Pennridge, Abington, Pennsbury & Souderton were winners in Thursday’s second round of the District One 4A Tournament. Pennsbury/Neshaminy photos provided courtesy of John Gleeson. Check back for a gallery of photos.
#1-3 Pennridge 3, #1-14 North Penn 1
After three meetings with the Knights this season, Rams’ coach Audrey Anderson developed a real respect for the lack of quit in North Penn.
So, even after her team came out firing on all cylinders, scoring two goals off rebounds and controlling play, she knew the Knights would storm back. As the first half ended, North Penn did just that.
"The one thing I respect about North Penn above anything else is they don't quit," Anderson said. "We knew tonight was not going to be different. For them to get a goal at the end of the first half, it crushed our spirits and lifted theirs. Our game plan was to not let them get inside the 18 in the second half."
Pennridge's start was just what the team wanted coming off a first round bye. Lauren McIntyre put pressure on early with one of her shots turning into a rebound that Lindsey DeHaven punched home for a 1-0 lead.
DeHaven would play shot-save-assist maker herself a few minutes later. After Holly Harbeck made a couple tackles and found Abby Groff, Groff played DeHaven for a shot that got saved outside the box. Ashley Groeber made sure it didn't get too far, hammering the second shot into an open net.
"Yesterday we had a great, great practice and accomplished a lot of things," Anderson said. "We left practice feeling positive, energized and excited, not so much nervous but just excited. We played the first half the way we did in practice.
"The second half was a different story and we need to figure that out."
North Penn ramped up its energy after the opening 15 minutes, but found itself in a considerable hole early.
"I thought we did a pretty good job but we can't lose the first 15 minutes of a game that badly," North Penn coach Steve Whitby said. "It's very tough to come back from.
"This was a good season for North Penn soccer. We have good players who sat on the bench tonight that are ready to get in there and play. And, they're only going to get better."
Lauren Ruth scored the lone North Penn goal on a very calm and collected finish. Grace Sacchetti set the stage, winning a ball off a short clear, then zipping a through ball that Ruth was able to use in order to outrun the Rams defenders for the finish.
The Knights carried that energy into the start of the second half as they continued to put Pennridge under pressure. Rams keeper Mary Kate Levush had a busy night, as she was active in the 18-yard box and in the air with the Knights’ barrage of crosses and corners.
"I just told them to calm down and play our game again," Levush said. "I wanted to make sure we got back in our formation and were talking. With Sarah (Williams) and Molly (Groff) in the back, I have them play pressure-cover so I just wanted them to make sure they were working as a unit and playing our game."
Pennridge's midfield trio of Maddie Anderson, Groeber and Chance Hendricks had another strong effort. Hendricks in particular brought a little edge to the holding role, defending hard and going aggressive after balls in space.
"I was back and forth whether to have Chance man-mark Lauren (Ruth) and I don't normally man-mark because it takes us out of game but Chance would have been that player," Anderson said. "She brings that extra little 'I'm going to get there' when other people might say 'I can't get there.' I thought she did a great job."
Hendricks got to one of those balls, tapping it just far enough to reach Groeber before a North Penn player wiped her out. Groeber took her space and sprung Groff on a through ball, with the senior forward doing the rest.
"All three of us, if we can win our individual battles, then we can connect as a unit better," Hendricks said. "Ashley and Maddie are awesome to play with because they're physical, find great balls forward and it's easy to connect with them. We play really well together."
As North Penn's keeper charged her, Groff just fired, the ball skipped between the keeper's legs and into the back of the net. It was fantastic finish but when Anderson was asked if anything Groff does surprises her anymore, she had an easy answer.
"At this point, no," Anderson said. "I'm sure Abby feels a little relief that she scored that goal in this game. I was joking around with her dad and said no goal meant more than that one, it was kind of the icing on the cake and settled us down a little bit. We knew they needed two to tie it up and we weren't going to give up two."
