kennedy, Izzy Hunter, Bri Talbot and Riley Kane have all played well in midfield roles.
– Kristen Obetz and Maddie Nesteruck have split time at goalkeeper during the season.
Council Rock South Golden Hawks
The Golden Hawks won six of seven matches from September 22 to October 7, the seventh game a 0-0 draw with No. 1 seed Neshaminy. An October 15 win over New Jersey powerhouse Hopewell Valley was another notch in the belt for a team that found its stride during that midseason stretch and is looking to make a mark against a marquee program in CB East.
– 11-6-1 overall
– 7-4-1 SOL National, third place
– Regular season wins over Hopewell Valley (NJ) (1-0 Oct. 15), No. 20 Council Rock North (2-0 Oct. 5), No. 9 Downingtown West (2-1 Sept. 23), draw with No. 1 Neshaminy (0-0 Sept. 27)
– Sierra Tarantino emerged in the second half of the season as a dependable goal scorer who relied on a high work rate and confidence to finish opportunities.
– Senior Kasey Schlupp is the keystone of the Hawks' defense and also a scoring threat on set pieces.
– Goalkeeper Chelsea Jameson is a capable shot-stopper who works well with her defenders.
No. 8 Quakertown Panthers (first round bye)
After years of competing but not seeing results in the SOL Continental, the Panthers jumped at their new start in the SOL American. An unbeaten league season catapulted Quakertown to a conference title in its first year in its new digs. Organized defensively with an excellent goalkeeper in Morgan Small, the Panthers didn't concede a lot during the season. Quakertown's excellent season earned it a bye into the second round and the Panthers will be eager to prove they deserved it when it's time to take the field on Thursday.
"We are excited to have earned a bye, which may be the first bye earned by an American Conference team," Panthers coach Mike Koch said. "The players have been training hard and are optimistic moving forward. Either Downingtown West or Harriton will be a formidable foe, but we are preparing and excited for it."
– 14-1-3 overall
– 11-0-2 SOL American, conference champion
– Regular season wins over No. 19 Wissahickon (2-1 Sept. 7, 2-1 Sept. 29), No. 18 Upper Dublin (1-0 Sept. 8), District I A No. 2 Dock Mennonite Academy (5-0 Oct. 17); draw with No. 18 Upper Dublin (0-0 Oct. 5)
– Morgan Small was involved with 12 of the team's 13 shutouts in net, including three scoreless draws that helped pick up pivotal points in the conference race.
– Katie Crouthamel and Vic Sturgess head up the attack, Haley Pursel and Sam Barkholz support while Sam Ramsden, Lauren Pursel and Kyra Handel fill in spaces around the midfield.
– Julia Taylor, Meghan Woulfe and Carley Peacher have been mainstays on the back line.
-Quakertown faces the winner of No. 9 Downingtown West and No. 24 Harriton
No. 21 Council Rock North at No. 12 Unionville
Council Rock North Indians
Perhaps no team was more affected by injury, in terms of volume, than the Indians. Coach Wendell Beres was not once able to field his projected starting XI during the regular season as players shuffled in and out with various injuries. Now with a modicum of health entering the postseason, the Indians are hoping their depth sets them back on the right track. This team has plenty of talent, it would just like to see all of it on the field at the same time.
"The good thing for us is, we're healthy. Finally, for the first time all year, we think we're going to have our starting XI (Tuesday) and we'll be as healthy as we've been all year," Indians coach Wendell Beres said. "We put some tough losses behind us, we put a lot of the injuries behind us and we're just excited to get going forward. We're not worried about Unionville, we're worried about us.
"We did something special last year and we lost very few pieces to that. The experience factor is on our side, the number of players we have who have been there and the number of players they have who have been there is drastically different and that could be a key component."
– 11-6-0 overall
– 6-6-0 SOL National, fourth place
– Regular season wins over No. 16 Council Rock South (3-0 Sept. 7), PCL No. 3 Archbishop Wood (2-0 Sept. 17), District I AAA No. 9 Mount Saint Joseph (2-0 Oct. 20)
– Kayla Robinson's 16 goals lead the team despite being the target of defenses all season and at times, having to carry the team through some injury depleted contests.
– Goalkeeper Carly Riggs' 11 wins have all come via shutout this season despite a changing cast in front of her. Sydney Allen has been a solid contributor
– Emily Mackin, Becca Margolis, Caitlin Duffy and Meredith Hill have been workhorses in the midfield and attack.
– The winner faces No. 5 Spring-Ford. Beres and Spring-Ford coach Tim Leyland go way back, as Leyland was an assistant under Beres when he coached the CR North boys.
"We joked about carpooling to the game," Beres said. "It's a matchup we would be happy to take because it would be a fun game and a competitive match."
Unionville Indians
The Indians were in the thick of a conference title race until the last days of the season, edging out West Chester Rustin to win the Ches-Mont American. Unionville has shown an ability to win against quality opponents.
