CR South, CR North, North Penn, CB West & PW were winners in Tuesday’s opening round of the District One 4A Tournament.
#9 Council Rock South 1, #24 Quakertown 0
Golden Hawks coach Nick Heim knew his squad was up against a Panthers side much better than its seed indicated.
“No playoff games are easy, and I know Quakertown was at 24 but their conference is so demanding that they’re used to playing high quality teams multiple times a week,” Heim said. “It was a good win for us.”
After sister school Council Rock North started a doubleheader at Walt Snyder Stadium with a win, the Hawks went to work trying to make it a 2-0 day for the district. It wasn’t an easy task as a combination of the weather and Quakertown’s relentless pressure had CR South a little out of sorts.
“They’re a solid team and Mike (Koch) is an excellent coach. They definitely made us work for it,” Heim said. “I thought we possessed well but weren’t patient enough in the final third during the first half.”
Quakertown, which picked up a pair of crucial draws in the final week of the season to grab the final playoff spot, didn’t score but played a terrific match. The Panthers were not strangers to close games this fall and even after going behind, worked hard to the final whistle.
“I think that our team played it’s best game of the season against a well-coached, quality team,” Koch said. “Although I would have liked a different result, I am very proud of the performance and heart of our team.”
Midway through the second half, Sammy Jones made the decisive pass, setting up Jordi Rubakh for the game-winner.
“We made a few adjustments and stressed finding feet in the second half. We were able to get some one-on-one scenarios and it led to a great near post finish for the goal,” Heim said. “It was a very slick field and impacted the game a bit but both teams had to deal with it. I was proud of our girls for their work rate and finding a way to get it done.”
With weather being a factor, the Hawks needed all hands on deck and got plenty of solid play in the middle and defensive final thirds.
“Allie Jones was dangerous for us and Kimmie Herritt really helped control the midfield,” Heim said. “Our backs played really well and possessed the ball to create attacks. Carly Irvin and Skylar Nowmos on the outside were great as were Dana DeDominicis and Karly Wunder limiting chances.”
Council Rock South (12-4-1, 9-3 SOL) will visit No. 8 Hatboro-Horsham on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. Quakertown (2-7-3 SOL) closed out its season with a 6-10-3 record.
COUNCIL ROCK SOUTH 0 1 – 1
QUAKERTOWN 0 0 – 0
Goals: CRS – Jordi Rubakh
#10 Council Rock North 2, #23 Downingtown West 0
The Indians used a pair of early goals to ride out difficult conditions and advance.
“It was hard to play a technical game and both teams were happy to play it safe,” CR North coach Gavin Flannigan said. “We scored twice in the first 15 minutes. A corner kick found it’s way to Anna Cairone and she was able to head home, and three minutes later Kaleigh O’Donnell was able to redirect the ball back across the keeper from a longer cross.”
CR North went into a bit of a shell after the early tallies and while it maintained the lead, didn’t play its cleanest game.
“I think those two early goals actually made us play a little too safe, we didn’t work the ball like we wanted to,” Flannigan said. “Downingtown West did a good job of forcing turnovers and pressing us into some mistakes at times.”
Luckily, the rain and wet field didn’t seem to bother CR North’s defensive grouping.
“Our back line defended their threat pretty well. Grace Needham was vocal and confident, and that allowed Marlena, Anna, Hannah and Brooke F to deal with the runners and space,” Flannigan said. “Higher up the field Paige Addis did very well today, her hold up play and physicality were excellent, while Julianna Lanigan, Kyra DelSignore and Morgan McCaffrey pressed their back line.”
Council Rock North (14-3-2, 8-3-1 SOL) will face No. 7 Unioville on Thursday.
COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 2 0 – 2
DOWNINGTOWN WEST 0 0 – 0
Goals: CRN – Anna Cairone, Kaleigh O’Donnell
#13 North Penn 3, #20 Garnet Valley 0
The Knights certainly didn’t mind they had to play a first round game. With the kind of form they were in to close the regular season, they didn’t want a break. North Penn stayed hot, got a strong showing in the midfield and never looked back as it advanced to the second round.
“It was good not having too big of a break,” Knights co-head coach Mike Rio said. “We’ve been playing really well and it was nice to get back out here, keep building on that and keep it going.”
A new opponent also seemed to benefit the Knights offensively, mainly forward Emily Varilla. The rocket-quick striker put North Penn on the board seven minutes in when she ran under an early ball by Liv Urban, outran the defenders and powered a shot off the goalkeeper’s hands.