Most of the Rams' key players on Thursday were on the field last year when they were knocked out in the second round as the No. 1 seed. While Levush and Groff admitted to some nerves, they didn't let any of those memories affect their play.
"It came from our work ethic," Groff said. "We practiced really hard the last two days. We were a little nervous but I think knowing we had to get our nerves out of the way, we just came out really hard."
No. 3 Pennridge (16-2-1, 9-2-1 SOL) will host No. 6 Abington in the quarterfinal round on Saturday. The teams met in the regular season, with Pennridge winning 5-2. North Penn closed out its seasons with 10-7-3 record (6-4-2 SOL).
PENNRIDGE 2 1 – 3
NORTH PENN 1 0 – 1
Goals: P – Lindsey DeHaven, Ashley Groeber, Abby Groff; NP – Lauren Ruth
#1-7 Pennsbury 2, #1-10 Neshaminy 1 (OT)
Falcons coach Kaitlyn Battiste and Neshaminy coach Renny Papendick both agreed that this match felt much more like a district semifinal or final.
Unfortunately for both, the bracket doled them a meeting in the second round, which meant one really good team was going home early. Playing for the third time this fall, it wasn't surprising that 80 minutes wasn't enough to figure it out.
"The Pennsbury-Neshaminy brings out the worst and best in us," Battiste said. "Last week was so emotional that it took a lot of out of us physically. This could've been a district semifinal game but instead one team had to see its season end."
Pennsbury won a 3-2 game in overtime last Thursday to lock up the SOL National title, but the way things shifted out over the last days of the season, the two sides were fated to return to Fairless Hills for a true winner-take-all duel.
"Today, Neshaminy pushed us to a level I haven't yet seen this season," Battiste said. "You can't make mistakes around them or they make you pay for it. It took a selfless team effort to come away with a win."
The first half ended in a 0-0 tie, but both teams showed plenty of flashes of their talent. Neshaminy's Brooke Mullin and Michaela Boyd were aggressive in the attack while keepers Riley Spingler (Neshaminy) and Alyssa O'Driscoll (Pennsbury) were up to task.
Both teams struck early into the second half. Neshaminy scored first, with Boyd playing a through ball to Mullin, who launched a header to the far post. The ball pinged around before Gina Sexton was able to slip in and knock it home about three minutes in.
Not even two minutes later, Pennsbury's Christine Cataldo-Smith drew a foul just outside the box. Rosie Bostian then leveled the game, hitting the free kick low and around Neshaminy's wall.
"Responding so quickly with an equalizer was incredibly significant. There was no time for any questioning or doubt to settle in, they didn't stop and feel sorry for themselves," Battiste said. "Christine was battling to keep the ball and earned the free kick. Rosie stepped up immediately and drilled the ball into the net. I think I was still talking about what adjustments we needed to make when she buried it."
The Falcons coach credited her entire team for their play on Thursday and especially noted the midfield.
"Rosie was a boss in the midfield," Battiste said. "Gabby (Zalot)'s distribution was on point."
Battiste credited the goal for allowing her team to keep playing the game it wanted to and preventing the clock from dictating its actions. Still, there was a lot of match left and neither team was ready to concede.
"Towards the end of the half, Neshaminy got another opportunity to go ahead and Alyssa made an incredible diving save to keep us equal," Battiste said. "Those types of plays boost the confidence and belief, not just of the individual, but the whole team."
Mullin was a constant threat in her final high school soccer game, as were Boyd, Kristin Curley, Sexton, Mel Prinos and Emily Tantala for Neshaminy. The pressure Neshaminy created required a significant effort defensively.
O'Driscoll was more than ready and her performance was so influential, Battiste only realized later it was her first playoff match.
"Goaltending is huge in a district tournament and it just dawned on me that this was Alyssa's first playoff game in goal," Battiste said. "She supported and watched Kerry Phillips the last two seasons but she was a veteran out there today. She was very composed and had tons of communication with her defenders.
"The entire back line was relentless; Darrien Furiness, Kelli Hunter, Taylor Muller and Ella Palmieri did a phenomenal job of supporting one another and limiting the opportunities Neshaminy had in front of our goal."