– 12-4-2 overall
– 10-2-1 Ches-Mont American, conference champions
– Regular season wins over No. 9 Downingtown West (1-0 Oct. 20), No. 23 Garnet Valley (1-0 Sept. 3, 3-0 Sept. 26), No. 11 Downingtown East (2-1 Oct. 5) ; draw with No. 4 Conestoga (1-1 Oct. 4)
– Salem Carlow has been on a hot streak scoring goals to close the season. Sam Ciccarelli and Veronica Hineman are other names to watch in the attack with Lauren Bell and Alexxa Conroy providing support in midfield.
– Katie Borlie has seen a bulk of time at goalkeeper but Abby Hug has also gotten some reps. Sophia Schenk, Erin Garvey, Lyndsay Hastings and Lyndsey Barrett have been key contributors on defense.
No. 2 Pennsbury Falcons (first-round bye)
Fresh off a third straight SOL National title, the Falcons enter as prime contenders to gain a second district title in three years after going all the way to the top in 2014. A couple of sophomores on that team, Meredith Webber and Rachel Beri, are now the leaders in their senior seasons. Pennsbury is creative, organized, disciplined and balanced, all good attributes to have in a playoff scenario. The Falcons' only blemish is a late season loss to Neshaminy. Could a district title game rubber match be in the future?
– 15-1-0 overall
– 11-1-0 SOL National, conference champion
– Regular season wins over No. 17 Central Bucks East (3-2 Sept. 2), No. 12 Unionville (4-0 Sept. 10), No. 1 Neshaminy (3-2 Sept. 15), No. 16 Council Rock South (3-2 Sept. 20, 3-0 Oct. 14), No. 21 Council Rock North (2-1 Sept. 22, 3-0 Oct. 18), No. 4 Conestoga (1-0 Oct. 21)
– Cara Thomas, Dani Cady, Meredith Webber and Whitney Roth are all capable of scoring. Hope Drewes and Jenna Peters have been frequent assisters all season long.
– Jo Tennant and Lizzy Kirk are impact midfielders, able to identify a role and fill it during a match.
– Pennsbury faces the winner of No. 15 Boyertown and No. 18 Upper Dublin on Thursday
No. 18 Upper Dublin at No. 15 Boyertown
Upper Dublin Flying CardinalsThe back-to-back defending SOL American champs entering the year, the Flying Cardinals went through a rough stretch early in the season and looked like they might not even make the postseason. But under longtime coach John Topper's guidance and led by the seniors, UD righted the ship and closed the season strong. They weren't able to keep their title streak going, but the Cardinals did tie eventual champ Quakertown late in the season and got an always-important win over archrival Wissahickon.
– 12-5-1 overall
– 10-3-1 SOL American, tied second place in conference
– Regular season wins over No. 19 Wissahickon (2-1 Oct. 14), AAA No. 5 Phoenixville (2-1 Sept. 26); draw with No. 8 Quakertown (0-0 Oct. 5)
– Offense is paced by sophomore Sizzy Lawton, a speedy and technical player, with support coming from midfielders Paige Lawton, Tina Haig, Priya Kaneria and Lexi Schneider and flank players Tori Hoffner and Lexi Schreiber.
– Junior goalkeeper Devon Jones anchors the defense, with senior center back Shannon Haig providing leadership with Erin O'Bren, Sascha Keitz and Katelyn King.
Boyertown Bears
A rash of late season injuries cost the Bears a return trip to the PAC Final Four but this is still a tough team tested in the PAC against teams like Spring-Ford and Owen J Roberts.
– 10-5-2 overall
– 9-3-1 PAC Liberty, conference third place
– regular season win over Phoenixville (3-0 Sept.19) draws with No. 5 Spring-Ford (0-0 Oct. 11), PCL No. 1 Lansdale Catholic (2-2 Sept. 24)
– Corinne Renninger, Lauren Haley, Kylie Webb and Grace Conover have been players involved in the attack all season.
No. 7 Central Bucks South Titans (First-round bye)
A state playoff team last year, the Titans want nothing less than a return trip this year, but they also have designs on a district title. CB South is built for the postseason, with a staunch defense, tenacious attackers and possibly the best goalkeeper in the tournament in Sophia Boggs. The Titans are a patient team as well, so they won't be rattled if they're in a close game late.
"The team is very excited about the postseason this year. They posted a better record in league play than last year and have several players with playoff experience," Titans coach Betsy Bullock said. "The Suburban One Continental is such a strong division from top to bottom that there were never any easy games, which better prepares them for very competitive games in the playoffs."