“I’d heard they had a girl as fast as Emily but I said I’d believe it when I see it,” Rio said. “By halftime, I told her ‘you’re the fastest girl out here.’ But it’s not just the speed, she never stops. She’ll work all the way back and makes it easier for the midfield to get her the ball.”
North Penn led just 1-0 at half but felt firmly in control of the game thanks to an all-around strong showing.
While Garnet Valley had numbers in the midfield, forward Tia Sheehy dropped back to help and played excellent winning the ball and moving it upfield. Defensive mids Becca Richardson and Emily Schurr had another strong game and Grace Sacchetti and Casey Cavanaugh helped shut down the Jaguars’ attack.
Schurr doubled the hosts’ lead with a phenomenal solo goal from 25 yards out, burying a dart into the upper 90 with 24 minutes left.
“We have the momentum on the field and they want to keep playing with each other,” Rio said. “Right now, as a team, I’m really thrilled how we’re playing for each other and that we’re just working hard out there. It’s one of those things where the longer a break you take, you maybe lose some of that.”
Varilla’s speed created the third goal, when she rushed in on a 50/50 ball and got tripped in the box. Sheehy then buried the penalty kick for the final margin.
North Penn (10-7-2, 6-4-2 SOL) will be on the road Thursday at No. 4 Lower Merion.
“Even with the conditions, we were able to control the game and play the game we’d been playing the previous couple weeks,” Rio said. “I think it’s hopefully a good sign for us moving forward.”
NORTH PENN 1 2 – 3
GARNET VALLEY 0 0 – 0
Goals: NP – Emily Varilla, Emily Schurr, Tia Sheehy
#14 Central Bucks West 4, #19 Penncrest 0
Facing the team that ended their season a year ago, a determined Bucks side made sure that didn’t happen again.
“We have waited one very long year to play a district game again. And the fact that we got to play Penncrest was just what we wanted,” West coach Mike Moyer said. “They ended our season last year and we haven’t forgot about it.”
Slowed by injuries down the stretch, CB West put a much healthier lineup on the pitch Tuesday and the results soon followed.
“We played really good soccer in tough rainy conditions tonight and we beat a very good team convincingly,” Moyer said. “Our first goal was just a great play by Taylor Moyer to bring a ball down out of the air and play Ryan Fitzsimmons through and Ryan hit a bullet from 18 yards out to give us a 1-0 lead.”
Ryan Fitzsimmons was among the injured Bucks back in the fold and she would quickly repay Taylor Moyer, who had a hand in all four West goals on the night.
“A couple minutes later, Ryan returned the favor and put Taylor in who hit a great left-footed shot to give us a 2-0 lead at halftime,” Moyer said. “We are a completely different team when we are healthy. Ryan has not played in two weeks and several other girls have been resting as well. We put it all together tonight.”
A quick start to the second half led to some early chances and eventually, a break-through.
“We finally got our third goal about 10 minutes in when Mariella Neri dplayed a beautiful through ball to Taylor who collected it around the 30 and went in one-on-one with the keeper and buried it for a 3-0 lead,” Moyer said. About eight minutes later Erin Fitzsimmons found Taylor again and she completed her hat trick as she tucked the fourth goal away to get us to the next round.”
Taylor Moyer, who was assisted by three different players, had the big night offensively but carried the attitude of her teammates into the performance.
“Taylor was on a mission tonight. All the girls were,” Moyer said. “We have not won a district game in five years. Last year was my first year and we were just happy to get here. Now we expect to be here.”
Central Bucks West got a resounding effort from its midfield and revitalized starting lineup.
“Tori Albrecht was a beast in the middle of the field. No one in the state is better than her in the air. Erin Fitz was equally impressive and when Ryan is healthy she is a game changer,” Moyer said. “Jenna Abazza made some great saves to keep another clean sheet. Defensively my starting four of Keely McGlone, Courtney Moylan, Allie Evan, and Gracie Miller were tremendous.”
CB West (11-5-3, 5-4-3 SOL) now faces a difficult task on Thursday, travelling to No. 3 seed and defending District I champion Conestoga.
“We are enjoying this one but we know what’s ahead of us. We have to go to ‘Stoga and play one of the best teams not only in our district or state, but a nationally ranked team,” Moyer said. “We will be ready and are looking forward to the challenge.”
CENTRAL BUCKS WEST 2 2 – 4
PENNCREST 0 0 – 0
Goals: CBW – Taylor Moyer 3, Ryan Fitzsimmons
#15 Plymouth Whitemarsh 3, #18 Souderton 0
The Colonials did what they do best and sent the defending state champion Indians home for the season.