Pennsbury was dominant in the overtime, giving Neshaminy little room to do anything and keeping the ball pinned in the visitor's half.
"We had that moment of calm before OT; they had found 'the zone' that kept them focused and aggressive with the anxious nerves of an elimination game," Battiste said.
A throw-in deep in the Neshaminy defensive third led to the deciding sequence. The throw led to a quick turn and through ball from Cataldo-Smith to Evie Ciaccia, who took a single touch then slotted home the winner.
"Christine and Evie had their best game as a unit, working together and finding one another," Battiste said.
Pennsbury (16-2-1, 10-1-1 SOL) will face No. 2 Conestoga, a 4-0 winner over Great Valley, in the quarterfinals on Saturday. Neshaminy closed out its season with a 13-6 record (9-3 SOL).
PENNSBURY 0 1 1 – 2
NESHAMINY 0 1 0 – 1
Goals: P – Rosie Bostian, Christine Cataldo-Smith; N – Gina Sexton
#1-6 Abington 5, #1-22 Central Bucks South 1
The Ghosts' first playoff match in three years couldn't have gotten off to a worse start.
Just 38 seconds in, Abington found itself trailing to a CB South team eager to build off a first round upset.
"They scored in the first 38 seconds, it wasn't even really a shot," Abington coach Rick Tompkins said. "Mackenzie Edwards went down the right flank and it looked like she was trying to cross the ball but it went into the far corner. They didn't quit after that for sure."
Unlike 2015, the last time the Ghosts were in the playoffs, Camryn Lexow was healthy for this one. The senior scored two goals, including the equalizer that opened the gates for Abington.
"It was a short corner, Kailey Horton taps it to her, she went in, beat the defender who came out and slotted the ball into the far corner," Tompkins said. "Then we started to play. She dictated tempo. She played a monster game, two goals and an assist to (Arianna) Mancini that was ridiculous."
Lexow then gave the Ghosts the lead on a 35-yard free kick that Tompkins described as "an absolute bomb."
"She's the smartest soccer player I've ever coached and when she says 'I'm not losing this game,' it's that simple," Tompkins said. "It's nothing verbal, but she just dictates the play and they couldn't stop her. (Casey) Touey gave them fits, she didn't get results but she runs defenses ragged."
While Abington won by a solid margin, Tompkins credited the Titans' fight, especially center back Lauren Ewell.
"She played a really good game, but she had to," Tompkins said. "We had a lot of opportunities and she made a lot of plays for them. Edwards was dangerous as well but our defense played well."
Lesha Karaba added to Abington's ledger for a 3-1 lead, and Tompkins said it was a good moment for the midfielder, who has been struggling with injuries all fall.
Mancini, Abington's senior center back, had the last two goals, including a really solid connection off a Lexow service. Tompkins said Mancini was very strong in the air, defensive midfielder Abby Baustista won most of the second balls knocked her way, and outside backs Emily Quinn, Emily Friel and Caroline Hughes were very tough against CB South's flank threats.
"We've been working on this set piece all season long and couldn't get it," Tompkins said. "Tonight was a nice night to get it to work."
South endured a number of major injuries throughout the year, but showed plenty of fight to reach the second round.
"It was a tough ending after our performance against CR South. Abington has several offensive threats that were difficult for us to handle," South coach Betsy Bullock said. "We had trouble containing (Lexow) and (Touey), who is extremely fast and was able to get around our defenders.
"I am very proud of this team's resilience and tenacity. They never stopped playing hard even after going behind."
Prior to the season, Tompkins asked for his nonleague schedule to be loaded with quality opposition. He got his wish and he felt those games against Council Rock North, Pennridge, CB East and Neshaminy paid off.
"I wanted quality nonconference games so we'd be ready for this," Tompkins said. "This is a crucible, you have to survive. These girls really want to play, they were excited and they were loose. I don't think they got nervous, even when we were down."