– 14-3-1 overall
– 9-2-1 SOL Continental, conference second place
– Regular season wins over No. 3 Pennridge (1-0 Sept. 9), AAA No. 1 Villa Joseph Marie (1-0 Sept. 12), No. 17 Central Bucks East (1-0 Sept. 27), No. 14 Souderton (2-0 Sept. 29); draw with No. 17 Central Bucks East (1-1 Oct. 20)
– Senior keeper Sophia Boggs, a Colgate recruit, makes the routine and the remarkable saves. She commands the back line well, and works well with her defenders.
– Courtney Taylor, Nicole Wills, Mackenzie Ehresman, Laurel Gogel and Margot Centofanti have all been mainstays on the backline. The Titans defend as a team and as a unit.
– Midfielders Kylie Walsh, Morgan Hilton and Mackenzie Edwards and forwards Aleksa Peev and Brooke Steigerwalt use speed and tenacity to combine, build up and create scoring chances.
– Faces the winner of No. 10 West Chester Henderson and No. 23 Garnett Valley
No. 3 Pennridge Rams (first-round bye)
The Rams enter the postseason as one of the hottest teams in District I. Pennridge hasn't lost a match since Sept. 9, though it did have a draw with Souderton in that stretch. Largely the same core as the last two years, the Rams have 13 seniors on the roster, all seeking their first state tournament appearance. Pennridge is balanced, with each third having a mix of experience and skill and the seniors know this is the time to show what they're really made of.
– 16-1-1 overall
– 10-1-1 SOL Continental, conference champion
– Regular season wins over No. 17 Central Bucks East (1-0 Sept. 13, 1-0 Oct. 7), No. 14 Souderton (2-0 Sept. 15), No. 7 Central Bucks South (2-1 Oct. 7), No. 8 Quakertown (4-0 Oct. 11), No. 19 Wissahickon (2-1 Oct. 17)
– Senior midfielder Erin Stevenson has been a force all season, whether it be scoring, assisting, winning tackles or connecting passes in the midfield. Seniors Savanna Harrison and Katie Fischer, along with underclassmen Caroline Thomson and Ashley Groeber round out the unit.
– Up top, Pennridge has plenty of speed with Kennedy and Kouri Peace, Piper Zimmerman, Abby Groff, Melissa Lyon and Liz Cardie.
– The defense is a veteran unit with seniors Rachel Velez, Olivia Fernandez and Dani Meenan and junior Courtney Supp. Mary Kate Levush and Kaitlyn Moran shared time in goal.
– Faces winner of No. 14 Souderton and No. 19 Wissahickon, both foes the Rams have already played this season.
No. 19 Wissahickon at No. 14 Souderton
Wissahickon TrojansLast season, the Trojans topped Abington on PKS in a tight first round game at home. Now, they'll have to take the show on the road against Souderton. Wissahickon has six seniors who have started the majority of the team's games. They also have the experience of winning a playoff game, something that can't be underrated at this time of year.
– 13-4-1 overall
– 10-3-1 SOL American, tied second place
– Regular season wins over No. 18 Upper Dublin (3-0 Sept. 13), Gwynedd Mercy Academy (3-0 Oct. 11), Dock Mennonite Academy (3-0 Oct. 20)
– Senior midfielder Maddie Elwell is one of the state's top players, a dynamic player who can beat multiple defenders and score from in close and up to 30 yards out.
– Rachel Coleman and Emily Vervlied are two senior veterans in the midfield. Senior Jasmine Bishop fills a number of roles.
– Mary Matthews and Anna Wilde anchor the defense in front of senior keeper Nicole Hastings
Souderton Indians
The Indians had a fast start last year but couldn't sustain it and eventually lost to Pennridge in the first round of districts. Now, they enter having won six in a row and with the added benefit of hosting a first round game. Souderton's made its name with tough defending, but the offense has come into its own and is playing with plenty of confidence too.
"It should be a great game and there could be lots of goals," Souderton coach Chris Felber said. "We are hoping to put on a show and get the win. The key for us is to dominate the ball and control the pace of the game. We have the players on form to do so."
– 10-4-3 overall
– 8-2-2 SOL Continental, conference third place
– Regular season wins over No. 7 Central Bucks South (1-0 Sept. 7), No. 17 Central Bucks East (1-0 Sept. 9), Mount Saint Joseph (4-1 Oct. 12); draws with No. 3 Pennridge (2-2 Oct. 1), Phoenixville (1-1 Sept. 24), Central Bucks East (1-1 Oct. 5)
– Also fell to District 3 AAAA No. 1 Elizabethtown 1-0 in 2OT on Sept. 10
– The Indians are led by their senior-heavy defense, with Vivian Feliciani in goal, Sara Cassel and Emily Readinger in the middle and Sam Plinke on the outside. Junior Hannah Kramer rounds out the group.
– Bre DiRenzi, Alli Trick, Sara Readinger, Campbell Power and Tori Dowd are some of the younger impact players in the midfield and attack. Seniors Ellie Andrade and Meredith Moore are the veterans.
About the Author