On a rainy night and a slick turf, the PW defense stood firm and recorded its 11th shutout in the last 12 matches it has played.
“The first 10 minutes, we were a little flat,” Colonials coach Ryan Zehren said. “We had a game plan going in, it wasn’t necessarily working and assistant coach Ryan Kirby made the adjustments that helped turn the game around. So, all the credit goes to him for seeing that change and to the girls for executing it.”
In preparation, Zehren saw a lot to like from Souderton as an objective observer and a lot to worry about as coach trying to beat the Indians. He cited out forward Averie Doughty, forward Katie Pazdziorko and defensive midfielder Sarah Toche-Manley as three Souderton players who especially stuck out.
“Look, they easily could be a top-10 seed with the type of talent they have and coming from the conference they play in,” Zehren said. “We watched a lot of film on them and knew we had to be ready.”
After a scoreless first half, the Colonials defense helped break the deadlock with a game-changing goal. Defender Ava Schreiber unloaded on a ball from about 45 yards out that somehow found its way in despite an all-out effort from Indians keeper Morgan Molyneaux to save it.
“I haven’t watched the film yet, so I’m not entirely sure how it went in,” Zehren said. “It might have been deflected but their keeper made a really valiant play to try and save it.”
Regardless, it was just what the Colonials needed.
“From there, our offense woke up,” Zehren said. “I’m guilty of this too, people get caught up at times talking about our defense, but our offense has been good this season. Max Leszczynski and Fiona Gooneratne played well for us, they’re fast and athletic and play well off each other.”
Leszczynski started the sequence on the second goal, heaving a throw in that found defender Kaitlyn Flanagan, who nodded it down to Natalie Lannie for a finish under the bar. Lannie, a midfielder, also helped play a key role in fending off a Souderton charge in the opening stanza of each half.
“Anni Shula and Natalie Lannie controlled the midfield,” Zehren said. “We were having trouble early with their defensive midfielder but once we adjusted, Anni and Natalie were able to start winning more balls and kind of took over.”
Leszczynski found Gooneratne for the final goal in the 77th minute.
Zehren again lauded the play of all four backs – Flanagan, Schreiber, Bella McNew and Gabby Cooper – as well as junior keeper Devon Skiles, who he said made a couple of very important saves in the difficult conditions.
PW (15-4, 11-3 SOL) will travel to face No. 2 Boyertown in the second round Thursday.
“They never back down and rise to the challenge,” Zehren said. “We know Boyertown is a really good team, so tomorrow it’s going to be all business and we definitely have work to do in order to get ready for them.”
PLYMOUTH WHITEMARSH 0 3 – 3
SOUDERTON 0 0 – 0
Goals: PW – Ava Schreiber, Natalie Lannie, Fiona Gooneratne
#11 Spring-Ford 3, #22 Wissahickon 2
The ingredients were all there for a disaster.
Wissahickon found itself down 2-0 not three minutes into the match, on the road in bad weather. But the team that fought its way into the postseason found a way to fight again.
“We came out tentative and they buried first two chances. Looked like it might get ugly, but we rebounded well,” Trojans coach Chris McDaniels said. “Kylie Friedman beat a center back and deposited one in the far corner. Held our own until half keeping it 2-1.”
Anna May’s early second half goal tied it 2-2 and injected new life into the match.
“Carly Amato played Anna May in behind their defenders and she made the finish look easy,” McDaniels said. “They get one on a set piece and make it 3-2. We had a few chances down stretch, but they managed to hold on.”
Making their first postseason appearance since 2016, the Trojans ended their season showing the same kind of determination and resolve that carried their regular season.
“It would have been easy for us to pack it in at 2-0, but due to the resilience we’ve built up in tight games all year, we regrouped and gave ourselves a good chance,” McDaniels said. “I couldn’t be more proud of the group and the seniors.”
Wissahickon (10-4 SOL) closed out its season with an 11-8 record.
SPRING-FORD 2 1 – 3
WISSAHICKON 1 1 – 2
Goals: W – Kylie Friedman, Anna May
#21 Radnor 2, #12 Neshaminy 2 (Suspended)
The game was called at the start of overtime due to the rain.
Radnor grabbed an early lead on a fifth minute goal from Jane Daituolo. Kristin Curley tied the game on a 37th minute penalty kick
for a 1-1 deadlock at half. Radnor again went up on Julie Breedveld’s goal in the 58th minute. Senior Mel Prinos hit a pin-point shot to tie it with a little less than eight minutes to play.
Play will resume at 5 p.m. Wednesday with the boys’ game against West Chester Rustin following at 7.
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