Tompkins also joked "it couldn't have hurt" that the Ghosts' boys team won their second round home game prior to the girls taking the field.
"It's been at least nine years since we've won a playoff game because I've never had one," Tompkins said. "We've made playoffs only one other time, we lost in PKs, Camryn was a freshman and hurt but still came off the bench to bury a PK. That's the last time."
The Ghosts (16-3,13-1 SOL) will travel to Pennridge for a quarterfinal match on Saturday. Central Bucks South closed out its season with a 10-8-1 record (5-6-1 SOL).
ABINGTON 4 1 – 5
CENTRAL BUCKS SOUTH 1 0 – 1
Goals: A – Camryn Lexow 2, Arianna Mancini 2, Lesha Karaba; CBS – Mackenzie Edwards
#1-8 Souderton 1, #1-24 Harriton 0
The Indians found themselves in yet another tight, defensive battle.
As she's done all season, Campbell Power came through for her teammates and it was enough to slip by an upset-minded Harriton side. Souderton, for the second straight year, is in the quarterfinals.
"Souderton came out of the gates strong and put pressure on the visitors early," Souderton assistant coach Ian Smith said. "In the first minute, sophomore Averie Doughty sent in a slotted cross to senior Erin O'Keefe who hit a one time shot to the corner. Harriton's keeper came up with a quick reaction save to push the shot off the post and out for a corner."
A shot from Souderton being denied by the Harrtion keeper would become a recurring theme. Even Power wasn't immune.
"Souderton continued to pressure and find space in the wide areas," Smith said. "With 27 minutes left in the half, senior Campbell Power found space about 25 yards out and let loose a powerful shot destined for the top corner, but Harriton's keeper came up with another amazing save to push it wide of the net."
Souderton continued to push for the remainder of the first half but even a frantic flurry in the final two minutes wasn't enough to crack the scoreboard.
"Harriton came out in the second half with a little bit more momentum," Smith said. "Souderton appeared a bit frustrated by the scoreline and Harriton was able to apply a bit more pressure and capitalize on a few Souderton mistakes."
One of those mistakes in the first 10 minutes left Harriton in behind the back line with a chance to swing momentum.
"Senior Lindsey Pazdziorko was quick off her line and came up with a great save to stop the breakaway," Smith said. "From that point forward, Souderton appeared to get back on course."
After things settled down, Souderton went back on the offensive. Power finally found a sliver of space and made it count.
"Power worked to gain some space in the midfield again and this time her 35-yard strike found the top corner of the net to give Indians what would be the game winning goal," Smith said. "From that point forward, Souderton was able to gain control once more and never really looked like they would lose the lead."
Souderton (11-2-6, 5-2-5 SOL) will host No. 17 Haverford, who advanced over No. 1 seed Owen J Roberts on penalty kicks, on Saturday.
SOUDERTON 0 1 – 1
HARRITON 0 0 – 0
Goals: S – Campbell Power
#1-20 Penncrest 1, #1-4 Central Bucks West 0
CB West had planned on a longer stay in the postseason, but the game isn't always as agreeable as teams hope it is.
The Bucks' stellar season came to a heartbreaking end Thursday night at the hands of a No. 20 Penncrest team that picked up its second upset win in as many rounds.
"It was a really tough loss, I can't even tell you how many shots, corner kicks, long throws and hit posts we had," CB West coach Mike Moyer said. "We had one breakdown and they caught us. They played kick and run and we just couldn't get in any type of rhythm. They did what they had to do."
The Bucks, led by senior captains Megan Gallagher and Trish Hauck, returned to the postseason for the first time since their state title in 2014. A hard-working team all year, CB West relied on plenty of contributors, with many of them slated to return next fall.
"We fought to the end and just couldn't buy a goal tonight. I know we were not ready for the season to end this soon or this way," Moyer said. "It was a good step for the program to make the playoffs this year. We will learn from this and be better prepared for next year."
Central Bucks West closed out its season with a 14-5 record (8-4 SOL).
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